Today’s guest picture, from my son Tony, shows how to get at inaccessible tree cutting tasks in Edinburgh.  I would be quite happy not to have a use a chain saw while dangling over a steep drop from a mobile crane but it takes all sorts.

We awoke to clear blue skies and a sense of unreality.  The forecasts had been full of a coming storm but this was  the calm before the storm and very welcome too.

Mrs Tootlepedal was off to Edinburgh to see Matilda and she welcomed the better weather as her trip starts with an 18 mile journey on narrow, winding roads and not having to battle through wind and rain was a relief.

I put out some food for the jackdaws  after breakfast.

There was quite a demand.

I took the opportunity of the fine day to go for a 21 mile pedal while the…