David Marshall
@oldtiredgrumpy.bsky.social
Retired botanist, crop geneticist & bioinformatician. Whiling away my declining years with gardening, family history, traditional Scottish music and an interest in seeing the Scottish landscape restored to something approaching a more natural ecosystem.
Clearly influenced by my Dundonion heritage, I'm now weaving jute on my Rigid Heddle Loom. This is jute that I’ve been involved in processing all the way from bale to carding, drawing, roving, spinning and winding onto the spool I used for warping and weaving during my time at Verdant Works Museum.
October 30, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Clearly influenced by my Dundonion heritage, I'm now weaving jute on my Rigid Heddle Loom. This is jute that I’ve been involved in processing all the way from bale to carding, drawing, roving, spinning and winding onto the spool I used for warping and weaving during my time at Verdant Works Museum.
Another project on my RH loom starting to take shape.
October 26, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Another project on my RH loom starting to take shape.
My little friend which keeps me in order has just been updated.
October 24, 2025 at 9:55 PM
My little friend which keeps me in order has just been updated.
A wee trip to the hospital yesterday to have my CRT-P pacemaker replaced before the battery expired. That should be another decade keeping my heart properly paced.
October 24, 2025 at 9:48 PM
A wee trip to the hospital yesterday to have my CRT-P pacemaker replaced before the battery expired. That should be another decade keeping my heart properly paced.
Warping and threading my ridged heddle loom for my next project. I hope I have learned enough from previous projects. But how many scarfs does one man need?
October 21, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Warping and threading my ridged heddle loom for my next project. I hope I have learned enough from previous projects. But how many scarfs does one man need?
Rebuilding the garden boundary fence after the storm damage. Repairing the panels was a major task.
October 21, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Rebuilding the garden boundary fence after the storm damage. Repairing the panels was a major task.
Today’s haul of pears 20 kg from 2 of our espalier trees.
October 5, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Today’s haul of pears 20 kg from 2 of our espalier trees.
Delighted to see the one in the Hunterian on Tuesday.
September 19, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Delighted to see the one in the Hunterian on Tuesday.
That’s what’s left of our espalier Comice pears after the wind has taken down at least 2/3 of the crop.
September 18, 2025 at 10:56 AM
That’s what’s left of our espalier Comice pears after the wind has taken down at least 2/3 of the crop.
Time to harvest our Discovery apples. More than 15 kilos on our espalier tree that was bought bare rooted 15 years from the supermarket at £3.50. Still lots on the ground with minor blemishes to keep the blackbirds and field fares over the winter.
September 18, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Time to harvest our Discovery apples. More than 15 kilos on our espalier tree that was bought bare rooted 15 years from the supermarket at £3.50. Still lots on the ground with minor blemishes to keep the blackbirds and field fares over the winter.
This small Rembrandt at the Hunterian Gallery at Glasgow University made my day. It glows with an inner light.
September 16, 2025 at 5:14 PM
This small Rembrandt at the Hunterian Gallery at Glasgow University made my day. It glows with an inner light.
A visit with staff and other volunteers from Dundee Heritage Trust to RRS Discovery in dock at Dundee Harbour gave me a unique opportunity to meet Boaty McBoatface.
September 15, 2025 at 7:45 PM
A visit with staff and other volunteers from Dundee Heritage Trust to RRS Discovery in dock at Dundee Harbour gave me a unique opportunity to meet Boaty McBoatface.
Heron on our walk with the dogs.
September 14, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Heron on our walk with the dogs.
A day in the life of a novice weaver. Handloom weaving just like my great great great grandfather in the Gauldry in Fife 200 years ago.
September 11, 2025 at 10:42 PM
A day in the life of a novice weaver. Handloom weaving just like my great great great grandfather in the Gauldry in Fife 200 years ago.
These Begonias have graced our kitchen window sill the entire summer.
September 9, 2025 at 9:53 AM
These Begonias have graced our kitchen window sill the entire summer.
This morning tomato collection from the greenhouse. Time to get the dehydrator in action.
September 8, 2025 at 9:05 AM
This morning tomato collection from the greenhouse. Time to get the dehydrator in action.
I rather like this one of my seedling Bishops Children Dahlias.
September 3, 2025 at 1:18 PM
I rather like this one of my seedling Bishops Children Dahlias.
Our Alocasia is flowering.
September 1, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Our Alocasia is flowering.
Finally got my rigid heddle
loom assembled. Time to get it warped and start weaving.
loom assembled. Time to get it warped and start weaving.
August 29, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Finally got my rigid heddle
loom assembled. Time to get it warped and start weaving.
loom assembled. Time to get it warped and start weaving.
We watched the Waverley paddle steamer leaving Dundee after refueling. It is en route to Falmouth from the Clyde. It sailed the long way round though the Pentland Firth to avoid heavy swell on the South West coast.
August 27, 2025 at 10:30 PM
We watched the Waverley paddle steamer leaving Dundee after refueling. It is en route to Falmouth from the Clyde. It sailed the long way round though the Pentland Firth to avoid heavy swell on the South West coast.
Last week, catching up with some Dahlias amongst other beautiful plants at NTS Geilston Gardens between Dumbarton and Helensburgh on the North Side of the Clyde.
August 17, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Last week, catching up with some Dahlias amongst other beautiful plants at NTS Geilston Gardens between Dumbarton and Helensburgh on the North Side of the Clyde.
Carrots from the garden Potage Crécy for tea tonight.
August 17, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Carrots from the garden Potage Crécy for tea tonight.
My Rigid Heddle Loom has arrived. All I have to do now is wax the beech wood components and then assemble it. Warp it and then get weaving.
August 17, 2025 at 6:27 PM
My Rigid Heddle Loom has arrived. All I have to do now is wax the beech wood components and then assemble it. Warp it and then get weaving.