Oh dear me, mild but a pretty wet day. Not good, hopefully the sun will return soonish?
Morrison's shop this morning to re-stock after nearly two weeks away. How exciting was that.
In the afternoon I collected my replacement phone from the Virgin store in town. The phone is a Microsoft Windows 8 smart phone so certainly an upgrade from my dead model. A big but however.
The sim cards are smaller in size meaning one is unable to transfer data from one phone to another. What a bum, what chance have I got to deal with this? Haven't even mastered how to switch it on yet. So called progress.
Checked the trail cameras with some good results. Fox and cub certainly about but not pictured together. Found out where the squirrel is hiding. Would never have found it. In a wood stack with entry from under the decking path in the bbq area. Will keep camera in this area for a while now.
The fox was the culprit nicking the fat balls, appear to eat anything. Also have a starling and a great tit roosting in boxes, photographs tomorrow hopefully.
All good and also good to be back amongst my friends!
Will close now so I can post a selection of photographs from my Scottish holiday.
Wednesday, 21 October 2015
Tuesday, 20 October 2015
Tuesday 20th October 2015
I appear to have brought Scotland's Indian summer down south. A beautiful day with hours of sun showing off the garden autumn colours. Must say the garden is still looking very colourful with plenty of summer plants still out and of course the autumn colours.
Good to be back home but did miss the Black Isle views this morning.
Have spent most of the day importing / editing the holiday photographs. All done so tomorrow will post a few of the highlights from the holiday.
Can't wait to check the three trail cameras I had set while away. Apparently a fox and cub were seen on next doors front lawn last week. Something has entered the transformed dog kennel, straw has been pulled out out of the hedgehog size hole. Very old, hard fat balls I placed on the decking have been eaten which should show up on a camera.
Highlights of the holiday tomorrow then.
Good to be back home but did miss the Black Isle views this morning.
Have spent most of the day importing / editing the holiday photographs. All done so tomorrow will post a few of the highlights from the holiday.
Can't wait to check the three trail cameras I had set while away. Apparently a fox and cub were seen on next doors front lawn last week. Something has entered the transformed dog kennel, straw has been pulled out out of the hedgehog size hole. Very old, hard fat balls I placed on the decking have been eaten which should show up on a camera.
Highlights of the holiday tomorrow then.
Monday, 19 October 2015
Monday 19th October 2015
Left Inverness at 7.55am with weather very mild for that time of morning. Not even a chill.
Was a good trip home with Autumn colours looking pretty good at every county we travelled through.
Arrived home at 6.30pm, pretty tired so early shut eye tonight to recharge ones batteries.
A holiday to remember.
Was a good trip home with Autumn colours looking pretty good at every county we travelled through.
Arrived home at 6.30pm, pretty tired so early shut eye tonight to recharge ones batteries.
A holiday to remember.
Sunday, 18 October 2015
Sunday 18th October 2015
Very mild but lacked sun today. Max' temp' this afternoon was 13c. Still pretty good for this time of year.
This being the last day of the holiday and having to return car this afternoon I chose a more relaxing day.
Morning coffee at Nairn harbour, sand dunes were a stark contrast to what we have experienced in the past week. Very dramatic and atmospheric. Good to see more curlew and oyster catchers.
Drove on to Findhorne Bay for the afternoon. Another amazing place for bird life. Never seen so many oyster catchers in one place before. Enjoyed a good walk from the nature reserve to the harbour stopping at the Kimberly Inn for lunch. A good end to the holiday.
Relaxing now back at the hotel over a pint of local brewed Bellhaven. Cases packed and taxi ordered for tomorrow's early morning trip back to London/Reading.
Look out for some photographic holiday highlights next week once sorted.
This being the last day of the holiday and having to return car this afternoon I chose a more relaxing day.
Morning coffee at Nairn harbour, sand dunes were a stark contrast to what we have experienced in the past week. Very dramatic and atmospheric. Good to see more curlew and oyster catchers.
Drove on to Findhorne Bay for the afternoon. Another amazing place for bird life. Never seen so many oyster catchers in one place before. Enjoyed a good walk from the nature reserve to the harbour stopping at the Kimberly Inn for lunch. A good end to the holiday.
Relaxing now back at the hotel over a pint of local brewed Bellhaven. Cases packed and taxi ordered for tomorrow's early morning trip back to London/Reading.
Look out for some photographic holiday highlights next week once sorted.
Saturday, 17 October 2015
Saturday 17th October 2015
Another very warm day. Coldest morning experienced so far with temp' showing 3c but reaching a high this afternoon of 15c as yesterday. Just arrived back at the hotel after a night out in Inverness and is still pretty mild with temp' showing 6c. Scotty cousins think this is cold, mild in my eyes.
Enjoyed an early morning drive over to Drumnadrochit to pick up cuz Kerry then back to Culloden to pick up cuz Barbara before leaving for a short drive to Fort George. What some barracks this is. Had not heard of this Fort but so significant for me as been reading and visiting all things Jacobite in recent years.
Arrived at FG as a military wedding was about to commence. Girls were interested in dresses etc, I was more interested in the gleaming Bentley. Noticed it had Reading plates so asked the chauffeur if he knew the history of the car and explained why. Told him about Vincents of Reading being coach builders of Bentley & RR and he suggested I had a good look at the car. The doors were opened, bonnet up, boot up......and yes, I found a Vincents plate. He was as gobsmacked as I was and promptly phoned his boss. Had a long chat with her and hopefully will receive more history on this car. How about that then? Now back to the holiday!
Some great views from the battlements but not good for photography as sun was so glaring. Am I really complaining about the sun?
Late afternoon moved on to Inverness Botanical Gardens, a stunning show of Autumn shrubs, trees and plants. All looking their best.
We were late arriving hence told to shift as were locking up so will have to re-visit on another occasion.
A trip then back to Drum' catching Loch Ness in a brilliant sunset.
Finished the day with a meal in Inverness with Barbara, Sarah and Finns. A good way to finish the day and holiday.
Have got tomorrow still but time will be spent packing up and returning car as catching a very early train on Monday morning.
Night night.
Enjoyed an early morning drive over to Drumnadrochit to pick up cuz Kerry then back to Culloden to pick up cuz Barbara before leaving for a short drive to Fort George. What some barracks this is. Had not heard of this Fort but so significant for me as been reading and visiting all things Jacobite in recent years.
Arrived at FG as a military wedding was about to commence. Girls were interested in dresses etc, I was more interested in the gleaming Bentley. Noticed it had Reading plates so asked the chauffeur if he knew the history of the car and explained why. Told him about Vincents of Reading being coach builders of Bentley & RR and he suggested I had a good look at the car. The doors were opened, bonnet up, boot up......and yes, I found a Vincents plate. He was as gobsmacked as I was and promptly phoned his boss. Had a long chat with her and hopefully will receive more history on this car. How about that then? Now back to the holiday!
Some great views from the battlements but not good for photography as sun was so glaring. Am I really complaining about the sun?
Late afternoon moved on to Inverness Botanical Gardens, a stunning show of Autumn shrubs, trees and plants. All looking their best.
We were late arriving hence told to shift as were locking up so will have to re-visit on another occasion.
A trip then back to Drum' catching Loch Ness in a brilliant sunset.
Finished the day with a meal in Inverness with Barbara, Sarah and Finns. A good way to finish the day and holiday.
Have got tomorrow still but time will be spent packing up and returning car as catching a very early train on Monday morning.
Night night.
Friday, 16 October 2015
Friday 16th October 2015
Hot day, how mad is that for October in Scotland. A brilliant day, wall to wall sun with the most colourful sunset.
Drove over to Ullapool today, an area of Scotland I was not familiar with. Was not disappointed. Some of the scenery and reflections were arguably the best I have seen. Particularly the reflections, had to stand and study the area to understand whether we were in fact looking at reflections. Job to describe but hopefully the photographs will show what I am trying to explain.
After many photograph stops we finally made Ullapool Harbour. It was like summer with visitors sitting on the front in T shirts and eating ice cream!
Enjoyed a pint and fish burger before a good walk around the harbour area. Sea was as blue as the sky and so still. Beautiful shades of blue all around you.
Spent a fair time here not giving us time to visit Thurso which was on the agenda. After a cuppa in one of the tea rooms on the front we departed for home stopping once again to look at the most amazing reflections.
Did walk down to the Rogie Falls where you are likely to see salmon leaping. Not today and I would question if there was enough water here. Not the best falls I have encountered but was atmospheric set in forests that were now well into Autumn colours.
With the sunset forming over Culloden I drove to a nature reserve where oyster catchers, curlew, herons and rooks looked amazing against the setting sun. What an end to a wonderful day.
Tomorrow will be taking out my cousins for the day. Fort George and local nature reserve is what is planned.
Holiday almost at an end now.
Drove over to Ullapool today, an area of Scotland I was not familiar with. Was not disappointed. Some of the scenery and reflections were arguably the best I have seen. Particularly the reflections, had to stand and study the area to understand whether we were in fact looking at reflections. Job to describe but hopefully the photographs will show what I am trying to explain.
After many photograph stops we finally made Ullapool Harbour. It was like summer with visitors sitting on the front in T shirts and eating ice cream!
Enjoyed a pint and fish burger before a good walk around the harbour area. Sea was as blue as the sky and so still. Beautiful shades of blue all around you.
Spent a fair time here not giving us time to visit Thurso which was on the agenda. After a cuppa in one of the tea rooms on the front we departed for home stopping once again to look at the most amazing reflections.
Did walk down to the Rogie Falls where you are likely to see salmon leaping. Not today and I would question if there was enough water here. Not the best falls I have encountered but was atmospheric set in forests that were now well into Autumn colours.
With the sunset forming over Culloden I drove to a nature reserve where oyster catchers, curlew, herons and rooks looked amazing against the setting sun. What an end to a wonderful day.
Tomorrow will be taking out my cousins for the day. Fort George and local nature reserve is what is planned.
Holiday almost at an end now.
Thursday, 15 October 2015
Thursday 15th October 2015
Another amazing day. What have I done to deserve such beautiful weather. A day once again that was very mild, in fact warm in the strong sunlight which we experienced all day. Is on the chilly side early morning and evening but certainly not cold.
Today after picking up Barbara from her home in Culloden we drove to Dores. A delightful village on the edge of Loch Ness. This is the spot that the BBC production team filmed Desperately Seeking Nessie - nessiehunter.com
I was very lucky today to have seen and photographed Nessie with the help of Steve Feltham who has spent a lifetime filming the antics of Nessie.
After a good meal and a pint at the Dores Inn I then drove on to Fort Augustus stopping on the way to watch further deer rutting. The views also stunning with the sun beginning to set. Stopped at Fort Augustus for a cuppa at the Bothy on the side of the canal before it meets Loch Ness at this point.
Arrived back in Culloden early evening making sure Barbara was settled before moving on to our hotel for the night.
Tomorrow will visit Thurso and Ullapool area.
Boyo - sorry I can't reply by phone as still not working. Pleased to be out of the North East winds! I do appreciate how lucky we have been. Don't want this to end.
Today after picking up Barbara from her home in Culloden we drove to Dores. A delightful village on the edge of Loch Ness. This is the spot that the BBC production team filmed Desperately Seeking Nessie - nessiehunter.com
I was very lucky today to have seen and photographed Nessie with the help of Steve Feltham who has spent a lifetime filming the antics of Nessie.
After a good meal and a pint at the Dores Inn I then drove on to Fort Augustus stopping on the way to watch further deer rutting. The views also stunning with the sun beginning to set. Stopped at Fort Augustus for a cuppa at the Bothy on the side of the canal before it meets Loch Ness at this point.
Arrived back in Culloden early evening making sure Barbara was settled before moving on to our hotel for the night.
Tomorrow will visit Thurso and Ullapool area.
Boyo - sorry I can't reply by phone as still not working. Pleased to be out of the North East winds! I do appreciate how lucky we have been. Don't want this to end.
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