That's not frost, folks.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Things I have done this year and failed to blog: Part 6
August: To Cork for a Wedding
There was then a detour to see the tunnels on the Kerry road and a stop for fish and chips which left me in a state of stress as we were meant to be going into Cork in the evening to the bride and groom's house party. We were late.
After being married for six years I finally met the Irish half of his family. There are a lot of them. His aunt was getting married, which was the excuse for a family gathering.
We flew from Aberdeen to Dublin and drove down to Cork on the newly completed motorway. It's kind of like a Scottish motorway, you know, only two lanes each way, but with toll barriers. Can anyone tell me why it's cheaper to leave Dublin than arrive in Cork?
We arrived in Innishannon after 11 to find a large part of the family leaving the hotel bar. Which was lucky as we had no idea how to find the B&B and had to follow his parents along the little windy roads - the surfacing of which made Aberdeenshire look good...
The wedding was on the Friday afternoon so we went into Kinsale in the morning for a look around.
The wedding was held at the Innishannon Hotel, which is quite pretty and right on the River Bandon.
Are civil marriages new in Ireland? I heard quite a few of the cousins saying that they had never been to one before.
There was quite a lot of football talk, one of his cousins is a sports writer in Mayo, the groom (if I remember correctly) is related to a former Kerry manager and played for them himself, but the family is Cork. (Yes, we have one of the Cork names).
We were also reminded that my other half is the last of the male line... No pressure there then.
On the day after the wedding we went with his parents to Glengarriff, where his paternal grandfather was born. We stopped in Bantry to buy a picnic lunch, then visited his great uncle who still lives in the family house at the top of the glen, and went up to Barley Lake.
There was then a detour to see the tunnels on the Kerry road and a stop for fish and chips which left me in a state of stress as we were meant to be going into Cork in the evening to the bride and groom's house party. We were late.Thursday, September 30, 2010
Things I have done this year and failed to blog: Part 5
August: Sailing to Campbeltown
Arran skyline from Millport
Another trip in the boat. Long weekend.
Friday Port Bannatyne - Lamlash (Arran). Some wind.
Holy Isle, Lamlash Bay
Saturday Lamlash - Campbeltown. No wind. Saw Eleonora. Realised how near Northern Ireland is.
Attempted to anchor, but failed due to very soft mud and large quantities of weed. Provided amusement for Sailing Club. Gave up and used the pontoon.
Campeltown
Eleonora, Campeltown Bay
Sunday Campbeltown - Millport. No wind.
Millport Bay
Arran skyline from Millport
Arran in the morning
Hunterston
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Things I have done this year and failed to blog: Part 4
June: LAMM
My other half's partner injured himself, so we went and did the LAMM together. He was meant to be doing the A class, we did the C "for fun".
This year the event was in the Arrochar area, from a field just by the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar, across the river from Fyne Ales (who supplied the beer).
The C course started from the Rest and Be Thankful Car Park and took in Ben Ime and Ben Vane on the first day. The mid camp was in upper Glen Fyne above the Lochan Shira reservoir, and was quite nice on the saturday evening, but a wet midgy drizzle fest on the sunday morning. The second day included Beinn Bhuidhe and finished back at the base camp.
We completed the course. That is about all there is to say about it. I had a very sore hip and my first experience of catching a toenail in the end of my shoe (disproportionately sore). Long live ibuprofen. We also made a bad navigational error in the clag on the second day and I can clearly understand how someone came to fall badly on the crags in the same area (above Glenfyne Lodge, control point on Newton Hill 422 coming down SE from Beinn Bhuidhe). We were probably on course, but got confused as to how far down we were and contoured around eventually relocating off a control 200m higher than and 1km west of ours.
Still, at least we got our beer for finishing.
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Things I have done this year and failed to blog: Part 3
March: Orkney and the North
A road trip in the van up the north east coast to Orkney and back down the north west coast.
A road trip in the van up the north east coast to Orkney and back down the north west coast.
Cromarty
Duncansby Head
The most NE point of the mainland
Italian Chapel
Lambholm, Scapa Flow
Yes, it is a Nissen hut, but a very very posh one
Ring of Brodgar
Hoy
Smoo Cave, Durness
Sunday, September 05, 2010
Things I have done this year and failed to blog: Part 2
June: Sailing to Arran
Want to take part in the Glen Rosa Race? My other half did and he decided that the best way to get there was by sailing from Bute, not on the ferry like everyone else. Alright, not everyone else - there is another Cosmic equally daft who also sailed there in her boat.
We sailed from Bute on the friday and went straight to Brodick and anchored in the bay. Our fellow Cosmic had also anchored there after sailing from Kip, and we had dinner on their boat. They have a barbecue mounted on the cockpit rail and being 33' to our 26', room to use it.
Glen Rosa (Goatfell) seen from the sea
Our boat, Brodick Bay
On the saturday we went ashore in the morning. I went into Brodick and the runners went to register. Glen Rosa is quite a long race timewise for the length of it, being unmarked and over rough ground. It was an SHR Championship race this so attracted quite a crowd. There was also registration on the ferry and a special bus laid on.
I went back in the afternoon to see the finish. The finish was at the top of the Brodick Castle garden, and I was glad to have my Volunteer Card as it's £5.50 to get into the garden there.
After the runners had recovered and rehydrated, we had ice cream and then returned to the boats for another bbq tea.
On the Sunday we sailed back to Bute. To begin with off the coast of Arran we hardly had any wind, but after using the motor to get out into the middle of the Clyde we found some. At one point we had the boat doing 7kts. We also saw the Navy out playing with their new(ish) toy round the Cumbraes.
Want to take part in the Glen Rosa Race? My other half did and he decided that the best way to get there was by sailing from Bute, not on the ferry like everyone else. Alright, not everyone else - there is another Cosmic equally daft who also sailed there in her boat.
We sailed from Bute on the friday and went straight to Brodick and anchored in the bay. Our fellow Cosmic had also anchored there after sailing from Kip, and we had dinner on their boat. They have a barbecue mounted on the cockpit rail and being 33' to our 26', room to use it.
Glen Rosa (Goatfell) seen from the sea
Our boat, Brodick Bay
On the saturday we went ashore in the morning. I went into Brodick and the runners went to register. Glen Rosa is quite a long race timewise for the length of it, being unmarked and over rough ground. It was an SHR Championship race this so attracted quite a crowd. There was also registration on the ferry and a special bus laid on.
I went back in the afternoon to see the finish. The finish was at the top of the Brodick Castle garden, and I was glad to have my Volunteer Card as it's £5.50 to get into the garden there.
After the runners had recovered and rehydrated, we had ice cream and then returned to the boats for another bbq tea.
On the Sunday we sailed back to Bute. To begin with off the coast of Arran we hardly had any wind, but after using the motor to get out into the middle of the Clyde we found some. At one point we had the boat doing 7kts. We also saw the Navy out playing with their new(ish) toy round the Cumbraes.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Things I have done this year and failed to blog: Part 1
May: Sailing
We chartered a boat from Isle of Skye Yachts with his sister and a friend from his Day Skipper course.
We had several plans in mind, but being wind dependant ended up choosing a circumnavigation of Mull. Our route was as follows:
Ardvasar (Skye) - Rhum - Tobermory - Loch Spelve (Mull) - Iona - Bunessan (Mull) - Staffa - Treshnish - Coll - Eigg - Doune (Knoydart) - Ardvasar
(Overnight stops in bold)
The first day we were quite ill - I was very envious of my sister-in-law's constant vomiting as I felt like death on a stick but wasn't actually able to throw up at all. In the end I wedged myself into the 'Gin Seat' at the back corner of the cockpit and went to sleep. Hence we went into Tobermory marina. We used moorings at Coll and Doune, but anchored everywhere else.
Drama of the week was snagging the anchor in the Treshnish Isles. We stopped for lunch and thought we were far enough away from the tripper boat pontoon, but clearly not as we caught on one of their seabed chains. Luckily, it wasn't too deep and it was sunny - so in he went and freed the anchor manually.
Anchoring at Eigg was a bit interesting. When we stopped we had 0.0m reading beneath the keel and we were rather close to the ferry slip. However, it was low water and the ferry doesn't run every day. Eigg is quite interesting for being one the first community buy outs and for having its own power generation scheme.
I'd recommend Doune. There's a restaurant there, but no road. If you don't fancy walking a mile(ish) from the nearest one, it's best to sail. The food was plentiful and delicious.
Loch Spelve
Our boat, Iona
Staffa
We chartered a boat from Isle of Skye Yachts with his sister and a friend from his Day Skipper course.
We had several plans in mind, but being wind dependant ended up choosing a circumnavigation of Mull. Our route was as follows:
Ardvasar (Skye) - Rhum - Tobermory - Loch Spelve (Mull) - Iona - Bunessan (Mull) - Staffa - Treshnish - Coll - Eigg - Doune (Knoydart) - Ardvasar
(Overnight stops in bold)
The first day we were quite ill - I was very envious of my sister-in-law's constant vomiting as I felt like death on a stick but wasn't actually able to throw up at all. In the end I wedged myself into the 'Gin Seat' at the back corner of the cockpit and went to sleep. Hence we went into Tobermory marina. We used moorings at Coll and Doune, but anchored everywhere else.
Drama of the week was snagging the anchor in the Treshnish Isles. We stopped for lunch and thought we were far enough away from the tripper boat pontoon, but clearly not as we caught on one of their seabed chains. Luckily, it wasn't too deep and it was sunny - so in he went and freed the anchor manually.
Anchoring at Eigg was a bit interesting. When we stopped we had 0.0m reading beneath the keel and we were rather close to the ferry slip. However, it was low water and the ferry doesn't run every day. Eigg is quite interesting for being one the first community buy outs and for having its own power generation scheme.
I'd recommend Doune. There's a restaurant there, but no road. If you don't fancy walking a mile(ish) from the nearest one, it's best to sail. The food was plentiful and delicious.
Loch Spelve
Our boat, Iona
Staffa
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
Sea Cliffs
While my other half and his friend went climbing I amused myself taking photos of the pretty flowers (casually forgetting I had one of their ropes on my back...).
Saturday, June 05, 2010
Hybridisation in action
Last year we had two types of aquilegia. This short Columbine type with big flowers
and this tall traditional type with small flowers.
This year we also have a medium height type with medium size flowers.
and this tall traditional type with small flowers.
This year we also have a medium height type with medium size flowers.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Dave Gorman
Just been to see Dave Gorman's stand up show. Very funny and worth the £20.
The message of the show tonight:
Turn up on time and don't use your phone.
(He made us promise not to publish any spoilers, but I think that ad lib bit's okay.)
The message of the show tonight:
Turn up on time and don't use your phone.
(He made us promise not to publish any spoilers, but I think that ad lib bit's okay.)
Monday, March 01, 2010
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Best description of race rules ever...?
Aboot i'runnin' aboot:
Fit ye're tryin' ti dae:
Ti ging roon on 53 mile “Fling” roadie alang i' Southern pairt o' the West Highland Way fae somewye ca'd Milngavie ti Tyndrum afore yir time runs oot. An' it's nae jist i' folk running themsels, there's i' club competitions an' a', an' a special een far ye hae four folk, een aifter the ither. Now a'body's got ti be ower 21, nae swikin'. I' “Fling” is mint ti' be deen athoot only help at a'. The folk that's pit a' this the gither'll drap aff buggies that you've made earlier, as lang as ye mind ti pit on yir proper race number, a' the wye alang the roadie at the checkpoints. Kitbags wi' little ticketies on'll be teen ti' the end o' the roadie at Tyndrum near 'at afa fine Green Welly Stop, an' bussies, thit ye've got ti' hae said yer gahn on (and pit yer haun in yer pooch) afore the day'll tak ye a; back to Milngavie far ye can get the trainnie. Course, if ye wint ti hae yir ain folk helpin' ye, that's yir ain look oot.
Club Competition
Ur's nae end ti the number o' chiels ye can hae in yer clique. Fooiver lang it taks fur the first three (M or F) gahn by themsels fae each club'll be added igither on a bittie paper ti gie i' club’s time, so ere's nae need for folk runnin' ti dae onything ither than pit their ain name doon, as lang as ye pit doon fa' ye're wi. If yi wint ti be richt clivver an'pit in mair than wun (M or F) team it's nae skin aff oor nose, jist mak sure we ken a' aboot it and fa' yir spikkin' aboot.
Fae Born2Run Click fae english
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Ben Nevis
This weekend the weather forecast was good, and my other having been driven half demented by not having been to the hills for a while, we went to Ben Nevis.
We ascended the Ben by Number 5 Gully to Carn Dearg. My legs were not quite ready for 450m of front pointing, and I was quite aware of it being a very long way down to be balancing on nine little metal points.
Having topped out with daylight to spare we went to the summit to enjoy the view and a cup of tea.
We then descended into the setting sun via the tourist path.
We cooked dinner in the van at the Visitor Centre car park and made free with the facilites (which are quite well heated). My apologies to the gentlemen who wished to use the toilets while we were washing up. One at least had the sense to go in a cubicle.
We headed to Ballachulish on Saturday night and parked the van at the carpark for Sgorr Dhonuill, Sgorr Dhearg and Glen a Chaolais. We followed the signs and did Sgorr Dhonuill first, but in hindsight it might better to go the other way round in winter and ascend the frozen, scrambly scree bits. The views to Ben Nevis and Glen Coe were fabulous.
We ascended the Ben by Number 5 Gully to Carn Dearg. My legs were not quite ready for 450m of front pointing, and I was quite aware of it being a very long way down to be balancing on nine little metal points.
Having topped out with daylight to spare we went to the summit to enjoy the view and a cup of tea.
We then descended into the setting sun via the tourist path.
We cooked dinner in the van at the Visitor Centre car park and made free with the facilites (which are quite well heated). My apologies to the gentlemen who wished to use the toilets while we were washing up. One at least had the sense to go in a cubicle.
We headed to Ballachulish on Saturday night and parked the van at the carpark for Sgorr Dhonuill, Sgorr Dhearg and Glen a Chaolais. We followed the signs and did Sgorr Dhonuill first, but in hindsight it might better to go the other way round in winter and ascend the frozen, scrambly scree bits. The views to Ben Nevis and Glen Coe were fabulous.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Happy Lancashire Day!
TO: THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY AND COUNTY PALATINE OF LANCASTER
GREETINGS!
Know ye that this day, November 27th in the year of
our Lord Two Thousand and Nine, the 58th year of
the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,
Duke of Lancaster, is Lancashire Day.
Know ye also, and rejoice, that by virtue of Her
Majesty's County Palatine of Lancaster, the citizens
of the Hundreds of Lonsdale, North and South of
the Sands, Amounderness, Leyland, Blackburn,
Salford and West Derby are forever entitled to style
themselves Lancastrians.
Throughout the County Palatine, from the Furness
Fells to the River Mersey, from the Irish Sea to the
Pennines, this day shall ever mark the peoples' pleasure
in that excellent distinction - true Lancastrians, proud
of the Red Rose and loyal to our Sovereign Duke.
GOD BLESS LANCASHIRE AND
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN,
DUKE OF LANCASTER.
(Just slightly afraid that in my ultra-organisedness (it won't last) I may have written Merseyside on my Dad's Christmas card...)
GREETINGS!
Know ye that this day, November 27th in the year of
our Lord Two Thousand and Nine, the 58th year of
the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,
Duke of Lancaster, is Lancashire Day.
Know ye also, and rejoice, that by virtue of Her
Majesty's County Palatine of Lancaster, the citizens
of the Hundreds of Lonsdale, North and South of
the Sands, Amounderness, Leyland, Blackburn,
Salford and West Derby are forever entitled to style
themselves Lancastrians.
Throughout the County Palatine, from the Furness
Fells to the River Mersey, from the Irish Sea to the
Pennines, this day shall ever mark the peoples' pleasure
in that excellent distinction - true Lancastrians, proud
of the Red Rose and loyal to our Sovereign Duke.
GOD BLESS LANCASHIRE AND
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN,
DUKE OF LANCASTER.
(Just slightly afraid that in my ultra-organisedness (it won't last) I may have written Merseyside on my Dad's Christmas card...)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Donside, late summer
Photos taken a while ago when I was out for a cycle. Looking towards Bennachie from the back of Kirkhill.
RTPI President on Aberdeen planners
From Aberdeen City Council website
I would just like to say (in a hollow and sarcastic fashion) Ha.
With regard to the comment re Marischal College, Ha, double Ha and bollocks. I still don't understand how the City Council can be both Applicant and determining Authority for the planning applications. And I don't see how a facade job can be considered to be "dealing with the conservation issues". It is not 1995. Facadism should be long passé.
The president of the UK Royal Town Planners Institute has praised Aberdeen City Council's planning department for the positive impact it has had on the city's developments.
Martin Willey was impressed by the quality and level of development, not least that reflected by the number of cranes in operation, which he witnessed when he visited Aberdeen this week.
Mr. Willey said: "Planning can and does make a real difference not only to the fabric of a city, but to the lives of those who live and work in it as well. I was impressed by the amount of high quality, well designed development I saw during my visit to Aberdeen, where it is clear that business is booming, even in these difficult times.
"From what I have seen and heard, Aberdeen's planners have a great track record of talking with people to engage them in the planning process and really listening to the public's views on how the city should be shaped for the future.
"Recent projects such as the newly-opened Aberdeen Sports Village demonstrate that kind of detailed engagement in action – and I'm glad that visit to the city has provided me with many examples to add to my collection of best practice from around the world. Well done Aberdeen!"
Among the Aberdeen developments Mr. Willey learned of during his time in the city are:
* Marischal College, which is bringing an iconic but long-neglected city building back into use, dealing with conservation issues associated with the redevelopment work;
* the award-winning Malmaison Hotel, which received recognition for its architectural design - finalised with input from Aberdeen planners;
* the Union Square shopping and leisure development, which has made a contribution towards the conservation-led improvement of the Green, as part of its planning conditions.
I would just like to say (in a hollow and sarcastic fashion) Ha.
With regard to the comment re Marischal College, Ha, double Ha and bollocks. I still don't understand how the City Council can be both Applicant and determining Authority for the planning applications. And I don't see how a facade job can be considered to be "dealing with the conservation issues". It is not 1995. Facadism should be long passé.
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