Such a tragedy, that we have moved on from a period of co-operation with Russia, in which our country sacrificed so much and served with single-mindedness and courage, into yet another time of high tension and human suffering; watching from where we are in the west, the actions of a man and his military that …
Month: June 2023
The building itself shows the innovative use of this concrete bunker, built during the Cold War to protect its occupants from the damage of a nuclear blast from Russia, our allies in World War II and, so soon afterwards, our potential enemies. Painted white today the museum is a fine and durable home for the …
On the same latitude as Moscow and Hudson’s Bay, but these gardens are bathed in Gulf Stream warmth.. I like close-ups but I’m not skilled at getting it all in focus; soft focus I call it! Blooms and a bee; there is no best time of year to visit, but June was a pretty good …
A natural haven, verdant in the warm springtime and home to deer and water birds, many with their new broods. We turned back at a bridge over the burn but walkers can continue up the glen and on across rugged Scottish country for miles, staying at bothies overnight. The monarch of the glen and his …
Pip hasn’t yet completed his walk around the UK with Jane and John because some of the paths were closed due to Covid; so in the meantime he loves exploring his new garden. One of John’s favourite pastimes is working with wood. This beautiful lighthouse is sitting on a well knotted burl that looks just …
Gairloch Village nestles at the inner end of the loch, and the word Gairloch comes from the Scottish Gaelic for Short Loch. Situated in Wester Ross the village is a thriving, welcoming community of around 600 permanent residents. Dotted around the village are hotels, a nine hole golf course, an excellent museum in a converted …
05.38am 7 June 2023 Every day since we arrived back at Zoonie on 9 April we have heard and seen the cuckoos, wherever we have been between Oban to Skye, many cuckoos. With their propensity to hatch and then turf the resident chicks out of the nest to their deaths, this cannot be doing the …
On a six-month sabbatical from a bus driver’s life in aggressive, intolerant and impatient Oldham (his words), Lewis (not his real name) had taken up the reins of the day tour driver/guide, and when he explained he would not be talking to us while driving the group murmur was favourable and understanding. Off we whizzed …
Speed bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing Onward the sailors cry Carry the lad that’s born to be king Over the sea to Skye… Though the waves leap, soft will ye sleep Ocean’s a royal bed Rocked in the deep, Flora will keep Watch by your weary head We weren’t escaping like Bonnie …