Wednesday 29 June 2011

Life goes on...

Many apologies to our regular Blog followers for the recent gap in postings.

Just recently, there's not been a lot of interest going on to report...

I suppose I could tell you about the new glasses I've just bought from Specsavers.... I think they'll be OK, but they are super-clever varifocals, and apparently they need to fit exactly right on my nose and ears before I can see exactly right, and we are not quite there yet....

Then, I suppose you just might be slightly interested to learn how I have been coping with EVERYTHING (including 4 miles of dog walks every day) while Sue has been away visiting her Mum for over a week...

Or... I could tell you about all the weeds I have been tweaking out from in between my baby veg plants on the allotment...

... or the lawn mowing...

... or the ironing...!!!

But really - life goes on, just the same, and just as much here as everywhere else on the planet.  I promise we'll do our best to post something interesting soon...!!!

Friday 10 June 2011

The allotment needs its own blog!

I took a couple of photos of the Roskhill allotment today, and then immediately realised that, if only for my own records, I should be photographically recording every significant event that takes place there. If I can find the time, I'll look into adding an allotment-specific page to this blog. If I can't find an easy way to do it, I might start a new blog. just detailing everything I do on the plot. It'll be useful for me, and just might be of interest so someone else out there too! Here's today's photos from Roskhill:


Can you believe that view...???


Incidentally - I also currently have use of another bit of land on a building plot in nearby Harlosh. There, the soil is wet and heavy boulder clay, and there are rabbits... Aargh!!!  But I am having fun trying to see if I can successfully grow any vegetables on the site. My first planting of sprouts were rapidly devoured by the bunnies, so sprout-protection is now in place... I think potatoes would do well there, but I was a bit too late this year to get any planted.

Thursday 9 June 2011

Ben Tianavaig - a great walk

Anyone who has visited Skye is likely to have gazed upon the triangular mountain that rises to the right of Loch Portree. This is Ben Tianavaig. The hill is also prominently visible from Braes, and from one of the bedroom windows at one of our cottages - Aird View. Here's Ben Tianavaig seen from the beach close to Aird View:

Finally, a couple of days ago, the time and weather were right, and I took a walk up the hill. Wow! It's wonderful! The most difficult bit is finding the start of the path in Camustianavaig township - well, I can now tell you, it's right by the post box! The climb starts at sea level and rises some 1,300 feet to the summit. There are a few steepish sections, but mostly the gradient is comfortable. Best of all, there are no burns to ford, and no seriously boggy bits either. Once out of the bracken forest at the start, the going is over short springy grass, and the views are just sensational. My photographs don't do them justice, but enjoy...


There is a traceable path all the way up


The summit is at the top left of this picture


Aird View is approximately in the centre of this picture...!!!


Just look at how far you have come...


The summit, with the Cuillin beyond


Looking north from the summit to The Storr