tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71579791469747011242024-03-13T04:36:22.788+00:00Skye Calling Stories and comments about life on the Isle of Skye, ScotlandRichard Dorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04755395461723610728noreply@blogger.comBlogger608125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-81248793842431443942023-03-09T21:03:00.003+00:002023-03-09T21:03:53.055+00:00JANUARY SNOW IN STRATHPEFFER<div style="text-align: center;"> As always all the seasons of the year are a surprise especially more recently</div><div style="text-align: center;">with the insidious formal creeping of global warming.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Mid January I was over in Strathpeffer, later joined my friend, Lesley.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Unfortunately our visit was untimely with the arrival of snow </div><div style="text-align: center;">- and lots of it over a period of several days. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are a few photographs to illustrate on what scale 'the white stuff' descended!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisH-cQTo7CmNmGTY_YwbbTeEs0bXMRWZQuJgH4Cpz2YodHfYEK49A5rAeqz9tGdZ1PZ4ApTyvTdrR6mA5PMMMcVVNVqV3wVEK-IlhoYBqxRRP7vK-ywUMFNQ_r_TsJKs4yhtqW5HQvTKjJG3hIr_GK4QbLlHpixcJR7vuWO2PZ2xa02pQ0OAS0W_bh/s4640/IMG_20221121_082957.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2610" data-original-width="4640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisH-cQTo7CmNmGTY_YwbbTeEs0bXMRWZQuJgH4Cpz2YodHfYEK49A5rAeqz9tGdZ1PZ4ApTyvTdrR6mA5PMMMcVVNVqV3wVEK-IlhoYBqxRRP7vK-ywUMFNQ_r_TsJKs4yhtqW5HQvTKjJG3hIr_GK4QbLlHpixcJR7vuWO2PZ2xa02pQ0OAS0W_bh/w400-h225/IMG_20221121_082957.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span><br /></span><span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>Can you believe that we saw this Clematis flower on a cold frosty walk around </div><div>Strrathpeffer Station the day before?</div><div>The following day it came down in earnest whilst over in Inverness on 16th; it snowed for 6 hours!</div><div>Below is Lesley initially enjoying the novelty!!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFhMrl-JLhdkKTsGh5ISpnbKV2nUYZGxOHRSKAYKngqow3RLhnvJn1WUfOyz8tuRyzigUN0k1nQ7nuC302bolhCGDYTF37JZVWOyWCMCVjfkEIQKFooD0VP5QAWSi143hN0MnjL9BthdmMj9ObfL1WLCuWPWmVzkNqWI6IweisEi9JQeHj-C3u4W1/s4640/IMG_20230116_150946.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2610" data-original-width="4640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFhMrl-JLhdkKTsGh5ISpnbKV2nUYZGxOHRSKAYKngqow3RLhnvJn1WUfOyz8tuRyzigUN0k1nQ7nuC302bolhCGDYTF37JZVWOyWCMCVjfkEIQKFooD0VP5QAWSi143hN0MnjL9BthdmMj9ObfL1WLCuWPWmVzkNqWI6IweisEi9JQeHj-C3u4W1/w400-h225/IMG_20230116_150946.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>The next day I was out and about with my phone 'capturing' special moments!</div><div>The photo below was actually taken from the kitchen window at The Bakery;</div><div>Brrrr, it makes me feel cold just looking at it!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1gZTtz1xfm1aKRW7eTqq231-4NTp_9BiHFPm8A_6CFbJKKTltmGPin_PEJ9IqPIn86ovbOpqypEiuKXaMWgKDadLGbkyK0-gMluuKUF-HbwVDmPzFkj8Qzps0_zZQsczFgRYqQ22vDvJIGh-yTJkPIN3S2xvdIiMfFsScndRyuIWBdx7g_DYkQhS/s4640/IMG_20230116_090815.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2610" data-original-width="4640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1gZTtz1xfm1aKRW7eTqq231-4NTp_9BiHFPm8A_6CFbJKKTltmGPin_PEJ9IqPIn86ovbOpqypEiuKXaMWgKDadLGbkyK0-gMluuKUF-HbwVDmPzFkj8Qzps0_zZQsczFgRYqQ22vDvJIGh-yTJkPIN3S2xvdIiMfFsScndRyuIWBdx7g_DYkQhS/w400-h225/IMG_20230116_090815.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately our plans to travel back to Skye the following day faded fast</div><div>as the snow continued to fall! </div><div>We were marooned there until 20th which was both frustrating but quite enjoyable.</div><div>As the snow continued to fall my phone and I became great friends... :)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1C15ZZt-O2Ybgr3hmzjEnITKYc322ddb_Z_KkDc-ccy21s0sTB6VPfkS9quP7vbbzAHZJ1ZVnZl6y2z1_PneXfBbYQgAsrDtbvEa58KcovFQPXxfUJ0Ak31AaVDZKgpXhKgtQWetW0Q2s7WdH1BLoTJhHqy3SVN67E8y4NNBF1_fNpU-l6P31w9q/s4640/IMG_20230117_082744.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2610" data-original-width="4640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1C15ZZt-O2Ybgr3hmzjEnITKYc322ddb_Z_KkDc-ccy21s0sTB6VPfkS9quP7vbbzAHZJ1ZVnZl6y2z1_PneXfBbYQgAsrDtbvEa58KcovFQPXxfUJ0Ak31AaVDZKgpXhKgtQWetW0Q2s7WdH1BLoTJhHqy3SVN67E8y4NNBF1_fNpU-l6P31w9q/w400-h225/IMG_20230117_082744.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Above is the view from the back door of 'The Old Bakery.'</div><div style="text-align: center;">The snow was c. 10/11" deep but the effect was really quite stunning!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDf1gvaVOB6PKgRynTiWRalxfwG5NIRXc0hSqUX2RCOki94Zhdoebjpk7imPLoLDP0GO3h_6cfileEmz_iqekW2PsF7gnwgo4-PBswdUYkMIpykU_UzCM4iKUg_HWsWXzGiQA_wTlMc1D-V9e3D5ryKIZLsLHGi-AOzbOerstkn2napgVIQ9kXp57O/s4501/IMG_20230117_083143.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2531" data-original-width="4501" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDf1gvaVOB6PKgRynTiWRalxfwG5NIRXc0hSqUX2RCOki94Zhdoebjpk7imPLoLDP0GO3h_6cfileEmz_iqekW2PsF7gnwgo4-PBswdUYkMIpykU_UzCM4iKUg_HWsWXzGiQA_wTlMc1D-V9e3D5ryKIZLsLHGi-AOzbOerstkn2napgVIQ9kXp57O/w400-h225/IMG_20230117_083143.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A walk further down away from the village gave me this wonderful vision</div><div style="text-align: center;">of snow encrusted natural and man made surfaces.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzPDYSxmqLxTe9O03CCdGM5xtKiLyhTsVPR7TmoXDtQD74oC212ok1xF5WVQZyOAM-1edI8uawKNKz64WpxHHDqRUCPEREZTIUfEn2r67ymH9d_XMKwHLNKodqwJq3geD5uisFbHOe4-kAk8pUzXJfMKPcXhhqw9ggkokD5amUZckdVeR72LRrTyh/s4640/IMG_20230117_083712.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2610" data-original-width="4640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzPDYSxmqLxTe9O03CCdGM5xtKiLyhTsVPR7TmoXDtQD74oC212ok1xF5WVQZyOAM-1edI8uawKNKz64WpxHHDqRUCPEREZTIUfEn2r67ymH9d_XMKwHLNKodqwJq3geD5uisFbHOe4-kAk8pUzXJfMKPcXhhqw9ggkokD5amUZckdVeR72LRrTyh/w400-h225/IMG_20230117_083712.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Above the Strathpeffer shops with snow encrusted vehicles outside!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Amazingly most of the shops were still open too.....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWFjDiD31Lk-1NgJzmZhnts2XlJmDJ6QynNgIFUSS4WvcGz-RX2A4pulKD2-FdFz0GlRoGBn45GKhLJRLLUQRIzPadvLT-0qOl_NhJfAQQSlSXLPGYBiazWExE87IwStnLueSqp884yo7hVuBJdxoL7dXKUbl0E8YDnGspPxOEFyeSJ95AHWrbpwg/s4640/IMG_20230116_191424.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2610" data-original-width="4640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWFjDiD31Lk-1NgJzmZhnts2XlJmDJ6QynNgIFUSS4WvcGz-RX2A4pulKD2-FdFz0GlRoGBn45GKhLJRLLUQRIzPadvLT-0qOl_NhJfAQQSlSXLPGYBiazWExE87IwStnLueSqp884yo7hVuBJdxoL7dXKUbl0E8YDnGspPxOEFyeSJ95AHWrbpwg/w400-h225/IMG_20230116_191424.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A little later .. (actually about 1030 one evening) I took off again with my phone!</div><div style="text-align: center;">The village streetlights enabled me to 'capture' these temporarily snow drenched views....</div><div style="text-align: center;">How beautiful were the trees and hedges sparkling in their snow coatings -</div><div style="text-align: center;">courtesy of the old Victorian streetlights. Really quite magical and SO quiet!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlobI2fMUioSemdDYACfqf_RRCK_k83N9TJTTm-1gZbrnucikA1KvDQoK1bXsJ9TmYfVDD-GqodFUOP3LSn4jmE-fxqp2On1PGZ_k8RV942SuziJMwGHy5tmJGvM2NmGJqIucmdi_4fQ0aabk5Th7dTy7mSK-BragbySQmc4YslmGhPeeLp-I_yYL/s4640/IMG_20230116_191438.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2610" data-original-width="4640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlobI2fMUioSemdDYACfqf_RRCK_k83N9TJTTm-1gZbrnucikA1KvDQoK1bXsJ9TmYfVDD-GqodFUOP3LSn4jmE-fxqp2On1PGZ_k8RV942SuziJMwGHy5tmJGvM2NmGJqIucmdi_4fQ0aabk5Th7dTy7mSK-BragbySQmc4YslmGhPeeLp-I_yYL/w400-h225/IMG_20230116_191438.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>...... I was the only nutter going for a walk at that time of night</div><div style="text-align: center;">but it was certainly worth it despite the sub zero temperatures and my soggy, leaking shoes!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Below, any Cromartie House residents just happening to look out of their windows</div><div style="text-align: center;">would have had a fabulous view of the snowy surroundings in the lamplight.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5o1nHC0EI-0XmA3g0HPDy0wWqoRmKtm02el8bp8cJEstL8vY6lB1cxnUhD8mDWej_JUmMR9_YDpWjteXVaGMGNFynsIyfPh5Yp7YDt1dktq-Nm1GAeHGh2_cpjGg68hKpOsG8h2_Shk2K_XnGDvsJhHaUcgJkWLollXiB_HgquEoKOOT7rXH-h0_f/s4640/IMG_20230116_191704.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2610" data-original-width="4640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5o1nHC0EI-0XmA3g0HPDy0wWqoRmKtm02el8bp8cJEstL8vY6lB1cxnUhD8mDWej_JUmMR9_YDpWjteXVaGMGNFynsIyfPh5Yp7YDt1dktq-Nm1GAeHGh2_cpjGg68hKpOsG8h2_Shk2K_XnGDvsJhHaUcgJkWLollXiB_HgquEoKOOT7rXH-h0_f/w400-h225/IMG_20230116_191704.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But perhaps my favourite photograph is this one below.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was taken the following day and the view is simply a snow covered garden</div><div style="text-align: center;">seen over the top of an ornamental wrought iron gate. A breathtaking view.......</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY03ITG-sEXQ27jmeYnZtfZZMHeZOhx7mxEqECAvZXncIV561CPrx6hHQAXf5aimyRVT3okHqxA8JcaKFnYAslaNmf90Ll3nVnpTAQow4Bmya0TmRYPzhKF74JojMRzuK7rd3eYoYHw8UYuwPeRx7UbXf0r3LtzPJb6yNfls8MpJdLrGFrSt9dtsKB/s4640/IMG_20230117_083206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2610" data-original-width="4640" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY03ITG-sEXQ27jmeYnZtfZZMHeZOhx7mxEqECAvZXncIV561CPrx6hHQAXf5aimyRVT3okHqxA8JcaKFnYAslaNmf90Ll3nVnpTAQow4Bmya0TmRYPzhKF74JojMRzuK7rd3eYoYHw8UYuwPeRx7UbXf0r3LtzPJb6yNfls8MpJdLrGFrSt9dtsKB/w640-h360/IMG_20230117_083206.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, the joys of Mother Nature and global warming eh? :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Back soon .....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17183938766924894616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-24492453683549035532023-02-09T19:25:00.000+00:002023-02-09T19:25:38.589+00:00<p style="text-align: center;">BACK AGAIN!</p><div style="text-align: center;">My apologies this blog post has been a long time coming!</div><div style="text-align: center;">I just cannot believe where the months have gone and appreciate </div><div style="text-align: center;">in the meantime that past readers might well be wondering</div><div style="text-align: center;">if this would ever get off the ground again!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Well it has and it's going to continue :) </div><div style="text-align: center;">I believe that Richard would have wanted it to be so</div><div style="text-align: center;">- as life on Skye continues for the lovely Cupar and myself!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxkbGUqwmrdGDWULrtDuJdbDyRYksMj7mMVlRjcLSkwF5n-eQob_j5gTJZhOD7h1zgeV8g4pD4qkcJiocwl5fBimCmaQhnMWYjwcrKQs5VCR17fIYGiIQHS61lz3BPrKzo_kBWwpTj7t6ZDyOVeGELaCdp9UeYdsuwmmSQpsUsE6X9VOMEBFkSNPZ/s4640/IMG_20220417_183512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2610" data-original-width="4640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxkbGUqwmrdGDWULrtDuJdbDyRYksMj7mMVlRjcLSkwF5n-eQob_j5gTJZhOD7h1zgeV8g4pD4qkcJiocwl5fBimCmaQhnMWYjwcrKQs5VCR17fIYGiIQHS61lz3BPrKzo_kBWwpTj7t6ZDyOVeGELaCdp9UeYdsuwmmSQpsUsE6X9VOMEBFkSNPZ/w400-h225/IMG_20220417_183512.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It's been both a very difficult and anxious time but there have been </div><div style="text-align: center;">some relaxing interludes with special friends as well as my lovely sister Helen.</div><div style="text-align: center;">She and I spent several days together back in the summer </div><div style="text-align: center;">over at The Old Bakery in Strathpeffer.... </div><div style="text-align: center;">Most days saw us out for a walk even if it was an amble down </div><div style="text-align: center;">the beautiful streets in the village....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7wWdTFGkJT7XafQXZo9lvw42LcihVZW1eHgCk6ytLCrtly_eRs2m8R7_s58J8wAeeVhucO4TJzFoy25l5lEG6B0X05ht2C6Oq5Qn_jJAVhv-PG0bnOzt0V6DCcA1it5dC4KpgzaBw2su-Tzp-vzz0zOTA6POjY_TMG5JcQLwpdEzgJ762yDuA5opq/s4640/IMG_20220412_111802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2610" data-original-width="4640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7wWdTFGkJT7XafQXZo9lvw42LcihVZW1eHgCk6ytLCrtly_eRs2m8R7_s58J8wAeeVhucO4TJzFoy25l5lEG6B0X05ht2C6Oq5Qn_jJAVhv-PG0bnOzt0V6DCcA1it5dC4KpgzaBw2su-Tzp-vzz0zOTA6POjY_TMG5JcQLwpdEzgJ762yDuA5opq/w400-h225/IMG_20220412_111802.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Above Big Sis with Cupar by the Pavilion.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Below a view of the village shops with the The Highland Hotel looming in the background!</div><div style="text-align: center;">This dates back to 1896 and was used during the First World War </div><div style="text-align: center;">for wounded Servicemen.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxlgte0-pm9b2sfnEGXy1BKX4B3c4klCzmLrO9fMEGa5M2eGOSP5IPkmqeC3dZu-jYkzJtu8-DoYY2mSqEbHbQ4RBnwq7ad5UmMQ4MZCEkz4-kKY3NTUBY-D2Adit4fiemIS9QJzI3d-1-CAW5NhVX6O6EUvlERXcnGBxZOe_YBl9yFheSHq-TesW/s4640/IMG_20220421_074045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2610" data-original-width="4640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxlgte0-pm9b2sfnEGXy1BKX4B3c4klCzmLrO9fMEGa5M2eGOSP5IPkmqeC3dZu-jYkzJtu8-DoYY2mSqEbHbQ4RBnwq7ad5UmMQ4MZCEkz4-kKY3NTUBY-D2Adit4fiemIS9QJzI3d-1-CAW5NhVX6O6EUvlERXcnGBxZOe_YBl9yFheSHq-TesW/w400-h225/IMG_20220421_074045.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div>.... and how could we NOT resist the temptations of a </div><div>cream tea down at the Railway Cafe!</div><div>The tea and scones with homemade strawberry jam were just amazing!</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL19mex7lq_wVsloSmCTZGSzyGTwNct47yxJWZHq5QtD23K1t9Zmf3oGZCeIBW9MeeLog8yxggSu85ZQ40dKnqz_ygjEv58hQciMdZ0Uep04b3uoiIojLy8lKsp_-B8EiNQCLSNjO4H4Ih7iCrfTPghpqMkpe9MtcJq1FGYRM8jdO-fY5thJpz_NCu/s4640/IMG_20220424_160439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2610" data-original-width="4640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL19mex7lq_wVsloSmCTZGSzyGTwNct47yxJWZHq5QtD23K1t9Zmf3oGZCeIBW9MeeLog8yxggSu85ZQ40dKnqz_ygjEv58hQciMdZ0Uep04b3uoiIojLy8lKsp_-B8EiNQCLSNjO4H4Ih7iCrfTPghpqMkpe9MtcJq1FGYRM8jdO-fY5thJpz_NCu/w400-h225/IMG_20220424_160439.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>We also had a stroll down towards the grounds of Castle Leod shown above.</div><div>This magnificent building has been the seat of Clan Mackenzie for </div><div>the last 500 years and is definitely worth a visit!</div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2610" data-original-width="4640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzMFBPPCgHqvxRrE_eRJUW0cAp6lcwLdalbmLHeGoW4DY1KiX5ioNvHthHEoFWqRRf9YDq9tt8gOOJVR3CKPQJI7quq2XgxYadCLoDbw6zQVGc0C7JvzU1aWBmyTdXG0aMU7ru9EwvK8NvMKuqrAB88B-84f824YtBNRMuPRZjxNEDCeXYrZVLSBy/w400-h225/IMG_20220418_131431.jpg" width="400" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Finally, below is a photograph looking towards Knockfarrel - </div><div style="text-align: center;">a picturesque Iron Age Hill Fort close to the town of Dingwall.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Richard and I climbed up it twice; </div><div style="text-align: center;">once back in 2006 whilst staying down the road at Rose Cottage </div><div style="text-align: center;">about two miles away from Strathpeffer and then again c.2020 </div><div style="text-align: center;">accommpanied by our energetic pooch, Cupar!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHDcGE3c15Y64yEfaxJWzpdFCpG01agVKaJnFgb-61w0eT64WbeN_b6BJZFGMAv9yhLVj0pjsnHLWg2SyC9uWsipVOTa_55R4IoBeAfjUGgohIdCzqaBpuEDJpuFMH0Brp11bdNmf0jkjnzzaqqCngLhPwKnZUKsb9IFBoiOjbvin7-TEBhRDZs7F/s4640/IMG_20220418_080524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2610" data-original-width="4640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHDcGE3c15Y64yEfaxJWzpdFCpG01agVKaJnFgb-61w0eT64WbeN_b6BJZFGMAv9yhLVj0pjsnHLWg2SyC9uWsipVOTa_55R4IoBeAfjUGgohIdCzqaBpuEDJpuFMH0Brp11bdNmf0jkjnzzaqqCngLhPwKnZUKsb9IFBoiOjbvin7-TEBhRDZs7F/w400-h225/IMG_20220418_080524.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are magnificent views from the top I can assure you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's well worth the climb! :) </div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz82OqUnX7KIPXWxzuLmLcFj3fQ8gH_nabqGokaJXEYJAFcE-DXnsxOcmulvGzLJuWXNoV-JnFM8qrfT9rUXfEDIrPixy0XwENJD6MEXcfY6CBeanu3CFZCZXIQ2XoCdSh9u-bif3sRRZRd3Pfck4wTYs4AYHMhS10R-zwwsfR9nSdxIoA3Cf8cwyR/s4239/IMG_20210316_160647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2381" data-original-width="4239" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz82OqUnX7KIPXWxzuLmLcFj3fQ8gH_nabqGokaJXEYJAFcE-DXnsxOcmulvGzLJuWXNoV-JnFM8qrfT9rUXfEDIrPixy0XwENJD6MEXcfY6CBeanu3CFZCZXIQ2XoCdSh9u-bif3sRRZRd3Pfck4wTYs4AYHMhS10R-zwwsfR9nSdxIoA3Cf8cwyR/w400-h225/IMG_20210316_160647.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17183938766924894616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-43250839375810677772022-06-05T12:05:00.000+01:002022-06-05T12:05:49.956+01:00<p style="text-align: center;"> 'REMEMBERING RICHARD'</p><div style="text-align: center;">My apologies for the long silence on this blog.</div><div style="text-align: center;">However, I am now returning and intend to do so for the future as I just know Richard </div><div style="text-align: center;">would be delighted to know of it's continuation....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowr9UE73swJsbarmvIuRS7-jnStFJxGbPAHMWRDbC3wGgmGZD96Fkl7H6y77OL7ezmHnP0P_t5lDku0k3XTpsBhENXRoDhOQGrGlkeZF-TrS7taCaArXGr4i8gIv2wsxxRap8qT88B9y-JH8QdHRsVATKfd9581_P48tTanSldRAQjGT6W0vftLE7/s2304/DSCF0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2304" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowr9UE73swJsbarmvIuRS7-jnStFJxGbPAHMWRDbC3wGgmGZD96Fkl7H6y77OL7ezmHnP0P_t5lDku0k3XTpsBhENXRoDhOQGrGlkeZF-TrS7taCaArXGr4i8gIv2wsxxRap8qT88B9y-JH8QdHRsVATKfd9581_P48tTanSldRAQjGT6W0vftLE7/w400-h300/DSCF0011.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Life has been hectic for the past few weeks.</div><div style="text-align: center;">According to his wishes Richard was cremated earlier this month and </div><div style="text-align: center;">instead of one of the more traditional Services I organised </div><div style="text-align: center;">that family and close friends got together up at Summer Cottage last Tuesday 31st May.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Images of Richard throughout the years here on Skye and photographs </div><div style="text-align: center;">from his very early years until more recently were dotted about the cottage </div><div style="text-align: center;">whilst his favourite music - including his beloved 'Dire Straits' - were </div><div style="text-align: center;">audible in the background throughout.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was wonderful! I related many of my own memories of our 26 years</div><div style="text-align: center;">together and gradually many others were also shared whilst we sat </div><div style="text-align: center;">enjoying the warmth of the atmosphere plus the tea and home baking!</div><div style="text-align: center;">He would have loved it - and somehow I do feel that he did!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXnuk-j_RNwBoakvJdBF8F-9PrHqLaSBs3EkaFxZN9Hk9iIxDxotVoKaU7Hlu8LYLwOxHSeN4F9iuD5e5qzXZURyH5gMLJ8NhYiXKZqHKNv77pGAT5QO6nsRuHFO2ddN2Ogh07oBTq_RilQ_7Cj0mk7lzBcp5fJf9devk6Wb2KvoA7M8Mb6DUUWU1/s1852/DSCF0064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="1852" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXnuk-j_RNwBoakvJdBF8F-9PrHqLaSBs3EkaFxZN9Hk9iIxDxotVoKaU7Hlu8LYLwOxHSeN4F9iuD5e5qzXZURyH5gMLJ8NhYiXKZqHKNv77pGAT5QO6nsRuHFO2ddN2Ogh07oBTq_RilQ_7Cj0mk7lzBcp5fJf9devk6Wb2KvoA7M8Mb6DUUWU1/w400-h238/DSCF0064.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Afterwards his ashes were taken down to Roskhill Barn where </div><div style="text-align: center;">some were sprinkled underneath the wee oak tree that he planted </div><div style="text-align: center;">on our allotment ten years ago. This was also his desired wish.............</div><div style="text-align: center;">whilst the remainder will be poured into the River Roskhill from where </div><div style="text-align: center;">they will drift into the sea around this beautiful island that he loved so much.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Fy7HFmu2Yk1ZLTdF9cOG7KtwdySu7Pprhrlkr7bSbH1au3XWEpGYDJhHoHVVCOxZHGp8kTC6Ue-ygK-X3duIbnwEyUm-FTYU35DkCQ7aMOOAGfSSi6jOAqedwD-pi7O9zzqZEMov-GLS3tJX7PK33uXL10hiENjw_yRd04W5U_Rtb33Vb7gPaJHv/s2304/DSCF0066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2304" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Fy7HFmu2Yk1ZLTdF9cOG7KtwdySu7Pprhrlkr7bSbH1au3XWEpGYDJhHoHVVCOxZHGp8kTC6Ue-ygK-X3duIbnwEyUm-FTYU35DkCQ7aMOOAGfSSi6jOAqedwD-pi7O9zzqZEMov-GLS3tJX7PK33uXL10hiENjw_yRd04W5U_Rtb33Vb7gPaJHv/w400-h300/DSCF0066.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Above Richard and dearest Basil relaxing in our lounge back in 2010</div><div style="text-align: center;">following a long afternoon walk in Dunvegan Woods!</div><div style="text-align: center;">The other two above were also taken that same year - the top one</div><div style="text-align: center;">in our garden and the other whilst on a walk over near Neist Point </div><div style="text-align: center;">on a fabulous summer's day!! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17183938766924894616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-40943041720801132072022-05-09T08:01:00.000+01:002022-05-09T08:01:14.581+01:00<div style="text-align: center;"> FAREWELL MY LOVE </div><div style="text-align: center;">It is with great sadness and regret </div><div style="text-align: center;">that I have to announce the passing of my wonderful Richard,</div><div style="text-align: center;">- greatest friend, companion and husband </div><div style="text-align: center;">for the past 26 years!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was with him that I shared much laughter, happiness,</div><div style="text-align: center;">life in both Kent and then living the dream up here on the magical Isle of Skye</div><div style="text-align: center;">for the past 13 years where we operated both a successful B&B </div><div style="text-align: center;">and our holiday cottage business.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We loved each other, the work and the times we shared together.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you Richard SO much for all the dreams we were able to fulfill.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You will be greatly missed.....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqnWtcYGKmzPej4zxSEFKVk_l-Hxi9y-08SCoMWhEIXA2iUBCfqALln4yhMMDIk0ULvg60RxZNO3j95D1yaiKH0Ux0oe0ZKstorr8Ugx_vPTOaCkyesdCWsprMtazU-FJsz1pcfDILE3JE9Thzqd4oRpjsAx6cQHeDzD_c4a0akaicMFWqx2zCKPpW/s1969/P1010267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1969" data-original-width="1788" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqnWtcYGKmzPej4zxSEFKVk_l-Hxi9y-08SCoMWhEIXA2iUBCfqALln4yhMMDIk0ULvg60RxZNO3j95D1yaiKH0Ux0oe0ZKstorr8Ugx_vPTOaCkyesdCWsprMtazU-FJsz1pcfDILE3JE9Thzqd4oRpjsAx6cQHeDzD_c4a0akaicMFWqx2zCKPpW/s320/P1010267.JPG" width="291" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Richard on his birthday in 2011 !!</div><div style="text-align: center;">The grin says it all :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">(18.3.1951 - 8.5.2022)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><blockquote><span style="text-align: left;"> <span></span></span></blockquote></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><p></p></blockquote>Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17183938766924894616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-58346536660337468092022-04-17T11:53:00.004+01:002022-04-17T11:55:41.241+01:00Still Here!<p>I am going through quite a journey. </p><p>There are not many absolute certainties in life, though one of them is that life will one day end. It hits hard when one learns that the end is suddenly going to be rather sooner that one might have expected.</p><p>Since my last post here, around two weeks ago, I have undergone numerous tests and procedures, and I am roughly half way through a course of intensive radiotherapy. The aim of the therapy is to shrink the tumour that is blocking my throat. Progress is slow, and I am still unable to swallow. I am receiving nutrition, fluids and most mediation via pumps through a tube directly into my stomach. None of this is pleasant, so I will dwell on it no further.</p><p>The hospital I am in is Raigmore, Inverness. It was largely built about 50 years ago, and with some 450 beds, the hospital is the largest in the Highlands. In spite of media stories about the dire state of the NHS, I can only say that the quality of care that I am receiving is of the highest standard. I have my own private room, with my own loo, shower and lights. There is even a nice view to distant forests and mountains out of the window. I certainly feel confident that if anything is going to give me a longer go at this life, then the staff and facilities at this hospital are going to do it with me.</p><p>It is something of an understatement to say that my presence here is a life changing experience. In such a short space of time, my world has been turned inside out and upside down, and I have to come to terms with nothing ever being the same again. My cancer is incurable. My eventual demise is inevitable, but what is happening now is hopefully buying me some extra weeks, maybe months. Plans that Sue and I were forming to slow-down the cottage bookings and eventually close down our holiday business, have been brought forward. Sadly for many of our visitors, we have had to cancel bookings, though hopefully most will be able to rebook elsewhere fairly readily.</p><p>I understand that in my absence from Roskhill, the Potting Shed greenhouse is now complete. I look forward to seeing that as soon as I can! While I am here, my wonderful wife, Sue, and Cupar of course, are staying at our little Strathpeffer cottage, which is just 20 miles from here - what a good thing we bought that when we did! Sue is being magnificently supported by her sister, Helen, who has selflessly put her life on hold and has pledged to stay in Scotland with Sue 'as long as she is needed' - which is a further reassurance for me.</p><p>So, for today, and every day henceforth, my number 1 aim will be to remain determined and positive for the future. I will report back again as and when there is something to report!</p><p><br /></p>Richard Dorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04755395461723610728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-74146723909405923932022-04-05T10:30:00.001+01:002022-04-05T10:30:37.840+01:00Thank you!<p> It is so lovely to receive your kind and generous comments following on from my last post. They are all so unexpected and very much appreciated.</p>Richard Dorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04755395461723610728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-5544003887408052052022-04-04T10:56:00.004+01:002022-04-09T18:31:01.960+01:00Illness<div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Reflecting on things now, it is
apparent that I have enjoyed a charmed life when it comes to being ill. Growing
up in the 1950s, I succumbed to most of the then normal childhood diseases
like measles and whooping cough - little heard of today. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">But in adult hood, other
than a scattering of the colds that teachers are especially prone to catching, serious
illness has almost never come my way.</span></div><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span>Things have begun to fall apart rather badly now though.</span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span>I am slowly typing this post on my unfamiliar mobile phone while sitting in a hospital ward awaiting the start of radiotherapy to attempt to slow the spread of an incurable and aggressive cancer in my throat.</span></span></p><p>I had always imagined that I would outlive my lovely Dad, who made it to 82. It seems l am going to miss that target by quite a margin with my life expectancy measured in months rather than years. </p><div style="text-align: left;">It's a very scary time. I'll be having some chats with Sue. I will attempt to post updates as we plan our new way forward.</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Richard Dorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04755395461723610728noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-31184929475208498222022-02-23T17:02:00.006+00:002022-02-23T17:06:05.754+00:00The Latest 200 XMF<p>I have just changed my car again. My 5 year old BMW X3 has been replaced by a nearly-new Volvo V90 - the Cross Country edition, with slightly raised suspension and permanent 4-wheel drive. This car has Volvo's B5 mild-hybrid diesel engine, producing about 40bhp more than the X3, and the electric boost adds a little more oomph when accelerating. So it is quicker, smoother and also quieter than the car I have replaced. Cupar seems to like the huge boot.</p><p>In keeping with what has become a tradition, the Volvo is now wearing my 200 XMF number plate. I think it is the now the eighth vehicle to bear this registration. The plate was originally assigned to a 1959 Peerless GT which I owned from about 1994 to 2003. When I sold the Peerless, it was to someone who planned to permanently export the car, so I asked the prospective new owner if he would be happy for me to keep the plate. (As it happened, the Peerless stayed in the UK, but that is a different story). So, the plate has been on all of my 'everyday' vehicles since that time.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3aBRCdFsx8317F9Ic4__64eruIWC2UtNQ7uL04KMEVSUDjcNNuuU7YEVNIcIOr6nV59xdlAadrikbW4K1hvlRWrEEXzVRL6IevHFaRBx2-qraH2LZlezWwzf8f8GWs31zBn3ivn4_a_o0MItMxx2VL_NUKDrqbvHb1pQwew0neOloFuQG93wKtAgf5g=s4592" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="4592" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3aBRCdFsx8317F9Ic4__64eruIWC2UtNQ7uL04KMEVSUDjcNNuuU7YEVNIcIOr6nV59xdlAadrikbW4K1hvlRWrEEXzVRL6IevHFaRBx2-qraH2LZlezWwzf8f8GWs31zBn3ivn4_a_o0MItMxx2VL_NUKDrqbvHb1pQwew0neOloFuQG93wKtAgf5g=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The latest 200 XMF</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Richard Dorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04755395461723610728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-89575965560548816772022-02-19T16:58:00.005+00:002022-02-19T16:58:44.732+00:00DorrellPots Creaks Into Life<p>It's a start - a slow one, but a start. Since our garden room 'Potting Shed' became a viable workshop, I have gradually gathered together a collection of pottery making tools plus other odds and ends. The kiln is installed, and has had its initial (empty) firing, recommended for new kilns. I am still short of a few items, but have at last squished a bit of clay, and can now introduce you to Pot-The-Pig - the first clay item I have made in some 25 years.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhn37G1LN9dM-cvC0e0SxgsBoxQR3DOgcp0-GI7l1E_NN55Qw3d5vR1vkGPi3baKX-8nxn2xn8Il4U0RlYMZVS_jpbPl2f4hcogPq-bSOXA9FIPAJ-t59YDfL60m3hm0VqQOTR__DzMY1C-bMyHt6way55BgdGVYWGmvzrE9FlZg8SzlsnivQl-0IM_Wg=s3056" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3053" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhn37G1LN9dM-cvC0e0SxgsBoxQR3DOgcp0-GI7l1E_NN55Qw3d5vR1vkGPi3baKX-8nxn2xn8Il4U0RlYMZVS_jpbPl2f4hcogPq-bSOXA9FIPAJ-t59YDfL60m3hm0VqQOTR__DzMY1C-bMyHt6way55BgdGVYWGmvzrE9FlZg8SzlsnivQl-0IM_Wg=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pot-The-Pig still awaits final fettling and a glaze of some kind.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />But for now, mostly. I am still getting 'ready'. I have made a few (rather poor) plaster-of-paris moulds, with which I would hope to easily produce some plates and bowls. I clearly need to work more on my mould-making technique. I also need to find a bulk supplier of powdered plaster - it is expensive to buy in small quantities. I haven't bought any glazes yet, either...!<div><br /></div><div>Here's the production corner of the worktop as it looks today. You can see I have also made a small model of Puss the Jaguar. I might tackle a larger and more accurate one at some time.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlEEpptu2mlkhsYkZOthlF72_ci3maQSM9WE1u0x0Z4mQZsr1fnm30JOCFSdgV8m48HyVoaS5MXkuycdEWJjsiefgDpR-CNzQpbc8D4TaW_3Kxc9KS6SqTOQrKiXT7fGTXCbsf_nOm7nMuNaVcoO5JbU66MyKmGFsLvJgTEcCbFr-QlXHb767KsppZuw=s4319" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2874" data-original-width="4319" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlEEpptu2mlkhsYkZOthlF72_ci3maQSM9WE1u0x0Z4mQZsr1fnm30JOCFSdgV8m48HyVoaS5MXkuycdEWJjsiefgDpR-CNzQpbc8D4TaW_3Kxc9KS6SqTOQrKiXT7fGTXCbsf_nOm7nMuNaVcoO5JbU66MyKmGFsLvJgTEcCbFr-QlXHb767KsppZuw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pots and moulds</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzDs3aTz8n8U8cAQC8mKbq0TycpVmO8vxdJ9AibH-KgFv9CVAMNp09Dwo7uEMc2fdOWwG0Lymu5MQY9DT62UNWrJbTLSgmUoYXncxvxhwg2elGC2Gh9rHGyuRuodTjqH0Xrb6RovnW173tVCbzbyujodrmuc4sHLfwNuQuFlJ8uZQg_AOAtg368UOLQQ=s4213" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2804" data-original-width="4213" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzDs3aTz8n8U8cAQC8mKbq0TycpVmO8vxdJ9AibH-KgFv9CVAMNp09Dwo7uEMc2fdOWwG0Lymu5MQY9DT62UNWrJbTLSgmUoYXncxvxhwg2elGC2Gh9rHGyuRuodTjqH0Xrb6RovnW173tVCbzbyujodrmuc4sHLfwNuQuFlJ8uZQg_AOAtg368UOLQQ=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking busier!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Richard Dorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04755395461723610728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-55592644107344557102022-02-01T09:12:00.004+00:002022-02-01T09:12:58.375+00:00Potting Shed Latest - Kiln Installed!<p> The Potting Shed is our garden room - to be used as a pottery studio, with lean-to greenhouse. The shed itself was built in the autumn, but due to assorted pandemic delays, the greenhouse was not delivered until about a fortnight ago, and the kiln, essential for any pottery making, was also a long time coming.</p><p>However, I am delighted to report that although the greenhouse still awaits decent enough weather for its construction to be undertaken, I do now have a fully functioning kiln!</p><p>I had confirmed with the manufacturer that my kiln was ready, and as it happened, this coincided with my most recent trip south. I was driving the BMW X3 this time, so I had the space needed to actually collect the kiln myself. The heavy item was loaded into the car with the help of a fork lift truck and two strong young men. Getting it out again, and into place in the Potting Shed was a bit more of a challenge, but a very helpful neighbour and I spent an hour or so devising an arrangement of ramps and steps, and eventually, the deed was done.</p><p>Now all I need is to find the time to actually get out there and get potting...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgG3h_1h4UqJ11GwuDl2bq8LW0XQWaZUEAuXrSwQbhy7MhFJ9o_IqSAEEDogoHMakfxbeEoGocPADLddJMt2YJBqiZ870sYbrIoDy3Vp8F6sf-Rv33Bu1M27Ob5oiy3HhE4egO4-gnsmrwcDDkfa68oaWEw7fn6qMqanfQkUzoeLkwe1AakFqOp0p29wA=s4592" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="4592" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgG3h_1h4UqJ11GwuDl2bq8LW0XQWaZUEAuXrSwQbhy7MhFJ9o_IqSAEEDogoHMakfxbeEoGocPADLddJMt2YJBqiZ870sYbrIoDy3Vp8F6sf-Rv33Bu1M27Ob5oiy3HhE4egO4-gnsmrwcDDkfa68oaWEw7fn6qMqanfQkUzoeLkwe1AakFqOp0p29wA=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Installed at last !</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p>Richard Dorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04755395461723610728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-65735671691632988572022-01-12T11:31:00.001+00:002022-01-12T11:37:54.317+00:00Mum's Box Of Photos<p>It's that dismal and damp time of year when I long to be outside making a start at getting the allotment fettled ready for spring, but the wind and drizzle keep me penned-up indoors, scratching-around trying to find things to keep me occupied. </p><p>Although the Potting Shed is now pretty much ready to be used for artistic activity, I still await delivery of the kiln, and without that, there is a very limited appeal in actually making anything, as there is no way for the time being that any pottery items could become finished.</p><p>So, as my sister recently passed-on to me the custody of the Dorrell family archive of photographs and paperwork, I have started having a rummage. My goodness - there's some memories here, and some surprises too. I still have to formulate a plan for what to do with all the paperwork, which includes things like receipts for furniture bought by my parents in the 1930s when they were setting up their first home. (We still have a lovely octagonal walnut coffee table bought in 1938 for the princely sum of one pound, twelve shillings and sixpence - that's £1.62 in modern decimal money). </p><p>Then I come across some household accounts, also from the late '30s, which showed my father - who worked for the Air Ministry as a weather forecaster - was bringing home just £13.00 per month, and yet the receipt for my Mum's solitaire diamond engagement ring reveals that he paid £10.00 for the ring. Project those figures to 2020 rates of pay and prices, and that ring would cost some £1,500.00 !</p><p>But so far, it is Mum's box of photos that I have worked through the most. There are hundreds of pictures, mostly tiny, and in black and white of course. I know my Mum would get the box out from time to time and have a nostalgic browse through the past, and gaze with love, and maybe a few tears, at the images of beaming children and long-departed family members.</p><p>I guess we all like to do that.</p><p>I am currently working on scanning a selection of the images, and am uploading them as a gallery on my Life Story website that I created several years ago. It is a work-in-progress, but anyone interested will find the gallery here: <a href="https://richarddorrell.weebly.com/mums-box-of-photos.html">https://richarddorrell.weebly.com/mums-box-of-photos.html</a></p><p>Here's a teeny sample:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNpZXqy4ytQsuSSDQG_hkwAJyPe0GyBTP2gFle9tsqPjhz8K_6yGOPCHFDzwxDZX1PNUyDorYDokEM5Bs-CzbSj-AH_PRVyQiTUyr8W4Zm6J8GPjWYT9VRnKFFxXasVXA3VeeRZTaO4rugnSFLDxmDA0GqYUYh_-D5nAd4maieDVUPHZU-ZhKLbIBDTQ=s1556" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="1556" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNpZXqy4ytQsuSSDQG_hkwAJyPe0GyBTP2gFle9tsqPjhz8K_6yGOPCHFDzwxDZX1PNUyDorYDokEM5Bs-CzbSj-AH_PRVyQiTUyr8W4Zm6J8GPjWYT9VRnKFFxXasVXA3VeeRZTaO4rugnSFLDxmDA0GqYUYh_-D5nAd4maieDVUPHZU-ZhKLbIBDTQ=w640-h400" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are fairly certain Mum is the little girl on the far left with a bow in her hair. <br />This would probably have been in Islington, London, about 1920.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrjL_RH8opNIJMdoKO1xoWWX-Vrg1fOgDlJlkoM8yY8JmZrg6oYdT_rFHnR8xhP3WVFuWYCAqf6GbwadP6Qr87h1EnYTxcKF-Egsw3uqI8wt37GzLQ-dqv7D17bdBQG8lf6P6FwqVP5c2zwadjkjflQK8tLgZOvw0CRPT7Tk6JOFkz4Di2miTyIxuuGQ=s954" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="954" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrjL_RH8opNIJMdoKO1xoWWX-Vrg1fOgDlJlkoM8yY8JmZrg6oYdT_rFHnR8xhP3WVFuWYCAqf6GbwadP6Qr87h1EnYTxcKF-Egsw3uqI8wt37GzLQ-dqv7D17bdBQG8lf6P6FwqVP5c2zwadjkjflQK8tLgZOvw0CRPT7Tk6JOFkz4Di2miTyIxuuGQ=w640-h434" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A birthday party in about 1953</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMFXeL3yEPjq-6TTLoi_4zo7bvTbPzvxF8vjJy6vlCBnmYpc3mdxXZvpYGKFmCsMDWpcXB1Pm1VRnvCg5Jnmhx58T0wbUN1ELkEHFJPtZePVNX2na4GC0wrgHTUVqW80ICaAsJP5QWRbtpweAz-Pb8YVrJ5iHYn-lOgsdvJmzcLM9SmGYNA6iutnYHRg=s940" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="940" data-original-width="642" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMFXeL3yEPjq-6TTLoi_4zo7bvTbPzvxF8vjJy6vlCBnmYpc3mdxXZvpYGKFmCsMDWpcXB1Pm1VRnvCg5Jnmhx58T0wbUN1ELkEHFJPtZePVNX2na4GC0wrgHTUVqW80ICaAsJP5QWRbtpweAz-Pb8YVrJ5iHYn-lOgsdvJmzcLM9SmGYNA6iutnYHRg=w438-h640" width="438" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brother-and-Sister love</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRNPfBuoejq3wzl3ozxwq913djLC0t9_JSqCUWlLaxDJN36v0GFYKRUFNvH0Qv7Bs23GgXqd-d55wc4e9w5K5E5t5i2F3PxAei0BekygeJboq2SYtBc4VJOZ7dv40LTd93okjis66-1RyNPiZcrrGym9ItB8Zx1QsU2VCm5jquQIYtBDChtmbSeS5Ypw=s1454" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1454" data-original-width="949" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRNPfBuoejq3wzl3ozxwq913djLC0t9_JSqCUWlLaxDJN36v0GFYKRUFNvH0Qv7Bs23GgXqd-d55wc4e9w5K5E5t5i2F3PxAei0BekygeJboq2SYtBc4VJOZ7dv40LTd93okjis66-1RyNPiZcrrGym9ItB8Zx1QsU2VCm5jquQIYtBDChtmbSeS5Ypw=w418-h640" width="418" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mum's brother, Sid, Died 1956, age 42.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5Ti8otGcm5R1NmAW5boI9f3pXWBpkQUuMlaQU5Ez_EbrsjKj8itkG7t6Jwzay6k_cYe--ug8q4tUrbAeBjEQymcZDAUpi0NniNnx5keFMfobB4am4xP6jr0q9iTDIx0RD1_dzMvnWLxw_dAJgj6wjEw8FM5EwQGMILbSFpFQLHakysbCwH-vwhHQlKA=s1580" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1580" data-original-width="939" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5Ti8otGcm5R1NmAW5boI9f3pXWBpkQUuMlaQU5Ez_EbrsjKj8itkG7t6Jwzay6k_cYe--ug8q4tUrbAeBjEQymcZDAUpi0NniNnx5keFMfobB4am4xP6jr0q9iTDIx0RD1_dzMvnWLxw_dAJgj6wjEw8FM5EwQGMILbSFpFQLHakysbCwH-vwhHQlKA=w380-h640" width="380" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Signed: 'Your devoted and loving husband, Tommy. Nov. 1940'</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Richard Dorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04755395461723610728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-14869914913760544132021-12-24T17:19:00.037+00:002021-12-26T09:55:55.631+00:00Happy Cairngorms White Christmas!<div>What are we doing in the Cairngorms on Christmas Eve...???!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, the story begins last Sunday, when Sue pops over to The Old Bakery at Strathpeffer to finish off Christmas shopping in Inverness. Unfortunately, she hadn't done much shopping when the pavement suddenly came up towards her, making first contact with her left arm and then her chin. She was promptly whisked into Raigmore Hospital A&E, where the super-wonderful NHS acted promptly and professionally, soon diagnosing a broken wrist and displaced jaw.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, the wrist was rapidly wrapped in plaster, but for the jaw, it was deemed desirable for Sue to make an urgent visit to Scotland's specialist facial injuries unit in Aberdeen (!!) The appointment was for Thursday 23rd. Now, Aberdeen is a looooong way from Skye, and quite a looong way from Strathpeffer. But, hey, we can cope. I sorted out our Skye cottages which were both booked for Christmas visitors, and then drove over to Strathpeffer on Wednesday, popping into Inverness on arrival to collect Sue's car, which was still in a car park in the city.</div><div><br /></div><div>The consultant who Sue met in Aberdeen was typically thorough, and decreed that although the jaw bone is cracked, it will repair itself fairly speedily with no surgery being required. A much-relieved, but still slightly-in-pain Sue and I (and Cupar) then spent the night in an Aberdeen Travelodge, before making our way back to Strathpeffer today.</div><div><br /></div><div>By way of celebration, and to make a more interesting journey, I chose to take the scenic route, passing through the northern part of the Cairngorms, and including the infamous Cock Bridge to Tomintoul section past The Lecht. It was a good decision. We enjoyed a lovely drive, and are now toasting our toes before the stove in The Old Bakery, before we make our way back to Roskhill on Christmas Day morning.</div><div><br /></div><div>This was not quite the run up to Christmas I had been looking forward to, and Sue is devastated that she will not be able to carry out her care work duties for a few weeks, though we will be delivering the numerous Christmas presents she has for friends and clients in the coming day or two.</div><div><br /></div><div>I close with best wishes to all the readers of this blog for Christmas 2021, and let us ALL hope for a safe and healthy 2022.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqKa9JMVbZ2AATetmwkFKQCXoUYPS6wFR4jjPuhBxw8-V-RBRp3pEt8BShQUKqbg9lFv8yEc0lTSl4zMu8OTeOsVPGh6sG4Y85mw6G5F8ORDdvHk9iR87oWWbLF_f_XJKviZf8aWUOSzKkBcTCr5nAtf7W-hjeuYLhDgGIYdytq8uZzCxejCBNVf2WEw=s4640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2610" data-original-width="4640" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqKa9JMVbZ2AATetmwkFKQCXoUYPS6wFR4jjPuhBxw8-V-RBRp3pEt8BShQUKqbg9lFv8yEc0lTSl4zMu8OTeOsVPGh6sG4Y85mw6G5F8ORDdvHk9iR87oWWbLF_f_XJKviZf8aWUOSzKkBcTCr5nAtf7W-hjeuYLhDgGIYdytq8uZzCxejCBNVf2WEw=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A939 towards Tomintoul</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXvJYkB2iVpBzf5Y52_3sCPvwsvLiMecaf2X4dUr6r8RnVMk8WVeC9K2uoCyuvGkkaPfDHemtIaRPdVkewEPINFGVQIGZTQQzzSJih7_f34gEicOHzzX3rEUyogwGnP2S5NZi--OkYGEaHADz0aNlb04mlgbEvPi8lPaTqaYJQEk6nx82F3gmAkHAoHg=s4640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2610" data-original-width="4640" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXvJYkB2iVpBzf5Y52_3sCPvwsvLiMecaf2X4dUr6r8RnVMk8WVeC9K2uoCyuvGkkaPfDHemtIaRPdVkewEPINFGVQIGZTQQzzSJih7_f34gEicOHzzX3rEUyogwGnP2S5NZi--OkYGEaHADz0aNlb04mlgbEvPi8lPaTqaYJQEk6nx82F3gmAkHAoHg=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corgarff Castle</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-CuTf9RUDIsR28kAJjNy5-64Qk1cJPlZbVC_FGQ4XnmYlT9Rv-y61bHW3T3iCpT4_6gerOECSCQeH2i2gcbEi30Lyg52zwTkCA7lMYrySaADgCuaujsPH47styljWkCN9So_WGovq8tSvsYHq6P458mwcyT_hjSpGEMoNRzjuPI68UMUAFQY9XHHGyw=s4640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2610" data-original-width="4640" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-CuTf9RUDIsR28kAJjNy5-64Qk1cJPlZbVC_FGQ4XnmYlT9Rv-y61bHW3T3iCpT4_6gerOECSCQeH2i2gcbEi30Lyg52zwTkCA7lMYrySaADgCuaujsPH47styljWkCN9So_WGovq8tSvsYHq6P458mwcyT_hjSpGEMoNRzjuPI68UMUAFQY9XHHGyw=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gairnshiel Bridge</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>Richard Dorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04755395461723610728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-72272839756308198592021-12-16T10:38:00.003+00:002021-12-16T10:56:52.224+00:00Six Hours<p>The date is getting close to the winter solstice, and we are a long way north here.</p><p>At 8.00am this morning, when I took Cupar out for his morning walk, it was just about light enough for me to be able to make out the trees, undergrowth and fences that line the local roads. By the time we returned, half an hour later, the grey morning light was just giving way and painting the landscape in dark greens and browns. By 9.00am, it had become as light as it is going to get today, as an area of high pressure is building, giving us low dense cloud cover and occasional light drizzle. The sun only makes rare appearances at this time of year. At least it is pleasantly mild!</p><p>In just six hours time, our winter daytime light will be fading again. Indoors, with deeply inset and rather small windows, we live in a permanent gloom, brightened only by electricity. How on earth did people manage when all their lighting was by oil lamp and candle?</p><p>I often wonder at how the wildlife copes with such a short daylight time to forage for food. Even if the garden birds rise at the first glimmer of grey, and hang on until the world returns to uniformly black, they will still have to face some sixteen hours of night before venturing abroad again. It is no surprise that virtually all plant life slumbers through the winter.</p><p>It's that time of year when it is good to browse back through the summer posts of sparkling sunshine on the sea and flourishing wild flowers...!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVgfPnVnbDiy7EWXhCx6HuNwCKG8wLzoA8-0Nnw_h04we7VkUfQnNUDcPEBGuLWfo3-YgzfU8mcBjoZFKbBdme_xmZivgnvYjamqV0RD4GjiyaiQYgQ73LvqJwucOAwk1RID3CCBSEpm7seV-Ry_TMdrFnGqdRLo6fuG-NViAbnyF0rsC6phxWvIf2gg=s3872" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVgfPnVnbDiy7EWXhCx6HuNwCKG8wLzoA8-0Nnw_h04we7VkUfQnNUDcPEBGuLWfo3-YgzfU8mcBjoZFKbBdme_xmZivgnvYjamqV0RD4GjiyaiQYgQ73LvqJwucOAwk1RID3CCBSEpm7seV-Ry_TMdrFnGqdRLo6fuG-NViAbnyF0rsC6phxWvIf2gg=w640-h428" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roskhill Barn garden, August 2018</td></tr></tbody></table>Richard Dorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04755395461723610728noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-40116478845214124602021-12-08T19:06:00.002+00:002021-12-08T19:12:18.010+00:00The Potting Shed Latest<p>Regular readers of this blog may recall that we are in the process of building a new space in the garden at The Barn. A timber 'Garden Room' has been erected, and a lean-to greenhouse will be added onto it early in the New Year. </p><p>The purpose of all this is two-fold. One, to provide an environment for growing some of our own bedding plants and starting off veg for the allotment, and, Two, to create a craft workshop which will be equipped as a hobby pottery, giving me an extra occupation for when I retire again and we give up the the holiday cottage business. Sue and I both intend to squish a bit of clay from time to time.</p><p>Being dual purpose, but both purposes being pot-based, naming the building the Potting Shed seemed pretty appropriate. We shorten this to the PS.</p><p>At present, we await delivery of the greenhouse - now promised for mid-January; and also of the pottery kiln, frustratingly delayed due to difficulty in obtaining some essential internal parts. But in the meantime, I have been busy fitting-out the interior of the PS. I bought some of the cheapest range of kitchen base units sold by DIY giant, B&Q, and have to say, I am most impressed by the quality. I have also been keen to use as many as possible of the 'off-cuts' of the timber from the build of the PS, and am delighted to now have a larch floorboard floor, made entirely from off-cuts from the external cladding. I laid the floor on a base of very effective floor insulation material. I have also made a work table and shelf unit, both of which are built largely from left-over construction timbers, with just a new sheet of MDF to provide the work surfaces.</p><p>We hope to be potting in the spring.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjc-Bol9j_FjhihsZZSvD5gB2-6cqqJXRnrb7vE2D_G6Y6TJ2Eu_-ElRiLQX-f-3iDy4WuCAyFpVErRgBwH9KXEx1-z1ZhzrgP-RVBBesoAb-T2CDhAxY4E4a5GZIN0zhwnXDgvklHaZabsxxLDl1TcG3ffzh06_U83qgax01xyyDJJo0SpL3649mawQ=s4415" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2939" data-original-width="4415" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjc-Bol9j_FjhihsZZSvD5gB2-6cqqJXRnrb7vE2D_G6Y6TJ2Eu_-ElRiLQX-f-3iDy4WuCAyFpVErRgBwH9KXEx1-z1ZhzrgP-RVBBesoAb-T2CDhAxY4E4a5GZIN0zhwnXDgvklHaZabsxxLDl1TcG3ffzh06_U83qgax01xyyDJJo0SpL3649mawQ=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viewed from the greenhouse end, the kiln will go in the far left corner.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicy5xyAY9VfBvmm9l9cK5zJad-8M5gBKHz8oAjP8NICMePxrkpMn37yjSKO6CuRElFOGMcVJuzYjAffXKRvaKqYp2gcMn2CXRFX2ipYQ4xgU97WZ6Z2ELCoVQ4X0astUGg9RmXcdZhzagNNHlvmHOMECyEwrnsGorICMK7K0F_n7c00qV1Lc4ftIxR8g=s4475" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2979" data-original-width="4475" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicy5xyAY9VfBvmm9l9cK5zJad-8M5gBKHz8oAjP8NICMePxrkpMn37yjSKO6CuRElFOGMcVJuzYjAffXKRvaKqYp2gcMn2CXRFX2ipYQ4xgU97WZ6Z2ELCoVQ4X0astUGg9RmXcdZhzagNNHlvmHOMECyEwrnsGorICMK7K0F_n7c00qV1Lc4ftIxR8g=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This view, through the front doors, showing my massively built work-table.<br />There is room for a potter's wheel where the radiator is standing, <br />should I decide to invest in one at some time in the future.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjm5vTQYRHZroJsS8BDqZUa5V4SnJo4doOuALUYH5eTH-QbYdA9c_oSqYo3Fioql35Reu4SCKhm7XCaeSyioUB378d3RcdRHbO2ga3z_CPH5w98NDCS_Jh0oXeUvSODTjPzrq3dTX3O4NRiKpgx7VU__sqYwVccREMWw-Z7CNFePhO7E640cAQ-yCYeZg=s4592" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="4592" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjm5vTQYRHZroJsS8BDqZUa5V4SnJo4doOuALUYH5eTH-QbYdA9c_oSqYo3Fioql35Reu4SCKhm7XCaeSyioUB378d3RcdRHbO2ga3z_CPH5w98NDCS_Jh0oXeUvSODTjPzrq3dTX3O4NRiKpgx7VU__sqYwVccREMWw-Z7CNFePhO7E640cAQ-yCYeZg=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kitchen units and worktop. <br />The shelves are also made from a worktop, sawn down the middle.<br />The raw edges will be covered by an edging strip presently.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjaTNXqnsx_GovpLH5dN7E80hGZK86Q1NyCE_4Ln5vwZx-fIRvvZM7NV6-vyZhsIbx7q-V5lcihbagQC0oPGWWvY2oxGitzBQwQTKln_YlJ5FWeeeeI_DOwTL-LwMzGS62I6czaD7ptmkVnRDdz3yPieFDWbhki9AgEeJ3BAVKyFrmmjIRVUhKidzfMBQ=s4592" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="4592" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjaTNXqnsx_GovpLH5dN7E80hGZK86Q1NyCE_4Ln5vwZx-fIRvvZM7NV6-vyZhsIbx7q-V5lcihbagQC0oPGWWvY2oxGitzBQwQTKln_YlJ5FWeeeeI_DOwTL-LwMzGS62I6czaD7ptmkVnRDdz3yPieFDWbhki9AgEeJ3BAVKyFrmmjIRVUhKidzfMBQ=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out through the greenhouse end</td></tr></tbody></table>Richard Dorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04755395461723610728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-63399041476221103132021-12-06T17:51:00.006+00:002021-12-07T09:58:03.569+00:00Hunkered Down<p>It's that time of year again - deep, dark December. I don't dislike it. With the curtains closed and Cupar curled up in front of a glowing stove, it is cosy enough in here - and wonderfully quiet too! </p><p>Sue is away at the moment, making a pre-Christmas visit to her Mum and friends in Kent. Sue is working over Christmas this year. I am occupying much of my daylight time in fitting-out our new Potting Shed with cupboards, work-surfaces and shelving. I made a trip to Inverness the other week in a hired van, and returned with kitchen base units, work tops, paving slabs and assorted other stuff. I am enjoying honing my joinery skills as I assemble what I have bought and am also aiming to create some useful items utilising some of the off-cuts from the build of the PS itself.</p><p>I have had great news today - that the lean-to greenhouse that will become an integral part of our Potting Shed Project is at last scheduled for delivery in mid-January. I am still awaiting news of the delivery of my kiln though... But it will be so good to see our plans come together when all is in place, and then let the potting commence...!!</p><p>Meanwhile - on the allotment, we are still enjoying freshly picked kale and brussels sprouts, and when the weather is kind enough, I will be turning-over the soil in the beds to try to keep in place some kind of weed control. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhargi2NRWQziZ79ZYUJsuvzMDGvLB46R6rIML7XAy8opYB7UkJSo2e0erCVYefNwiCfgd_1a14rpR4bvYeW7c9zgday3uPUiesZnA2fJEQIQgsjxXh9E2lD9BUbwsnhs7PeehBG4bcpYEAZXPqptBAd__NJXHEoGb7I7e4u7P8Pj7c9dtSLIoRqLQU5A=s2048" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1255" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhargi2NRWQziZ79ZYUJsuvzMDGvLB46R6rIML7XAy8opYB7UkJSo2e0erCVYefNwiCfgd_1a14rpR4bvYeW7c9zgday3uPUiesZnA2fJEQIQgsjxXh9E2lD9BUbwsnhs7PeehBG4bcpYEAZXPqptBAd__NJXHEoGb7I7e4u7P8Pj7c9dtSLIoRqLQU5A=w392-h640" width="392" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cosy Cupar</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Richard Dorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04755395461723610728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-92089535782051724032021-11-17T17:04:00.003+00:002021-11-17T17:31:41.460+00:00A Holiday On Harris<p>Sue and I have now established a tradition to have a short-break holiday to mark our birthdays. Sue's birthday is in November, and mine in March, so it fits us well, with being 'out-of-season', meaning we have no clashes with cottage bookings, and we benefit from quieter places to visit. We take a chance with the weather of course - but one does that at any time of year if holidaying in Scotland.</p><p>We are just back from this November's trip. Ever since we have lived on Skye, we have promised ourselves that we will make a visit to the Outer Isles, and at last we have done it. After a bit of research, we chose to stay near Tarbert on Harris. The ferry from Uig on Skye sails to Tarbert, so we only had to drive about 35 miles in total from Roskhill to the cottage we rented, with the ferry taking us the 30 miles or so across the Minch.</p><p>The landscape that greeted us when we drove off the ferry was a complete surprise. I had really expected that Harris would be much the same as Skye, but in fact, it could barely be more different, with vast areas of the island being bare rock rather than the heather moorland of most of Skye.</p><p>As ever, we packed our days with exploring as much of the island as we could. We knew Cupar would love the sandy beaches, so visited a couple of them, but we also managed to make short climbs to the top of a hill or two, visited Scalpay and its lighthouse, drove the famed 'Golden Road' and explored a restored ancient church built by the MacLeods of Dunvegan. As it is fairly unlikely that we will return to Harris, we also made the 40-or-so mile drive north across Lewis to see the world-famous Callanish Stones. Here, I had another surprise, as I found the stones to be far more spiritual than I expected - a feeling enhanced by us being almost the only people at the site when we visited.</p><p>We haven't yet decided where we will go for my birthday jaunt in March, though it won't be back to the Outer Isles. However, I think there is a strong possibility that we will be making a further trip across the Minch - probably to the Uists next time - at some future date.</p><p>Sue is likely to get round to posting a picture-story of the holiday we have just had at some time in the not-too-distant future, and as she takes better photos than me, I'll just post a small sample of my pics below...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yzE6ABUb8Qw/YZU5gt_awtI/AAAAAAAAMEs/f1iXLmuCd8M_nGPy2ANPfbFItfd_eUzxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02512small.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yzE6ABUb8Qw/YZU5gt_awtI/AAAAAAAAMEs/f1iXLmuCd8M_nGPy2ANPfbFItfd_eUzxwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC02512small.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eilean Glas lighthouse, Scalpay<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Z3eZTI0Ilk/YZUy5GdI3VI/AAAAAAAAMD4/gDBezRN7aBwq10lmnX_ueAZEWk5TeSwpgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02520.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Z3eZTI0Ilk/YZUy5GdI3VI/AAAAAAAAMD4/gDBezRN7aBwq10lmnX_ueAZEWk5TeSwpgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC02520.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luskentyre Beach<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uh4k-GsaW08/YZU6cZ-e6OI/AAAAAAAAME0/bBrlX1RxphAREktPVwR9RuxleErTGwY8ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1125/DSC02558.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1125" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uh4k-GsaW08/YZU6cZ-e6OI/AAAAAAAAME0/bBrlX1RxphAREktPVwR9RuxleErTGwY8ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC02558.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday-girl (and me...)!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tmF7JeheLv0/YZUy_k3PJhI/AAAAAAAAMD8/2DAPjvGmdfYCQRiTPJXFMLpsxVAZnLuOACLcBGAsYHQ/s1219/DSC02530.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="1219" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tmF7JeheLv0/YZUy_k3PJhI/AAAAAAAAMD8/2DAPjvGmdfYCQRiTPJXFMLpsxVAZnLuOACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC02530.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clach Mich Leoid<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VVjiDAWtjLw/YZUz9UOGXmI/AAAAAAAAMEM/GKxnPerDwO4L_eut5u-Xo-dcS2CVXjrXQCLcBGAsYHQ/s980/DSC02543%2B%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="980" height="356" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VVjiDAWtjLw/YZUz9UOGXmI/AAAAAAAAMEM/GKxnPerDwO4L_eut5u-Xo-dcS2CVXjrXQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h356/DSC02543%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Callanish</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rIMZAfgD8UM/YZU0X6tWHcI/AAAAAAAAMEY/9phQ5nmRzzEBiQRaEA9OqKLNeTuie-evQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02568.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="1280" height="340" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rIMZAfgD8UM/YZU0X6tWHcI/AAAAAAAAMEY/9phQ5nmRzzEBiQRaEA9OqKLNeTuie-evQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h340/DSC02568.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scarista Beach</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XwOYZdINhFY/YZU0j-m79aI/AAAAAAAAMEg/EV6jfwzQNsQWjGUaYQ3Bhm7Dl_K0RE2SQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1243/DSC02605.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="1243" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XwOYZdINhFY/YZU0j-m79aI/AAAAAAAAMEg/EV6jfwzQNsQWjGUaYQ3Bhm7Dl_K0RE2SQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC02605.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical South Harris coastline</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Richard Dorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04755395461723610728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-60331168847715253322021-10-30T14:53:00.007+01:002021-11-02T17:41:59.928+00:00Quiet Again<p>Another holiday season is drawing to an end. The last few lingering camper vans are dawdling their way back over the Skye Bridge and heading home. Our cottage booking calendars are almost blank for the winter. The roads and villages are becoming quiet again.</p><p>It has been a different summer. Not just the weather - which seems to me to have been wetter than usual - but different visitors. Virus-related travel restrictions have meant we have hosted very few overseas guests, while many visitors from England and even from Scotland were exploring Skye for the first time. We have also seen a big increase in first-time self-caterers. </p><p>Such feedback as we receive suggests that our visitors have been happy enough with what they have experienced, with positive comments about our cottages, and about the island. I wonder how many people will choose to holiday again in the UK and discover other parts of our wonderful country before they fly off for yet another same-every-time sunbathing vacation in a crowded beach resort somewhere hot. </p><p>Tonight we put the clocks back an hour, so for those of us who live in this little piece of heaven-on-earth, the evenings will draw-in ever sooner, and we will start to look out the handicrafts, jigsaws, books and other entertainments that make light of the long dark winter nights. </p><p>I'll be stoking-up the stove again soon, too. We may bathe in centrally-heated luxury, but there is still nothing quite like the flicker of a real flame when the rain is beating against the windows, or the wind rushing round the chimney.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZlHAvgKEXBA/YX1Pp1_em2I/AAAAAAAAMCk/eoAsanHac04T83o4j4mSjGDnOpTGg3vFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/2610389_935ef38f_1024x1024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZlHAvgKEXBA/YX1Pp1_em2I/AAAAAAAAMCk/eoAsanHac04T83o4j4mSjGDnOpTGg3vFgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2610389_935ef38f_1024x1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tourists make their way back home</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l50aTlbrprg/YX1N7P1Bk2I/AAAAAAAAMCc/XvwSgDdTG98O2QWXCackJM6NrUfPSVvfACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/WP_20150213_008.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l50aTlbrprg/YX1N7P1Bk2I/AAAAAAAAMCc/XvwSgDdTG98O2QWXCackJM6NrUfPSVvfACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/WP_20150213_008.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An autumn sunset on Skye<br />(Photo by Sue)</td></tr></tbody></table>Richard Dorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04755395461723610728noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-16093430047215621002021-09-21T11:06:00.008+01:002021-09-21T11:25:21.194+01:00Seasons on Skye<p>Having been born-and-bred in the softy south of England, I became very used to the year having four distinct seasons, each lasting around three months, with the summer being warm and dry, winter being colder and wetter, spring being bright and showery, and autumn being breezy and golden.</p><p>It's not like that here.</p><p>We pretty much only have one season on Skye, which is a continual confusion of all of the above. Winter starts around mid-August, and goes on for an awful long time. When my southern-trained body-clock is telling me that it should be spring, I find myself peering at tightly closed leaf buds on the trees and shrubs in the hope of spotting the first sign of a green shoot. When the calendar says it is July - true, the daylight hours are very long indeed, but the sun may still be a rare sight, and the wind can blast the drizzle into your face should you venture outside. </p><p>Somehow though, our flora and fauna seem to cope with the season-less year. My recent wild-flower photo-posts illustrate the ability of the plant-life here to flourish when and where it gets the chance. I manage to successfully nurture vegetables in the allotment. From April for a few months, there seem to be plenty of fledgling birds about the place, and we occasionally glimpse a mouse, vole, weasel or stoat, so they survive here, too. But sadly - never a hedgehog.</p><p>And.... the sky can be blue sometimes..!! At any time of year, too. In can happen suddenly. The wind drops, the rain stops, and the steel-grey clouds magically vanish to reveal the freshly-washed glistening blue heavens, which instantly paint the sea an even more unlikely blue. At these times, we cherish every moment and sigh at the beauty of the vista before us.</p><p>I can live without seasons.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CffFlb9B1Lg/YUmsPGUdnKI/AAAAAAAAMAQ/XpURlp2N3h0XVRrAZIwV2VD-pWZ3YsJTwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/1686115_12dd137c_original.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CffFlb9B1Lg/YUmsPGUdnKI/AAAAAAAAMAQ/XpURlp2N3h0XVRrAZIwV2VD-pWZ3YsJTwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/1686115_12dd137c_original.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v_SO04DDZkw/YUmsSTFZOwI/AAAAAAAAMAU/z7ThwckiiBM5HinmD0meEuIEgFYVNq56gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/4407974_df3750f8_1024x1024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v_SO04DDZkw/YUmsSTFZOwI/AAAAAAAAMAU/z7ThwckiiBM5HinmD0meEuIEgFYVNq56gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/4407974_df3750f8_1024x1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XqazcPEW2pA/YUmy39abowI/AAAAAAAAMA8/MI9W_IMgAqcmoKuGVo48w98AItT5EKbBwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Skye%2BSky%2B20.10.09%2B006%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XqazcPEW2pA/YUmy39abowI/AAAAAAAAMA8/MI9W_IMgAqcmoKuGVo48w98AItT5EKbBwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Skye%2BSky%2B20.10.09%2B006%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Autumn</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vh_RLP4rGLU/YUmsUeHaDtI/AAAAAAAAMAY/2JYdMV5QwZIZy8G9D1cMVVBBhZsDstzNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/6737685_3e949261_1024x1024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vh_RLP4rGLU/YUmsUeHaDtI/AAAAAAAAMAY/2JYdMV5QwZIZy8G9D1cMVVBBhZsDstzNgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/6737685_3e949261_1024x1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3UzA3FBiN6U/YUmuORaa1CI/AAAAAAAAMAs/_EfdiqDpdEojQ98-evd3oZzQcZkr7J9dwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/6149200_e25ad2ce_1024x1024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3UzA3FBiN6U/YUmuORaa1CI/AAAAAAAAMAs/_EfdiqDpdEojQ98-evd3oZzQcZkr7J9dwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/6149200_e25ad2ce_1024x1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and sometimes !</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Richard Dorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04755395461723610728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-27214926178439874882021-09-01T17:14:00.001+01:002021-09-01T17:17:44.505+01:00More Garden News<p>Progress on the new shed/greenhouse/studio has been brisk. The guys doing the build have now done as much as they can before the French windows arrive. The windows should be here quite soon, and once installed, the electrician can do his bit, and the inside can then be insulated and lined. The unfinished wall is where the lean-to greenhouse will be going. The plan is to leave the cladding until after the greenhouse has been fitted, to get a nice neat end result. Unfortunately, the greenhouse is not likely to be here before mid-November.</p><p>As for the allotment - the veg that I have harvested so far have been absolutely first class, but there are so many carrots we will be going orange and growing frizzy green hair if we eat them all... </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X9sRpRl52WI/YS-lhjiYD_I/AAAAAAAAL_I/lVLDfdxfJtc25EjwCP1gMOyt7foPIhNIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1824/IMG_3206.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="1824" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X9sRpRl52WI/YS-lhjiYD_I/AAAAAAAAL_I/lVLDfdxfJtc25EjwCP1gMOyt7foPIhNIwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_3206.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cupar thinks it is his new kennel...<br />I tidied-away all the off-cuts just after taking the photos</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c2dyeevw5V8/YS-lioE_kwI/AAAAAAAAL_M/lNAHmUSHIvcBgWgxi8N6rqV8UtsQaysugCLcBGAsYHQ/s1731/IMG_3208.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1299" data-original-width="1731" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c2dyeevw5V8/YS-lioE_kwI/AAAAAAAAL_M/lNAHmUSHIvcBgWgxi8N6rqV8UtsQaysugCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_3208.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wider view. <br />We will have to make a path across the lawn, <br />and possibly edge the path with bedding plants in summer <br />(which we will grow ourselves in the greenhouse..)!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cpT_0SpoJMg/YS-lmPfwsaI/AAAAAAAAL_Q/KHo6eiwjQckTp9D3IeFJTX1ckYQoqTJQACLcBGAsYHQ/s1824/IMG_3202.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="1824" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cpT_0SpoJMg/YS-lmPfwsaI/AAAAAAAAL_Q/KHo6eiwjQckTp9D3IeFJTX1ckYQoqTJQACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_3202.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freshly picked...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jHUcDaILZGc/YS-lm7SggLI/AAAAAAAAL_U/MvR3Fv03GboTmrTxOMTg93xSv9QkmWeoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1824/IMG_3203.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="1824" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jHUcDaILZGc/YS-lm7SggLI/AAAAAAAAL_U/MvR3Fv03GboTmrTxOMTg93xSv9QkmWeoQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_3203.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and half an hour later...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Richard Dorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04755395461723610728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-67377795849860479632021-08-24T17:59:00.006+01:002021-08-24T18:14:31.438+01:00Garden News<div style="text-align: left;">Following a period of dull, drizzly weather, we started this week with glorious sunshine, and things <br />have suddenly moved on in the Roskhill garden.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Maybe the biggest news is that the build of the 'garden room' that is destined to become our art studio/pottery/greenhouse is now well underway - pictures below.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have also been spurred-on to give some attention to the allotment and have begun to harvest some of the produce that has grown this year. Pretty much everything has done superbly well again, with the brussels sprout plants as big as any I have ever seen. The sprouts won't be ready to pick for a while yet though.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A1L05KWSXME/YSUirNoBlFI/AAAAAAAAL-Q/9S28AV5jM0gYi7RBt_nPNaOsrpoPTAG8QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1824/IMG_3193.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="1824" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A1L05KWSXME/YSUirNoBlFI/AAAAAAAAL-Q/9S28AV5jM0gYi7RBt_nPNaOsrpoPTAG8QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_3193.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The concrete base had been laid a few weeks ago.<br />By mid-morning of day one of the build, the first wall was in place.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HNfLMNGofSo/YSUir3c8rpI/AAAAAAAAL-U/fiXBOp6o1BcInjNkFcJZ4RGc72rI_EwXQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1783/IMG_3194.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1337" data-original-width="1783" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HNfLMNGofSo/YSUir3c8rpI/AAAAAAAAL-U/fiXBOp6o1BcInjNkFcJZ4RGc72rI_EwXQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_3194.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By the end of day one, we had four walls</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FRSdR-9Kft4/YSUit9YI4HI/AAAAAAAAL-Y/5PiOMGCH4SgiogvgX3YSRDhcPPJz2CswQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1717/IMG_3196.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1289" data-original-width="1717" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FRSdR-9Kft4/YSUit9YI4HI/AAAAAAAAL-Y/5PiOMGCH4SgiogvgX3YSRDhcPPJz2CswQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_3196.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a very substantial building!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SLgRJyMkTpY/YSUi1dVVQ1I/AAAAAAAAL-c/22BReU6kGXYag6oQgWvYbmboEiuD-1_mQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20210824_170645.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SLgRJyMkTpY/YSUi1dVVQ1I/AAAAAAAAL-c/22BReU6kGXYag6oQgWvYbmboEiuD-1_mQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20210824_170645.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the end of day 2.<br />I am standing in what will be the lean-to greenhouse. <br />Unfortunately, it will be a few more weeks before that gets delivered.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eBQEdQ9v76c/YSUi4xfgH0I/AAAAAAAAL-g/RPvwTnfzf9s1_WXkqNipy4ES7fHYjMOnwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1824/IMG_3198.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="1824" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eBQEdQ9v76c/YSUi4xfgH0I/AAAAAAAAL-g/RPvwTnfzf9s1_WXkqNipy4ES7fHYjMOnwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_3198.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the allotment - I have harvested one of four rows of potatoes <br />- I grew three different varieties this year.<br />Beyond - the cleared bed is where the onions grew, with bushy carrots at the end.<br />Runner beans and broad beans to the right,<br />kale and brussels sprouts almost out of sight below the fuchsia windbreak hedge.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yTa4WYjpPFc/YSUi5pLYvQI/AAAAAAAAL-o/pmulNHlj1bA-EhFNA_Jxa2GNxVMOTKCvACLcBGAsYHQ/s1824/IMG_3197.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1824" data-original-width="1368" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yTa4WYjpPFc/YSUi5pLYvQI/AAAAAAAAL-o/pmulNHlj1bA-EhFNA_Jxa2GNxVMOTKCvACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_3197.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The harvested onions dry in the sun on a step ladder!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WOb9208lnUw/YSUi6kdrsgI/AAAAAAAAL-s/PcbylLz9xx0UpNvH5xGiIV_K1zmRf3JAACLcBGAsYHQ/s1824/IMG_3199.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="1824" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WOb9208lnUw/YSUi6kdrsgI/AAAAAAAAL-s/PcbylLz9xx0UpNvH5xGiIV_K1zmRf3JAACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_3199.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No caption needed!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Richard Dorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04755395461723610728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-38272389425245471142021-08-20T17:11:00.003+01:002021-08-20T17:51:12.378+01:00SUE'S SECOND SPONSORED STROLL<div style="text-align: center;"> Yep, I did it again and for that amazing Charity<br />so close to my heart - Cancer Research!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Readers of this blog may recall that back in July 2018 </div><div style="text-align: center;">I tackled a 26 mile marathon around Roskhill - where we live on Skye.</div><div style="text-align: center;">This time I increased this to 30 miles for the day </div><div style="text-align: center;">and really enjoyed both the training AND the occasion itself.....:)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Below are a few photos taken along the route of the 11.5 hour trek!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tBECalSZxic/YRQT77MQX6I/AAAAAAAAAhE/SFykktgcvtkOlPGTRpt0V1MY2TmurVJAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20210730_065731.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tBECalSZxic/YRQT77MQX6I/AAAAAAAAAhE/SFykktgcvtkOlPGTRpt0V1MY2TmurVJAQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20210730_065731.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It was a rather gloomy morning hence the above 'moody' photograph</div><div style="text-align: center;">of Dunvegan Churchyard. Lovely floral arrangement though .....:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AaODepkpBqs/YRU-2V0NncI/AAAAAAAAAhM/44OoZ0PEq9stUiUP4ozq2ShHm2wjAB1yQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20210730_072526.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AaODepkpBqs/YRU-2V0NncI/AAAAAAAAAhM/44OoZ0PEq9stUiUP4ozq2ShHm2wjAB1yQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20210730_072526.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">........ and a very unusual plant base in the one above </div><div style="text-align: center;">situated at the end of the village opposite the</div><div style="text-align: center;">Free Church of Scotland. Very eyecatching though.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8WVRWtbjfts/YRVBcwoJXnI/AAAAAAAAAhU/2erUO8YFnkMQJUA7zJs8br6HMEzqH2qSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20210730_074353.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8WVRWtbjfts/YRVBcwoJXnI/AAAAAAAAAhU/2erUO8YFnkMQJUA7zJs8br6HMEzqH2qSgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20210730_074353.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Above is the township of Roag in the distance - </div><div style="text-align: center;">but can you also spot the small flock of geese in the foreground?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AxC_Dz5-ch8/YRVGef76ZtI/AAAAAAAAAhc/LiSZZZJT1iUVgRR_FlcPIEmpqbrI7jqbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20210730_091750.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AxC_Dz5-ch8/YRVGef76ZtI/AAAAAAAAAhc/LiSZZZJT1iUVgRR_FlcPIEmpqbrI7jqbQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20210730_091750.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A favourite walk from Roskhill has always been the </div><div style="text-align: center;">Harlosh Loop - from which the above shot was taken.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was still cloudy at the time but began to brighten up a bit later.....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v7d_iBJzJ-k/YRVHfzz6YVI/AAAAAAAAAhk/DU02oeD8YXQJDy9WqSA4uIblUdlYOG00wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20210730_092124.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v7d_iBJzJ-k/YRVHfzz6YVI/AAAAAAAAAhk/DU02oeD8YXQJDy9WqSA4uIblUdlYOG00wCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20210730_092124.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">... but in the meantime I happened upon this bank of amazing </div><div style="text-align: center;">wild flowers including my favourite 'meadowsweet' which </div><div style="text-align: center;">has a wonderfully aromatic scent.... :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">The beautiful purple flower is Hedge Woundwort.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uWUAGsoJi-E/YRWMcJlkgRI/AAAAAAAAAhs/iqKiPNwIpbozc4pa4gcUjJRKEnU9esRdQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20210730_095621.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uWUAGsoJi-E/YRWMcJlkgRI/AAAAAAAAAhs/iqKiPNwIpbozc4pa4gcUjJRKEnU9esRdQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20210730_095621.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Above is a view across to Macleods Tables from Harlosh. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The blue skies were starting to make an appearance by then....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RQLEJWdcHic/YRWNX2w18aI/AAAAAAAAAh0/TTUiDc5oMkoyq7Oaye7knAab9A0o6A3rgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20210730_110523.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RQLEJWdcHic/YRWNX2w18aI/AAAAAAAAAh0/TTUiDc5oMkoyq7Oaye7knAab9A0o6A3rgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20210730_110523.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">My friend Sue joined me for part of the Roag section!</div><div style="text-align: center;">We had a real laugh! </div><div style="text-align: center;">It was Sue who joined me back in 2018 doing the Harlosh Loop together.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aOIDQojKR4I/YRk8pYaOzHI/AAAAAAAAAiE/hj5AiTdogykMaIcca9PTUARjR5mioztRgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20210730_123826.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aOIDQojKR4I/YRk8pYaOzHI/AAAAAAAAAiE/hj5AiTdogykMaIcca9PTUARjR5mioztRgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20210730_123826.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">From Roag my walk took in the moorland across to the Glendale </div><div style="text-align: center;">Road and then an amble down to the end of Uiginish </div><div style="text-align: center;">where I sat for a breather and took the photo below....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T3hQjNeVVk0/YRk9N7TlLII/AAAAAAAAAiM/qWOrP7jCinEuFUFmzxEcg-by1plNSH5zQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20210730_131530.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="2048" height="365" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T3hQjNeVVk0/YRk9N7TlLII/AAAAAAAAAiM/qWOrP7jCinEuFUFmzxEcg-by1plNSH5zQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h365/IMG_20210730_131530.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">.... which shows the view across to Dunvegan Castle and the woodland</div><div style="text-align: center;">surrounding it. By then the weather had really cheered up.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EA-vFgPF05M/YRk95Lpc9gI/AAAAAAAAAiU/u4tdahZcGLEeYn-po2T_F6yqJonn0Ry1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20210730_141926.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EA-vFgPF05M/YRk95Lpc9gI/AAAAAAAAAiU/u4tdahZcGLEeYn-po2T_F6yqJonn0Ry1QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20210730_141926.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">By 2.30 p.m. it was definitely lunchtime though!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Collapsing on the bench just along the road from the</div><div style="text-align: center;">Dunvegan Camp Site - it was very pleasant taking in </div><div style="text-align: center;">the above view across Loch Dunvegan whilst </div><div style="text-align: center;">chomping away on peanut butter sandwiches and fruit!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EWY6DoQ59fg/YRk_h8nKTUI/AAAAAAAAAic/JqJ8SX2fVQsHVF8RN_KqWBQoL3_Ni6rXwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20210730_151210.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1244" data-original-width="2048" height="389" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EWY6DoQ59fg/YRk_h8nKTUI/AAAAAAAAAic/JqJ8SX2fVQsHVF8RN_KqWBQoL3_Ni6rXwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h389/IMG_20210730_151210.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A complete change of scenery followed as having walked through</div><div style="text-align: center;">Dunvegan village, I then took the footpath through the </div><div style="text-align: center;">woods and up out onto moorland the other side. </div><div style="text-align: center;">By then the weather was even brighter and it was hot too!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6EKl6slCMxg/YRlAJ_iMCkI/AAAAAAAAAik/RMS_LSNBGDka9FxL1ywsTaDu_XC_jkjbwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20210730_153524.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6EKl6slCMxg/YRlAJ_iMCkI/AAAAAAAAAik/RMS_LSNBGDka9FxL1ywsTaDu_XC_jkjbwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20210730_153524.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Love this view of the monkey puzzle tree looking across </div><div style="text-align: center;">to one of Macleods Tables - </div><div style="text-align: center;">plus the one below of the snaking track across the moorland </div><div style="text-align: center;">from the tree by the gateway onto the A850.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JmD_G0qwnOA/YRlA08yb5pI/AAAAAAAAAis/zEUHdk41YkI-eXF6C_FXDZ4rzXv2vULDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20210730_155541.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JmD_G0qwnOA/YRlA08yb5pI/AAAAAAAAAis/zEUHdk41YkI-eXF6C_FXDZ4rzXv2vULDQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20210730_155541.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">By then I was well and truly on the 'home straight' but not </div><div style="text-align: center;">without taking a photograph of the river running across the moor</div><div style="text-align: center;">with Macleods Tables in the background....:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i-wM3rV1Nzs/YRpJZSuS94I/AAAAAAAAAi8/doncdwWDZfo_qv8FDeBJJjDz-zgDdqHgACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20210730_162520.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i-wM3rV1Nzs/YRpJZSuS94I/AAAAAAAAAi8/doncdwWDZfo_qv8FDeBJJjDz-zgDdqHgACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20210730_162520.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Thirty minutes after taking the above photo </div><div style="text-align: center;">I was back home clutching a very welcome LARGE mug of tea!</div><div style="text-align: center;">It had been a very long day but the magnificent scenery and sheer joy </div><div style="text-align: center;">of walking through it - plus the terrific Cause for which this trek had been done </div><div style="text-align: center;">made it all absolutely worthwhile !</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17183938766924894616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-530096118444751862021-08-07T11:10:00.000+01:002021-08-07T11:10:24.724+01:00More Flowers<div class="separator">As my last couple of posts here will testify, I have been paying closer attention to the local wild flowers this year than previously. And what a wonderful variety of size and shape they come in!</div><p>Now, a few weeks on from my last post, most of the smaller flowers are gone, to be replaced by taller and larger plants, some of them so vigorous that they form drifts of colour on the roadsides and meadows. Most have grown over a metre in height in the last couple of months.</p><p>Very common locally is the rich creamy Meadowsweet, which on a calm day fills the air with its heady scent. White umbrellas of tall Hogweed are also everywhere, as are the stunningly beautiful thistle-like Knapweed, while bright yellow Ragwort is all about too. Not so common just at Roskhill, but flowering in profusion outside Loch View Cottage, and indeed, all over the Highlands, is the brilliant pinky-purple Rosebay willowherb.</p><p>There's also a couple of other plants in flower now that I don't know the names of - so help needed again, please!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7nM9cNr18hs/YQ5Yeqj7MoI/AAAAAAAAL8E/3eR_4nnwG70IjGlHzD_7bKG0iuHa0_vTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210806_133358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="2048" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7nM9cNr18hs/YQ5Yeqj7MoI/AAAAAAAAL8E/3eR_4nnwG70IjGlHzD_7bKG0iuHa0_vTgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h428/20210806_133358.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wild floral display at our Lochview Cottage</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uMn4HN2ZwJQ/YQ5ZZDP_MjI/AAAAAAAAL9E/d2xMvOhpCjUg6cz_MSK3NqmtZIYuBTxRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DSC02394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uMn4HN2ZwJQ/YQ5ZZDP_MjI/AAAAAAAAL9E/d2xMvOhpCjUg6cz_MSK3NqmtZIYuBTxRwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC02394.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Knapweed, Hogweed, Ragwort and ferns</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uIsAdR8KwzU/YQ5ZTH0LEKI/AAAAAAAAL88/i7b6iJMBzvcyod63vJyOuOnaMCO7R-G8gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DSC02391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uIsAdR8KwzU/YQ5ZTH0LEKI/AAAAAAAAL88/i7b6iJMBzvcyod63vJyOuOnaMCO7R-G8gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC02391.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lovely Knapweed flower</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fFn1BGkYZyw/YQ5ZeylYyPI/AAAAAAAAL9U/LUb628ZuG2Mx68FBcYQXBXNpmlL_0FXRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DSC02398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1487" data-original-width="2048" height="464" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fFn1BGkYZyw/YQ5ZeylYyPI/AAAAAAAAL9U/LUb628ZuG2Mx68FBcYQXBXNpmlL_0FXRQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h464/DSC02398.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brambles</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yE6TDRqhDYw/YQ5ZdiU2ZDI/AAAAAAAAL9M/eY4diaGNNmUAXdE7ydsXmc6rEaa2V65JACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DSC02400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yE6TDRqhDYw/YQ5ZdiU2ZDI/AAAAAAAAL9M/eY4diaGNNmUAXdE7ydsXmc6rEaa2V65JACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC02400.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dock</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zGJkaz_GB5s/YQ5ZT1vyYjI/AAAAAAAAL9A/OvAsQRaKwzkVPSdyJvk-10kNG0-03UE0wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DSC02392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zGJkaz_GB5s/YQ5ZT1vyYjI/AAAAAAAAL9A/OvAsQRaKwzkVPSdyJvk-10kNG0-03UE0wCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC02392.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meadowsweet</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d-sKp_10nN0/YQ5ZiXS8RTI/AAAAAAAAL9Y/oPtK6XKhhA4XKr7EFz1F__IQdkk46QAhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DSC02397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1951" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d-sKp_10nN0/YQ5ZiXS8RTI/AAAAAAAAL9Y/oPtK6XKhhA4XKr7EFz1F__IQdkk46QAhQCLcBGAsYHQ/w610-h640/DSC02397.JPG" width="610" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Help needed to name this one please...</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jFzjs3u5eps/YQ5Zd_PYaqI/AAAAAAAAL9Q/knJdeTL_rH4oaDu5jQo3phxec-LiLjYEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DSC02396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1390" data-original-width="2048" height="434" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jFzjs3u5eps/YQ5Zd_PYaqI/AAAAAAAAL9Q/knJdeTL_rH4oaDu5jQo3phxec-LiLjYEgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h434/DSC02396.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and help to name this lovely little chap, too.</td></tr></tbody></table>Richard Dorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04755395461723610728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-32544156330678813872021-07-14T11:06:00.001+01:002021-07-14T11:06:22.449+01:00Purple, White and Yellow - Names...<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">I </span>am here referring to the last two posts in this blog. I'm afraid my readers will have to do a bit of up/down scrolling to see the pictures and compare them to my list of names. Sorry!<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I am now going to attempt to name the wild flowers that I have recently photographed, all flowering within a half-mile of our home on the Isle of Skye. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am aware that for the precise identification of a wild flower, a serious botanist will need to see the whole plant, but I am not going to try to provide botanical names for my flowers. When it comes to common names, many wild flowers (if not all of them) have multiple different names... so I am going to offer the names I know these flowers by.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">I welcome comments and corrections - I am not at all certain that my names are entirely accurate - and what is number 22...??? Over to you...</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;">1.</span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Tufted</span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;">
vetch</span></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">2.
Buttercup</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">3.
Speedwell</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">4.
Tormentil</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">5.
Hawkbit</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">6.
Some variety of plantain</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">7.
Ragged Robin</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">8.
Northern marsh orchid</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">9.
Foxglove</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">10.
Ox-eye daisy</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">11.
Common spotted orchid</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">12.
Purple saxifrage</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;">13.
</span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Heath
bedstraw</span></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">14.
Some variety of bee orchid</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;">15.
S</span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;">pear
</span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;">thistle</span></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">16.
Cow parsley</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">17
White and purple marsh thistles</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;">18.
</span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;">B</span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;">irdsfoot
trefoil</span></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;">19.
</span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Red</span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;">
clover</span></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">20.
Ling heather</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">21.
Some other kind of plantain</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">22.
No idea…!</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">23.
Common hogweed</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">24.
Stinging nettle</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">25.
White clover</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;">26.
</span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Bull
</span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;">thistle</span></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">27.
Goosegrass (and a prize for the teeniest flower...)</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">28.
Yellow vetch</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">29.
Ragwort</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">30.
Yarrow</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">31.
Meadowsweet</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">32.
Red campion</span></p><p><br /></p>Richard Dorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04755395461723610728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-85328301717985105902021-07-08T08:54:00.010+01:002021-07-08T08:57:31.508+01:00Purple, White and Yellow - Some More...<p>I'm beginning to wish I hadn't started this... Having photographed some 26 different flowering wild plants while out very locally with Cupar-the-Collie the other day, I now can't stop looking for more... and, yes, there are quite a few I missed. So here's a further small selection, and I know there are still at least a couple that I am yet to photograph, plus others currently in bud which will flower soon...</p><p>I am trying to name them all, and will post my list of those I am certain of, and those I am guessing at, in a few days time.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XHBOaKs2d5w/YOau7bUKX9I/AAAAAAAAL40/0ECkXJzkXa0tHNc3a7XYlbG4xaCeWcMwACLcBGAsYHQ/s3748/DSC02379.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2797" data-original-width="3748" height="478" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XHBOaKs2d5w/YOau7bUKX9I/AAAAAAAAL40/0ECkXJzkXa0tHNc3a7XYlbG4xaCeWcMwACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h478/DSC02379.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">27</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LlI8Irxdags/YOau8KhaT7I/AAAAAAAAL44/0AwLqOup4ZQNq3P_hWuCa1O1tfgDv8oAwCLcBGAsYHQ/s3748/DSC02380.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2749" data-original-width="3748" height="470" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LlI8Irxdags/YOau8KhaT7I/AAAAAAAAL44/0AwLqOup4ZQNq3P_hWuCa1O1tfgDv8oAwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h470/DSC02380.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">28</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PiSwo2rHKBM/YOau86Zc4XI/AAAAAAAAL48/VsWa4f11ch8Y25bedaX-vnNij5s4j3q9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s3199/DSC02381.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2309" data-original-width="3199" height="462" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PiSwo2rHKBM/YOau86Zc4XI/AAAAAAAAL48/VsWa4f11ch8Y25bedaX-vnNij5s4j3q9QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h462/DSC02381.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">29</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pih9rwezoEs/YOau9iKyHYI/AAAAAAAAL5A/BzfIPXLyz94WfkICFVVWOx6oWH8EuN52QCLcBGAsYHQ/s3055/DSC02383.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2150" data-original-width="3055" height="450" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pih9rwezoEs/YOau9iKyHYI/AAAAAAAAL5A/BzfIPXLyz94WfkICFVVWOx6oWH8EuN52QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h450/DSC02383.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">30</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ls2z0nPADpg/YOau-h8n6TI/AAAAAAAAL5E/JHJxsVoUCDcvh4RnK3cHPy5r7rd1eVh8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s4237/DSC02385.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2579" data-original-width="4237" height="390" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ls2z0nPADpg/YOau-h8n6TI/AAAAAAAAL5E/JHJxsVoUCDcvh4RnK3cHPy5r7rd1eVh8wCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h390/DSC02385.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">31</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1o1nlDdP1gk/YOau_Ab1IhI/AAAAAAAAL5I/UQ4qwoNVsIgajYjZ8feXfeQfdT6T_dVrwCLcBGAsYHQ/s3577/DSC02386.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2359" data-original-width="3577" height="422" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1o1nlDdP1gk/YOau_Ab1IhI/AAAAAAAAL5I/UQ4qwoNVsIgajYjZ8feXfeQfdT6T_dVrwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h422/DSC02386.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">32</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Richard Dorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04755395461723610728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-50473616025493155502021-07-05T15:17:00.008+01:002021-07-06T10:25:55.806+01:00Purple, White And Yellow<p>Every spring and summer on Skye, we are enchanted by the flourishing outburst of wild flowers that wave and blossom on every inch of roadside and moor. The plants squash together in a chaotic muddle, and thrust their flowers towards the sky to attract the pollinating insects that ensure more similar plants the following year. The sheer variety of shape and size of plant and flower is bewildering, but in colour, they all tend towards purple, white or yellow. I challenge anyone to name them all.... </p><p>(Photos all taken today within half a mile of the Barn).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9yPtbxLBLfs/YOMTkBy1dGI/AAAAAAAAL2g/qC7JdN_L3-gRbs28rp6ktexjZ2CXWbsRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02344.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9yPtbxLBLfs/YOMTkBy1dGI/AAAAAAAAL2g/qC7JdN_L3-gRbs28rp6ktexjZ2CXWbsRwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC02344.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hLxoqDV452c/YOMTk7EexbI/AAAAAAAAL2k/2FDy6oleKccna9fG3I1nrfxvs7htdxvtwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02345.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hLxoqDV452c/YOMTk7EexbI/AAAAAAAAL2k/2FDy6oleKccna9fG3I1nrfxvs7htdxvtwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC02345.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S6ng7zSf0H8/YOMTlQz8QhI/AAAAAAAAL2o/fcvctnq_0jog3wE9J4Os5fixl4W97d7swCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02347.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="1280" height="406" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S6ng7zSf0H8/YOMTlQz8QhI/AAAAAAAAL2o/fcvctnq_0jog3wE9J4Os5fixl4W97d7swCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h406/DSC02347.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O1qy2cUsuso/YOMTmK_mGzI/AAAAAAAAL2s/GQ8MjcA0jncBzpsDypiGoy1U6FYsBNMYACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02348.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O1qy2cUsuso/YOMTmK_mGzI/AAAAAAAAL2s/GQ8MjcA0jncBzpsDypiGoy1U6FYsBNMYACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC02348.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c0BU0FbC1D0/YOMTmbA99KI/AAAAAAAAL2w/mbHTRjDIxronWdGRrmtv9uC14cVbuau-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02350.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c0BU0FbC1D0/YOMTmbA99KI/AAAAAAAAL2w/mbHTRjDIxronWdGRrmtv9uC14cVbuau-wCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC02350.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_zZisHAOo3A/YOMTnEhjs9I/AAAAAAAAL20/DBVbEKg4vnUk41HeZ82dL0Q7HYaVaojqwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02351.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="1280" height="438" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_zZisHAOo3A/YOMTnEhjs9I/AAAAAAAAL20/DBVbEKg4vnUk41HeZ82dL0Q7HYaVaojqwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h438/DSC02351.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">6</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uj-Zncflf1o/YOMTnpbsaUI/AAAAAAAAL24/AzX4p2OoAZoDKbRrf-lLC14eMYGBFFpHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02353.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="1280" height="414" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uj-Zncflf1o/YOMTnpbsaUI/AAAAAAAAL24/AzX4p2OoAZoDKbRrf-lLC14eMYGBFFpHQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h414/DSC02353.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">7</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6i_wm1HlHQQ/YOMToFDugrI/AAAAAAAAL28/qvRoc2T2Z6Uw5vRMv5bNnGA5asyKZtLGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02354.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1280" height="450" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6i_wm1HlHQQ/YOMToFDugrI/AAAAAAAAL28/qvRoc2T2Z6Uw5vRMv5bNnGA5asyKZtLGQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h450/DSC02354.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">8</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QvAnLSD0BP8/YOMTo8ecoiI/AAAAAAAAL3A/XtZiOzddYzcrLoJeiH1WK-qhD02QBmzqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02356.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1280" height="434" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QvAnLSD0BP8/YOMTo8ecoiI/AAAAAAAAL3A/XtZiOzddYzcrLoJeiH1WK-qhD02QBmzqgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h434/DSC02356.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">9</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GphR6YRbN_E/YOMTpmxO6aI/AAAAAAAAL3E/GcAGDcIjV-sKqGfP3qDGFdPhlhQJEI9CgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02357.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GphR6YRbN_E/YOMTpmxO6aI/AAAAAAAAL3E/GcAGDcIjV-sKqGfP3qDGFdPhlhQJEI9CgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC02357.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">10</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YEpM1IdKO8k/YOMTqNee0aI/AAAAAAAAL3I/5HiTEQdvniM-yneVpUdPPIZDipPzyswMgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02358.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="913" data-original-width="1280" height="456" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YEpM1IdKO8k/YOMTqNee0aI/AAAAAAAAL3I/5HiTEQdvniM-yneVpUdPPIZDipPzyswMgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h456/DSC02358.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">11</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m1Hr5tVVzFM/YOMTq6qBJ-I/AAAAAAAAL3M/-DB62rkOs7g6K3AfhFUY2pZbkpZFH1sCQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02360.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m1Hr5tVVzFM/YOMTq6qBJ-I/AAAAAAAAL3M/-DB62rkOs7g6K3AfhFUY2pZbkpZFH1sCQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC02360.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">12</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7qEZ_xS3-2s/YOMTrZTFw4I/AAAAAAAAL3Q/uxqTe_BL6YMH3dl3DrSmSyBk5e-fL5y3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02362.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1280" height="434" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7qEZ_xS3-2s/YOMTrZTFw4I/AAAAAAAAL3Q/uxqTe_BL6YMH3dl3DrSmSyBk5e-fL5y3gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h434/DSC02362.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">13</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XG1THjQ9Bco/YOMTrkt2P2I/AAAAAAAAL3U/yUfbhf5V9cIE8NryBFDtFxgwYpsH76-kgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02363.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="1280" height="434" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XG1THjQ9Bco/YOMTrkt2P2I/AAAAAAAAL3U/yUfbhf5V9cIE8NryBFDtFxgwYpsH76-kgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h434/DSC02363.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">14</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WTwEWrMt6Ls/YOMTsWV46MI/AAAAAAAAL3Y/ajNg2qziscwdyMykU9UnDgIRuKQB1CbygCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02364.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="1280" height="528" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WTwEWrMt6Ls/YOMTsWV46MI/AAAAAAAAL3Y/ajNg2qziscwdyMykU9UnDgIRuKQB1CbygCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h528/DSC02364.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">15</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7bJkEXHgqF0/YOMTs0CHC_I/AAAAAAAAL3c/Vgqs_sgH75YN3MG1-4V1wRbB6a5Tm8QKwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02365.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="943" data-original-width="1280" height="472" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7bJkEXHgqF0/YOMTs0CHC_I/AAAAAAAAL3c/Vgqs_sgH75YN3MG1-4V1wRbB6a5Tm8QKwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h472/DSC02365.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">16</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3OfaLrIdqP8/YOMTuwGNtwI/AAAAAAAAL3k/E0ihVDDsGFMNSGOsQKJkv4yAjIJZoDV0gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02366.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3OfaLrIdqP8/YOMTuwGNtwI/AAAAAAAAL3k/E0ihVDDsGFMNSGOsQKJkv4yAjIJZoDV0gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC02366.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">17</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LvG6tLlxdjQ/YOMTvl4FofI/AAAAAAAAL3o/ju7wDpX5NSoCokNt9HZAMZ2030V9iKpAwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02368.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LvG6tLlxdjQ/YOMTvl4FofI/AAAAAAAAL3o/ju7wDpX5NSoCokNt9HZAMZ2030V9iKpAwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC02368.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">18</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lnyiSU3XCGk/YOMTwFNZUsI/AAAAAAAAL3s/mNyhknLT5SYOSa3kqramK6xpy46ORE0JACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02369.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lnyiSU3XCGk/YOMTwFNZUsI/AAAAAAAAL3s/mNyhknLT5SYOSa3kqramK6xpy46ORE0JACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC02369.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">19</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W2EjZ4egXyM/YOMTxdVGGpI/AAAAAAAAL30/1tixd-c0tJ40QfZfy2t_wX53gqRhWb6jQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02370.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W2EjZ4egXyM/YOMTxdVGGpI/AAAAAAAAL30/1tixd-c0tJ40QfZfy2t_wX53gqRhWb6jQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC02370.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3kJkqY5XZWI/YOMTxrltK3I/AAAAAAAAL34/UNyZLfSZa6IhH52Q4lc98ZYQY013jo5NgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02371.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1280" height="432" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3kJkqY5XZWI/YOMTxrltK3I/AAAAAAAAL34/UNyZLfSZa6IhH52Q4lc98ZYQY013jo5NgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h432/DSC02371.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">21</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--oeB7J6mtv0/YOMTyJGIEMI/AAAAAAAAL38/p3lza1qJLvsn4P5hp935glJCQ7EZC9DTACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02372.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--oeB7J6mtv0/YOMTyJGIEMI/AAAAAAAAL38/p3lza1qJLvsn4P5hp935glJCQ7EZC9DTACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC02372.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">22</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MlLp22TPMpw/YOMTy_560sI/AAAAAAAAL4A/mM9vd9051B4CsStsSzwltw8EfMgaffnHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02373.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="1280" height="448" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MlLp22TPMpw/YOMTy_560sI/AAAAAAAAL4A/mM9vd9051B4CsStsSzwltw8EfMgaffnHgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h448/DSC02373.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">23</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YOuE2hrwZUI/YOMTzzJ6kNI/AAAAAAAAL4I/DhJVOMctqlU7YJTmx4PWghQhxaoZoUEsACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02375.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="925" data-original-width="1280" height="462" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YOuE2hrwZUI/YOMTzzJ6kNI/AAAAAAAAL4I/DhJVOMctqlU7YJTmx4PWghQhxaoZoUEsACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h462/DSC02375.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">24</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0MVg4154oQ8/YOMT0QMTw1I/AAAAAAAAL4M/a-w3jxELvrYrItQBU2VBIxciT-Il2QvrACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02376.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="1280" height="412" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0MVg4154oQ8/YOMT0QMTw1I/AAAAAAAAL4M/a-w3jxELvrYrItQBU2VBIxciT-Il2QvrACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h412/DSC02376.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">25</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cYrncf9fytw/YOMT0zteL1I/AAAAAAAAL4Q/eTDwL_p1e6kORdk87c3udKucX4fc7tNxACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/DSC02377.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1280" height="454" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cYrncf9fytw/YOMT0zteL1I/AAAAAAAAL4Q/eTDwL_p1e6kORdk87c3udKucX4fc7tNxACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h454/DSC02377.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">26</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Richard Dorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04755395461723610728noreply@blogger.com1