Oiled Soup

Annie's Song

2011-12-30T21:35:00.001Z

It is with great sorrow that I write this Blog.
My sister, Anne, suddenly passed away on the 22nd of December 2011. A very sad loss for her 3 children and husband, Robert.
Christmas time will never be quite the same again without her here in our lives. However we have been blessed with a lovely 10 week old grand daughter to help me through this sad time. Anne's family have also been blessed with a new grandchild 4 weeks before our grand child was born. God bless them.

I love you Anne. You were the best sister I could have had.
Anne, you will always be in our thoughts.

Here is a link to her page where the Local Newspaper wrote about her life there.
Anne

Isabella - 6 weeks old

2011-12-05T22:43:00.001Z

Isabella - 6 weeks old, originally uploaded by IainCameron.

Our first Grand Child, Isabella Rose.

BATH TIME

"Spring" by Vivaldi

2011-02-25T18:47:00.020Z

EARLY SPRING.
I was out walking and took some photos of the early Spring around Aberdeenshire at Banchory and Haddo, near Tarves.
Two have also been published in the Press and Journal newspaper during March 2011.
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I also include video taken by my good friend John W..
Thanks John

Crathes Castle, Banchory (published in the P & J newspaper)

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Swans at Haddo Country Park (published in the P & J newspaper)

Snowdrops at Haddow Country Park
Click ARROW to watch Video by John W

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CLICK the video link to hear "Spring" by Vivaldi

"There's a Place" by The Beatles

2010-10-19T19:51:00.007+01:00

How do you say the name to this little village called Ysbyty Ystwyth?
It is a village in Wales near Aberystwyth. I have been told by a local person it is pronounced " uh-sbuty uh-st-with"

"Just an Illusion" by Imagination

2010-08-25T10:59:00.011+01:00

My son Bruce worked on the production of this animated movie.

The Illusionist

More about the Illusionist

"Celebration Day" by Led Zeplin

2010-08-16T14:35:00.003+01:00

Grant Graduation, originally uploaded by IainCameron.

My son, Grant, graduated at Robert Gordon's University, Aberdeen with a First Class Honours Degree in July.

I am the proud Dad but he does not like to boast about it. Here he is graduating.

"I'll Find My Way Home" by Jon & Vangelis

2010-04-22T10:52:00.010+01:00

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I was in Stuttgart when the volcano, Eyjafjallajökull, in Iceland erupted. This caused significant disruption to air travel across western and northern Europe. It also meant that I had to look for a way to get home because British Airways cancelled my flights. There was chaos everywhere and thanks to my little netbook I was able to research many options to get me home. There were a few of us in the same situation and we helped each other to decide how to get moving.

Everyone needs to know that P&O ferry did not want to know about walking passengers! "We only take cars with passengers" BUT we were saved by SEAFRANCE Ferries who took as many walking passengers as the ship would carry. THANK YOU SEAFRANCE for altering your planned activity.
..

"I Walk The Line" by Johnny Cash

2010-04-11T10:18:00.017+01:00

The winter weather has eased a bit and allowed me to take a walk with my friend, Harry R, between Aboyne and Ballater in Aberdeenshire. The walk is along the disused railway line that starts in Aberdeen and ends at Ballater.

At Cambus O'May we stoped for a picnic at the suspension bridge and noted that it has been awarded the Best Scottish picnic spot chosen in 2007 by Warburtons Bakery. I certainly agree it is a beautiful spot to take a rest.

p
SLIDESHOW --- If you do not hear the music please click the speaker icon at top left.
p

"Heinz Baked Beans" by the Who

2010-01-25T11:18:00.007Z

BRANSTON BAKED BEANS come out top in a Consumer Testing Survey by WHICH?

Branston : Remember to try these beans next time you go shopping.

Thanks to a good Blogger and pen friend of mine (she knows who she is)I started to eat them about 5 years ago and I, and my family all prefer them to Heinz or the other big named brands.

Heinz may be the bestselling beans.
But when it comes to taste, it might be better to bring out the Branston's.
In a series of blind tasting tests, Branston beans came out top, with four out of five stars for taste.
Heinz could only manage fourth place, behind Asda and Morrisons beans. Consumer group Which? asked 120 shoppers to sample 12 brands and award them marks for appearance, aroma and texture.
The panel liked British brand Branston's "tasty sauce" and were impressed by its thickness and colour. At an average 63p a can, Branston beans - launched only five years ago - are also 1p cheaper than their US rival Heinz, which has 67 per cent of the market.
Bottom of the pile were "value" range beans from Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda.

"For A' That" - by Robert Burns

2010-01-25T06:22:00.005Z

Robert Burns Day, 25th January

Robert Burns was born on 25 January 1759, the first of William and Agnes Burns' seven children. From an early age Robert had to help his father on their small, impoverished farm in Ayrshire, in south-west Scotland.

Although he received little formal education, Burns was fluent in French and had a working knowledge of Latin and mathematics. He was a voracious reader across a range of literature, though he often liked to present himself as nothing more than a simple country poet.
When he was 15 he fell in love for the first time, supposedly with a girl with whom he was harvesting wheat. He promptly immortalised her - Helen was her name - in his maiden poem, "Handsome Nell".
In 1781 Burns became engaged to Elizabeth Gebbie, but her father disapproved of the match. The disappointed suitor took himself off to Irvine to learn the trade of flax-dressing, but had to return home a few months later when the flax shop burned down.
In 1785 Burns met Jean Armour at a dance in Mauchline. She became his wife and eventually bore him nine children. Burns also fathered at least four more offspring with other women, and had other romantic entanglements along the way.
He wrote his first collection of poetry - Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect - in order to raise money for a sea passage to Jamaica, Jean Armour's parents having initially opposed his prospective marriage to their daughter. The poems were an instant success, however, so Burns abandoned all thoughts of emigrating and moved to Edinburgh to pursue his literary career.
Burns signed up as an Excise officer in 1789, with a starting salary of £50 p.a. On one occasion he and his men captured a smuggler's vessel, the Rosamund, in the Solway Firth. Burns later purchased four of the ship's guns to donate to the French revolutionary cause.
Robert Burns wrote over 600 poems and songs in his relatively short life, though one of the most famous, "Auld Lang Syne", was not all his own work. A traditional ballad, Burns "took it down from an old man's singing" and reworked it. The tune itself dates back to the 17th century.
The poet died on 21 July 1796 in Dumfries, at the age of 37. The cause of death is thought to be the result of a streptococcal infection entering the bloodstream following the extraction of a tooth, though it has also been attributed to a freezing swim in the Solway Firth in a vain attempt to restore his failing health.
According to the Burns Society, the bicentenary of the poet's birth in 1996 was officially celebrated by more than a million people worldwide. A remarkable and enduring tribute to one of the world's greatest poets, whose passion, humour and love of the common man lives on in his work..

For A' That
Tho' women's minds, like winter winds,

May shift, and turn, an' a' that,

The noblest breast adores them maist-

A consequence I draw that.

Chorus

For a' that, an' a' that,

And twice as meikle's a' that;

The bonie lass that I loe best

She'll be my ain for a' that.

Great love I bear to a' the fair,

Their humble slave, an' a' that;

But lordly will,

I hold it still A mortal sin to thraw that.

For a' that, &c.

But there is ane aboon the lave,

Has wit, and sense, an' a' that;

A bonie lass, I like her best,

And wha a crime dare ca' that?

For a' that, &c.

In rapture sweet this hour we meet,

Wi' mutual love an' a' that,

But for how lang the flie may stang,

Let inclination law that.

For a' that, &c.

Their tricks an' craft hae put me daft.

They've taen me in, an' a' that;

But clear your decks, and here's-"The Sex!"

I like the jads for a' that.

For a' that, &c..

To A Haggis
Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o' the puddin-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy o' a grace
As lang's my arm.

~Robert Burns~

Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish normally made with the following ingredients: sheep's 'pluck' (heart, liver and lungs), minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and traditionally boiled in the animal's stomach. It is traditionally served with neeps and tatties (turnip and potato).

Haggis is traditionally eaten at Burns Night on 25th January each year when the life and times of the poet

"One Night in Bangkok" by Murray Head

2010-01-16T10:44:00.013Z

Flavours of Bangkok.
If you do not hear the music please click on the speaker ICON.

Anyone for a cup of tea?

"Island Girl" by Elton John

2009-12-08T17:02:00.009Z

Holiday to Langkawi and western Islands of Thailand

Get the slide show here! If you do not hear the music please click on the speaker ICON.

I took this 4 day trip by overnight coach from Bangkok to the south of Thailand and then to the Island of Langkawi, Malaysia via the ferry port at Taman Sentosa. On the island of Langkawi we were treated to a trip up the 700 m Gunung Mat Chinchang with great views over the island and beyond. After an overnight stay on the island we returned to Thailand and visited a few islands by fast boat and stayed on the paradise island of Ko Lipe for our next night. The next day was spent exploring the Tarutao Nationl Park that is made up of many small beautiful deserted islands. Once back on the mainland of Thailand at Pakbara, Satun, we made our way north and stopped near Puket for lunch and then a boat trip down a set of rapids. Then we made our long trip home overnight to Bangkok. Another great experience with some lovely people.

"Our Shangri La" by Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris

2009-12-06T11:51:00.014Z

CLICK ON THE SPEAKER ICON TO PLAY THE MUSIC
My China Trip to the beautiful Shangri La area

Shangri La Area of China:
See all the photos here - CLICK HERE

INFO HERE -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhongdian

You can link to the web sites if you see underlined blue text.

I took a package tour to the Shangri La area of China from Bangkok along with 45 other people from the Government Education Department of Thailand. Similar holidays are organised throughout the year and many of them take the chance to travel far and wide. Many had been to Europe, New Zealand, Australia and Japan.

Day1
We flew from Bangkok to Kunming in China and spent the afternoon walking up a forest and cliff trail called to a Buddhist temple called Dragon Gate. We then had our evening meal at a conference centre in Kunming where a wedding reception was taking place. The hotel at night was at the Enjoying International Hotel, Kunming with very comfortable and large rooms.

First impressions are that in this area of China the city and towns are very advanced and have lovely streets with plenty of trees and bushes and flowers. The area around Kunming is mountainous and beautiful. Kunming at 2000 mtr above sea level , and I guess no one in Europe has heard of this place, is a very large industrial and commercial city with around 7 million people there. There are lots of new building works including large road works ongoing. China is certainly not short of resources or revenue to proceed with all this work. They are getting ready for the tourist invasion that is sure to come from overseas tourists. Already there is a large China tourism with many of the hotels full for sightseeing tours of the area.

Day2
The second day we were up at 5am and checked out of the hotel by 7am and on the road towards Lijiang. We stopped off at the old city of Dali and toured the old preserved city and also visiting the nearby beautiful and very grand Chong Sheng Temple and the Three Towers that have a history going back 1800 years. Their mother building was known as Chongsheng Monastery and used to be the royal temple of the Kingdom of Dali and one of the largest Buddhist centres in southeast Asia and were built between 823 and 1108AD.

In the late afternoon we visited the old town of Lijiang that has been preserved to its former glory and where I managed to get hopelessly lost and got a taxi to take me back to the hotel where we were having our evening meal. The new city of Lijiang is a large bustling city and has clean, tidy streets. The old city is well preserved and many tourists from all over Asia visit here to look at the tourist shops and buy silk, woollens, stone and silver items. It was very colourful and beautiful in this area. We travelled all the rest of the afternoon through mountainous scenery on route to Lijiang. We had our dinner at the Lijiang Grand Hotel where a special Thai meal had been prepared for us. I have to say that is was the best meal of the tour because it was Thai food. The Chinese food we were presented with was always a “do it yourself” affair where a large pot of meat or fish stock was placed at the centre of the table on a stove and various vegetables and meats were placed in it. Thereafter you helped yourself to the broth and bowl of rice along with other foods that were brought to the table in random order. These included fish, pork, chicken and duck, all mostly of bones! Omlette was also presented on some occasions. Tea, Pepsi and Beer was also on offer.
We spent the night at the Shiner Hotel in Lijiang.

Day 3
On the third day we were again up at 5am to beat the queuing coaches that enter the large natural parklands to take the tourists to see the Yulong Snow Mountain (Jade Dragon?) where, unfortunately on the day I was there the weather was foggy and cold. We went on a cable car up to 4451 metres to view the mountain (18,359 ft) and the glacier that forms there. We all bought oxygen aerosols to assist us with breathing the air at the high altitude although I did not use my one. When I got to the top the sun was out and lucky to get spectacular views of the mountain area. Awesome is the word. Everyone talks about the Rockies, the Alps etc. but these mountains are equally as beautiful and rugged. After visiting the mountain tops we descended and were then entertained to a show given by 500 local people of the Nakhi tribe who told us the story of their culture formed over the thousands of years. The show was in an open air theatre and the temperature was about 6c and misty. Brrr! After this we had lunch in a Jade Water Village close by. I must say that China needs to improve the public toilet cleanliness if it is to expect the World to visit. I will say no more!

Day 4
The next day we were up again by 6pm and on the road to Shangri La. We passed through stunning scenery all the way through mountain passes and steep ravines where the coach seemed to be almost over the edge in places! We stopped at a beauty spot at Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hutiao Gorge) where we walked down into the gorge where the famous Yangtze River flows through a very deep, narrow passage beneath very high mountains. It is located about 62 miles northwest of Lijiang and is believed to be the deepest in the world. Again, this was very good to see nature in its raw state. We had lunch at Hutiaoxia Zhen, a small riverside village near the gorge. The afternoon was spent travelling over a high pass and on to Shangri La. On the way there I noticed many Hydro Electric Power stations that used the Yangtze River and its feeder rivers as a source of cheap power. In Shangra La we visited Zongzanlin Monastery high up in the mountains. Shangri La city is at an altitude of 4300 metres (13,000ft) so it gets a little time to become accustomed to the low oxygen levels. Some of our group fell ill here with the high altitude and freezing weather overnight. Our hotel, Holy Palace Hotel, was poorly heated and I spent a night very feeling cold. I should have kept my socks on.

Day 5
Next morning we were up again before dawn and on our way back to Kunming by air. Inside the Shangri La airport was very cold with no heating offered! When we got to Kunming we visited a herbal treatment clinic where we all got a foot massage while the doctors had us trapped and tried to sell us there splendid ointments and pills etc to cure all health problems. A doctor read my hands and told me that although I was a healthy and strong man (ha ha) I would have liver problems in the future and I could prevent this if I bought his special herbal pills that cost £250 for 6 months supply. I politely told him to forget it. We then visited another Buddhist Temple, Yuantong Temple, in the middle of Kunming. Not my favourite kind of place but very colourful buildings.

Day 6
Next morning it was another early morning rise to go to the airport and fly back the heat and bustle of Bangkok. Six full days of South West China gone in a flash but travelling with very nice and friendly Thai people who made me feel as part of the group.

Exploring and enjoying the flower and birds market, Stone Forest and Yuantong Temple in Kungming, Dali an ancient town featured for its Bai ethnic groups. I explored the ancient city, and to living Shaping Market and saw the local life. The highlights of the Shangri La travel is to discover the Lijiang Ancient Town and Zhongdian(Shangri La). Spend your leisure time there but a busy time to linger around by biking around the ancient Lijiang city, hiking of the Tiger Leaping Gorges or horse riding in Shila Sea; Peaceful and beautiful place is Zhongdian, flowers along the road on route from Lijiang to there, explore Shangri La around.

"Mr Blue Sky" by ELO

2009-09-22T19:58:00.014+01:00

I got the opportunity to be part of an Auditing Team working for an electrical power generation plant in Dar es Salaam and on a small island where the gas process facility was located. I was there for a week. Not a bad job if you can get it.
CLICK HERE FOR DETAIL>>> SONGO SONGO Projecy brings Energy to Tanzania
And Here >> Detail of Project

CLICK ON THE VIDEOS Below to view them.

Kodachrome by Paul Simon

2009-06-24T12:26:00.012+01:00

No more little yellow envelopes! CLICK HERE to view BBC blog on the subject.

I guess it was inevitable. Digital photos are here to stay. The are of much better quality than ever before and must be as good as Kodachrome.

I always used Kodachrome 25 or 65 asa in my SLR cameras that included a Zenit E (remember this?) and Olympus OM1, 2 and 10.

Kodachrome was the king of film. RIP Kodachrome.

I end this BLOG with a Quote from BBC - Phil Coomes

Along with every other blogger, I can't end the post without mentioning that Kodachrome will of course always be remembered for at least one reason, the fact that as far as I am aware it's the only brand of film that has been immortalised in song. So perhaps the last word should be left to Paul Simon: "Kodachrome, they give us those nice bright colours, they give us the greens of summers, makes you think all the world's a sunny day"... and what's wrong with that.

"The River" by Bruce Springsteen

2009-05-02T21:53:00.010+01:00

I recently went on The River of Kings cycle tour in Thailand.

TRIP PROFILE
The River of Kings Ride takes you back in time, far from the busy streets and fast paced modern city to a period of more than 700 years ago. It’s a tour where you can lose yourself in old world ruins and history, thereby experiencing the culture of this truly mesmerizing country.

The tour is mainly on road and takes you to the rural Thai countryside and the rich history of Thailand, all while enjoying an active holiday. The distances are not too strenuous and can be managed by most people.

We started in the north where we cycled over the foot hills surrounding Chiang Mai, and so we encounter a few climbs on the first two days. The central part of Thailand is flat, and after the third day we did not see any other hills of significance.

A fantasic holiday!

To listen the the SONG by Bruce Springsteen click on the speaker ICON.

"Drive My Car" the Beatles

2009-03-13T07:44:00.015Z

When the letter arrived at my home I nearly threw it away thinking it was junk mail! As it turned out how wrong I was. I looked at the letter again, 10 days later, before I put it into the paper recycle trash and could not see any mention of cost so I rang the Porsche hot line and was told that the whole event was free including the flights and transport to Silverstone.

On the day it turned out to be a fantastic experience. Porsche GB laid on a very well organised event. I enjoyed the whole experience of my time at the centre. The Centre is well laid out to view all the Porsche car range and you can take any of the cars out to have a test drive. You can even take your own Porsche out on the circuit. The handling circuit roads are well laid out with varying camber and blind corners and my driving consultant, Ian, knew everything about the new cars that we were driving on the day, the 2009 update of the Porsche Boxster. The low friction skid pan and ice hill roads were a revelation and taught me that breaking on ice should be part of my instincts from now on with a car fitted with the PSM. A point worth noting, if you have a car with anti-lock braking (ABS)installed. And the food; the food is exceptional! You will have to go far to get food as well prepared and presented as this. We arrived at the Porsche centre just in time for lunch, had our 2hours of great driving and then returned inside to receive afternoon tea with sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and strawberries, cake and home-made biscuits.

There were 20 new Boxsters waiting for us to drive and we all got a drive in both engine sizes; the 2.9 ltr and the 3.4 ltr. They were all washed and ready for our use. I have to say that I do not know how the Porsche engineers can make the best handling road car better but they have done it. The standard Boxster is now better to drive than my 8 yrs old Boxster S with a bigger engine; Increadable.

Now where is that money box?

"Photographic" by Depeche Mode

2009-03-06T18:42:00.013Z

I am please and delighted to have been asked to display some of my photos on Flickr.

Here are Two of them:

1. A Visit to Cypress Gardens, Florida

2. Schmap Leeds Sixth Edition: Photo Inclusion

Hi Iain,
I am delighted to let you know that your submitted photo has been selected for inclusion in the newly released sixth edition of our Schmap Leeds Guide:
Bolton Abbey : www.schmap.com/leeds/sights_water/p=105039/i=105039_19.jpg
If you use an iPhone or iPod touch, then this same link will take you directly to your photo in the iPhone version of our guide. On a desktop computer, you can still see exactly how your photo is displayed and credited in the iPhone version of our guide at: Bolton Abbey: www.schmap.com/?m=iphone#uid=leeds&sid=sights_water&p=105039&i=105039_19
Finally, if you have a blog, you might also like to check out the customizable widgetized version of our Schmap Leeds Guide, complete with your published photo:
www.schmap.com/guidewidgets/p=67872859N00/c=SJ1008248
Thanks so much for letting us include your photo - please enjoy the guide!
Best regards,
Emma Williams,
Managing Editor, Schmap Guides
www.schmap.me/emma.williams

Bolton Abbey, originally uploaded by IainCameron.

See my Bolton Abbey photos on Flickr by clicking ==here==

"She's A Rainbow" by the Rolling Stones

2009-03-02T15:31:00.021Z

I enjoy cooking as many of my friends already know. I made this curry taken from a programme on ITV.

It is called Rainbow Curry and is quite delicious.

Here is the Recipe:

For the rainbow chicken
1 chicken breast, skin removed, cut into pieces
2cm/¾in piece ginger, peeled and grated
2 lemons, juice only
5 tbsp Greek-style yoghurt
salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tbsp ghee
2 small onions, finely chopped
½ red pepper, seeds removed, thinly sliced
½ green pepper, seeds removed, thinly sliced
½ yellow pepper, seeds removed, thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 green chilli, seeds removed, flesh finely chopped
1 tsp ginger paste (made by blending 1cm/½in ginger with 1 tsp water)
1 tsp garlic paste (made by blending 1 garlic clove with 1 tsp water)
½ tsp cumin seeds
½ tsp ground coriander
½ paprika
½ tsp ground turmeric
½ tsp chilli powder
small handful fresh coriander, plus 2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander, to serve

For the pilau rice
4 tbsp ghee
½ onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
100g/3½oz basmati rice, rinsed
½ chicken stock cube, crumbled
150ml/5fl oz boiling water

Method
1. For the pilau rice, heat two tablespoons of the ghee in a frying pan over a medium heat until foaming. Add the chopped onion and garlic and fry until softened and golden-brown.
2. Add the rice, two more tablespoons of ghee and the crumbled stock cube and stir well to combine.
3. Pour over the boiling water, return the mixture to the boil, then turn down the heat, cover with a lid and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 12-15 minutes, or until the rice has cooked through.
4. For the rainbow chicken, place the chicken pieces into a bowl and add the ginger, half of the lemon juice and two tablespoons of the Greek-style yoghurt. Stir well to coat the chicken in the marinade. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then set aside for five minutes.
5. Meanwhile, heat two tablespoons of the ghee in a frying pan over a medium heat, add half of the onion and fry for 2-3 minutes, or until softened.
6. Add the sliced peppers and fry for 4-5 minutes, or until softened and golden-brown. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside.
7. Place the remaining onion, the garlic, chilli, ginger paste, garlic paste, cumin seeds, ground coriander, paprika, turmeric, chilli powder and coriander into a food processor and blend to a paste.
8. Heat the remaining tablespoon of ghee in a frying pan over a medium heat, add the spice paste and fry for 2-3 minutes. Add the marinated chicken pieces and fry for 4-5 minutes, stirring well to coat the chicken in the spice paste, until the chicken is completely cooked through and golden-brown.
9. Add the remaining lemon juice, the remaining three tablespoons of Greek-style yoghurt and the reserved fried peppers and onion to the pan. Continue to cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring well. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
10. To serve, spoon the rainbow chicken onto a serving plate. Spoon the pilau rice alongside. Garnish with the remaining chopped coriander.

I hope you enjoy eating it.

Feel the Need in Me - Detroit Emeralds (sweet as apple pie)

2009-01-19T10:16:00.010Z

I made some Apple Pie last week. It is very easy to make this delicious dessert.
It was so good I thought I may share it with my BOGGER Friends.

The music may seem inappropriate but the Detroit Emeralds (remember them?) sing "Your love is better to me than apple pie".

"Sun Arise" by Rolf Harris

2008-12-31T13:38:00.014Z

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE

Another year gone! And what a year it has been. Good and bad. Good holidays with friends and family. Expanding my voluntary work in the community. New mountain bike. Big stock crash and everyone wondering when the bottom will be reached.

The last day of the year saw me taking an early walk up Benachie with my friend Harry R. The sun was just rising as we neared the summit with lovely views of the Garioch. Nice way to end 2008.

Yes, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE

"Thank God It's Christmas" by Queen

2008-12-20T13:10:00.028Z

Nearly Christmas already!

Where does the time go? Nearly Christmas and here we at the shortest day of the year. I managed to get a good walk up Benachie on the 9th December with my friends, John and Esmae.

I have been to a few Christmas Lunch parties too. Here we are at the TOTAL Pensioners Association party in Aberdeen. Santa looks pleased to see me.

On the 13th December the MCP01 boys got together for our annual bash at the Prince of Wales bar in Aberdeen follwed by a curry. Always a great event. Not everyone can make it every year but there is always a good turn out.

I cooked a special meal last week.. Slow cooked Leg of Lamb with butter beans. It was so good I am cooking it for New Year's dinner.

I also baked some Tipsy Cake and Sticky Toffee Pudding ready for the BIG FEED at Christmas. Here is a photo of the Sticky Toffee Pudding just coming out of the oven.

Nearly forgot to mention my new Bicycle.. a Cannondale F4. It will take the place of my trusted Marin that has taken me far and wide over the past ten years without fault.
The weather has been so poor I have only been out in it once since I bought it in October!
Remember -- you can always check my photo updates at Flickr... and there is a link to my Flickr web site on the right hand side of this page.

"Frosty the Snowman! by The Jackson Five

2008-11-30T22:32:00.001Z

Well, I know its a bit early for Christmas stuff but the song fits with the theme.

First of all its 30th November so its St Andrew's Day in Scotland. CLICK here to read more about St Andrews Day.

Secondly, my good friend, Harry R and I took a walk in the Glen Tanar area in what was a very frosty, cold but sunny day. We walked about 15 miles is some beautiful scenery and we only met people near the end of our walk. Here is a slide show of our photos. PLEASE CLICK ON THE SPEAKER ICON TO HEAR THE MUSIC

Third place goes to last weeks weather when we were engulfed in about 30cm of snow here in Ellon. Here are a couple of photos to show what it was like. A few cars got stuck on the hill outside our house and I helped to unstick tone and send it on its way.

Lastly, We were in Glasgow on a short break to see our son Bruce and Aunt Jackie along with some shopping. The Glasgow Christmas Lights were switched on during our time there so here is a photo of them.

"Flower of Scotland" by the Corries

2008-11-23T09:32:00.015Z

Scotland 41 - Canada 0.

A great day for all of us in Scotland!

On a bitterly cold day I went to the match at Pittodrie, Aberdeen and what a game. See review here by Mark Palmer of the Sunday Times.

Here I am with my friend Alan enjoying the spectacle.

To PLAY the Music from this slide show click on the speaker ICON to the left.

"Whiskey in the Jar" by Metallica

2008-10-29T15:20:00.010Z

Two weeks ago we visited friends at Aberlour on the River Spey. This area is famous for its Whisky making with many distilleries in the area. Needless to say we stopped off at the Aberlour Distillery for a wee dram or two during our stay. Hence the music by Metallica although they are singing about American whiskey!

The weather was good with lots of sunshine.

Here are a few photos of the weekend.

Whiskey In The Jar - Metallica

"In a Big Country" by Big Country

2008-10-05T12:24:00.019+01:00

Credit Crunch crimes

We have all "tightening our belts" recently mainly due to the fear of where to put your well earned money. I saw this on Yahoo News this morning and wondered that there must be an awful lot of LARGE people in the UK who are keen to loose a few kilograms but cannot afford to eat less! -- if you know what I mean... It certainly is bizar as Sarah Modlock writes in her article.

Here is what she writes:

"Even more bizarrely, the latest 'must-have' for shoplifters is Slim Fast shakes. Yes, really. The £7 six packs of the meal replacement drinks have been security-tagged after disappearing en masse from supermarket shelves."

Here are the Crimes that are on the increase:
Supermarket theft, Employee fraud,Allotment theft, Car insurance fraud, Petrol Diesel theft, Mortgage fraud, Travel insurance fraud & Burglaries.

Here is her article in full >> CLICK HERE <<
So be careful and don't be conned.

In A Big Country - Big Country

"That's Amore" by Dean Martin

2008-09-28T07:35:00.017+01:00

Just back from a fab holiday in our Boxster travelling to the Italian Lakes. 3,200 miles return trip. Weather was changeable so some of the excursions on the road passes over the Alps had to be cancelled. Maybe next year?? The car ran all the way and back without missing a beat.

Link here to go to my Boxster BLOG. for many more photos and information.

From Italian Lakes

Thats Amore - Dean Martin

"There's a Place" The Beatles

2008-09-01T16:33:00.005+01:00

When cycling from Edzell to Aboyne in the North East of Scotland I came across this hamlet called Finzean. Well, how would you pronounce it? Is it as in Finzeen or Fintseen or maybe Finyeen. No, it is pronounced as FING-IN, as in sing-in. Here is an explanation of how the area got its name and pronunciation.

"Pictures In My Head" by Westlife

2008-09-01T15:15:00.031+01:00

Pictures In My Head - Westlife

I guess most have you have noted that I have not been blogging for some time. I have been meaning to blog but it's been a busy summer and our weather here has been reasonable so I have been outside enjoying it and not updating my Blog. I have had Pictures in My Head but no time to post them here until now.

So .... > Here is some of what I have been up to in recent months.

Wedding in London At Kylie and Mark's wedding

Isle of Skye weekend
Weekend in Isle of Skye courtesy of PCGB, Boxster Group who were on the Scotland tour with us. Thanks everyone, we had a lovely, free, weekend staying at the Duisdale House Hotel. Click on the photos to open them in a new window.

A day in the hills around Balmoral
A fabulous day in the Scottish Mountains

Cycle Trip
From Aboyne to Edzell via Mount Keen. About 86 miles and over 3,000 feet of ascent! Thanks Harry for the company and to Harry2 for letting us use his accommodation.

Flowers need water and you can plenty of that in Scotland and the flowers are beautiful.

"The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond" by the Corries

2008-07-31T09:10:00.014+01:00

I've done it! Or should I say, we've done it! We managed to walk the 96 miles from Milngavie (Glasgow) to Fort William in 7 wonderful days on the West Highland Way.

I was helped along the way by Edith, John, Esmae and Lorna. Big thanks to you all for your company along the way. I also mention Jeff and his son for accompanying us during the walk and on some of our evening EATING exploits.

Here are some of the 750 photos taken by us along the way.

Just click on the slideshow below to open the album in Picasa.

I also found this BLOG on the WEB placed by Quimby Melton and friends from the USA CLICK HERE decribing their walk through the WHW. Thanks Guys.

This is a video of the Corries singing The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond

"Sky Pilot" The Animals

2008-07-04T08:53:00.006+01:00

Some friends and I are preparing to walk the West Highland Way soon so we decided to get fit and get some walking down prior to the long walks. Here are Esmea, John and I on a beautiful day at Loch Muick heading up to Broad Cairn.

Two weeks earlier we also walked up Lochnaggar that is in the same area. Here are some of these photos too for your interest.

Why did I use SKY PILOT as the Title? Some of you will know that I always use a song title as the Title and use it to loosely describe the content of the Blog entry. I have used this title because during the walk there is part of the path where you do feel like a bird soaring high above the hills and loch. There was also quite a bit of RAF activity in the area during the walk so it was quite a co-incidence when the song came on in my car iPod as I drove away. I must admit the lyrics don't really match up too much! BUT the flying bit does.

CLICK on the PLAY icon to listen to the song.

"Proud" by Heather Small

2008-06-14T16:23:00.011+01:00

Well here I am being the proud father... EDITED on 29th June

After 2 years hard work at Glasgow School of Art here is Bruce's final submission for his 2 year course on Motion Graphics and achieving a Master of Philosophy degree. He graduates next Friday - 18th June.

Just click on the Play icon to watch and listlen to it.

Wired from Bruce Cameron on Vimeo.
.
Watch Bruce's Graduation on YouTube here<

.
Bruce was also an EXTRA in the drama series TAGGART and he appeared in an episode last week. Here he is from an edit I put on YouTube. See if you can make him out. He has long red hair! ,, and he is in the background of each shot.

Grant, my other son also obtained his HND in computers along with being the "Student of the Year". SO we are very please for both of our boys.

AND here is the song by M People.....

Proud - M People

"On the Road Again" by Deana Carter

2008-05-21T16:27:00.018+01:00

Boxster Tour of Scotland 2008

TURN ON YOUR SPEAKERS

We had another great time this year with the Porsche Club on the West of Scotland Boxster Club tour. The weather was the best that I have ever seen for the full week. Up to 27C most days! Certainly "TOP DOWN" weather.

This is the third time I have organised this event and everyone enjoyed it so much they would like me to organise another one next year. Maybe.

For a slideshow of more photos link here

On The Road Again - Deana Carter

"Lazy Days" by Enya

2008-05-03T16:31:00.005+01:00

Back to Nerja, Spain, again this year for the third time. Eight of us went this year and we had a fun time. Food was good, weather was best it has been and the company was great.

Lazy Days - Enya

"Snow ((Hey Oh))" by the Red Hot Chilly Peppers

2008-04-19T09:12:00.015+01:00

Snow ((Hey Oh)) - Red Hot Chili Peppers

Another walk ... This week I walked up Ben Rinnes with friends, Esmae, John and Edith

Ben Rinnes is ... well, here is an extract from Wikipedia, "Ben Rinnes (Scottish Gaelic: Beinn Ruaidhneis) at (841m/2,759ft) is a mountain in the region of Moray, Scotland. The mountain is popular with hikers with the sight from the summit that is described as truly amazing. At the summit you can see 8 counties (Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Moray, Nairnshire, Inverness-shire, Ross and Cromarty, Sutherland, and Caithness) and on a clear day even the Moray coast. Another draw for the hiker are the waterfalls from the many rivers that flow down the mountain such as Linn of Ruthie."

As you will see in my photos we could not see much of the surrounding counties as there was a lot of snow about but it was great fun.

For more information on Ben Rinnes visit Friends of Ben Rinnes by clicking here

"These Boots Are Made for Walking" by Nancy Sanatra

2008-04-11T14:09:00.014+01:00

The weather in this part of the UK has been poor over the past few weeks with snow showers and very cold spells of weather. So I have been reluctant to get out and walk. However, in the past two weeks I have walked up Top o'North and Clachnaben with my friends, John & Esmae. At Top o'North the wind was extreme and atop Clachnaben we had high winds and the odd drop of snow. BUT we had a great time.

Thanks for your company guys!

Top o'North - above

At the top of Clachnaben

"Turning Japanese" by The Vapours

2008-04-10T08:51:00.001+01:00

So .. my Japanese name is Haru Kaoin. I took this from Anthony and his Kingdom BLOG. Thanks Anthony. And at the bottom of this entry I have linked The Vapours video of the song, Turning Japanese, for those of you who do not know the song.

Your Japanese Name Is...

Haru Kaoin

What's your Japanese Name?

========================================

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Life's a Gas" by T-Rex

2008-03-14T18:39:00.038Z

The end of an era.

My "home and workplace" for 10 years of my life is sadly being taken apart.

Let me explain; I worked on a Gas Compression Platform called MCP01 for 10 years of my career. It was located in the North Sea 110 miles north of Aberdeen. I worked a 2 week on 2 week home rota like most people did then in the North Sea oil & gas industry. Therefore it was inevitable that I would become attached to the place. It was like a village and it had lots of characters from all walks of life. We worked hard during the day but had a good social life in the evenings playing games, having quizes and watching films together. Christmas & New Year were always very special too with the best of food and professional entertainment flown out to the platform for our pleasure. We also put on our own entertainment specials too. All good fun.

Now MCP01 is being taken apart as it has stopped being part of the UK / Norway gas transmission system and is redundant.

TOTAL E&P along with Aberdeen University have commenced a project on the UK part of the FRIGG system from the design & construction through to their decommissioning, tying in with colleagues working on the Field including a history of the life on board.

Here are some photos below of the recent event held by TOTAL & Aberdeen University when I met up with Barry Scott & Harry Ross to reminisce over past good times.

Photos from past times.

"London Town" by Paul McCartney

2008-03-03T20:12:00.017Z

We are just back from a few days holiday to London. We took the train from Aberdeen and stayed near Russell Square. I was keen to see the exhibition for the First Emperor, China's Terracotta Army at the British Museum in London before it finished in April. For me it was an opportunity of a lifetime as I have always wanted to go and see this magnificent find in Xi'an, China and this is the next best thing to going there. We also went to the King Tutankhamun exhibition and saw the musical show, Chicago.

LINK TO MY PHOTOS HERE, just click your mouse here.

"Walking in My Shoes" by Depeche Mode

2008-02-25T08:15:00.018Z

Spring is almost here in Aberdeenshire (it's early this year) and I have been out on three small walks over the past 10 days or so enjoying the dry weather.

The first walk was to an area 20 miles north of Ellon at a place called Forrest of Deer.

View looking north to Mormond Hill

The next place was near Cullen (famous for its fish soup called Cullen Skink) walking up Bin of Cullen where we had great views of the coastal area of the Murray Firth. It was blowing a high wind at the top as you can see from our hair.

Janis, Iain & Esmae at the top of Bin of Cullen (320m)

Looking down -- and Esmae's new shoes at the top of photo

Looking up from our shoes

Lastly, we had a walk up Benachie along with a 3 yr old who continually ran on ahead putting us to shame on the steep climb.

"Walking in the Park" by Paul McCartney & Wings

2008-02-03T18:53:00.002Z

I was out walking in my home town of Ellon the other day and took some photos at the river Ythan. A cold winter's day does no justice to any place but here is our village in all its bareness of winter.

RIVER YTHAN

AND THEN THE SNOW CAME!

"Questions & Answers" by Biffy Clyro

2008-01-31T13:38:00.000Z

Tagging time! Thanks, Irene. Here goes.......
A- Attached or Single? Attached
B- Best Friend? I have a few good friends. How can you say that one is better than another one?
C- Cake or Pie? Either, but just a little bit.
D- Day of Choice? Each day is wonderous.
E- Essential Item? It has to be my PC.
F- Favorite color? Blue.
G- Gummy Bears or Worms? Yuk!
H- Hometown? I have never thought about having a home town, but if I am pushed it is East Kilbride.
I- Favorite Indulgence? Eating out with friends.
J- January or July? July for the warm weather
K- Kids? Yes please.
L- Life isn't complete without? Family and Friends.
M- Marriage Date? July 1972
N- Number of Brothers and Sisters? I have one lovely younger sister.
O - Oranges or Apples? Oranges every night.
P- Phobias or fears? Spiders, rats & snakes.
Q- Quote? Ok, so far.
R- Reason to smile? Seeing children happy at play
S- Season of choice? Autumn or Fall
T- Tag three friends or family. Lord Celery, Gosia, and anyone else who wants a go.
U- Unknown fact about me? I was Scotland’s Junior champion in cycling a long time ago.
V- Vegetable? I like most vegetables.
W- Worst habit? Won’t say.
X- X-ray or ultrasound? Whatever the doctor recommended.
Y- Your favorite food? Indian and Italian food.
Z - Zodiac sign? Capricorn

"Cook of the House" by Paul McCartney & Wings

2008-01-29T13:43:00.000Z

As most of my friends already know, I enjoy cooking. Last night I made Mediterranean Lamb followed by ginger poached pear and chocolate sauce. Here are photos of the food. Mmmmm.

I have also included one of my favourite dishes .. Mirin Glazed Salmon with egg noodles.

"I was so much older then" by the Byrds

2008-01-12T21:00:00.001Z

You can play the music by clicking on the arrow.

I went for a nice, but cold, walk in Glen Tanar today. I was certainly in need of a long walk as it has been a while since I have had the opportunity to enjoy one and I felt like an old man by the time we got back to our car. Got home and had a relaxing, hot bath. Now I feel so much better and fit & ready to do it again. Here are some of the photos that I took in my bonnie Scotland. Thanks Harry R for suggesting the walk & the good company.

This is a drinking well within the Glen Tanar Estate. It reads as follows: "From earths flow, Seaward I go, Refreshing the World on my way, My duty done, My guerdon won, I rise on celestial way."

Guerdon means Prize in this verse.

"Rockin' Robin" by Michael Jackson

2008-01-12T20:13:00.000Z

I don't know where they are all hiding this year. I found it difficult to find a Robin in our garden this winter never mind photograph one. Today I had my camera to hand while a Robin came down to say 'hello' to me. Not a great photo but Janet "sort of" challenged me to get a photo onto my BLOG. Here it is Janet, just for you.

"Happy New Year" by ABBA

2008-01-02T12:20:00.000Z

I have been neglecting my blog for a month now and its 2008 already.

Not a lot has been happening except to say that we had a full house at Christmas with all of our family and Ferruccio's Mum and Dad came over from Italy staying with us too. I managed to cook for all of us and not a case of food poisoning in sight. I may have put on a few pounds too but who's counting. It's Christmas time after all.

Bruce had to go back to Glasgow all too early as he was working on Hogmanay.

At our Christmas Dinner Dance

Geovanna makes the REAL Spaghetti Carbonara

"Ramble On" by Led Zeppelin

2007-11-30T16:35:00.001Z

TODAY is St Andrew's Day .

Saint Andrew is the Patron Saint of Scotland, and St. Andrew's Day is celebrated by Scots around the world on the 30th November..... BUT you would never know it looking at the local news on TV and the newspapers. So much for having a pride in our heritage.

ALSO,

This week the Scottish National Party (SNP) introduces a NEW campaign to entice people to come and visit Scotland. What is it? It is "WELCOME TO SCOTLAND". I think that people will come in their thousands because of this (NOT).

Here is an extract from the Scottish Government web site:

The theme of the campaign was unveiled at Glasgow Airport by External Affairs and Culture Minister Linda Fabiani. It will incorporate a range of local messages celebrating diversity and success across Scotland - with distinct point of entry images at Glasgow, Edinburgh, Prestwick, Dundee, Inverness and Aberdeen airports.

The Minister said:
"This Government is determined to make the most of Scotland's image and reputation both here at home and abroad.
"From St Andrew's Day, these images will welcome people arriving in our country and Scots coming home, giving everyone a taste and glimpse of the very best of Scotland - enticing everyone to see more.
"As one of the first things that people will see upon arriving in Scotland, these images celebrate the historic and modern day successes that have shaped our country.

WHAT A LOAD OF TATTLE!

And in the same week the people of Scotland rejected Donald Trump's planning application to build a £1bn golfing complex in Aberdeenshire because a few do-gooders think that our coastal area will be ruined by his large Golfing development.

Have the same doo-gooders not smelled the air recently around Black Dog? Aberdeen City Council allowed the placing of two rubbish tips in the vunerable sand dunes area just a few miles south of the proposed golfing complex and that has left a large environmental impact far greater that anything the Trump golf complex would contibute to.

WELCOME TO SCOTLAND, indeed!

Please click on the highlighted texts to link to web sites related to the topic.

"Misty Blue" by Dorothy Moore

2007-11-29T21:19:00.001Z

This week we took a break away for a few days with a some good friends. We stayed in an hotel near Aviemore and had a relaxing time together.

Here are a few photos taken while we were enjoying a walk in Rothiemurchus Estate .

The estate has many things on offer among the most beautiful Scottish landscape, with walking, cycling, fishing, shooting, pony treks, bird watching and other exciting activities to enjoy.

Loch An Eilein within the ancient Caledonian Forest at Rothiemurchus.

"Here, There & Everywhere" by The Beatles

2007-11-24T16:58:00.000Z

It's been a month since I last wrote anything here in my Blog.

I have been busy with various activities, the main one being to help gather gifts put together into shoe boxes that are going to be sent to orphaned children in Romania to allow them to enjoy a special time at Christmas. The Christmas "Shoe-box" Parcel Appeal goes out to help children in need in Romania. The New Hope Trust ask for gift boxes and there are many, many school children responing to the appeal by each one making up a box full of sweets, toys, hats, scarves, gloves, soap, toothpaste, and other small gifts, bringing happiness and joy to so many poor children in Romania. This year I drove one of their trucks around our local area and loaded many parcels from schools. I also spent time driving to Glasgow & Edinburgh collecting gifts and clothing. I was proud to drive one of the trucks out to orphanages in Moldova in 2005. This year all the gifts are being transported by container as this works out to be a more cost effective option.

Janis and I also had a weekend away to Fort William and Gairloch with our local Porsche Club group. Everyone had a good time despite the wet weather. Here we are in the car park of the hotel we stayed in at Fort William.

"Autumn Leaves" by Nat King Cole

2007-10-19T20:57:00.000+01:00

Autumn has arrived here in Scotland, but what an autumn. It has been an Indian Summer so far with clear blue skies for most of each day. The nights are drawing in and soon the clocks will be changing back to Greenwitch Mean Time that will mean long dark nights ahead.

We were out walking in Haddo Park today and here are some of my photos to enjoy, before leaves fall off the trees and the cold winter days keep us indoors.

"On the Road Again" by Canned Heat

2007-10-10T21:55:00.000+01:00

.... CLICK HERE ... to view my Porsche Corsica road trip blog.

"Golden Touch" by Razorlight

2007-10-09T21:06:00.000+01:00

We were visiting the RSPB Reserve at Loch of Strathbeg yesterday when a very small bird flew into the glass of a window stunning itself. One of the wardens was able to find the wee bird in the long grass and held it in his hand until it came to its senses. Then it flew off again on its way. It was a female Goldcrest. The warden thinks that it had flown all the way from Scandinavia on its way to a winter feeding ground in the UK. The Loch of Strathbeg is the first bit of land it would encounter on its long journey south.

What surprised us all was how small and beautiful it was and how such a creature can fly so far without rest or food. One of God's true miracles of nature.

"(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth" by Metallica

2007-08-31T09:24:00.000+01:00

I saw this in today's paper and thought it worthy of posting it here.

Malaysian pulls train with teeth in world record bid

KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian nicknamed "King Tooth'' pulled a seven-coach train using a steel rope clenched in his mouth Thursday, a feat that organizers said was a new world record for the heaviest weight pulled with teeth!

He did it in conjunction with the nation’s 50th Merdeka celebrations.

Link to article from here and here

I cannot believe anyone would want to attempt to do this but well done to him.

"I am a Rock" by Simon & Garfunkel

2007-08-16T18:14:00.000+01:00

We visited Craigievar Castle near Alford in Aberdeenshire today. This is one of my favourite Scottish Castles as it is not too grand and was still used as the family home up to about 1980. The castle sits on an eastern slope of the hill from which it derives its name; Craigievar, from the Gaelic, meaning "the Rock of Mar".

It is an excellent example of the original Scottish Baronial architecture, the great seven-storey castle was completed in 1626 by the Aberdonian merchant WilliamForbes, ancestor to the "Forbes-Sempill family" and brother of theBishop of Aberdeen. Forbes purchased the partially completed structure from the impoverished Mortimer family in the year 1610. William Forbes nickname was Danzig Willy, a reference to his shrewd international trading success. The Forbes family resided here for 350 years until 1963, when the property was gifted to the Nation Trust for Scotland.

"Baby your a rich man" by the Beatles

2007-08-16T07:52:00.000+01:00

What Will I do With a Million Dollars??

Thanks to the tag, Irene.

What will I do with a million Dollars?
(1) Ensure my children are housed and comfortable.
(2) Invest in local charities.
(3) Travel around the World by means of walking, cycling, motorhome & car.
(4) Treat my close friends to a luxury holiday.

Requirements:

1st - Tag 5 bloggers, list down their blog and link to their blog.
2nd - Let the blogger you want to tag know they have been tagged by commenting on their blog. 3rd - Add your own blog link to the list below.

What They Would Do With Their $1 Million:
1. SYH will spend for Family.
2. Miche will give to the needy.
3. Montessorimum will keepsake
4. Healthfreakmommy will keep, invest, spend and give to the needy.
5. The New Parent would use for education and charity.
6. Mamas Bag of Tricks would open a dinosaur themed restaurant.
7. Lyanne would pamper herself.
8. Irene would invest, build a new home, travel.
9. Milky Bar Kid would ensure his family were comfortably established, help fund local charities and go on a grand World Tour.

TAGS:
LORD CELERY - My favourite Blogger.

Sorry I don't interface with many bloggers. Most other friends are using silly stuff like MySpace & Facebook.

NB: $1,000,000 (US $) is not really a lot these days to most people in the western world (£500,000) although in many parts of the World it would seem like $20,000,000.

Look at what this woman, Angela Kelly, won on the European Lottery this week..... AND she is from my home town of East Kilbride. Perhaps I should see if she has a blog to link here and she can tell us what she is going to do with her winnings.

"Summer Sun" by Texas

2007-08-11T19:12:00.000+01:00

We were invited to Calabria, Italy, to visit Ferruccio's Mum & Dad at there home there. We spent the most wonderful week with them with Claire and Ferruccio visiting lovely villages, towns and mountain areas. The weather was very hot and sunny at about 35C but importantly, not humid. Here are some of our photos

CLICK HERE TO GO TO OUR HOLIDAY PHOTOS OF CALABRIA

"There Are Bad Times Just Around The Corner" by Noel Coward

2007-07-26T15:07:00.000+01:00

I listen to Sarah Kennedy on Radio 2 every morning as I wake up.

This morning I heard this song being played having been written and sung by Noel Coward. She said that it was probably very apt at the moment with all the flooding around the country and everyone in despair.

Seems very apt with all this bad wet weather!

.

Extracts from Noel Coward's song written at the begining of WW2 in 1940.

They're out of sorts in Sunderland

And terribly cross in Kent

They're down in Hull

And the isle of Mull

Is seething with discontent

They're nervous in northumberland
And Devon is down the drain

They're filled with wrath on Firth of Forth

And sullen on Salisbury plain

In Dublin they're depressed lads

Maybe because they're Celts
For drake is hurrying West, lads

And so is everyone else

Hurray! Hurray! Hurray!

Misery is here to stay

There are bad times just around the corner
There are dark clouds hurtling through the sky
And it's no good whining

About a silver lining

For we know from experience they won't roll by

With a scowl and a frown we'll keep our peckers down

And prepare for depression and doom and dread

We're going to unpack our troubles from our old kit bag

And wait until we drop down dead

There are bad times just around the corner
And the outlook's absolutely vile

There are home fires smoking from Windermere to Woking

And we're not going to tighten our belt and

Smile Smile Smile

At the sound of shots

We'd just as soon as not

Get a hot water bottle and go to bed

We're going to unpack our troubles from our old kit bag

And wait until we drop down deadI like your story

Land of Hope and Glory

Wait until we drop down dead

"Get Off Of My Cloud" by The Rolling Stones

2007-07-26T13:45:00.000+01:00

Another good walk on Tuesday to Mount Keen with John W.

Mount Keen @ 939m is the most easterly Munro in Scotland (A Munro being the name given to hills in Scotland over 914.4 m there being a total of 284). The assent we took was from the end of Glenesk where there is a car park. The initial approach is up Glen Mark for 3.5km to the Queens Well, a granite imperial crown which sits on top of a natural spring bubbling out of the ground and marks the spot where Queen Victoria and her entourage stopped for a picnic on one of their jaunts over the hills from Balmoral in September 1861.

Then we headed on a track up the narrow glen of the Ladder Burn to 670m and then by a path which leads towards the summit, a distance of 9kilometres, 680m ascent.

When we arrived at the top it was covered by cloud and a chilly, high wind was blowing so we sheltered among boulders to have our lunch of oatcakes, cheese, apples and an orange. The cloud lifted a bit to let us take some photos that you see here. John has stitched some photos together to make a few panorama views. - thanks, John

Having a laugh and lunch at the top and it was a "silly hat" kind of day too!

(but it does keep you warm)

"Almost There" by Andy Williams

2007-07-22T10:24:00.000+01:00

Click on the photo to see a larger image that you can read.

John and I completed the seaward section of the Speyside Way last week. We walked 10 miles from Fochabers to Buckie. A nice walk in a beautiful Country. See my updated photos - CLICK HERE.

Now we only have to complete the top section from Aviemore to Nethy Bridge and plan to do that in late autumn. There is also a spur from Tomintoul to Ballindalloch that we will plan in the future.

"Song To A Seagull" by Joni Mitchell

2007-07-20T17:53:00.000+01:00

I saw this in our local paper this morning and thought that the press may find it good enough to print and sure enough it is in Yahoo news tonight and I am sure it will be in some of the major papers tomorrow.

GULL-TY AS CHARGED
12:41 - 20 July 2007 - P & J newspaper
He's becoming the number one tourist attraction in the centre of Aberdeen. Up with the lark from his home near the beach every morning, Sam the Seagull heads down to his local store at the Castlegate to do his shopping. By 7am he's sitting outside the glass doors of RS McColl waiting patiently for the staff to open up. As soon as his way is clear the pesky seagull pops inside, turns first left and tootles across to his favourite breakfast - Doritos. Then he scoops the packet into his beak and hops back outside again without stopping to pay his 50p. Just a few feet outside the shop Sam gets tucked into his crisps.But then the problems start. His lazy mates spot his loot and go in for the attack. Soon they are all gorging Sam's goodies and he's lucky if he gets just one of the delicacies for himself. Shop staff and customers who have seen Sam's shoplifting performance are amazed.Assistant Amanda Parks, 20, from Mastrick said: "It's fantastic to see him. "He was just sitting looking at me outside the glass doors this morning almost pleading with me to open up. "As soon as I did he popped in and snatched the Doritos. Tangy cheese flavour seemed to be his favourite."Then he toddled out again."But that's when the others dived on him. It seems such a shame after he'd done the shopping."Another shop assistant 22-year-old Sriaram Nagarajan said: "We saw him do this once about two weeks ago and thought it was just a one off. "But over the past few days he's become a regular. He always seems to go for the Doritos but maybe that's just because they are on the bottom shelf and they are the easiest for him to get at."

"Sail Away" by David Gray

2007-07-11T16:40:00.000+01:00

It was kept secret by the Hudson Bay Company at the time but my Great Uncle was the first person to captain a boat through the Northwest Passage in one season over the top of Canada in 1937.

If you are interested please Click on this LINK to find out more.

"Many Rivers To Cross" by UB40

2007-07-05T08:28:00.001+01:00

I knew when I took a look & Photographed this bridge earlier this year that it was something very special and now it seems I am not alone. See article from the Press & Journal inserted below for details. Click here for photos of the Bridge.

ICONIC NORTH-EAST STRUCTURE RECOGNISED
Press & Journal; 08:50 - 04 July 2007
One of the north-east's most iconic structures will be designated as an international civil engineering landmark at a ceremony today. Civil engineers from Britain and the United States will gather at the historic Thomas Telford Bridge which spans the River Spey at Craigellachie to mark the occasion. A plaque will be unveiled on the bridge by members of the Institution of Civil Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers in Telford's honour. The ceremony is part of a programme of events being held during the summer to coincide with the 250th anniversary of his birth. Opened in 1814, the 150ft-span bridge is the oldest surviving example of Telford's prefabricated lozenge-lattice cast-iron arch design. It was cast in sections at an ironworks in north Wales and transported by sea to Speymouth from where it was conveyed to the construction site by horse-drawn wagon. The bridge continued to carry traffic over the Spey until the early 1970s when a new road bridge was built just downstream. The picturesque structure attracts thousands of visitors every year and is one of Moray's most photographed landmarks.Telford was born in the Borders and went on to become one of the greatest civil engineers of his time. Among his most celebrated feats of engineering is the Caledonian Canal.In Moray alone he was responsible not only for the Craigellachie Bridge but also the original Spey Bridge at Fochabers, Burghead harbour, the Spynie Canal, Cullen pier and Tomintoul Church. Later this year it is planned to create a Thomas Telford Trail linking all of Telford's surviving construction projects in Moray.

"Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles

2007-06-30T21:47:00.000+01:00

"Holding Hands - Part 1", by Bruce A Cameron

OK, so I am a proud father.

Here is a video that Bruce did for his animation work at University. I am sure you will enjoy watching it. Please click on the Video picture twice to load it.

You can see all of his videos at MY VIDEOS Blog .. click here.

"Warm Sporran " by Jethro Tull

2007-06-29T08:11:00.000+01:00

I just cannot believe this. We, in the UK today, are being subjected to the most stupid laws. Is it because we try and obey the rules that we get deluged with even more? Read on .....

Sporran wearers will need a licence.
Kilt wearers could face prosecution if they do not have a licence for their sporran under new legislation which has been introduced in Scotland that has come from the EU

The laws are designed to protect endangered species like badgers and otters, whose fur used to be favoured by sporran makers.

The legislation applies to animals killed after 1994. Applicants must prove that the animal was killed lawfully before they will be able to get a licence.

The conservation regulations were designed to close a number of loopholes and bring Scotland into line with other EU members.

They also apply to other vulnerable animals like deer, wildcats, hedgehogs, bats, lynx, moles, seals, whales, dolphins and porpoises.

The regulations require anyone who owns any part of a protected animal to obtain a licence. The maximum penalties for breaking the law are a fine of £5,000 and six months in prison.

It's part of our national dress - but now we could be forced to have a licence to wear it.

A Scottish Executive spokeswoman said the law was introduced to ensure the protection of vulnerable European species and covered products made from skin, fur and teeth of a number of protected animals. --- I agree with this bit.

The legislation is aimed at those sporrans made from protected wild animals within the last 13 years. ---- But not with this bit. How do I know this for my 12 yr old sporran? Come on, who is going to put me in prison? I have just read that a person who killed someone with his car was let off with a suspended sentence and here we are going to jail a man for wearing a 12 yrs old sporran made of badger's fir. I think its time to emigrate!

I liked this letter published in the Press & Journal newspaper today. It sums it up for me really. Thanks, A H Muir for your comments.
"Sir, Like many Scots, I have endured the progressive criminalisation of the common man be they local, national or European. I drive down the road, I am judged to be a speedster and large bumps are put in my way on the tarmac to inconvenience me. If I go to a bank, I am judged to be a member of the Mafia and must prove my identity, especially do if I wish to remove my own money. If I dare to fly, I am regarded as a terrorist and must be subjected to body searches and other humiliations. If I volunteer to assist a children’s sports society, I am regarded as a pervert until I prove otherwise. In every aspect of life, I am considered guilty by our Government until I prove otherwise, but my patience has finally snapped. Now, I must prove that my sporran is not made from an endangered species, even if I bought it 13 years ago. It is the final straw. To be demeaned daily is one thing, but when you try to deny a Scotsman his sporran you are in dangerous territory, indeed.

I could not agree more.

"Food Glorious Food" from the musical OLIVER

2007-06-25T10:00:00.000+01:00

Food Around The World Tag

Thanks for the tag, Irene.

Here is my favourite Scottish Dish. Skewered West Coast Queenie Scallops wrapped in sliced Scottish smoked salmon, marinated in freshly squeezed lemon juice, crushed black pepper and salt.

bamboo skewer
1 slice of Scottish smoked salmon cut horizontally
2 small quennie scallops
1/4 lemon
A touch of sprinkled salt
A touch of crushed black pepper

The method
Lay the strip of smoked salmon flat on the chopping board. Roll the salmon around each of the scallops. Then finally skewer them.
Sprinkle the ingredients and squeeze the lemon juice. Best to leave for a couple of hours to marinate.

When Tagged please copy this section below to your Blog and add your name to it +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Proposition: What is your favorite food in your state or country?
Requirements: Find some info about the food and show delicious pictures of it.
Quantity: Tag FIVE PEOPLE.

I am tagging Janet, John, SUZ and maybe more later. So, come on guy's give me your favourite dishes.

Tag Mode: You leave their blog and post link and add your name to the list below.

Mybabybay loves Asam Laksa from Penang, Malaysia
JustMyThoughts loves Penang Char Koay Teow
My Lil Venture loves Laksa Sarawak
Montessorimum loves Teluk Intan Chee Cheong Fun
Health Freak Mommy loves Dim Sum from KL, Malaysia
Mama's Bag of Tricks loves Hakka Mee from Serem
Irene loves Pulling Noodles
Miky Bar Kid loves Scallops

"Anyone For Tennis" by Cream

2007-06-25T09:19:00.000+01:00

It's that time of year again when the Wimbledon Tennis Championships are held. You cannot miss them in the UK as the TV and Radio coverage of it is everywhere for the next 2 weeks.

However, I wanted to bring to everyone's attention a fantastic tennis court that must be the most remote and most beautiful setting in the UK if not in the World. I found it while on our cycling holidays in the Western Isles of Scotland. It's the Bunabhainneadar Tenis Court. Here a a few photos of it and there is no other building near it. Maybe Wimbledon should be relocated to play there next year.

"Beautiful Sunday" by Daniel Boone

2007-06-17T17:20:00.000+01:00

As I've been away I am now trying to catch up with things at home.

First, A big Happy Birthday to Claire. We celebrated her birthday on the 30th May and had a meal in a restaurant in Aberdeen. Sadly, Ferruccio could not be with us as he is working away from home. Grant came with us and we had a good time together. CHEERS, Claire.

Also, a BIG Happy Birthday to Suzi D who's birthday was on the 11th June.
--

Secondly, It is Father's day today and Claire gave me a gift and card. Thank you Claire, very much. Here is a photo of what she gave me.

"Déjà vu" by Crosby Stills Nash and Young

2007-06-16T20:31:00.000+01:00

Western Isles of Scotland - June 2007

Harry and I enjoyed our 1st holiday here 9 years ago so much that we decided to do it again. We took the train from Inverurie to Oban and sailed to South Uist for the start of our holiday. We cycled through South Uist, Benbecula, North Uist, Harris and Lewis. We then took the ferry from Stornoway to Ullapool and cycled to Garve to meet the train going back to Inverurie and then cycled home from there. We had to push through North Easterly winds the whole way, just like last time! Will we ever learn? We cycled 233 miles.

CLICK HERE to go to our photos of the holiday.

Boxster Scotland Trip - 2007

2007-05-26T17:00:00.000+01:00

I organised the Porsche Club Boxster Scotland trip again this year and it was a great success, so everyone is telling me. It rained a lot on the first day but we had the best of weather for the rest of the time. Here we are at the Clan MacDuff Hotel nr Fort William.

Click on this link to go to my BLOG for more photos of lovely bonnie Scotland and some cars too.

"Mandy" by Westlife

2007-05-26T16:38:00.000+01:00

A very sad time.

Mandy, my Mum's dog, died last week. She came to live with us when my Mum died a few years ago. She was always a very happy dog and was no bother to us at all. All our family loved her very much. She was nearly 15 yrs old.

'You're a Pink Toothbrush, I'm a Blue Toothbrush’ by Max Bygraves

2007-04-16T20:26:00.000+01:00

Another sad day or am I just getting OLD? I have used Gibbs SR toothpaste, recently branded as Mentadent SR, for the past 50 years of my life and it looks like the manufacturer, Unilever, has pulled the plug on it! Why ... without even a word to anyone? Anyone recommend a good toothpaste that I can use for the next 50 years? Please put any comments back to me.

The lyrics to the song title above go something like this:

You're a pink toothbrush, I'm a blue toothbrush

Have we met somewhere before?

You're a pink toothbrush and I think toothbrush

That we met by the bathroom door.

Glad to meet toothbrush, such a sweet toothbrush

How you thrill me through and through

Dont be hard toothbrush on a soft toothbrush

'Cause I cant help loving you.

Every time I hear you whistle......

it makes my nylon bristle.......

You're a pink toothbrush, I'm a blue toothbrush

Won't you marry me in haste?

I'll be true toothbrush, just to you toothbrush

When we both use the same toothpaste.

Very corny, I know! But we loved it as kids in the 1950's when Uncle Mac came on the BBC "Light "programme radio every Saturday Morning with family favourites.

http://www.turnipnet.com/radio/unclemac.wav

"Craigellachie Brig" a Strathspey by William Marshall

2007-04-09T19:34:00.000+01:00

I was having a picnic beside the River Spey at the Craigellachie Bridge the other day (see previous Blog entry) when I noticed a strange plaque that hangs from the south side of the bridge. I found this entry in Wikipedia® about the Bridge and its Plaque.

Craigellachie Bridge is a cast iron arch bridge located in Speyside at Craigellachie which is near to the village of Aberlour. It was designed by the renowned civil engineer Thomas Telford and built from 1812–1814. The bridge has a single span of approximately 46 m and was revolutionary for its time, in that it used an extremely slender arch that was not possible using traditional masonry construction. The ironwork was cast at the Plas Kynaston iron foundry at Cefn Mawr, near Ruabon in Denbighshire by William Hazledine, who cast a number of Telford bridges.

At each end of the structure there are two 15 m high masonry mock-medieval towers, featuring arrow slits and miniature crenellated battlements. The road to the north of the bridge takes a sharp right-angled turn to avoid a rock face, making it unsuitable for modern vehicles. Despite this it carried foot and vehicle traffic across the River Spey until 1972, when it was replaced by a reinforced concrete bridge that carries the trunk road today. Telford's bridge remains in good condition, and is still open to pedestrians and cyclists. The bridge has been given Category A listed status by Historic Scotland.

There is another plaque at the midspan of the bridge. - see photos.

This bridge was the site of a parade upon the amalgamation of The Gordon Highlanders and The Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons) to form The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons) in 1994. The plaque has been fitted to the bridge parapet to commemorate this. Another plaque at the south end of the bridge records the bridge's restoration in 1964.

READ ALL ABOUT IT! The Press & Journal wrote this on the 6th July 2007.

ICONIC TELFORD BRIDGE RECOGNISED
One of the north-east's most iconic structures will be designated as an international civil engineering landmark at a ceremony today.Civil engineers from Britain and the United States will gather at the historic Thomas Telford Bridge which spans the River Spey at Craigellachie to mark the occasion.A plaque will be unveiled on the bridge by members of the Institution of Civil Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers in Telford's honour.The ceremony is part of a programme of events being held during the summer to coincide with the 250th anniversary of his birth.Opened in 1814, the 150ft-span bridge is the oldest surviving example of Telford's prefabricated lozenge-lattice cast-iron arch design.It was cast in sections at an ironworks in north Wales and transported by sea to Speymouth from where it was conveyed to the construction site by horse-drawn wagon.The bridge continued to carry traffic over the Spey until the early 1970s when a new road bridge was built just downstream.The picturesque structure attracts thousands of visitors every year and is one of Moray's most photographed landmarks.Telford was born in the Scottish Borders and went on to become one of the greatest civil engineers of his time. He was an eminent builder of roads, bridges, canals and harbours and among his most celebrated feats of engineering is the Caledonian Canal.In Moray alone he was responsible not only for the Craigellachie Bridge but also the original Spey Bridge at Fochabers, Burghead harbour, the Spynie Canal, Cullen pier and Tomintoul Church.Later this year it is planned to create a Thomas Telford Trail linking all of Telford's surviving construction projects in Moray.

"Good Day Sunshine" the Beatles

2007-04-06T14:53:00.000+01:00

Here comes spring! It must be here.

Yes, 3th April and the sun came out to heat us up. It was 18 C today. I travelled to Speyside near Aberlour to go salmon fishing on the Spey River. I think this is the most beautiful river in Scotland, if not the UK. When the sun is out and the sky is blue, where else is there to compare with this scenery?

I spent 2 nights staying in a house by the river with friends. I really enjoyed the chance to fish on the Spey and I improved my casting skills quite a bit during the time there but the salmon didn't think much of it as I never got one bite at my fly.

Thanks must go to all of you who encouraged me in my efforts! There will be more days like these, I am sure.

The River Spey at Craigellachie

Looking at Ben Rinnes

A view across the River Spey to the Craiggellechie Hotel

A view of Aberlour, in the area where I fished the river.

Just to prove it .. it was 17C in my car display and heading upwards.

"The Flower" by Alexis Korner

2007-04-01T18:23:00.000+01:00

Spring has finally come to Ellon this weekend. There have been a few false hopes but this time it's true. How do I know? Our daffodils are out and trumpeting about it.

The sun has been shining all weekend with deep blue skies above. I am glad that winter is over and the longer days are with us once more.

"Cook Of The House" by Paul McCartney & Wings

2007-03-24T18:04:00.000Z

Bruce is home from University for a few days and he decided to cook us all a three course dinner tonight with Grant's girlfriend Nicky helping him in the kitchen. We are having a starter of crispy chicken slivers with gremolata followed by Chianti baked meatballs with rigatoni and parmesan cheese and pasta followed by a pudding of steamed rhubarb sponge with custard. Mmmm!

"Gone Fishin' " by Louis Armstrong - 2nd cut

2007-02-26T10:30:00.000Z

I have never truly fished on a river or loch in my life till 2005 when Jim, another friend, got me interested. I have since fished for trout with John and Jim in various places and have recently got my own rod and reel.

Salmon river fishing is on a different dimension and I have never really been offered a chance to try it until last weekend.

So … Off I went for the weekend to the north of Scotland fishing for salmon with my good friend, John along with his friends, Derek & George and I had a fantastic time.

I was very privileged to be allowed onto a river and fish for salmon. Within 30 minutes I had a bite but can only talk about “the one that got away” on this occasion. Later on that morning we met up with the other fishers and as George had just hooked a fish he beckoned me over to take his rod from him and bring the fish in. This was my first salmon so I was full of excitement. The fish put up quite a fight and I had to play out the line a few times before the fish was tired enough to bring her in. What an amazing experience. I can now say that I am “hooked”! Of course, the salmon was put back into the river. AND.... I had an even bigger privilege later that same day when we met up again. George helped me cast a long line where he knew there were salmon and within 1 minute I had hooked my own fish. That feeling will stay with me forever. Thank you George and Derek for letting me experience such a thrill and also to my good friend John for suggesting that I may come along.

"Ain't Nobody Home" by B.B. King

2007-02-17T18:27:00.000Z

It was a clear, blue sky day today so delayed the kitchen taping and painting I was planning to do and took a run up to the coast and visited the little village of Crovie, pronounced "Crivvie". A very isolated place on the North East coast and very picturesque too. Most of the homes are now holiday lets and not many people actually live here.

Here are some words from the Undiscovered Scotland web site:

Crovie is built on a remarkably narrow ledge between the base of the cliffs forming the east side of Gamrie Bay and the sea. It sits looking across the bay to the rather larger and more securely located village of Gardenstown.

Crovie itself was established by families cleared from inland estates in the late eighteenth century. Having been moved off their land to make way for their landlord's sheep, they then had the pleasure of operating fishing boats owned by the landlord, largely for his benefit and entirely at their risk. By the mid nineteenth century some fishermen had built their own boats, and by the end of the century some fifty such owner-operated boats sailed from Crovie.

The first half of the twentieth century saw a gradual decline in Crovie's fishing fleet in the face of competition from the larger, more effective vessels that could operate from other ports. However, the end of Crovie's fishing industry came, finally and abruptly, on 31 January 1953.
A storm that had been building since the previous night brought hurricane force winds and huge seas to the village. The path to Gardenstown was washed away (it has since been replaced), together with stretches of Crovie's sea defences and a number of houses and sheds. The village ceased to be viable almost immediately, and many residents simply moved round the bay to Gardenstown.

Crovie was left largely to be developed as holiday lets, and today it is a much more active place in the summer than at other times of the year. The restrictions placed by its location on development throughout its history, plus the halt to commercial activity in 1953, have left Crovie as one of the best preserved fishing villages in Europe.

How you feel about Crovie will probably depend on the sort of day you find it on. It can be an enchanting place, though with its backdrop of lumpy cliffs it will probably never really qualify as beautiful. But find it on a day when the sea is being pushed into the bay by a northerly gale and it is an altogether more exciting place to be.

"I am sailing" by Rod Stewart

2007-02-16T22:02:00.000Z

Today I spent the morning at Peterhead playing with boats, the afternoon lunching with Claire & Ferruccio and evening looking at cars.

A friend asked if I would like to see a boat getting lifted from the water onto a transporter as it was going to Ireland. So Ferruccio, who was staying with us overnight, and I headed for Peterhead and helped to take a power boat across the Bay to the harbour where the crane was to lift it out of the water. Ferruccio had the honour of taking it into the docking position. He is a marine captain after all. He enjoyed the experience very much as he usually handles vessels a good bit larger than this. Maybe 5,000 tonnes larger!

In the afternoon we went to a nice restaurant out of town called Eat on the Green at Udny Green, near Ellon. We had a lovely lunch there, overeating, as usual but very good food.

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In the evening I went with another friend to the launch of the updated Porsche Cayanne. It’s always a pleasure to see a new car launch at Porsche Aberdeen as they lay on a grand evening with champagne reception followed by canapes and more pouring of fine wines and food along with viewing of the cars on display.

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While at Peterhead harbour I noticed this wreck of a fishing boat, CARINA, still floating at the pier. What a sad old fishing boat left to die a slow, slow death.

I found this article from an old newspaper: "On 9 April 2003 at Dornoch Sheriff Court, Derek West, skipper of the Banff registered fishing boat ‘Carina’, pled guilty to a charge of polluting Kinlochbervie harbour on 18 March 2002, when the boat was being refuelled with diesel. Around 1000 litres of fuel escaped when a tank overflowed. He was fined £450. Loch Inchard is important to the local economy as an area for growing shellfish. The harbour has a narrow inlet and is sheltered, which means that the diesel would have remained in the water for some time. Diesel reduces the amount of oxygen in the water and can result in the death of marine life." This was probably the beginning of the end for this particular boat.

"Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" Let It Snow! by Doris Day

2007-02-09T19:52:00.000Z

Aden Country Park on a cold winter's day

I had a lovely walk in Aden Country Park today. It was below zero degrees but the sun was trying its best to come out. The ducks expected some food from me but I had none to give.

Most of the South West of England was in chaos because 4 inches of snow fell during the day leaving many motorists stranded. We think we have it bad BUT over the pond in the USA in New York State they had snowstorms with 6 feet snowdrifts! That's a car in the foreground!

"You'll Always Find Me In The Kitchen At Parties" by Jona Lewie

2007-02-06T22:24:00.000Z

Old Kitchen

Same View but much changed kitchen.

New kitchen almost completed

I've not been Blogging a lot because I have been painting in the new kitchen before the new worktops arrived. And guess what? They arrived today. CLICK HERE to go to my other BLOG for an update.

"All Shook Up" by Elvis Presley

2007-01-07T22:27:00.000Z

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What a day! It’s the BIG day tomorrow. We spent all day decanting the contents of our kitchen into various rooms throughout our house. This was to ensure that we are ready for the kitchen installer starting work tomorrow morning. We now have a "make shift" diner in our new study. We will have no catering or washing facilities from tomorrow morning but we have set up a small area in our study where we can make tea, coffee, microwave food and a there is a fridge to store perishable items. Washing up will be done in the bathroom. If you are interested keep looking at the BLOG for the New Kitchen work. LINK HERE Just scroll down for the latest pictures.

"Breathe In The Air" by Pink Floyd

2006-12-28T17:07:00.000Z

We have had a nice peaceful Christmas and today I joined some friends to walk up Benachie and blow away some cobwebs, take in the air and also attempt to loose some of the extra pounds that have crept upon me.

It will soon be 2007. Where does all the time go?

"Merry Christmas Everyone" by Shakin' Stevens

2006-12-25T09:03:00.000Z

I hope everyone who reads this is having a very nice time this Christmas. A BLOGGER friend of mine put a photo of their Christmas tree onto their Blog so I decided to do the same.

Let us all look forward to a peaceful 2007.

Bob the Builder: The Album

2006-12-14T11:12:00.000Z

We have decided to install a new kitchen. The present one is 25 years old and starting to show signs of wear. But we are not just installing a new kitchen, we are moving the kitchen. This means there will be a lot of work to do that involves fitting roof window, a patio door, replacing the floor and installing new plumbing and electricity. Its going to take approx 6 weeks for all the work to be completed. The "real" work starts in January but the Velux roof window was installed last week. This will give more natural light to the new kitchen area along with the new patio doors that will be installed once the sink and dishwasher are removed.

Here is the first job showing the Velux window installation work.

I have put a link HERE to show the ongoing and completed works in another BLOG if you are interested.

Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town by Bing Crosby & Frank Sinatra

2006-12-11T08:29:00.000Z

More than 1,500 running Father Christmases took part in the Great Scottish Santa Run in Edinburgh.

Event organiser, Margaret Rowarth, said of the run, in aid of children's charity "Wish Upon a Star":

"It has been a fantastic day. There have been more Santas here than we could ever have hoped for - we had more than 1500 registered this year, where as last year there were only about 400. The atmosphere has just been electric and everyone has had an amazing time. We've managed to triple the size of the event this year, so who knows what we might manage to do next year."

But Edinburgh still has some ground to make up if it wants to set the record for the most Santas in one place at one time. The current record is held by the city of Bralanda, Sweden, when 2,685 Santas paraded through the streets!

Have you ever seen anything like it?

"It Must Be Love" by MADNESS

2006-11-30T08:37:00.000Z

We are back from a good holiday in Florida, US 0f A. Met up with my girlfriend of many years, Minnie Mouse.

Here I am with her and Mickey at Animal Kingdom. Mickey was a bit jealous of my affection towards Minnie but I have always adored her.

Click >here< to see more photos of our holiday.. under construction . come back to see more later.

"I am Sailing" by Rod Stewart

2006-10-31T11:23:00.000Z

We recently visited Oban and on the way we stopped at Inverary. There is a very unusual place to have a coffee there in a ship aboard a maritime museum.

Oban is a lovely place to visit. I have been there many times but had never walked up the hill to the south of the town, Pulpit Hill.
Here is a view from the top on a very windy Tuesday morning IN October. Brrrr!

"My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison

2006-10-12T21:45:00.000+01:00

It was another lovely day today so John W and I agreed to look at a fishing beat on the River Don in the morning and go for a walk in the afternoon. We got to the beat on the River Don to find the water very high becuase of the recent rains on the day before & overnight. John never intened to fish there but a gentleman who was fishing with a spinner let us have a shot of his equipment for 1/2 hr or so. What a kind man. He even left us for a while to go to his car to fetch something. What trust! We never cought a fish though.

We then set off for a beautiful area called My Lord's Throat further down the River Don. From here we walked up to the top of Millstone Hill (410m) near Bennachie. The view from the top was very good and I got a chance to see Bennachie from a direction that I have never really seen it from before. Great day out, yet again. The weather for October is astonishing. Sunny and warm!

"Keep on Walking" by Ronan Keating

2006-10-09T21:27:00.000+01:00

I had a good day out today walking near Braemar in Deeside with my friend Harry R. He phoned me last night and suggested the walk today because the weather looked to be changing for the better. We set off about 6am and we were walking by 08:30 up into Jock's road just south of Braemar. The track takes you up into Loch Callater and a lodge. From there it is a stiff climb up to the summit of Carn an t-Sagairt Mor, 1047 m (from the Gaelic, big hill of the priest). At the top the wind was touching 60 knotts and not very pleasant in the cold biting wind. We had our lunch sheltered agains the summit cairn and realising that we were getting numb fingers decided to descend soon after. The views were good but we needed to get down quickly and warm up. Once down in the valley beside Loch Callater again it was much more pleasant and not nearly as windy. Our walk was about 16.5 miles long.

At one point on the path we saw this sign obviously put up by a person with a bit of humour in his character!

"Maybe I'm Amazed" by Wings

2006-10-03T08:55:00.000+01:00

Stereo Dock for iPod with Bath Tissue Holder

I could not believe this when I first saw it in an article from WHICH? Magazine but someone has designed and manufactured an iPod docking station in the form of a toilet roll holder. How amazing and silly is that. How long do some people spend in the toilet on the pot? Anyway, where there is a need someone will supply a solution.

If you are looking for this very sort of think here is the LINK to it.

"Your Mother Should Know" by the Beatles

2006-09-19T21:43:00.000+01:00

A Blogger friend of mine said I should post this story on my BLOG as a way to remember my Mum and what she ment to me.

Partly quoting my friend: It is also in the hope that other 'sons' read it and will instil in them a sense of love for their mothers and to take their 'mothers' out before it is too late for them to wish that they had done so but never found the time. Your 'mum' is your 'mum' no matter where you are and what you have become, nothing can change that biological link that God has designed.

Here is my little tale:
My father died in 1995 and my mother then lived alone and 2 hours drive from where I live. Ironically, when he died my father was able bodied while my mum was incapacitated in a few ways. She had fallen down a stairway about 15 years previously and had broken many of her bones. It took her 3 years to recover from the injuries but she never really recovered fully. She was also becoming blind in one eye and after my father died she developed a cataract in her other eye becoming quite blind.

Being widowed for 6 years my Mother often wanted me to visit her but the demands of my work, my three children, and the travel time to her had made it possible to visit her only occasionally. She became, understandably, quite grumpy and sometimes I became quite annoyed with her attitude and didn’t really understand why she was this way. Eventually she was told she could get her cataract removed but if the operation failed she could be blind forever. It was a brave decision that she made to get the work done and it was only then that I realised how much her sight was suffering and it was that that was making her so grumpy and frustrated in her life.

Three weeks after her operation I agreed to go and take her out for the day and she suggested I take her to one of her favourite cafés on Loch Ness. Good friends from Canada were coming over in a few weeks time and she wanted to take them there for lunch but it would be worth her while just checking that it was still up to her high standard. This would be a long journey for me as I could not stay overnight at her home so with the 4 hour drive there and back and the 4 hour tour I would be quite tired at the end of it all.

The evening before, I called to check that she was still OK to go out for the drive and lunch. That Sunday was a beautiful late spring day but I had failed to notice the beautiful day on my journey to Nairn to pick her up. When I arrived at her house, she was smiling and happy and waiting in her living room with her coat on. She had been to the hairdressers and she had just completed buying her outfit for one of her grandchildren’s wedding in July that she was so looking forward to. She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel’s. “I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son today, and they were impressed”, she said, as she got into the car.

We set off on our drive and it was not long before she was telling me how, with her new sight, she was able to see things so much clearer and brighter. The world was a beautiful and colourful place. Daffodils, cherry blossom, gorse in the hills were all shining bright and it was only then that I really noticed them. She never stopped speaking about the wonderful scenery for the whole drive to the café. Once at the café I started reading out the menu to her (and all the other patrons in the café too!) when she stopped me and said that she could now read the menu again and she would manage to read it on her own. During the lunch, we had an agreeable conversation, nothing extraordinary, but catching up on recent events of each other's life and discussing the imminent arrival of her friends from Canada and what they would be doing together. She was so looking forward to seeing them and visiting places with her new found sight.

We had another great drive back home with a commentary all the way to her front door. As we arrived at her house later, she said, "I am so pleased that you could take me out today. It has been very special. It means a lot to me and I have seen so much beauty around us for the first time for many years. I will remember this day for ever. Iain, when you were a wee boy you told me that you loved me so much and that one day you would buy a car and take me out in your car for a drive. Well, this is that day”.

I said my goodbyes and drove home with joy in my heart knowing that my mother and I had had a very special day together and that I would try harder to find more time to be with her in her old age. I phoned her to let her know I had arrived safely home (as all mothers like you to do) and she again told me that she thoroughly enjoyed her day and her world had become colourful and bright again.

The next day, after work, we had a knock on the door and a police lady stood there. I invited her in and she pulled the world from under my feet when she told me my Mother had died on that morning. No, no, no! It could not be true. I phoned her neighbour who told me that she had died peacefully in the morning in her favourite chair watching the morning news and working on her crossword puzzle with her dog by her side. God rest her soul. Some time after her death I looked back at that joyous day we had together and can only think that she knew deep inside that she was about to give herself back to GOD and meet her loving husband again in heaven. She gave me great memories to look back on knowing that on her last day on this earth she had the most wonderful time of her life with her son.

“Something Beautiful” by Robbie Williams (PART 2)

2006-09-19T21:31:00.000+01:00

At long last we have received the professional photographs. I have added them to my BLOG at Spinelli / Cameron Wedding Photos so click to be taken directly there.

"Westering Home" by the Corries

2006-09-11T21:26:00.000+01:00

It’s been a few weeks since my last entry mainly because I am quite busy with other interests like movie making, golf and my new found "talent", water colour painting. I find painting very relaxing and enjoyable and I have a lot too learn. I have also been sitting on a few children's panels recently and I have two more tomorrow. Some people's lives are in a sorry state mostly because of alcohol and / or drugs and it’s the children who suffer the most.

We were away on holiday to the West of Scotland (hence Westering Home) 1 week ago with a few members of the Porsche car club. I arranged everything for the trip including where to stay, the full route and things to visit on the journey. There were 16 of us in 8 cars and everyone got on well with each other. We all met in Dumfries on the Friday evening to get to know each other and learn a few words in Scottish before we were let loose on Scottish roads. We then, over 3 days, travelled around Scotland's West coast via Largs, Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Gairloch, Ullapool, Inverness & Pitlochry. The roads were superb and clear of traffic all the way. The scenes were awe inspiring and atmospheric because of the few scattered showers on route. However, we all managed, at various stages of the tour, to go topless except for Alan in his tin top Boxster aca Coxster (Cayman). Ceri and Sarah travelled all the way from Guernsey for the event and enjoyed the fresh seafood on offer in Gairloch. How many langoustines can you eat in one sitting?!? We all had a fantastic time and we all agreed we should not wait for another 10 years before we do it again. Looks like we will be doing another Scottish trip in 2007.

I have posted more photos in another Blog. > LINK

"Any Colour You Like" by Pink Floyd

2006-08-25T22:34:00.000+01:00

Janis and I were at our first ever watercolour art class today. Our pensioners association ran it for us (I helped set it up with John) and we had a super day. The setting was Haddo House near where we live. My result is attached although I must say it is not finshed yet. I was amazed at how tired I was after the day's class. I think I was using a part of my brain I have not used for years (the creative bit). I enjoyed it so much I am going to buy some materials and try to do a few more when I go out into the countryside.

So here is the picture. Its not great but its a start.

This is my 1st watercolour painting I have ever done. Still to be completed.
And I painted this one on the next day. I will complete it next week and hope to frame it and hang it in our home.

"Sweet Dreams Baby" by Roy Orbison

2006-08-21T22:34:00.000+01:00

Kirsty - my Sister's Granddaughter, at 3 months. taken in early 2005.

"When I'm Sixty-Four" by the Beatles

2006-08-18T09:31:00.000+01:00

I have been Tagged Again! --- by Irene

I will give it a go ...........................

10 YEARS AGO I WAS ... Not so long ago! Where does the time go?
I was working for TOTAL at St Fergus Gas Terminal. I had just passed my IOSH exams and beacame a "Safety Profesional".

5 YEARS AGO I WAS .......
I had arrived back home to Scotland from working in Indonesia and a long holiday in Australia.
It was the longest I had ever been away from home, ever! 3 months.

1 YEAR AGO I WAS ........
finished my career with TOTAL and enjoying the start of my long retirement.

YESTERDAY I WAS ........
waiting for the rain to go off so that I could go for a cycle ride.
looking at new cars for Claire.
preparing for a childrens panel hearing.

5 MOST RECENT SONGS I'VE LISTENED TO ......
Pomp and Circumstance by Elgar
The arrival of the Queen of Sheba by Handel
Imagine by John Lennon
Panic by The Puppini Sisters (on iTunes)
Norwegian Wood by The Beatles

5 SONGS I KNOW ALL THE WORDS TO ........
She Loves You
I Want to Hold Your Hand
Ticket to Ride
Paint it Black
Psalm 121

IDEAL PLACE FOR RUNNING AWAY TO ........
My Home is the best place to run to. You are welcome any time.

5 THINGS I REALLY WANT ........
Good Health for my children
Love of, and for, my family and friends
Peace for the World
Happiness for everyone
Wisdom of our leaders

5 THINGS I SHOULD BE DOING RIGHT NOW ........
Washing my car
Editing my movies that I have not touched for over 2 years
Moving all our bits and bobs into our new study

5 BIGGEST JOYS IN MY LIFE ........
Claire, Grant and Bruce and, of course, Janis
Hillwalking in my Scottish Hills
Cycling, fishing, golf, driving and women.
Being a Childrens’ Panel member making a difference to young peoples lives for the good.
Driving a large truck to Romania and Moldova for New Hope Trust

5 PEOPLE I TAG ......
Lord Celery, sorry janet!

I don't want to tag anyone else.. thankyou.

“Bookends” by Simon & Garfunkel

2006-08-12T19:57:00.000+01:00

Best song title that I can come up with Janet!

I’ve been tagged!!

I've just noticed that I've been tagged by LORD CELERY!

Here's the task that Ive been tagged with:
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next
3 sentences on your blog along with these instructions.
5. Don’t you dare dig for that "cool" or "intellectual" book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest.
6. Tag five people.

*************************************************
Here are the three sentences that are on page 123 of my book:

Among the gentry even the average family would need to employ a number of servants to enable it to maintain its expected place in society, and the wealfare of the family the greater the number.

The ratio of searvant to income was well understood in Jane’s day, and is reflected in her novels: Mrs and Miss Bates can only afford the one little maid-of-all-work, Patty, to whom they probably paid between 5 and 10 Guineas a year, and the impoverished Prices, in their Portmouth back street, have two sluttish maids.

Mrs Dashwood and her daughter, who’s income is reduced to £500 a year, can still afford 2 maids and a general manservant; going up the scale, Mr Bennet as a family man with about £2,000 a year might expect to employ 8 female servants and 8 men servants; while Bingley, Darcy and Rushworth probably employed 2 dozen or more.

Taken from: Jane Austen: The World of Her Novels by Deirdre Le Faye.

***************************************************

Thank you Janet for that Tagging.

Not sure I can tag 5 people but here’s who I am tagging:
1. Lord Celery's Little Brother
2. Irene
3. Lyanne
4. Anthony's Kingdom
5. Kyle

Give it a go all of you. Ta, Iain

"YER BLUES" by the Beatles

2006-08-10T15:55:00.000+01:00

As any of my friends will tell you I love cheese and I especially like good blue cheeses.

When I was in Australia I found, for me, the best blue cheese in the World, Roaring Forties Blue. It came from the King Island Dairy. King Island is situated south of Melbourne at the Western end of the Bass Strait, just off Melbourne.

When I came back to Scotland I could not find anyone importing it so I have been sulking for the past 5 years knowing that the best cheese in the World is on the other side of the World and almost impossible to buy here. So imagined my surprise when I was visiting Toronto that it is on sale there. I was so upset that people could enjoy the cheese there but not here in bonny Scotland.

However, while enjoying a most pleasant evening meal with my sister-in-law’s in-law’s in Toronto I was introduced to what tasted very like my delicious King Island Blue and it is called Shropshire Blue, all the way from England. I was so happy that I could again taste a cheese that I enjoy very much back here in the UK. What gave me an even greater surprise was the fact that Shropshire Blue originates from near Inverness that is just 90 miles from my doorstep.

Here is what I found out on the Web.

“Shropshire Blue originated at the Castle Stuart Dairy, Inverness in the 1970's where it was called 'Inverness-shire Blue' or 'Blue Stuart'. It was made by a Scottish cheese-maker called Andy Williamson who was trained in the making of Stilton in Nottinghamshire. He returned to Scotland to produce the first Scottish Blue cheeses which included cheeses similar not only to Stilton but also to Blue Cheshire and Wensleydale. Inverness-shire Blue, or Blue Stuart, was marketed throughout the rest of the British Isles as Shropshire Blue; a name chosen simply to help its sales and acceptability. However, in 1980 production of the cheese stopped as the Milk Marketing Board of Northern Scotland brutally shut down the creamery killing off a number of Scottish cheeses and its only blues.

The making of the cheese was however taken up by the Cheshire cheese maker Elliot Hulme and Harry Hanlin along with the help and advice of Charlie Chisholm, who worked at the Castle Stuart Dairy. The first Shropshire Blue from the farm then appeared at the Nantwich show in 1980. However, soon after this they too also stopped making the cheese. Fortunately, the making of the cheese moved to Nottinghamshire when Long Clawson Dairy and Colston Bassett Dairy took up production. An ironic return to the area of Shropshire Blues real birth-place in the early years of the creators life, Andy Williamson.

Shropshire Blue has a flavour somewhere between Blue Cheshire and Blue Stilton, a creamy orange coloured paste with blue-green veining; annatto produces the orange colour and Penicillium roquefortii produces the veining. The cheese is essentially an orange coloured Stilton style cheese. It is made from pasteurised cows' milk and using rennet suitable for vegetarians. The cheese is matured for 12 weeks but it can be matured for a further 12 weeks to produce a creamier fuller flavoured cheese. Shropshire Blue is excellent throughout the year.

Each cheese is approximately 20cm in diameter, 30cm high, weighs 8kg and has a fat content of 48%. It is excellent on the cheese-board and is also very versatile in the kitchen; it makes fabulous soups and sauces. It is best accompanied by good English brown ale and as with Stilton, by rich fortified wines.

I found a cheese shop in Aberdeen selling Shropshire Blue so now I can enjoy a wee bit of what I like more regularly than every 5 years!

Note of warning: Keep well away from the stuff that you can buy in Tesco and other supermarkets pretending to be Shropshire Blue. It’s not nice at all.

"BBQ Stain" by Tim Magraw

2006-08-07T11:25:00.000+01:00

We had a good BBQ at our friend's house on Saturday evening. The weather was so good that we were still outside at 1am! Good food, good company. Here are the Crabs' Claws starters fresh from the sea.

"BIRTHDAY" by the Beatles

2006-08-04T08:51:00.000+01:00

Scotland's oldest woman celebrates her 111th birthday
Wed 7 Jun 2006

I read this item below in the news today. Some say that Scottish people have a 15% higher mortality rate than England and Ireland. Well, you can prove anything with statistics! Happy Birthday, Annie.

"Annie Knight, of Aberdeen, believed to be Scotland's oldest woman, was 111 yesterday. She puts her longevity down to no alcohol. Annie, spent her big birthday yesterday with her family and friends. Her son, Bill, 85, who also lives in Aberdeen, said: "She has a bowl of porridge every morning and has never touched a drop of alcohol in her life - maybe that's the secret."

"Britain's oldest man, Henry Allingham, of Sussex, 110 yesterday, attributes his to whisky."