Wife hijacks blog - Joel's first day

 

Playing the piano

 

Ready for school

 

Spot the Otter

 

Ella and I were on the beach at Druidston Haven in Pembrokeshire last week. We were lucky enough to see an otter very close up, about 10m away. It sat and watched us for a while and then wanderered off. I have never seen one this closely before, it seemed almost tame.

Lego Calmac Ferry

 



I promised Joel that I would make a Caledonian MacBrayne ferry out of lego. This is not an easy task when you only have limited amounts of lego. Anyway here is my first attempt, it is vaguely based on the MV Loch Nevis. It even has a ramp that goes up and down to load the cars!

Arran Panorama

 

Recently spent a night up on the Arran ridge. This is the classic panoramic view from Casteal Abhail

Panoramas

Just got back from the West Coast again. Here are a couple of panoramas which try to do justice to the wonderful weather

 

 

Ella, Joel and Kofi

 

Mighty Conifers

 

We have spent many an afternoon wandering around Ardkinglas gardens at the head of Loch Fyne. This tree, a mighty Silver Fir never fails to amaze me, it is over 10 metres in girth and has 4 seperate trunks, each of which must be 40 metres or more high. If you do ever visit, dont forget to have a plate of prawns afterwards at Loch Fyne Oysters up the road, and have a pint of Avalanche from Loch Fyne Ales.

Arran on a sunny day

 

Swing near Wimberry

 
The kids playing on a rope swing, underneath the cliffs at Wimberry.

Jubilee in the Gloaming

 

Looking over towards Jubilee from Crompton Moor on another ash filled evening.

Hadrians Wall part 3

 
 

For some reason I have been to Hadrians Wall again, that is 3 times this year so far. Ella and I had a lovely sunny day touring round the best bits of the wall, here we are enjoying the weather.

Lovely morning in Gordale

 

When I want a morning out and I cant decide where to go, I often end up in Gordale. I usually climb up the waterfall before the crowds arrive and find my favourite spot looking down the gorge, crack open a big flask of coffee and I am a happy man.

Stac Pollaidh

 

Stac Pollaidh is the finest little mountain in the UK, I think a night up on its ridge is called for this year.

More shots of Delhi

 
 

Delhi is a busy place

 

The picture says it all really. Old Delhi is a crazy place, the sights and smells are incomparable. I advise not to stand still for very long, or you will find a group of people surrounding you wanting to take you to their Uncles carpet emporium, or sell you nice DVD, or take all your money, or give you a ride in their tuk-tuk to avoid road closure due to demonstration, or read you fortune, or.... you get the idea.

Bored in Transit

 

I am sat in Dubai Airport Business Lounge at the moment and I am very bored. The only thing to do is eat all the free food, another breakfast is calle for. They have the usual western fare, but whoever invented chicken sausages should be locked up, cant wait to get back home for some nice cumberland instead.

Working in exotic places

I am off to Delhi for a few days next week. Hopefully I can manage to bring one of these back in my suitcase. Ideal transport for the M62 from Milnrow over to Leeds.

Google Streetview

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View Larger Map

Now Google Streetview has gone live for the UK, all I can do is sit here and tour round the county. Here are a couple of nice spots, Elgol and Sligachan on Skye

Lighting up time

Took part in the Illuminating Hadrians Wall event yesterday, coverage is in all over the press today. It is was rather cold on Steel Rigg, until I lit the burner. Photos of my burner alight are on the Guardian website (photos 1 and 5)

Update: I am in the first picture in the Journal website article

Spring Snow

Enjoyed a stunner of a day in the North Pennines today, lots of snow above 500m. Not a breath of wind and wall to wall sun shine.

Family

A rare family photo, I am usually taking the pictures!

Still snowy

It is still snowy on the hills here, Joel and I have been for a walk on Lad Law near Widdop today