Simons pics

Ella in concert - solo

2011-12-02T12:27:00.000-08:00

From Dec 2011 Concert

Joel and Ella in the latest Spotty Otter video

2011-10-06T09:53:00.001-07:00

How not to drive a lorry

2011-01-15T01:32:00.000-08:00

Not posted here for a while. We woke up one morning a few months back to the sight of lorry crash outside the house.

Wife hijacks blog - Joel's first day

2010-09-07T08:37:00.000-07:00

Playing the piano

2010-09-05T13:23:00.000-07:00

Ready for school

2010-09-05T13:18:00.000-07:00

Spot the Otter

2010-08-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-28T13:34:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-19T13:17:00.000-07:00

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

Panoramas

2010-06-13T12:59:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-17T03:16:00.000-07:00

Mighty Conifers

2010-05-03T13:34:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-02T13:24:00.000-07:00

Swing near Wimberry

2010-04-25T14:35:00.000-07:00

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

Jubilee in the Gloaming

2010-04-19T13:29:00.000-07:00

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

Hadrians Wall part 3

2010-04-09T14:53:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-04T12:35:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-01T13:50:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-25T10:01:00.000-07:00

Delhi is a busy place

2010-03-24T07:59:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-22T22:16:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-19T11:42:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-17T05:05:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map

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

2010-03-14T13:14:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-08T13:12:00.000-08:00

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

2010-03-03T13:57:00.000-08:00

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

Still snowy

2010-03-01T06:14:00.000-08:00

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

Illuminating Hadrians Wall

2010-02-28T06:55:00.000-08:00

I am involved in an interesting project called Illuminating Hadrians Wall on Sat 13 March.
The project is to celebrate 1600 years since the Romans left Britain (good riddance :))
I would wear a kilt and pretend to be a celebrating Pict, but it might be a bit nippy stood there for 6 hours.

Yet more Calmac pictures

2010-02-22T03:51:00.000-08:00

Never mind trainspotting, I think I have a ferry spotting problem.
The wee ones in Oban last week after a disappointing lunch at Eeusk
We bought lots of lovely live wriggling prawns (langoustines) at the pier which made up for the poor meal.

Ella at Hadrians Wall

2010-02-22T03:47:00.000-08:00

Stopped at Hadrians Wall on the way to Argyll.
In a few weeks time I will be walking along the wall at night with a flaming torch
see http://www.illuminatinghadrianswall.com for more info.

Rock on A Chir, Arran

2010-02-12T06:06:00.000-08:00

This rather attractive lump of rock is balanced just to the East of the summit of A Chir On the Isle of Arran Spent the night on a bivi next to it last year. It is a nice easy walk up/down Coire Buidhe opposite Rosa Pinnacle.

It's grim up north

2010-02-03T12:02:00.000-08:00

Black Hill near Holmfirth. Ideal conditions when the peat is frozen and the groughs are full of hard snow.
Grim or beautiful? Depends on the coat you are wearing :)

Road liable to flooding...

2010-01-10T04:38:00.000-08:00

Well it probably will when that lot melts!

Sledging

2010-01-06T11:06:00.000-08:00

Ella sledging on Crompton Moor (our front garden!)

Jubilee in the Snow Part 2

2010-01-06T11:04:00.000-08:00

The snow has finally stopped, and we can now see what it has left. This is taken from Pingot Quarry, over the road from Jubilee

Still Snowing at Jubilee

2010-01-02T07:29:00.000-08:00

It is still snowing here, and no sign of the cold
weather ending.

Jubilee in the snow

2009-12-24T09:48:00.000-08:00

It is snowing here again, all looks very attractive Click on the picture for a proper view.

I'm a reindeer

2009-12-15T14:30:00.000-08:00

Joel at his nursery Christmas Play.

Haircut

2009-12-08T12:29:00.000-08:00

High Cup - Nichol's Chair

2009-11-26T13:26:00.000-08:00

High Cup is probably the finest landscape feature in England. On one side is Nichol's Chair, which I stupidly decided to climb last year. Not too difficult but rather exposed. Not recommended for the faint hearted. The walk up is very fine, some good pictures here

Some music from 1983 to listen to whilst dreaming of hills...Beat Bop

Day out on Skye

2009-10-29T13:19:00.000-07:00

Joels first trip to the Cuillin
Loch Bhrusda was in service from Mallaig rather than the Loch Nevis. Not a cuppa in sight :(

Glenfinnan

2009-10-27T11:24:00.000-07:00

Invercaimbe beach again

2009-10-26T14:15:00.000-07:00

We are having another week at Invercaimbe. The weather has been superb today, sat on a beach in Scotland the day after the clocks went back an hour, not bad.

Squat Lobster for Tea

2009-10-26T14:09:00.000-07:00

Managed to get some squat tails from a kind fisherman who was just landing his prawns in Glenuig. I love these things and cooking them couldnt be simpler, boil for one minute and serve!

Good Bye Oldham Loop Trains

2009-10-04T13:45:00.000-07:00

My local train line, the Oldham Loop has just seen its last train. The powers that be have decided that it would be good to turn it into a tram line, only problem is it will not open for another 3 years. They expect us to get replacement buses that will take up 3 times as long. It will be strange not hearing the 23:50 go past just before going to sleep. The picture is of a grotty train arriving late at Newhey Station. Despite its problems I will miss it.

MV Loch Nevis at Rum

2009-10-04T06:31:00.000-07:00

Waiting on the pier at Kinloch on Rum, whilst the MV Loch Nevis does a reverse parking manouvere.

Rock Balancing

2009-09-23T13:10:00.000-07:00

I have always been fascinated by Rock Balancing, whether natural or man made. I am not very good at it, but I was rather proud of this simple pile of boulders I made whilst waiting for the Bella Jane at Elgol once. This bloke is much better than me at it.

Nice morning view

2009-09-23T12:57:00.000-07:00

I often turn up at Highland locations in the wee hours, pitch the tent, get a few hours kip and then head off up into the hills. Because it is dark when I arrive, it is nice to wake up, open the tent door and see a nice view with a cup of tea. This is one example of such a view.

Home Sweet Home

2009-09-13T14:21:00.000-07:00

Lovely weather for the last few days here. Here are the wee bairns on the hill at the front of our house. Lots of wimberries are blackberries to eat.

Buachaille for sale

2009-09-07T15:06:00.000-07:00

Noticed a strange sign at the Glen Etive / Glen Coe road junction. Are the National Trust for Scotland that hard up that they have to sell a few assets I wonder?

Xmas comes early for Newhey

2009-08-29T13:53:00.000-07:00

Came home from holiday today to find that Xmas has come early to Newhey. Stopped at the shop to get a pint of milk and noticed that Rochdale Council have already put up the Xmas decorations. I have since found that the story was all over the press.

Another sunny day in Pembrokeshire

2009-08-28T14:48:00.001-07:00

Weather has been nice here for most of the week. Here is Ella on the deer park near Martins Haven

Im the King of the Castle

2009-08-24T13:25:00.000-07:00

Caerphilly Castle

2009-08-24T13:23:00.000-07:00

Dont move!

Pen Y Ghent

2009-08-14T11:37:00.000-07:00

Danger

2009-08-11T13:41:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Ella

2009-08-03T10:36:00.000-07:00

Ella was 8 yesterday

Gordale

2009-07-24T12:42:00.000-07:00

Ella has finally made it up the waterfall at Gordale :)

Even more smiles

2009-07-22T13:28:00.000-07:00

More Smiles

2009-07-22T13:25:00.000-07:00

Sgurr of Eigg Panorama

2009-07-21T13:53:00.000-07:00

The view from the summit of Sgurr of Eigg. A nice place for a flask of coffee and a sit down for a few hours.

Summit of Sgurr Nan Gillean

2009-07-05T10:31:00.000-07:00

I like it here :)

Happy Birthday Joel

2009-06-27T14:39:00.000-07:00

In the garden

2009-06-24T11:54:00.000-07:00

Ella, Joel and Imogen

Kinloch Castle, Isle of Rum

2009-06-22T14:31:00.000-07:00

Kinloch Castle on the Island of Rum is a great place to visit, if only to hear the Orchestron

Gaping Gill

2009-06-19T12:18:00.000-07:00

I can recommend the experience being lowered 350 ft down a cave on steel cable the width of a finger. This can be done every year courtesy of Bradford Potholing Club.
Gaping Gill is superb place to explore, just be prepared to get wet and muddy! It is free to go down on the winch, they only charge you to come out again!!

Click here for more pictures of the trip

Aonach Mor

2009-06-07T12:27:00.000-07:00

Lunch on the slopes of Aonach Mor near Fort William

Explosion

2009-06-07T04:29:00.000-07:00

Picnic in Glen Nevis

2009-06-04T12:28:00.000-07:00

It has been burning hot all week here on the West Coast and not a sign of a midge yet. Quick stop at Morrisons on the way and then drive down to the end of Glen Nevis for a picnic in the sun at 7pm.

Glenfinnan Monument

2009-06-03T15:19:00.000-07:00

Invercaimbe Beach - Arisaig

2009-06-02T14:26:00.000-07:00

Another synth, looking out Eigg, Rum and Skye from Invercaimbe at sunset.

Invercaimbe - Arisaig

2009-06-02T14:16:00.000-07:00

We are on holiday at Invercaimbe again at the moment. It has been hot all week and the sunsets from the house every night have been superb.

Ardvasar

2009-06-02T14:15:00.000-07:00

Joel and Ella waiting for the Loch Coruisk (CalMac) to return from Mallaig to pick us up.

Face painting

2009-05-25T11:08:00.000-07:00

Cir Mhor

2009-05-16T12:36:00.000-07:00

Been playing with Photosynth.
Here is a summit panorama from Cir Mhor on Arran.
Best viewed in full screen

Family

2009-05-13T06:46:00.000-07:00

Joel and Ella

2009-05-13T06:44:00.000-07:00

First Aid Kit

2009-05-03T08:25:00.000-07:00

Ella at Gretna

2009-04-24T07:12:00.001-07:00

Mountain rescue at Buckstones

2009-04-19T12:30:00.000-07:00

Joel lost Winnie the Pooh down a rock crevasse at Buckstones. Luckily for him, his Auntie Nina managed to rescue it :)

Nissan Advert

2009-04-19T08:49:00.000-07:00

The marketing dept at Nissan might like this picture.

On the return from Strath Chailleach

2009-04-13T13:56:00.000-07:00

Folded Sandstone

2009-04-13T13:55:00.000-07:00

Great rock texture at north end of Sandwood Bay

Strathchailleach

2009-04-09T02:56:00.000-07:00

Strathchailleach is probably the most remote dwelling on the UK mainland. It was home for 32 years to a hermit called James McRory-Smith. He walked a round trip of 21 miles every fortnight to get his pension. He liked painting! Very atmospheric place.

Sandwood Bay

2009-04-09T02:50:00.000-07:00

St Kilda didnt happen due to strong S/SE winds.
Sandwood Bay was ample compensation!

Boreray - St Kilda

2009-03-19T15:20:00.000-07:00

St Kilda - Mathesons Map

Boreray

Only two weeks to go until my trip to St Kilda.
I am hoping to get up to the top of Boreray amongst other things. Must be mad.

Crarae Gardens

2009-02-21T14:35:00.000-08:00

Lovely place in February. In August must be horrid withe the midgies

Skating again at Drimsynie

2009-02-21T14:30:00.000-08:00

No more cot

2009-02-07T02:18:00.000-08:00

Joel has a new fire engine bed.

Snowing Again

2009-02-05T03:13:00.000-08:00

The view from the garden this morning.

A fine throne

2009-01-25T12:10:00.000-08:00

Beinn a Ghlo

2009-01-16T14:07:00.000-08:00

On the road to Shinagag, near Blair Atholl

Sunset from Preshal Mor

2009-01-06T12:26:00.000-08:00

Preshal Mor is a fantastic looking hill high above Talisker
Bay on Skye. The drop down to the bay from the hill has
to be seen to be believed.

Moody day on the Cuillin

2009-01-06T12:23:00.000-08:00

Taken from MV Loch Nevis on the way back from Rum.

Is he still moving Dad?

2009-01-03T14:07:00.000-08:00

Malham Cove

2009-01-03T14:05:00.000-08:00

Mr Tickle

2009-01-03T13:57:00.001-08:00

Sudocrem

2009-01-03T13:57:00.000-08:00

Joel grabbed a pot of Sudocrem before going to sleep.
Bit of a shock when we went into his room to wake him up!

Brocken Spectres

2008-12-31T13:12:00.000-08:00

Cloud inversion on Grizedale Pike

2008-12-31T13:07:00.000-08:00