Year of Wonders

Beltane Fire Festival

tumulus — Sat, 24 May 2014 20:20:25 GMT

The Beltane Fire Festival on Calton Hill was cold, wet and windy. But at least I had some clothes on!

Lots more pictures

Calanais

tumulus — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 22:15:13 GMT

Earlier this year I spent a few days on Lewis and Harris. The forecast was for some wild weather with some brighter breaks and I was hoping that would make for some decent photos. These are of the Calanais standing stones on the day I arrived. (I went back there for more pictures on the following three days, also).

Kittens!

tumulus — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 23:07:23 GMT

Feral cats in a garage.

According to the owner about 20-25 cats lived in there. Which seems like a reasonable number. To start with.

It's all a blur

tumulus — Sun, 10 Nov 2013 22:38:41 GMT

Samhuinn Fire Festival

tumulus — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 19:31:16 GMT

Last night in Edinburgh there was a battle between Summer and Winter.

Spoiler alert: Winter won!

Machrie Moor, Arran

tumulus — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 20:39:49 GMT

Some of you have seen these already - sorry to repeat myself.

A couple of pics of some of the stones on Machrie Moor, Arran from a couple of days last September.

Sorry for the self-portrait, but it helps give some scale ;-). I'd seen loads of pictures of the stones there before I went, yet I'd got the idea that they were significantly smaller than they really are.

Beinn Dubh

tumulus — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 21:29:40 GMT

Last night I went hiking up Beinn Dubh (pronounced ben doo) by Loch Lomond. Sunset looked like it was going to be spectacular...but it ended up being just a big orange wash. Which was also very pretty.

Loch Awe and Kilchurn Castle

tumulus — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:04:39 GMT

The sun came out for just 10 minutes before it disappeared behind the hills. Just long enough...

Bat

tumulus — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:18:55 GMT

I was at Inversnaid to photograph the scenery, but this little chap was out and about a bit early (early in the day and early in the year). I'm amazed any were in focus as he was zooming around so fast.

A pipistrelle, big as your thumb.

Craigton Cemetery

tumulus — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 21:43:28 GMT

The local graveyard one morning before dawn, when the snow was still here.

Rannoch Moor & Glencoe

tumulus — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:10:40 GMT

Just over a week ago I went up to Rannoch Moor and Glencoe to catch the scenery before the last of the snow melted away.

What Was I Saying?

tumulus — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 12:05:44 GMT

Ah...it's the Internet. I was probably posting pictures of my cats.

Well-Read Cat

tumulus — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:11:29 GMT

Cats belong in libraries. Obviously.

Bluebells Redux

tumulus — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:14:25 GMT

It was another beautiful day and, with the bluebells about to go over, this might've been my last chance to do something different with bluebell pictures. I said different, not good! So a quick wander around Mugdock Park (which was stunningly beautiful today) and this is what I ended up with:

Bluebells from high up

Bluebells from low down

Some random ferns...no bluebells involved

Arran

tumulus — Sat, 30 May 2009 23:06:47 GMT

Yesterday the sun came out and on a whim I jumped on a train to the coast and got:
- the ferry over to Arran;
- sunburned.

Waiting for the ferry at Ardrossan:

Off the ferry at Brodick:

Random standing stones near Brodick:

Bluebells

tumulus — Thu, 28 May 2009 10:52:10 GMT

Every year bluebell season comes around and I think to myself: this year I'll shoot them differently. It's kinda like daffodil season. Same old same old.

Uninspiring pictures, but really beautiful to be out in the middle of them. That's Balmaha Forest on the east shore of Loch Lomond, by the way.

Full House

tumulus — Sat, 09 May 2009 17:18:39 GMT

Two new residents moved in from the local Dog & Cat Home.

Gwen is a bit "What the hell are these?" at the moment, but she's starting to come round already I think. Eventually I hope there will be pictures of all three without involving claws and teeth.

Glen Lyon

tumulus — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:28:38 GMT

Some pictures from a hiking trip into Glen Lyon and over the peaks of Carn Gorm, An Sgorr, Meall Garbh, Carn Mairg and Meall na Aighean. First day of spring. Beautiful light. The peaks were in the clouds and there wasn't a thing to be seen, but lower down the slopes I could still have a "see how pretty Scotland is out of season" moment.

Argyll

tumulus — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:31:29 GMT

I was trying to keep to posting pics in chronological order for a while. But I got distracted by some newer pictures. I don't think it counts as chronological order if it is only for one post!
Anyway, trying to get back on track...these are some pictures I took in March. Everyone knows that Scotland's all about grey skies and grey seas. That's because we keep all the sunshine for ourselves outside the tourist season. The Argyll coast is very lovely. And very quiet.

Necropolis

tumulus — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 22:53:03 GMT

Some pictures from the Necropolis today:

Daffs

tumulus — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 21:42:54 GMT

Doesn't the world have enough pictures of daffodils? Actually, no! Daffs are ace. One day, daffs will save the world!

Actually, I was in the Necropolis today to take pictures of things other than daffs. But I couldn't help myself. I'll doubtless post some of the others when I've worked through them. Such a backlog of photo!

On a tangent, if you enjoy beautiful photos and tales of cats, let me recommend kylecassidy's pages if you don't already read Kyle's journal.

Ballymeanoch

tumulus — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 21:22:36 GMT

Just when you thought you'd been spared from my pictures cluttering up your friends' page...

Sorry for the extended silence - I've been travelling both in and out of the country quite a bit recently. Having a lot of fun, taking many pictures - all the important things.

I don't for one moment think the world needs any more of my pictures of the Ballymeanoch standing stones, but I was over in Argyll for a couple of days and I really didn't have the world's best interest at heart. The world is welcome to sue...

Craigton Cemetery

tumulus — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:10:04 GMT

Some more pictures of Craigton Cemetery from yesterday:

I'm really happy with how these turned out. I think that's partly because all I had in mind was taking pictures I'd like, rather than taking pictures that would sell. I need to remember to do that more often!

Signs Of Spring

tumulus — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:37:47 GMT

Anyone who's been following this journal for any time will be aware that I love graveyards.

When I moved here 15 years ago I fairly soon went down to the local Craigton Cemetery to take a few snaps. But I didn't find it terribly interesting. And since it wasn't in the way of anywhere I needed to walk to, I've never really been back there. This morning I finally went for another look. Good grief! What was I thinking back then? It's rather dilapidated, needs some serious love to clean it up, and could do with fewer beer cans and vodka and buckfast bottles; but what a wonderful place. There will be more pictures to come, but here's just a taster:

And, as requested, some signs of spring. Last year crocuses were all a-bloom by the end of January. This year, late February is feeling a whole lot healthier!

Summer at last!

tumulus — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:57:26 GMT

It's the end of January. Why is the heather blooming?

I was out at the Necropolis this morning and thought I might find some snowdrops, or maybe some very early crocus. Heather in bloom...that seems a bit broken. Pretty, but broken.