On my knees (Days 337 - 346)

Day 337 - Fungi class

Today's photography class challenge was to work in low light (and freezing temperatures).  I had scouted an area in the nearby woodland that had lots of interesting fungi growing from the rotten branches.  Unfortunately most of these were at ground level so the morning was spent crouching or kneeling to get the best shots. The students got stuck in as usual and didn't bat an eyelid at the conditions.

Day 338 - Woodpecker

On my knees again today as I stepped out of the house and slipped on ice on the way to the ferry.  A weekend away saw me walking the dog in a lovely forest somewhere near the Kincardine bridge when I had to stop to give the dog a break from being in the car.  The walk was obviously popular and had several wood carvings along the way although I never saw any 'live' wildlife I'm sure it was there.

Day 339 - Hard cross country

Another cani cross race today, near Dunfermline. It was very cold and quite windy and I wasn't feeling at my best (bruised knees from yesterday) but it was only a 5k race - or so I thought until I passed the 5k marker with a nice encouraging 'not far now' notice!  I loved the cross country route and although I found it hard and came last in my group, I was actually quite pleased with my time.

Day 340 - Cormorant display

A lovely winter's day and this cormorant seemed happy to display his wings as I moved in closer for a shot - keeping low (those knees again) so as not to spook him into flight.

Day 341 - Sunrise

Not visible in this photo (watch out for the colour version on my facebook page), but the sunrise turned the sea a beautiful golden colour. Taking it easy today as I feel rotten with a cough and cold.

Day 342- The boathouse

Still feeling rotten, so its snap time from the beach at Machrie as I can't be bothered to even think about taking pictures today.

Day 343 - Seaweed

 Feeling marginally better today and a blustery walk along the beach helped even if the lashing rain deterred me from too many pictures.  The seaweed today was mixed colours of black greens to rustic ambers.

Day 344 - Arran Island Porcelain

Nearly there now and out came my lovely Arran Island Porcelain tree baubles. A lovely cute mouse and cheeky robin - now I've just got to get a tree.

Day 345 - High heels

Gosh not worn high heels since last Christmas!  OMG how do I walk in them?  Knees creaking and looking like I'd already had one too many, I staggered across the gravel drive. Thankfully things got easier on solid floors and I was sat down for most of the night.

Day 346 - Last bit of wrapping

Why do I find it easier to wrap presents on the floor?  My poor knees have had a bashing this week as it is, so kneeling on the scissors didn't help me one bit! Ouch!

Run, run, run. (Days 263 - 273)

Day 263 - Autumn Seaweed

Monday dawns, my diary if full to busting and my brain if fixed firmly on the weekend ahead an my first Cani-cross event, so I will be running in more ways than one this week.  The evening brought my usual evening class students and we went to one of my favourite local spots - the Lamlash boatyard and photographed as the dusk turned the sky pink.  The seaweed, exposed by the tide shimmered in autumn colours which are not apparent in monochrome.

Day 264 - In the spotlight

This 'bug' appeared on Tuesday evening, late, but with perfect timing as I realised I hadn't done the requisite photo of the day.  It seem unperturbed by my spotlight, however this proved tricky as I tried to manage the camera and light whilst focusing.

Day 265 - Catching the light

 Another frantic day as I run from meeting to meeting with various clients and fit the dog walks into the schedule.  I felt frustrated as the afternoon sun glinted off the trees and I wanted to spend ages taking pictures - but it is not to be this week!

Day 266 - Surfing the breeze

It was very gusty today and the sea crested and seagulls appeared to surf the wind for pure pleasure. Again time was tight just as the light was perfect - and I have yet to pack all the stuff for the weekend.

Day 267 - Mainland bales

I was mainland bound today and unsurprising the weather is turning with a wet forecast for the next 2 days.  But I am on the mainland so different opportunities arise and I get to shop, not that I like shopping but the chance to visit several outdoor shops in Perth was not to be missed.

Day 268 - Cani-cross on a scooter

Race day!  The race times really mean that I won't have much chance to take photo's but that was not what I was here for.  The weather was tipping down, making the course very slippy and muddy.  The 'wheeled' classed raced first, with bikes and scooters, single and two dog teams.  And OMG the speed the set off.  The dogs were so excited.  My nerves grew.  But before long my turn came for the novice race and Watson seemed to take it in his stride.

Day 269 - Second race day

Today I get to do it all again but further this time and I'm not quite so nervous.  A bonus was the rain abated somewhat today, but the course was still muddy.  We completed the course in a good time (for us) very slow compared to everyone else.  But I was really pleased with how it went and how Watson took to it.  I did carry a compact camera around but found it impossible to take a clear image during the race and gave up after a couple of tries and concentrated on keeping upright.

Day 269 - From my compact

Today is a rest day, if I ignore all the wet muddy kit that needs sorting out.  Decided to bundle it into a bin bag and put it in the car till we get home.  A quiet day with a gentle stroll along a lovely woodland path somewhere near Caputh.  Watson still has lots of energy and wanted to play with his ball.

Day 270 - Ugly concrete bridge on what was a beautiful woodland path.

As much as I like going away for a few day, there is something special about coming home.  And the sunlight broke through the clouds as we neared Brodick.  Worth the blast of chilly wind to get the shot.

Day 271 - Sunburst through the clouds

Back to routine and playing catch up for taking a few days off.  But today on our regular Dyemill dog walk we found a nest, likely to be from a Coal tit, on the forest floor that had fallen from the trees. An egg, well past its hatch by date, sat inside and the moss and feathers remained intact.

Day 272 - Abandoned nest

Rain was forecast all afternoon and yet it turned into one of those beautiful chilly sunny autumn days. The photo workshop today concentrated on autumn colours which are vibrant yellows and rich oranges, it will be another couple of weeks before we see the deep reds. No one was rushing so we took advantage of the fabulous conditions as stayed out an extra hour or so.

Day 273 - Little spider clings to the underside of a yellow leaf.

This is my favourite time of year for colour and light and I really hope to make the most of it over the next couple of weeks.

Taking it slowly (Days 221 - 231)

Day 221 - Traffic jam, Arran style.

With a busy few weeks ahead, everything is in the diary and if it's not in the diary it's not happening! The 365 project photo's will definitely be on the 'hoof' and I'll have to take opportunities as they arise, a mini traffic jam on the Machrie Moor Road was snapped through my window.

Day 222 - Another small sculpture

This is another small sculpture that I have brought back from my travels.  She has such a sad face but is a beautiful object to photograph.  I think this could be a wet day challenge for some of my students??

Day 223 - Beach at Machrie

My diary may be full but its not all work and today its a 'girls' lunch out with a fellow teacher. We vary our venues and today it was the Machrie Bay Tearoom for soup and a sandwich.

Day 224 - Blustery morning

The view across to Kintyre had all but vanished this morning as the squally weather blew in.  It was really cold and felt more like October than August. But it significantly brightened up in the afternoon.

Day 225 - Lochranza Castle

All change for a sunny day again, with full day workshops for a mixed ability group. We incorporated a full island tour including the totally un-photogenic Lochranza Castle.

Day 226 - Second traffic jam of the week

Yesterday I fell over (well actually was tripped by the dogs - see later note), and broke my mobile.  So I thought I would do a quick trip into Irvine (I was on the mainland) and get a new one.  On pulling up at the traffic lights to turn right the police stopped me and I ended up with a front seat to the Irvine parade.  This must be one of the biggest in the country - it took ages.  There were so many horses and people but with such a good seat I really couldn't complain.

Day 227 - Blackpool from a distance

A walk on the beach at Cleveleys to exercise the dogs was a very different experience to the same thing on Arran.  The beach actually had a lot of fishermen along the shore and there were lots of people!

Day 228 - Back on the beach

Same beach the following day, but the sea is a little choppier and the promenade has markers for the Fleetwood marathon.  And coincidentally one of the Run Arran girls is taking part in the half marathon!

Day 229 - Homeward bound

There is nothing quite like getting on the ferry to come home after a mainland trip, car bulging with the 'big' food shop and petrol tank full of fuel!

Day 230 - Chilly mornings

Sorely tempted to put the heating on this morning after an early start.  My bathroom was positively baltic, not helped by the fact I had left the window open.

Day 231 - In training

Running a single dog in Cani-cross is hard enough, but two is total madness!  I'm a novice and my dogs are too which doesn't help.  I get many comments, such as, 'it must be good for them to pull you up hills', 'do they go fast', 'that's cheating', most revolve around the strange belief that the dogs pull me up and make the running easier.  The truth is they sometimes run behind me (and I pull them), stop to sniff (more pulling from me), go in the wrong directions (a bit more encouraging pulling from me), go either side of trees, and a few days ago they went behind me and came either side, scooping me off my feet into a crumpled heap, then jumping on me as it was clearly a new game. So we walk a bit, run a bit, untangle a bit and come October we will be racing a bit!

The Cameroon comes to Arran

Yesterday a group of lovely people from the  Cameroonian Association came to visit Arran.  I know little about the Cameroon other than it is on the African continent - a place I have travelled to many times - but I do know it has British and French connections as it was a French Republic before being split between Britain and France after WWI before it gained independence in around 1960.

Cameroon have a team in the World Cup but have lost their first match to Mexico, and the odds on them winning are 2000/1!!

But what did I observe about the people who visited Arran?  Firstly, that they wanted their photographs taken, they actually queued and were keen to see what I had taken on the screen.

They were colourful and proud of their national style of dress - I have to admit to loving the colours and hair styles (I always wears black and tie my hair back into a clip).

They were keen to dance, sing and bang the drums. The smaller children loved the playground, and the teenagers paddled in the sea (screeching as the cold water hit their feet).

And they were interested in us and our environment.  COAST had laid on touchy/feely tanks full of sea creatures and they all were keen to have a look.

But mostly they were a large family group, from babes in arms, teenagers and the older generation they all engaged with each other and us.  They were a happy friendly group and I hope they go away with some happy memories of the Island.

The full album of photo's can be found here. (Arran in Focus facebook page).

No take zone (A to Z challenge)

Did you know that we have octopus in Lamlash bay?  Well we do, and a lot of other wonderful sealife. This is solely down to a small group of people who campaigned to preserve our seabed and this small area of sea and coast became Scotland's first 'No Take Zone'. The group (and now a charity) is called COAST - Community of Arran Seabed Trust. Their are some great images of the sealife on their website.

Signs have been placed to show the area and provide information

The 'No take zone' is designed to protect and preserve our coast and seabed, with the hope that it will encourage regeneration.  What most people don't know is that the methods of harvesting seafood, tear up the seabed in exactly the same way tree felling happens in rain forests.  The sea life (creatures and plants) are destroyed along with their habitat. Unfortunately because it is below water it is not easy to see - otherwise the outcry would be long and loud!

Holy Isle in the background

The future aim is to have a larger Marine Protection Area.