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!

Birds, boats and brides (Days 211 - 220)

Day 211 - Oyster Catchers at Lamlash

It's been a busy 10 days with lots of workshops, private tuition and commercial work to fit into my schedule and I have to admit that it's not been easy to grab a photo for this project some days, despite having a camera in my hand most of the time!

Day 212 - Highland games

Saturday morning of the Highland games and a family portrait shoot had to be finished ready for delivery, so no rest for me and then it was off to the games where the sun shone and the wasps swarmed!  

Day 213 - Using the hide

I'd put the hide up on Friday for a private lesson and it was still up on Sunday, albeit a little worse for wear as one of the poles had snapped :0(  Last year I had built a new feeding station that is more natural and I wanted to see if the birds were using it and how it worked out photographically, so I grabbed half an hour with my camera. It needs a few modifications but the birds like it and hopefully it will attract more than chaffinches next time.

Day 214 - Whiting bay in the wind

Monday night class and it was very windy so we went to Whiting Bay in the hope of capturing some cresting waves.  No such luck, the sea was calm even if the flags were dancing in the wind.

Day 215 - West Side Coast line

I had snapped this in the morning, not intending it to be used but it turned out to be the only shot of the day that I could use for this project - not my finest work!

Day 216 - Turnstones

Another day and more workshops.  This is one of the shots I got from lying on the beach as they were behind a rock (photo of me in action taken by a student is my facebook page banner). Beautiful birds.

Day 217 - Ormidale

 The Ormidale in Brodick, the venue for a wedding this weekend and the weather forecast is bad, so another reccie to work out what lighting I'll need for inside photo's.

Day 218 - Moving the bed 

I decided to move my bed to try my room a different way round - not easy as it's really heavy and there isn't much room. I now have a hole in the plaster - oops!  But I have a plan on how I want my room.  Now I just need to sell the bed base!

Day 219 - Not a dry eye in the marquee

Big wedding day and it was wet and windy.  As the marquee flapped at Blackwaterfoot the rain stopped long enough for the Bride, Claire to be piped in without getting soaked.  The ceremony was beautiful, music, tears and laughter (and the odd bark, as the dog came too).

Day 220- Sorry boys!

Disgruntled dogs as they wait outside in the rain for me to get my boots on and take them for a walk.  I had given up trying to tie my laces with them bouncing around.

Weddings, wasps and wabbits! (Day 201 - 210)

Day 201 - Cold water

The hardest thing about this blog is deciding on a title each time and I did consider calling it 'hint of a tint' this time as the cold water of the River Iorsa, ended up with a hint of a blue tint. But the air temperature was significantly higher and the wasps seem to be having a good summer.

Day 202 - When grey doesn't work

Coastguard training night and all the ropes were laid out in front of the station as the team went through some mock drills for cliff rescue.  The midges were fearsome and added a sense of urgency and intense irritation to add to the tension.  It was also the night for letting off the bright orange smoke flares that were at the end of their expiry term, so the grey smoke is really bright orange and was enough to bring the RNLI boat charging across the bay in the hope of a rescue requirement.

Day 203 - Carrie

Carrie is one of the Estate dogs and has a formidable bark when anyone arrives at the door, but she's really quite a sweetie and has been coming out for walks with my two mad spaniels this week while her master is away. But don't be totally fooled, she has been known to raid my handbag for dog treats when I've not bee looking.

Day 204 - Secret wedding

Today I had the pleasure of photographing a lovely couple at their secret wedding.  They had decided to avoid all the pressures of a big wedding and sneak away to get wed.  After a shocking start to the day, the sun came out for a lovely afternoon before the heavens opened again after we'd finished the photographs.

Day 205 - Wasp windowsill

I'm trying really hard to be environmentally friendly and apparently wasps are good.  But its hard when I have a nest in the roof space and these are some of the 100 dead bodies under my window as they have become trapped in the bedroom and baked in the sunshine.  Is it me or are there a lot of wasps this year?

Day 206 - Rabbit pie

 When the dogs go ballistic looking out of the window I expect to see a pheasant partaking of the bird food but instead got a surprise as this rabbit hopped around without a care in the world.  Poor Bowser was apoplectic with excitement.

Day 207 - Arran does Urban

Evening class night and another challenge for my students.  This time it was 'Arran does Urban' and we looked at buildings, plant and other industrial structures around Brodick - while I took in a view across the bay.

Day 208 - Ratty

 Apoplectic dog take two!  This time it was ratty come to feed alongside the birds.  But I have to say I'm not quite so tolerant of this rodent and the dogs were allowed to chase it away.

Day 209 - Marvin with one of his sculptures 'in progress'

 Marvin Elliott is a regular at the Arran Farmers Show demonstrating his skills at carving. I did go on one of his great 2 day courses, which was held at Brodick Castle last year and I know is a regular feature of the Rangers annual programme.

Day 210 - Landrover Safari

And today was another of the Arran Rangers service events, a photography land rover safari.  Yet again the weather stayed fine (actually quite sunny) and we managed to see an adder as well as the tremendous views up Glen Rosa.

A wee week (Days 194 - 200)

Day 194 - Grasshopper

 Looking at my diary I worked out that I needed to change the timing of my blog if I had any chance of getting it done in the next few weeks so I've slipped in a 'wee week' of just 7 daily photo's.  And as its just a wee week I thought all my pictures could be 'wee'.  I was lucky enough today to get a grasshopper as my subject - nice and wee!

Day 195 - Feeling dizzy

Today was a scorcher, the beaches were full and the brave were swimming in the sea.  I found it a little hot to be working and ended up doing a quick snap of some little periwinkle shells.  I'm not sure why I like this blurred version the best, but when a large version is viewed (click on it) it seems to make me dizzy.

Day 196 - Peas in a pod

This little pea has sprung up in my garden, I think its an escapee from the bird seed.  But it was small so fitted the bill when I was scouting around for my subject.

Day 197 - Dead bat

Another dead bat, this time a small brown one with little ears. A friend, knowing I had photographed a bat the week before, brought it round. I'd have preferred a bottle of wine! It wasn't very photogenic but it was little.

Day 198 - Statue

This is my little stone statue that I brought back from one of my travels.  It was small enough to carry on the trek without being too heavy and I love it and had been meaning to photograph it for ages.

Day 199 - Moth in the hand

I couldn't believe it when this lady moth decided to come and sit on my hand. She sat there quite nicely, allowing me go and get my camera and  change the settings (all one handed) until I had taken her picture and then she flew off.

Day 200 - Ladybird

The ladybird was not quite so cooperative and as soon as I had taken this shot, it moved and turned its back on me before scurrying down the plant into the undergrowth.  But it nicely brought an end to my 7 wee days.

What a difference a day makes! (Days 184 - 193)

Day 184 - Looking down to Holy Isle

I have to admit that today I enjoyed running in the rain, soaked as I was, and certainly not complaining about the recent sunshine, it just made a change to be cooler.  The views however, were not up to standard as the island shrouded all its scenic gems.

Day 185 - Looking down to Holy Isle, take 2

I retraced my tracks today with the dogs and thought it would be a good idea to take a comparison photograph.  This 'road to nowhere' is very quiet and I actually wanted to listen to a new album on my ipod by Lewis Watson, without having to think about where I was going.  I have to say I like the album.

Day 186 - Leggy flower

The rain and humidity has made the flowers grow fast and some have gone very 'leggy'.  Others didn't survive the deluge on Saturday and my garden is looking a little shabby.

Day 187 - Frustrated Jackdaw

Over the last few days I've been plagued by a large family of Jackdaws - around 14 visit every morning at about 5.30am and make a very effective alarm clock.  They have successfully learned how to use the nut and squirrel feeders.  However I have stopped them emptying the squirrel feeder by putting a little screw on the top so that the lid won't stay open.  Hence some antics and frustration by the birds as they all had a go and couldn't solve the problem.

Day 188 - Beautiful Bowser

Perhaps I should say hansom? It must have been hot as he went in for a proper swim and he doesn't 'do' water despite being a spaniel.  All his curls get an extra kink when he's wet but I don't find him quite so cuddly - wet dog does not smell good.

Day 189 - Summer buzzin

There is nothing like the sound of bees buzzing to invoke the feelings of summer.  Hover flies, bees, wasps and robber flies all clammer on the flowers, tuning into an electrical impulse that switches off for a while after the flower has been 'serviced' so the pollinators go to another one.

Day 190 - Beach time

Most of the week the sea has been flat calm, but today there was bit of a swell and I walked this evening on the beach as it was cooler for the dogs and Watson loves a swim in the sea.

Day 191 - Heather Queen Parade

Of all the days, today the rain was torrential, for hours!  Starting just before the parade and continuing till everything finished.  But the crowds turned out with brollies and nothing was going to stop the lovely smiles of these two girls.

Day 192 - Not playing fair.

I feed them, I water them, I provide warm water in winter and how do they repay me when I've just washed my upstairs windows?  Not happy - no doubt the sun will bake this on before I get chance to wash it off.

Day 193 - Bat wing

Today I found a brown long eared bat - sadly dead, but it did make a good photographic project for my students. Not often you get up close to these lovely creatures. And my students always come prepared for the unexpected challenge!

Half way there (Days 174 - 183)

Day 174 - Sannox

How can the last 10 days go so fast and yet seem so long ago?  Today saw me running around different parts of the island and ending up at Sannox to drop of a lens that I said I would lend out - all ended up being a rush as the weather forecast meant they had to leave the island a day early.

Day 175 - Bleached claw

Today I had a few IT issues and I am really getting fed up with it - could they really all be down to Windows 8? Tomorrow I'm set to reboot all the student laptops and start them up fresh (good job the weather forecast is miserable). The claw seemed fitting as I was feeling 'crabby' about it!

Day 176 - Shed at Dyemill

Eight hours and I need some fresh air and a good walk.  The sun has come out after raining all day and my eyes are feeling the strain of sitting in front of laptops all day.  But at least now I know its just one laptop and its clearly faulty! Even better news I managed to exchange it without any issues and (fingers crossed) everything seems to be working ok now.

Day 177 - Arran Mountain Rescue Vehicles

Today it was the Arran Mountain Rescue Team open day. I have much admiration for these people (and dogs) who turn out to rescue the foolish and unfortunate alike, in their own time and without pay. I spend many a happy hour in the mountains and hope I never need their services, but am reassured to know they are there.

Day 178 - The island is basking in sunshine

Today was taken up with a full day tour in wall to wall sunshine.  Heat hazes and shimmering water proved challenging, but I really felt sorry for the half marathon runners at Blackwaterfoot - a tough route a best, made harder by the heat.

Day 179 - Common Gulls visit the garden

I seem to be getting a few larger birds in the garden at the moment and these include common gulls and a large family of jackdaws.  The jackdaws actually manage to hand off the nut feeders something I never thought they could do.

Day 180 - Looking over to Kintyre

The island seems to be surrounded in a ring of cloud.  Threatening but not amounting to anything the sun continued to shine.

Day 181 - Glen Rosa

It's hot and I'm trying to give the dogs a different route where there is plenty of fresh water for them.  Glen Rosa is ideal and they made their way up the valley going pool to pool and having a swim.  Several tourists had also taken the opportunity to remove boots and dunk their feet - not all were impressed when dogs do what they do when they get out of water!

Day 182 - Cows and calves on the beach

Even the cows seem lethargic in the sunshine, ambling along the beach under the watchful eye of the huge bull.

Day 183 - Small tortoiseshell caterpillar

On the walk to fallen rocks I saw large numbers of small tortoiseshell caterpillars - looks like they are having a good year.  I also saw plenty of speckled wood butterflies - a first for me.  It's a great walk for wild flowers, insects and butterflies, but I am always surprised by the lack of birds on this walk.