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.

Getting to the finish line (Days 163 - 173)

Day 163 - Wild rose

It's Saturday, Day 163 and I can't think or function and it has nothing to do with completing my tax return this morning.  No, the fact is its only 7 days to the Gate the Gate 5km fun run at Brodick Castle and I have a niggly injury that just keeps playing up. I do not feel ready!

Day 164 - Looking up

I am flat on my back and pondering the patterns of the leaves as I catch my breath - no I haven't been running!  I ended up flat on my back as I slipped and instead of saving myself I saved the camera.

Day 165 - Gaining height

My regular Monday evening students gaining some height (after a full risk assessment) as they practice some landscape skills.  Speed was also required - who could complete the challenge I set before being eaten by the midges.

Day 166 - Fly

Tonight should be the last training session before the race (its never far from my thoughts at the moment) and I've decided to rest.  This is me being sensible - I know I can do 5km, even if I walk it, but my competitive streak says I want a good time (for me that's not coming last).

Day 167 - New shoes

Gone are the days of high heels and power dressing, it's now all walking boots and trainers.  I know I shouldn't wear new trainers on the day but my old ones are knackered and lack support and these feel really comfy.

Day 168 - Scottish Thistle

Think of Scotland and kilts, bagpipes and thistles come to mind (not to mention a few other things).  The thistles are starting to really show and I love this stage, before the colour, when they look fierce and ready to spike anything that comes near.

Day 169 - Path to the swimming pools

Another hot one and I'm choosing walks for the dogs where they can get a swim or stay in shade. There's not much water in the pools but enough for a cool down.

Day 170 - Fun Run 

The day has arrived and I really don't think fun and run should be in the same sentence.  I am anxious!  It's hot and the hill on Castle Drive is hard to walk up never mind run.  But off I set and soon meet up with my running group, who are all equally nervous.  Some of the more advanced runners have raced before, but for my group we are all first timers.  Laura & Marion, Run Arran, have done a fantastic job of organising everything - Mountain rescue and Doctors all in place and the promise of cream scones afterwards.  And before I knew it I'd finished (not going to mention the painful slog up the hill).   I may even sign up for next years run.

Day 171 - Waverley

Back to normal today and a leisurely stroll around the coast to spot the Peregrine chicks, Stonechats and watch the Waverley pass by after its trip around Ailsa Craig.

Day 172 - The Ferry Challenge

Monday evening again and another student challenge - this time around the Calmac ferry terminal.  Whilst my students did their thing, I chatted to Neil who works for Calmac to find out that he's a fabulously talented artist, who trained at the Manchester School of Art and does amazing pencil portraits (and other subjects). His drawings looked like black and white photographs they were so realistic.

Day 173 - Lily

This just caught my eye, as the light caught the Lily against a dark hedge and it may be the last day of sunshine for a while, as rain is forecast.

It ends with a death and a hot dog (Days 153 - 162)

Day 153 - Pladda

I never tire of this view and am constantly amazed by how it changes with weather (and different lenses).  On a calm day it can be really peaceful.

Day 154 - Air guitar

Today I did a quick portrait session on the beach for a friend.  It was lovely and sunny with a nice breeze.  I loved the more candid pictures of her playing naturally and had to laugh as this looks like she's playing 'air guitar' - maybe a glimpse into the future?

Day 155 - White foxglove

 Today I had a land rover photo safari arranged with the Arran Rangers and we travelled into Glen Rosa.  Despite being overcast we got some great shots and found a beautiful white foxglove, gold-ringed dragonflies, orchids and much more.  Looking forward to the next one in August.

Day 156 - Portrait of Cameroon

 I don't do many portrait sessions and I think some of that is because the 'British' are a bit reticent about having their pictures taken.  No so with the Cameroonians who visited Arran this week. They were more than happy to pose, and in fact queued to get a chance of being photographed. Many were in traditional dress and they played the drums and generally had great fun, the full colourful album can be seen here.

Day 157 - Crumpled wings

Back to my more usual habitat of flora and fauna and I came across a crumpled gold-ringed dragonfly on a footpath but it was still alive, so I gently lifted it and removed some 'debris' from its wings and held it against a fern stalk.  It grabbed on and shook its wings and seemed to be happier, so I left it alone in the hope it would recover.

Day 158 - Evening flowers

Monday evening and it was beautiful light for the start of some 'drop in' evening sessions which I am running through the summer.  Tonight we walked up to the lochan at Dyemill and practiced some close up skills as well as a couple of landscapes.  Anyone interested in evening sessions just needs to get in touch.

Day 159 - Hot hot hot

This evening it was far too hot to do a 5km run (first one in about 18 months) but that's what I did.  Why you may ask - well I'm signed up for the first 5km Gate to Gate fun run next week at Brodick Castle and I needed the practice.  I had to have a dip in the sea straight afterwards.

Day 160 - Light 

It's still hot and as I sat in my sunchair in the garden I couldn't help but notice the light shining through one of my plants.  Felling lazy (probably due to last nights run), I decided that would do for today's image and I'm actually quite pleased with it.

Day 161 - Dead Kettle

Today my kettle died.  The electrics went off so I tried the usual changing the fuse with my fingers crossed that this would not work (and it didn't). Strange you may think that I would be happy about the demise of my kettle.  Well yes in some ways; I loved the bright red enamel, apart from the fact it chipped badly around the lid.  I loved that it boiled quickly but not to the extent I needed ear defenders when it was turned on and I couldn't boil the kettle and answer the phone or even listen to music. I always overfilled it as I couldn't read the measure and it was heavy.  So it was a love hate relationship which is now over and I have a new see through kettle!

Day 162 - Resting in the shade

I am taking the full blame for the current heatwave on two counts, firstly I had a new wood burning stove fitted and second I have a new running harness for Watson.  Both require a bit of 'cool' to be tested.  But yesterday I found a lovely shaded forest path to test out the harness, and it had a couple of steams with pools for the dog along the way.  Watson seemed less sure of his new harness but ran really well with stops for a quick swim in the pools.  Strangely he pulls more on his lead than in the harness but I'm sure he'll take to cani-cross.

Loch Muick, Scotland

Views in Glen Muick

Loch Muick sits on the Balmoral Estate and is a great area for walking at a low level.  The area is protected and has woodland, loch and mountain flora and fauna.  Snow can be seen on the mountains until early summer reminding everyone of the need for care if hiking upwards!

The day I visited I truly had the 4 season experience with sunshine and snow within a matter of minutes!  The drive to the Loch is down a beautiful narrow road (single track in places) with fabulous views and deer clearly on view.  A large car park marks the start of the walk (and I was thankful for having the £1 coins required).

A path circumnavigates the whole loch and is very easy for the most part.  A little rocky at the farthest end of the loch but still easy.  I enjoyed numerous birds along the way who were busy singing for mates and preparing for nesting.

But it really was the views that captured my attention (especially when the black clouds loomed overhead). But for those who like buildings you walk directly past Glas-allt Shiel House, a retreat build and used by Queen Victoria.  Now sadly boarded up.

The walk, although easy shouldn't be underestimated as it is just short of 8 miles long and there is a detour up to some waterfalls that can be taken near the House.  Unfortunately I gave this a miss as I knew the distance already planned was going to be enough for one of my dogs (not all dogs can run all day)!

We stopped for a picnic half way round at a point when the sun was shining and just sat for a while. Before making the last push back to the car park where the deer were wandering around!

A full route description can be found on the Walk the highlands site, along with other walks in the area.