We were staying immediately opposite the field where they were playing at Lochranza, and wondered what all the excitement was about. Spouse wandered across to join the huge crowd of four supporters on the sideline, where he witnessed history being made as the team snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat.

"Aye, pitch is a bit slippery this week; we hadn't had time to sweep up all the sheep muck after the rain..."

Quite. The small pile of fag ends reflected the high tension of the team manager as the match lurched towards it's final score....

There's no problem with half time refreshments as the local whiskey distillery is just over the fence.

After match analysis of the match with Arran South End - "They missed the penalty by that much!"

Next day the triumphant draw was being discussed at great length in the sandwich shop at the Lochranza Ferry terminal over mugs of steaming hot tea and slabs of local lavender cake. On this shot you can see distillery, football pitch, Lochranza Castle, and the ferry to the mainland waiting at the jetty.

A night to remember.

I'd looked around for some self-catering accommodation for a week's holiday and discounted it due to cost. Then I remembered the month's holiday I'd had there as a child in the 60s. My very ordinary one-average-income family decamped there for a whole month, and we had a beach hut.

Self-catering accommodation was a lot cheaper than it is now though. According to my parents about £50 a week. I checked out the cost of same now, roughly £700-800. That's about 14 times more expensive, or 1400% inflation? How can this be justified? And there are even some more expensive than that. I saw one at a rate of £3000 a week! But I think that standards have gone down, décor has gone all cheap and pastel with it, and places are a lot more boxy, for your 1400% inflated price. So its never just inflation, which is more; its what you get for it as well, which is always less. This seems to be the rule of progress.

Our holiday house for the month was big enough for our family of six though, plus my grand-parents. And I remember it had a big grandfather clock in the hallway. (No pastel) My Dad also had a company car in those days, and, I believe, fuel was not an issue. The cost of the beach hut was minimal. I also remember pony-trekking. It was a super holiday and at age 5 I never imagined things would ever be any different.

Imagine the cost of a month on Arran now! Who has that kind of disposable income? This is what I would like to know. There must be people otherwise the industry would not exist. All I know is that I (apparently) earn a little less than the average income and it's way beyond my budget, even for one week.

Nowadays its a few days at the Hostel. I actually like the Hostel. I don't have a car. Beach huts are long gone. And even a week in the hostel now is more than the cost of that holiday house in the 60s.

The only problem I have with hostels really is that feeling of being a little trapped at night, tossing and turning in the dark, and you can't get up and do stuff when you're sleepless, like I am now. Even getting up to go to the loo is an operation of creeping around in the dark trying not to disturb others, and scrabbling around for keys, which you must remember, otherwise you will be locked out your dorm in your nightie! And those shower cubicles! Hostels do expand your holiday horizons a bit though, and you meet some like-minded people. Me like.

And what Arran has to offer is still worth it. At the north end of the island, away from the “gift shops” (aaaarrg!) and tea rooms, we had mountains and scenery, and red deer, and otters and cormorants, all at 100% non-inflated prices, which is free. Apparently seals and eagles and red squirrels around too, but I didn't see any of those this time.

I think my perspective has definitely changed with the times, along with the standard of living.

The health movement is just forging full-steam ahead, by-passing years of "letting the masses slowly adapt and get used to being told what to do" and just jumping right on board the "bullying train".

When I read this on Junkfood Science this morning, I had to read it twice as I wasn't sure I was reading it clearly. While this is happening right now in the UK, you can bet your booty that some 'do-gooder' fool here is planning the same thing.

The logic of public health

~snip~

Fat-buster street nurses are being sent out into the community as part of the latest initiative of public health officials at the NHS Ayrshire and Arran. According to the news coverage, people are happy to discuss their weight with a nurse off the street; answer questions about their private lifestyles, smoking and drinking habits; be referred to weight loss meetings; and even have the street nurse contact their doctor.

Convincing the public that “everyone else thinks this is okay, so you should to” is a common marketing approach, employing the bandwagon effect. But is it evidence of sound public health policy?

~snip~

Read the FULL STORY here.

I'm not sure what's more disturbing to me here; the audacity of anyone to think they have some right to confront strangers they think are overweight and question them; that the NHS is sending its nurses out to harass those who they think don't meet the NHS "standard", while also crying about a nursing/doctor shortage (see HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE);or the fact that the NHS in spending taxpayer money to harass the taxpayers while suffering serious financial deficits (see HERE, HERE and HERE).

Since when was it "public health's" job to intrude into our personal lives to try to force us to comply with their standards? This "one size fits all" mentality is going to kill us faster than any "pandemic" they can invent.

What is it with all these do-gooders lately that they think no one is intelligent enough to figure out what to do or where to go IF and WHEN they decide they want to change something about themselves? What is it with the push to try to force.....er I mean convince.....us to live our lives their way?

Something else that is equally wasteful of an NHS Trust's funds in one district is this one Trust that is going to spend £75,000 to have a handful of "young people" approach smokers they see smoking to try to convince them to quit.

Excuse me............but anyone who really wants to quit, already knows how and will do so when they are good and ready. Smokers have been taxed to the hilt, with higher taxes always on the horizon, thrown out to the streets, and now they are to be harassed by some self-righteous brat?

'Smoking police' hit the streets to shock people into quitting

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 12:26 PM on 17th September 2008

Smokers will soon be stopped and asked to take a breath test to try to shock them into quitting

Smokers will be stopped in the street and asked to take a carbon monoxide test in London's most hard-hitting anti-smoking campaign.

'Smoking police' will target people at betting shops, bus stops and shopping centres to shock them into giving up cigarettes.

They will be asked to breathe into a monitor to show how much carbon monoxide is in their bodies, and could then be signed up to local stop-smoking services and given access to counsellors.

Pro-smoking group Forest described the campaign as a humiliating infringement of civil liberties.

Ealing Primary Care Trust, which is funding the £75,000 scheme, said it could help 2,400 people to give up.

~snip~Forest spokesman Neil Rafferty said: 'It shows the authorities think they have a blank cheque to treat smokers how they want - to harass, humiliate and victimise them.

'This is an outrageous abuse of freedom and privacy. It is the health Nazi equivalent of chuggers.'

Read the FULL STORY here.

Now, not for nothing, but measuring the carbon monoxide level in a smoker standing outside, on the street, breathing in all the automotive exhaust and trying to claim that it is ONLY their smoking causing that is just outright stupid, not to mention deceitful. Care to bet that the non-smokers standing on the street also have a good amount of carbon monoxide in them also? This is just plain outright harassment and persecution of smokers.

That so many condone it is appalling.

You have to ask yourself......................WHERE DOES IT STOP?

Also I am kicking myself about this picture (a repeat from my last post I know):

... this was the last in a roll of film and while I was changing it a girl on a horse galloped past leaving the family staring after it ... it could have made a really great picture. Oh well maybe digital does have some merit...

Anyway here are some pictures...

While hunting down some information on Largs, one respondent pointed me towards recent videos relating to the disaster which befell HMS Dasher, an Archer class aircraft carrier which exploded and sank on March 27, 1943, during World War II flight training exercises being carried out just off the island of Arran, in the Firth of Clyde, with the loss of 379 lives.

While the discovery of the memorial alone would have been worthy of mention, the value of the film was to increase significantly when the latter part led into the relatively recent story which we had found, and which revealed the true identity of "The Man Who Never Was". The name refers to a film which told the story of Operation Mincemeat, a British deception plan carried during World War II intended to convince the German High Command (OKW) that the Allies were planning to invade the Balkans and Sardinia, rather than the island of Sicily, their real target. The plan involved the planting of false documents containing details of the invasion plan, and these were to be given credibility by being found on the body of a dead courier, killed in an aircraft crash at sea. The one problem with the plan was finding a suitable body to carry the documents, and which would not be an obvious hoax when subject to medical examination. The tragedy of HMS Dasher occurred at the right time, and with Churchill's approval the plan was implemented, one of the bodies recovered from Dasher was appropriated, and a veil of secrecy was thrown over the incident. While the reason for the secrecy is now clear, many still do not know the whole story, and are openly critical of the authorities and make much of the fact that those who survived the sinking were warned never to speak of the incident. The memorial film includes a contribution from the grandson of Jack Melville, who was recently identified as the real "Man Who Never Was", and shows his gravestone in Ardrossan, in the memorial graveyard where many of those who died in the explosion were laid to rest, and also features the memorial ceremony in Cyprus, where he was actually buried, and where the Royal Navy publicly acknowledged his identity and the part he played in the operation.

HMS Dasher memorial 2007:

Film dedicated to the event in 2008:

Opening credits of the 1956 film:

These first two are from a kind of soggy Fringe Sunday.

This one is from the garden of the Dean Gallery where Liz and I went to see the Foto exhibition.

And these two are from Arran where we went for a few days. It was also a bit soggy here but we had a great time despite the weather.

The Arran trip was literally a washout. Having travelled for something like 14 hours to get there, catching a ferry across the strait to the Island and then taken around (the long way it seemed) the island, which had roads that reminded me of Michael Palin in Outer Mongolia; we arrived. It was raining. And it rained for the entire duration of the trip. Which was miserable. So, on the last night of the trip, we decided to get really drunk. I'd fucked up something with a girl I was into and was very pissed off and decided to drown my sorrows. I don't do sulking when drunk (anymore) and remembered i'd bought my credit card with me - Drinks were on me!

And boy, did i drink. I got to know the Archaeology crew - there were two outcast groups of people within our course (there was definite cliques), and the Archaeology crew were one of them. They were a decent bunch of people, and Gareth and Chris were the two I liked the most. Gareth and I drifted apart after time, thanks for the one and only, George Laloe. George met Gareth and inquired what his name is. Gareth, being friendly said happily "I'm Gareth, nice to meet you, what's your name?" George replied, "Gared? I'm going to call you Gared, Gareth" Gareth wasn't amused.

He did this to Chris too, with mixed results - Chris didn't get pissed off at being called Jim or Bob or whatever George called him. Anyway, Gareth and I got to know each other on the Arran trip and I blamed him afterwards to what happened. Anyone that knows me, knows that if i say "Oh shall I do such and such" when I am drunk, should be met with a negative. This is due to the fact that whatever I have come up with is usually "A Bad Idea". This night, it was dirty pints. I gathered two pints of yuck, and Gareth dared me to drink it. I downed one, and the other came back up with the previous pint included. Everywhere... And I mean EVERYWHERE. I was sent to bed as using my foot to help the poor bar girl clean the mess was not helping.

Well, I had a lovely nights sleep. And was woken rudely, at 9.15 (15 minutes after everyone was scheduled to leave) by the entire travelling department; in my room, whilst I was sleeping naked under the quilt. Yeah, not my finest hour. Of course this caused much amusement. And my vomitting on the bumpy bus to the ferry wasn't amusing too. My coursemates couldn't wait to see me on the ferry, for they were all feeling awfully sick themselves being very hungover. But, as I knew, once I'm sick I'm able to recover in no time. And recover I did! I went around patting all the sickies on their backs and riding at the front of the ferry. Which of course pissed everyone else as they wanted to see me suffer hahaha!

The next trip was to the Lake District - Coniston waters to be precise. Now this was a much better trip, wet, but much more tolerable. The usual lack of work took place, but this was a second year trip and the second year counted somewhat so I aimed to do as much as possible. Anyhow, I didn't want a repeat performance of my last trip and so I didn't get drunk and just got high. With holiday magazines. I was burning magazines with an attractive young lady, and i think the fumes from the plastics went to our heads. We couldn't smell it but her friend  came in and the smell was untolerable. We, however, were rolling on the floor, tears streaming from our faces from laughter. I think it had a lot to do with us using the magazines to light the fire, and the owner of the house had come in to give us some brochures for whether we'd like to stay. He mentioned how he thought there were some around the place and that the fire was really burning well. What he didn't know was the firelighters were more of his holiday brochures - the laminated covers seemed to burn really well. And he'd just given us more to keep the fire burning!

The most memorable trip was the Spain one. This was simply insane. George really came into his own on this one and proved what mayhem he can make. I shall put this story in another blog as it deserves its own section.

This year's main release is the Arran 12 Years Old:

As usual with Arran it's bottled at 46% and non chill filtered. Official launch is set for October, while we in Norway will get it in November.

Btw. The distillery's website has been updated quite recently. Please visit them at arranwhisky.com.

Source: Isle of Arran Distillery/The House of Cognac

One of my favourite photos of late. Taken at Brodick castle. What you DON'T see is the hundreds of swarming mosquitoes sucking the life out of you. Never have I ever seen so many of them sucking my blood. After the weekend, I looked like a smallpox survivor.

I really like this shot because even though it's with the 18-200mm which isn't a dedicated macro lens, I think it still takes decent close-up shots. Unlike the 17-55mm which I just got whose minimum focusing distance is still at least 30cm. Really starting to like the macro world and just might build myself a cheap lightbox to do some experimenting.

With that in mind, I'm off to London for the weekend so no updates till then. Hopefully will come back with a new batch of photos ready for the upload.

One thing though, I know many people would disagree, but I've decided to take the 17-55mm rather than the 18-200mm for the trip to London. I really would like to take the lens through its paces and am a bigger fan of the f/2.8 rather than the extended focal range of the 18-200mm. But if anyone has a convincing argument why the 18-200mm might be better, let me know soon before I go!

Babies with an increased chance of low blood sugar include:

• Early or premature babies (born before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy)
• Babies who are lighter in weight than expected for the number of weeks of pregnancy (SGA - small for gestational age)
• Babies who have needed help to breathe at birth
• Babies who are ill
• Babies whose mothers have had diabetes during pregnancy
• Babies whose mothers have taken medicine for blood pressure (betablockers)

 See the excellent page from Ayrshire and Arran NHS for ideas of things you can ask of your own hospital.

Also see here for some information about colostrum, and the size of your newborn baby's stomach.

Just one of those nice days where the clouds were just absolutely perfect for some creative photography. This was inspired by some photos from Deviant Art.

Unfortunately as I'm quite new to Clone Stamping, if you're sharp, you'll see areas where I've cleaned up a bit.

Whilst we were away, I used the old fashioned way of recording my thoughts via paper and pen. Here is some of it for today, will write more later in the week:

Monday 23rd June 2008  10.45 am

Well, we are at the airport and already the journey seems long as our flight to Newark has been delayed by 2 hours.  As our flight to Scotland is coming from Los Angeles, no doubt that will be delayed as well, so we should be in for a long night!!!

Same day 1.15 pm

Still in Austin!  Flight delayed until 1.55pm so should be boarding soon.  Apparently our connection is on time so hopefully we won't have any more delays, fingers crossed!

Tuesday 24 June 5.20 am Glasgow Time,  (11.20pm Austin Time)

2  more hours and we will touch down in Scotland, land of the Braveheart (lol).  I love going back home to the UK but I hate the process, it takes so long!  We made our connection with 5 mins to spare.  As its an overnight flight, the on board entertainment started almost immediately. No choice of movies on this flight as they only have those poxy pull down screens - so you can barely see what is going on (Place overhead very 3rd seat).  Also the usual overheated choice of meal - never pick the chicken as too scared I will come down with some form of food poisoning.  As the drinks were served, a call went out for any available medical help.  About 15 mins later a man with obviously no trousers on (towel wrapped around him), in a very disheveled state held up by a cabin member, was escorted down the aisle. Have no idea what his problem was but one can't help think it was alcohol related., This flight is mainly for returning Brits after all.     Nothing else exciting has happened since, as to be expected.

As usual I cannot sleep and actually, even Gordon is nor sleeping so well, which is very unusual. Gordon can sleep anywhere, anytime and most of the time. 

So in 2 hours we find out if our luggage made it to the plane (will be impressed and surprised if it did!). Then we make our way via the Glasgow Airport Express and local transport to Hurlford.  Only  days planned so far are a trip to Edinburgh on Thursday and then to Kinross on Sunday. However, I am sure we will ample to occupy us and our brief 10 days will be over before we know it. C'est las vie!

Now back to reading Veronika decides to die by Paulo Coello,  a very dark fable so far.

Wednesday 25th June 2008 11.10 am

So here we are taking the bus to Glasgow. 

As can be guessed from the above that means we arrived safe and sound yesterday. The flight actually arrived 20 mins early and surprisingly so did our luggage. Unfortunately one of the cases got seriously damaged. arriving missing a handle. Gordon was convinced the bottle of vodka (we had bought for his Dad) had been stolen but turns out it had just shifted in the travelling.   As we are borrowing a friend's car for the duration (of our trip), we had to find our own way back to Hurlford but that turned out (to be) very easy. A quick shuttle ride to Glasgow Bus Station and a 30 min wait for an Express bus to Hurlford.  The only inconvenience being the missing handle on suitcase Gordon had.

Glasgow Bus Station

The PM was spend in bed.  I rather unwisely took a sleeping pill, so had a good 4 hours of  sleep but it meant I was drowsy for the rest of the day (however) as we weren't doing anything that was OK . 

Last night before we went to bed, we watched the tail end of a program that showed the most detailed views of a woman's vagina I have ever seen.. It wasn't a sex show, more a documentary/info program for women to understand their nether regions.  Given we are living in a country were even the butt crack at the top of a pair of jeans blurred, it was quite a a shock to the system to see a full blown shot of a woman vagina.(quite informing  and interesting though).

Anyway now arriving in Glasgow. Not sure what we will do but looking forward to it. Fish and chips for supper tonight.

Friday 27th July 1.45pm

Wow!  Thursday been and gone, where did it go?  Must admit that although I have been up for about 3 hours and eaten lunch, I am only just coming to life.  I have woken up before dawn (each morning) which is about 5 am in these parts. Not wanting to disturb anyone one I have been sleeping fitfully after that.  Well, last night I decided to get up for an hour or so.  I slept so well after that I haven't been able to wake up properly since.

Yesterday we spent in Edinburgh.  Its an OK place but not as good as Glasgow to be honest.  We went to the Scottish museum in the pm where they had excellent exhibit about the forging of Scotland as a nation. Its was the first time we had been in the newer part of the museum and were very impressed.  After that  we wandered along Princes Street.  As we are not tourists in the strictest sense of the word and everything here is way more expensive (than in the States), window shopping has its limits.

In the evening we met up with some friends of Gordon's from University and had a really great time catching up with old times and hoping it won't be when we are 60 when we meet again.

Today has been  quiet day so far. Lunch with Margaret, next door and Gordon's Dad.  Tonight we are off to Alex and Laura's. so I will need to watch I don't drink too much.  I just can't take so much alcohol these days, has too many lingering effects on my body.

Tomorrow is up in the air so far but we have been invited to a 50th birthday party.  Then on Sunday we are off to Kinross to see a few folk.

Monday if the weather is good, we will do a day tip to Arran. After that, the 3 remaining days we will fly by the seat of our pants.

My annual golf trip to Arran, two weeks ago, was a curate's egg. Good in places. In fact I shot my best ever scores on Corrie, Lamlash (76) and Shiskine (81) and won the 4th and 6th rounds.

However, I was docked a stroke for coming second last year so played off 16 (two below my handicap) meanwhile Wee Bobby got a four stroke raise for playing like Stevie Wonder meets John Merrick for the last three years.

Trouble is, he played like Sevvy Ballesteros for two rounds and despite his colonic syphilitis (or something) hung on to play five rounds. He was coming back to the field like nobody's business, but his first round five under par was enough to win the day.

I came in a respectable second, three adrift with a pile up in and around me for the places.

Had I have played off my national I'd have won by miles but hey, that's goilf.

Good on ya Bobby.

Did I tell you he's 73?

Scotland in miniature is just one of the names for the Isle of Arran. A picturesque island reached by ferry from Ardrossan to Brodick, and a mountain range reminiscent of a Sleeping Warrior, with Goatfell the highest peak.

One of the must see places on Arran is Brodick Castle, and it's gardens, depicted here by Tony Montague.

Mind wanders off to the wilderness of Arran.

As the prospect of conflict weighs heavy.

On the soul.

Bring it on.

The Auchrannie Quaich.

To the victor. The spoils."

Yes. I'm off in search of the trophy. Shame I'm pish at golf.

I will, of course, win best dressed man.

Curlywurlygurly asked about photos of Arran. Left daughter to get some but the above will give a flavour

Brodick Bay             Goatfell

Holy Isle                 Interesting geometric shapes

Having a few minutes to spare, we visited a local Art Gallery. Speaking to the owner about churches and I mentioned that we went to St Mary's Cathedral in Glasgow. His immediate reaction was that he had a print of an un-usual view of Kelvin Bridge and a large church, Lansdowne Ch of Scotland, and our Cathedral in the background. I immediately snapped it up, and it now has pride of place beside the print of the little Church in Bearsden which has played such a large part in our lives.

Isn't life strange that I had to go so far away to find it!

AN UPDATE ON LAST WEEK'S POST

SCOTTTISH LMCs VOTE FOR IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION OF LORD DARZI

"GPs voted unanimously that the government was putting patients at risk and belittling the role and expertise of GPs by allowing unqualified doctors to staff Darzi surgeries..."

and

SCOTTISH GPs SET TO BREAK FROM UK CONTRACT

" ‘It’s not us who’s diverging – it’s England who’s going off in a completely different direction,’

_________________________________________________

LAST WEEKS POST - CLOUDS GATHERING?

Have you ever been to the Isle of Arran?

A quiet peaceful place off the West Coast of Scotland.

Pretty beaches, waterfalls, standing stones, craft shops, wild honeysuckle, castles and a mountain intriguingly called "Goat Fell"

An unlikely place for an uprising.

Mmm. The mountains of Arran have a configuration known locally as "The Sleeping Warrier"

So maybe not so unlikely, My Black Cat.

ARRAN
LORD DARZI, WATCH OUT, THE SCOTS ARE GATHERING

However, the doctors in Ayrshire and Arran, far removed from the the English polyclinics, global health care predators, Virgin in the wings, dumbing down, wheelie bin doctors, have decided they have had enough of English madness.

Next week, they are going to debate whether they should call for the resignation of Lord Darzi at their annual conference.

" Scottish LMCs may call for the immediate resignation of health minister Lord Darzi at their annual conference next week.

Ayrshire and Arran LMC proposed the motion, which will be debated at the Scottish LMCs conference in Clydebank next Thursday. The LMC says that Darzi's plans to allow unqualified doctors to staff polyclinics, revealed in GP last month, ‘belittles the role and expertise of general practitioners'.

There is a rising in the East of Scotland too.

"Another motion under discussion at the conference will call for an end to the UK-wide contract, so that Scotland can prioritise its own health needs.

‘Everything at the moment appears to be predicated on the needs of London and the south east,' said Dr John Rankin, secretary of Forth Valley LMC, who proposed the motion.

He cited polyclinics and extended hours as ‘solutions to problems that don't exist in the rest of the UK being foisted on us'.

Ha, the Scots are forming a posse!

Maybe it takes outsiders looking in to see, and feel, and take on the madness?

Eh, My Black Cat?

a red apple ........................

The Witch Doctor - Link to a random page

_________________________________________________

LINK TO UK MISSING KIDS WEBSITE

LINK TO MISSING PERSONS WEBSITE

_________________________________________________

© Mpz@sapo.pt | Agency: Dreamstime.com
© Ijansempoi | Dreamstime.com

Ponieważ pierwszego dnia ciągnąłem przyczepkę praktycznie sam przez cały dzień zgodziliśmy się, że moja kobieta zapnie ją do swojego roweru i odda mi kiedy się zmęczy. Rozebrałem więc zapięcie i przełożyłem przyczepkę do jej roweru.

Kiedy już wszystko było spakowane zauważyłem, że złapaliśmy gumę w jednym z kół w przyczepce. Szybka akcja i ruszyliśmy w dalszą drogę jeszcze zatrzymując się na chwilę w supermarkecie na drobne zakupy i poranną toaletę.

Dalsza trasa przebiegała przez coraz ciekawsze i bardziej odludne tereny. Znowu zaczął jednak padać deszcz ale humory nam dopisywały.

Po południu trasa stawała się stopniowo coraz mniej interesująca. Zaczęliśmy wjeżdżać w zachodnią część Szkocji, gdzie sporo jest szarych, małych powojennych miasteczek, często zaśmieconych do granic wyobraźni. Najbrzydszym okazało się Kilwinning. Mnie to się kojarzyło z blokiem komunistycznym. Z jednej strony ohydne, ale jednocześnie w dziwny sposób interesujące.

W reszcie dojechaliśmy na wybrzeże, a konkretnie do Saltcoats, skąd już wzdłuż wybrzeża jechaliśmy dosyć długo do Ardrossan. Było w okolicach godziny 15, znowu zaświeciło słońce więc nam się nie spieszyło.

Już z daleka zobaczyliśmy ośnieżone szczyty gór na wyspie Arran (wtedy tego jeszcze nie byliśmy do końca pewni). Widok wyjątkowo imponujący. Najwyższy szczyt Goatfell (wietrzne wzgórze) ma 2866 stóp, czyli ponad 873 metry.

Pojechaliśmy prosto na prom, żeby mieć pewność, że jeszcze tego samego dnia dojedziemy na Arran.

Prom wpłynął, a właściwie wleciał do portu "na ręcznym". Wyglądało to mniej więcej tak jakby za sterami siedział Krzysiek Hołowczyc. Byliśmy niemal pewni, że ten ogromny (w porównaniu do naszych rowerów) statek sunący z tak dużą prędkością rozbije się o nabrzeże.

Ustawiliśmy się w specjalnej kolejce dla rowerzystów. Szybko okazało się, że o tej porze rowerzyści już tylko wracali z Wyspy na ląd. Byliśmy więc jedynymi zroweryzowanymi turystami na okręcie :) .

W trakcie rejsu wyszliśmy na pokład gdzie poznaliśmy jednego z mieszkańców Arran. Okazało się, że niedawno odwiedzał Polskę i bardzo mu się podobało, z tym że bardzo tłoczno było. Szkocja jest w końcu o wiele mniej zaludniona. Poza tym uświadomił nas, że na Wyspie jest sporo naszych sympatycznych i pracowitych rodaków.

Niedługo przed zmrokiem dopłynęliśmy do Brodick skąd udaliśmy się na pobliski kemping. Trochę czasu zajęło nam znalezienie drogi w to odludne miejsce, bo ze zmęczenia mieliśmy już spore problemy z czytaniem mapy. Ale udało się i po raz drugi w czasie naszej wyprawy rozbijaliśmy się po ciemku.

Wyjazd pociągiem z Edynburga do Falkirk. Mieliśmy mały problem ze sprawnym wyjściem z wagonu, bo przyczepka okazała się wyjątkowo ciężka i trudna do manewrowania na tak małej przestrzeni.

Z Falkirk już rowerami udaliśmy się w kierunku Glasgow gdzie planowaliśmy nasz pierwszy biwak. Ale w drodze zmieniliśmy zdanie bo pogoda wyjątkowo dopisała. Zdecydowaliśmy zrobić kilkadziesiąt mil więcej niż wcześniej zaplanowaliśmy i przenocować po zachodniej zamiast po wschodniej stronie Glasgow.

Prawie nam się to udało, ale w Glasgow zgubiliśmy drogę i przez to straciliśmy około dwóch godzin. Nie udało nam się więc dojechać na kemping i namiot rozbijaliśmy już po zmierzchu gdzieś na obrzeżach Johnstone, na zachód od Glasgow. Moja kobieta nie dawała rady już dalej jechać, więc innego wyjścia nie było.

Ulokowaliśmy namiot w jakichś zaroślach modląc się, żeby nikt nas tam nie znalazł. To się nie do końca udało, bo okazało się, że w późnych godzinach wieczornych zapuścił się w te okolice jakiś jegomość w wieku tak na oko 14 z całkowicie pijaną dziewczyną w podobnym wieku. Na szczęście bardziej byli zainteresowani sobą niż nami.

Po rozbiciu obozu przyjrzałem się dokładnie przyczepce, a dokładnie samemu zaczepowi. Okazało się, że mocowanie do roweru jest tak wygięte, że ściągnięcie dyszla z roweru jest możliwe tylko po rozebraniu zaczepu na części pierwsze. Postanowiłem sobie to zajęcie zostawić na rano.

Przed pójściem spać po raz pierwszy odpaliliśmy nasz Kettle i to była jedna z niewielu przyjemnych rzeczy tego wieczoru. Bo zanim jeszcze skończyliśmy rozkładać namiot zaczął padać deszcz.

CLOUDS GATHERING?

Have you ever been to the Isle of Arran?

A quiet peaceful place off the West Coast of Scotland.

Pretty beaches, waterfalls, standing stones, craft shops, wild honeysuckle, castles and a mountain intriguingly called "Goat Fell"

An unlikely place for an uprising.

Mmm. The mountains of Arran have a configuration known locally as "The Sleeping Warrier"

So maybe not so unlikely, My Black Cat.

ARRAN
LORD DARZI, WATCH OUT, THE SCOTS ARE GATHERING

However, the doctors in Ayrshire and Arran, far removed from the the English polyclinics, global health care predators, Virgin in the wings, dumbing down, wheelie bin doctors, have decided they have had enough of English madness.

Next week, they are going to debate whether they should call for the resignation of Lord Darzi at their annual conference.

" Scottish LMCs may call for the immediate resignation of health minister Lord Darzi at their annual conference next week.

Ayrshire and Arran LMC proposed the motion, which will be debated at the Scottish LMCs conference in Clydebank next Thursday. The LMC says that Darzi's plans to allow unqualified doctors to staff polyclinics, revealed in GP last month, ‘belittles the role and expertise of general practitioners'.

There is a rising in the East of Scotland too.

"Another motion under discussion at the conference will call for an end to the UK-wide contract, so that Scotland can prioritise its own health needs.

‘Everything at the moment appears to be predicated on the needs of London and the south east,' said Dr John Rankin, secretary of Forth Valley LMC, who proposed the motion.

He cited polyclinics and extended hours as ‘solutions to problems that don't exist in the rest of the UK being foisted on us'.

Ha, the Scots are forming a posse!

Maybe it takes outsiders looking in to see, and feel, and take on the madness?

Eh, My Black Cat?

a red apple ........................

The Witch Doctor - Link to a random page

_________________________________________________

LINK TO UK MISSING KIDS WEBSITE

LINK TO MISSING PERSONS WEBSITE

_________________________________________________

© Mpz@sapo.pt | Agency: Dreamstime.com
© Ijansempoi | Dreamstime.com

In the wood, the wind flies through the trees, spooking me with its whispers. The golden remains of autumn lie on the path, even though we're nearing spring. Gorse bushes are walloped by the wind and the rain, bright petals strewn like confetti in the path.

At the break in the path, an old green bench sits waiting.

It marks a break in the landscape. The sky opens up. The woods stops its whispering. Here the gorse bushes stand strong. The sea shimmers silver ahead.

Torrylinn, originally uploaded by Joanna Young.

The path runs on to the cairn at Torrylinn.

I stop to soak up the history. It's only later I notice the colour of the stones, the perfect ending to my yellow-seeking walk.

Stained deep with yellow lichen.

yellow, originally uploaded by Joanna Young.

My landlord is waiting for the bus, a hopeful trip to the Ferry terminal, to see if the boat is running. In the Co-op, neighbours discuss the speed of the wind. There's a discussion about speed and directions, and what it means for the running of the boat.

The boat is the pulse of the island. Regulating its pace, its speed, its economy. It's a constant, humbling, reminder that there are things outwith our control.

By the shore at Kildonan the wind howls, blowing salt water onto my face. The waves crash on the distant headland. It's hard to stay out, to stay upright, but it's hard to stay inside too.

The wind has wild dervish energy. It makes me shout, and laugh.

The wind has dominion.

Pladda in Wind, originally uploaded by Joanna Young.

]]> http://onversneden.com/?p=41 Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:21:12 +0000 Johan http://onversneden.com/2008/02/28/arran-slot/ Tot slot drie finishes. Finishes zijn whisky's die eerst enkele jaren op een klassiek vat (meestal Bourbon) gelegen hebben, maar voor ze op de fles gaan eerst nog enkele maanden op een ander vat mogen rijpen: porto, rum, madeira, chardonnay, you name it. Soms met goed gevolg, vaak niet. Je kan je immers niet van de indruk ontdoen dat de finish vaak het gebrek aan karakter van de initiële rijping moet maskeren. Bon, here we go:
 
Arran 'Lepanto Px Brandy finish', 59.4%, OB 2006, 705 bottles - Isle of Arran - 73/100
8 jarige single cask, laatste 7 maanden ge-finished op vaten van de Spaanse 'cognac' Leopanto Px. Voordat de vaten gebruikt werden voor deze cognac hadden ze al dienst gedaan om Pedro Ximenez sherry te rijpen, vandaar het achtervoegsel 'Px'. Zachte, zoete neus. Vanille, honing en fruit. Ook smaak is zoet. En wat kruidig. Zelfde elementen in de relatief korte afdronk. Ondanks het alcoholpercentage hoeft deze whisky geen water. Het zoete karakter maakt 'm toegankelijk, water voegt weinig toe.
 
Arran 'Napoleon Cognac Cask from A. Hardy', 57.8%, OB 2006, 499 bottles - Isle of Arran - 77/100
8 jarige signle cask, ge-finished op Napoleon cognac vaten. Neus van fruit, honing en kruiden. Duidelijke kaneel. Smaak bevestigt dit alles. Met water erbij wordt hij erg droog met veel hout. Best wel lekker, beter dan de andere single casks die ik geproefd heb.
 
Arran Sherry Cask 1998/2007, 54.8%, OB, cask 32, 548 bottles - Isle of Arran - 66/100
9 jaar gerijpt op sherry vaten. ook hier weer de typische Arran fruitigheid. Voorts is dit een erg zachte en romige whisky (olie-achtig). Wat peperig ook en vrij droog. Met water komt er iets 'notigs' door. Kan me niet echt bekoren.

You might be forgiven for thinking it was totally grey.

But there is colour everywhere, if you know where to look.

Walking along the front at Lamlash I notice a line of small birds. A flock of oystercatchers. My favourite bird (how did you know?)

I bend down to try and capture the group. The movement makes them fly up and away.

The sky is a flash of black and white, brilliant flashes of white, illuminating.

As far from grey as can be.

Oyster Catchers In Flight, originally uploaded by Joanna Young.