In the TFL office.
Actually, it didn’t turn out to be that cold. Some clouds came by and the temperature probably stayed over 5 degrees. And I had enough food for a decent breakfast, which I ate whilst sat next to the sea, watching a Tornado doing a near vertical take off over Kinloss.
And Jock was around on Monday, with a key, which he’s very kindly lent me for the week, as well as cooking me a meal on Monday night! So I have a bed for the next few days.
Ok, I’m working in the TFL office for the week, updating the soon to be published, new web site. It’s a beautifully relaxed place to work. So long as you don’t mind jets performing numerous thunderous take offs nearby. I managed to get a pic of Craig and his replacement, Colin. And, in exchange for a free meal, which I’m always on the look out for, myself and Colin painted a couple of rooms in Craig’s new place last night…
-
- Craig looks on as Mick explains to Colin what the work week co-ordinator really does
-
- Working with MACs. If anyone can tell me the keyboard shortcut to rename a file (F2 in Windows) I’d be very grateful..?
-
- Another large jet engined plane flies past the TFL window
It’s a bit cold tonight…
After I drove away from Findhorn, I ended up in Roseisle FCS car park. It’s ok, lot’s of Pine trees, not all “Sylvestris”, but I’m sure I can see a red squirrel running about a few yards into the trees at one point. As it happened, it’s where I ended up spending the night, as the key I was promised, to stay over in a house in Findhorn, does not appear to be where I expect it to be.
This morning, I woke to sunshine, and a short walk through the woods brought me out to Burghead bay, which Roseisle Forest lines a good proportion of. The beach stretches for miles in either direction, to Findhorn in the West, and Burghead in the East. Last night it was windy, and the surf had been up. This morning the seas are calm as there is almost no wind.
——-
Ok, it’s now evening and still no key. Apparently, Jane, the TFL Marketing Manager, thought Jock would be leaving out a key, whilst Jock, who’s very kindly agreed to let me stay in his house, thought Jane would be giving me her key, while she is on holiday. Jane rents a room from Jock, but is on holiday for the next week.
Anyway, although it’s been a bright sunny day, the cloudless sky is letting the heat out. I’m parked up near Findhorn beach car park (away from the “No overnight parking…” signs). It’s cold. Due to the unexpected turn of events I’m low on water. I make up some rice, and chopped veg, the hob taking the chill off the air inside the van. I take a few sips of water. Then apply a few layers of thermals, before climbing into my sleeping bag. The sleeping bag should be able to cope with temperatures of 5 below freezing, but it’s cold… so very cold…
-
- Looking West to Findhorn from the spot where I walked out of Roseisle forest, near the car park. I assume the concrete blocks are to prevent erosion
-
- Roseisle Forest
-
- Findhorn beach.
Taking my PCV practical test
It’s a gorgeous sunny day when I get up. I stayed the night in the car park at Anam Cara. Check it out, it’s beautiful. I meet Margaret and Alistair, who’ve very kindly let me stay, and use their facilities, simply because Craig (from TFL) asked them if I could.
I go to the VOSA test centre (in Inverness) slowly. I can’t remember being so nervous, although I probably was for my first driving test, but then that was nearly 20 years ago. My instructor for the day, Cameron, tries his best to calm my nerves, and it nearly works until I mess up stopping at a bus stop.
Things get worse when my examiner, Ewen, asks me where the fuel cut off switch is. No one has ever shown me the fuel cut off switch. I explain this to Ewen and tell him, hopefully, that I assume that turning off the ignition is sufficient. Is there a fuel cut off switch on the van?
Then I pull up opposite a junction, do 30 in a 40, drive over a mini roundabout, plough down a man in a teddy bear costume, and swear at a lollipop lady. I’m shocked when Ewen tells me I’ve passed. We debate indicating when pulling away (you shouldn’t do it unless there is no break in the traffic), then I go and tell the TFL office that “I can drive buses!” Woohoo! C’mon! Have that! Get in! BACK!! OF!! THE!!! NET!!!!
-
- This building is fantastic, even down to the big wooden door handles.
-
- Anam Cara sits on a hill to the South West of Inverness.
-
- Thanks to Dave and Cameron and lady luck for getting me through this one…
-
- I’m sat, hyper, in the TFL office, following my test, when Alan comes in to tell us there’s a rainbow outside
Driving Lessons and a fine day in the ‘Ness
So, the driving lessons for my minibus licence (D1) could be going better. But at least the weather was fine today (unlike yesterday). Managed to get some pics after finishing my morning’s lesson.
-
- Kessock Bridge from Inverness Marina
-
- Inverness & Kessock bridge from somewhere a bit further East…
Off to Scotland again…
Time to head North again. An impromptu family lunch is organised and I’m waved off.
I stop at John’s for the night, feeling like I’ve forgotten something. I get to meet Jane, and Stella comes round for dinner. I try to persuade John to come on the forthcoming TFL week…
Bicton Park
Mother very kindly takes myself and Han & the kids to Bicton Park. It’s a nice place. Lots of trees to id, but not enough labels – only the trees that have been deemed significant during a visit by someone from Kew show name tags. The tallest tree in the park is a Grecian Fir. My favourite, though, is a Mexican Pine, of which I have no pictures. I did take some photos though – they are below:
-
- Willow is looking forward to identifying some trees
-
- There’s also a museum of old farming… stuff.
Riverford Organic Kitchen
Mum and Paul very kindly treat me to a meal at the Riverford Kitchen. These guys ( www.riverford.co.uk) produce organic veg (and meat) boxes. I used to live off them when I was based in Bristol, and found that I could just about get away with not having to use supermarkets. Contrary to what people might think, this saved me money – vegetables and fruit are generally cheaper than processed food, it saved the environment, my food tasted fantastic, and it meant that I felt healthier.
Now the rest of my Exmouth based family try to do the same.
Eating organic food has hit the headlines recently as there is apparently no evidence to suggest that organic food is better for you than non-organic. For me, this almost completely misses the point. Organic farming methods are considerably more sympathetic to the land, and in an age when we have the choice to live sustainably, or to destroy the environment we live in, producing organically seems to me to be a straight forward decision.
Getting back to the Riverford Kitchen… when we arrived a menu was hanging from the wall listing a choice of dishes, Squash and Goats cheese Flan, Potato Gratin, Roasted veg, Chilli Spinach and Cumin, etc. As I sat wondering which dish to go for I was told that we would be provided with ALL (six) of the vegetarian dishes at our table. So, no decision necessary – it was just a case of how much of each dish could I get on my plate.
There was also desert. I left with that post Christmas meal bloated feeling. Did I mention organic food tastes good?
-
- The Riverford kitchen is visible in the background…
-
- Six meals in one, C’mon!
A bit of time with Timmo
I’ve spent the last couple of days working at Omiga Technology, installing VMware and creating VMs. Good stuff (if you’re a techie geek like me), nice to keep myself up to date with what’s going on in the world of IT. Also nice to spend some time with Tim, and see what he does during the day.
Afterwards we drive over the bridge to Cardiff, where we catch up further over a couple of beers and an Italian. Unfortunately, I don’t have any pics of Cardiff, but I do have a copy of a pic of Tim that myself and Mike discovered in his home office last time we were visiting. He appears to be amazingly stubble free – it must have been taken seconds after he finished shaving.
Tim - the early years
The POW in Bristol
After a day working at Omigatech I head to Rama’s. Imogen meets us there and we walk down to the Prince of Wales on Gloucester Rd. It is a great night. However, my Tofu stir fry, although tasty, is tiny – honestly, I could’ve eaten six of them. So I have to order a bowl of chips, i.e. the dish with the most content per pound sterling on the menu. Imogen also mentions the serving size issue to the man serving, and he explains that the chef likes to leave us with room for desert. Hmm. To be fair, Imogen’s desert is nice, but that’s no excuse for a dish that’s just shy of £9.
Anyway, Imogen leaves a little cake, and I leave four chips, for Fran. But she doesn’t turn up so we have to eat them.
Imogen and Rama, after eating.
… and Fort William
I came to Fort William for the night to stay with Heather and Stuart, who lived in Harris upto about a week ago (those of you who’ve seen my OH Experience video should recognise the names). Unfortunately, showing them said video may not have been the best thing to do. Harris/Lewis is a pretty amazing place – it could be hard to wonder why you’ve left when you now live in Corpach (nr FW). So here is a small collection of photos, taken this morning as I was leaving, on a near cloudless day, with the sun rising over Ben Nevis, showing that the area around FW can be spectacular, in its own way…
-
- Fort William across the loch
-
- This could have been a much better pic if I’d have bothered getting out of the van…
-
- Lazy road side pics are my speciality
Owls and Dolphins
I’ve spent the last couple of days in the East, around Aberdeen and the surrounding coast. Last night I parked up in Balmedie beach car park. Whilst sitting in my van at dusk, texting, an owl (Tawny?) flew alongside the van and landed on a post a couple of metres in front of me. I tried to take pictures, but the light from my phone camera alerted it of my presence. We stared at each other for a second before it flew off. Beautiful.
Balmedie is a very beautiful place. I believe Donald Trump wants to put a golf course down here. Google it and find out what you can do to stop it. It is criminal that a SSSI site can be ridden over rough shod thanks to a few back handers.
This morning I moved up the coast a little to Collieston. As I sat checking out the sea from a handy view point, a group of Dolphins made their way up the coast. Apparently Dolphins jump out of the water whereas Porpoises just break the surface. These guys were jumping clean out at some point. It was amazing to watch.
I’ve taken some pictures of some of the other things I saw, fungi, herons, Aberdeen, etc. All these things will have to wait until I have time, after the forthcoming work week.
A walk in the woods
After a wee drive yesterday I stopped the night in some woods near Spey Bay. This morning I walked about the woods, which was predominantly Scots Pine, probably planted, maybe 30-50 years ago, and took some photos. The Scotties allowed sufficient light through to allow some birch to get away, and the odd Rowan. There was also some sneaky non-natives near where I’d parked (Spruce and Lodgepole). It would be nice to think that these might be removed at some point soon. A brief description of why is located here http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/tfl.ww_work.html.
It’s also worth checking out the following page while you’re on the site, just because, if nothing else, it gives a good feel of the celebrity status that I’ve already acquired here in Scotland: http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/tfl.appeal_supplies.html
Anyway, I took some pics in the woods. Here are a couple of small reproductions until the internet situation improves (I’m currently using a broadband dongle in my van at Findhorn – think old land line speeds).
If anyone wants to tell me what they are, that would be great. Otherwise I’ll have to dig out my id book. Which is at least 4 feet away from me. Under a pile of stuff in the van, in the space where the fridge used to be…
Halifax, Calderdale
So, I’ve been in Halifax, the original home of Fauzia Qureshi, for three days doing a CSC (web front end to the Service Desk) installation for RMS at a customer site. My hotel, The White Swan, was ok, good food (most of the time – bit too much salt in my meal on Tuesday night, but last nights was good), and friendly staff. I went out for a bit of a wander and took some pics.
-
- The White Swan, where they take your keys and park your vehicle for you. Sweet.
-
- The New and Improved Freda modelling a Halifax car park
Time to fix Freda, the ‘passion wagon’
I left for Weymouth at 9.30 last night, the gearbox fell into ‘get home safely’ mode before I’d even made it to the A30. Justification for the trip, if I needed any, which I didn’t. This has been going on too long. But after numerous conversations with Dunnings Autos of Weymouth I’m fairly confident that this could be it. No more driving down motorways with the engine doing 3000 revs, whilst the van barely touches 50 (mph).
Anyway, I have to drive to Halifax tonight, so I need the van on the road at a reasonable time today. Given that work can’t start on it until it’s cold, I thought the best bet would be to reduce the drive required this morning.
I made it to Granby at 11ish and found a quiet road on the industrial estate to sleep on. Can’t see an cctv, but when I needed a piss I drove out of the estate anyway – never piss on your own doorstep. After that it was all plain sailing until the seagulls kicked off at 5.30 this morning.
So, I awoke in the car park of Magnet on Granby industrial estate. As it happens Dunnings is just over the road in a slightly run down looking workshop.
When the Dunnings boys turned up I handed over the keys and went for a walk. I headed down to the sea, eventually walking back along the Rodwell Trail. See photos.
-
- Check out the guy/gal swimming about just in front of one of the boats – this is 9am
-
- Portland
-
- Henry VIII had that castle built, apparently. No, I can’t remember what it’s called. Google it.
-
- A slightly blurred view of the path now running along the route of the old Weymouth to Portland railway line
-
- Rodwell station
The Dunnings lads try to big up the work on the car, try to reassure me – to be fair they seem knowledgeable and are easy to talk to. When I drive away things feel good. I keep driving and there is no sign of the dreaded hold light and the speedo is working (which it hadn’t done for a month. Or two). By the time I get to Bristol I’m just about convinced, although there seems to be a large hole in my pocket.
I pop into the RMS office on my way through, then continue to North. The area approaching Halifax is a fascinating blend of green and industrial; towns (Elland) embedded in the hills. Halifax has a one way system to get lost in, but quiet roads. Ellie, on reception at the White Swan, is nice, and my room is…ok.
At home with the family
After Mum’s trip to the dentist she has some help to hang out the washing…
-
- Not sure what he’s doing in this pic, but that’s my underwear damn you!
-
- The little man passing some washing to Granny
-
- My close up wildlife shots could be better. I need stiller subjects!
-
- Cabbage White.
Wooly
Paul Temple dropped in for tea on Wednesday, and mentioned that he and a load of lads from Nantwich would be in Woolacombe from today until the middle of the week. So myself and Dave (who popped over for tea yesterday, after picking up his ‘new’ Toyota Emina) decided to get over there to join in the fun.
We went in Dave’s new machine (maybe a bit smarter than my Freda, Toyota seem to have given a bit more thought to things, but Dave’s is not converted), arrived in good time, booked into the the usual camp site (Woolacombe Sands – “We’ve been coming here for years, we’re good lads, you won’t hear a thing from us…”), top gallery, great view, and then headed down the beach. Paul said he’d be here by 4pm.
Paul and co arrive by 6, by which time I’ve been in the water for over an hour, walked back to the camp site, woken Dave up and we’ve both had showers. We meet Paul in The Electric bar a little while later.
Unfortunately I don’t have any photos of the ensuing evening, but Rich, Dave (another Dave), Paul (another Paul) and Chris get a meal with us, provide great conversation and get drunk. In the end myself and Dave leave them to it (with a couple of students from Bournemouth) and walk back to the camp site in the dark. We sleep on a double mattress in Dave’s vehicle. Thankfully I only have to get up for the toilet once, given that Dave is next to the door.
-
- Hmm, the water looks a bit busy…
-
- Dave is obviously lovin his new motor
-
- The evening view from Gallery A
Epping Forest Day
Many thanks to Howard for arranging a day trip tour of the Epping Forest. Four of the Dundreggan 8, Stephen and some additional family Stoller spent the day walking through the woods, taking the time to observe some of the beautiful flora and fauna.
-
- Apparently a fallen Black Poplar
-
- A 5 Spot Burnet. Have that!
-
- Slimemold. Possibly “Dog Vomit”
-
- A Burr, not a head.
-
- Howard instructing us in the ways of the Allotment
-
- The Hale End Road Cherry thief
After the walk Ute and Stephen treated us to scones, strawberries and cream before Angela and Howard laid on a fine spread of home grown and organic produce for myself, Alison and the baby Stollers, Richard and Anneli.
In Search of Suilven pt III
When I woke up this morning there was a midge hatch going on under the canoe. I have a midge hood with me and I try it on. I’m not sure that it seems to be working all that well so I get up, at 6.20am, to find that it’s a glorious cloudless day. Suilven looks fantastic behind us. Bastard.
I find a rock to sit on, in the breeze, while I wait for the others to get up, then we eat and head to the end of the loch, at Elfin. I walk, John, Stella and Rowan are in the canoe. There are a few people about on the loch, from tweed jacket style fisher types to young lads disturbing the peace in a motorised boat.
At the end of the loch we decide that Stella is our best bet to hitch a ride back to the car. I walk to Elfin tea shop and pick us up some fruit cake and drinks. Amazingly Stella is back in not much more than an hour having ridden in at least three different cars to get back to hers. We then drive back to my van. It’s very hot (in the tea shop I asked them if they saw this kind of weather often, the elderly English lady serving laughed, but a Scottish lady behind the bar said, “Aye, it was the same as this last year…”).
1500 hours – I say goodbye to John, Stella, Rowan (who’s developed a strange rash on her underside), and an eclectic gathering of cows that are grazing where the van is parked. I start the drive home, trying not to use the air con too much. I have to stop to sleep on the way as I’m tired and the heat is soporific. I don’t get to the lay-by at Shap (where I’ve slept before) until 3am, where I sleep soundly.
In Search of Suilven pt II
It was cold last night, but my sleeping bag is good. At one point I could smell a kind of wet hair smell, and I was sure I could hear breathing and munching close by. I assumed it was deer and fell asleep. In the morning I noticed fresh deer dung in the area, but how fresh I couldn’t tell.
Ok, so the weather is not great. Given how it looked last night we are surprised to find low lying cloud and drizzle. We hang about until 4pm and then decide that the top of Suilven will have to wait until another day.
We fish – I have a go – John uses barbless flies and puts everything back. Besides, I’m pretty sure that I’ll catch nothing. I give up after I’ve lost three flies.
Then we move on, this time with John and Stella paddling while I walk. I walk fast and, after some initial shallows, where John had to pull the canoe along using a rope tied to each end, in the style of some old explorer from the early American occupation (or so he tells me), the paddling is easy going on a long picturesque loch. So we make it to a nice wooded spot, alongside Loch Vayatie, in good time. John gets a fire going and we eat the last of our big food. We have to make it out tomorrow.
In search of Suilven
As we are eating breakfast John gets friendly with a BMW driving, tweed jacket fisherman who’s pulled up next to the camper. Tweed Jacket has paid a sum of money to some anonymous land owner to fish in his lochs – extra for the use of a boat, one of which is tied up next to where we’ve spent the night. While we are getting ready a Mercedes pulls up and deposits another elderly gentlemen, who tackles up before his *two* lady friends drive off.
We head to Lochinver to check the weather again (wind is not good canoeing weather) and eat more. The weather is to be mixed, but we head to loch Sionascaig and hop into the canoe, and set off towards Suilven. Stella very kindly agrees to walk the first leg of the trip, with Rowan, John’s dog (think of Santa’s Little Helper from the Simpsons).
Myself and John paddle about, trying to stay out of the wind. It’s good to be back in an open canoe. I get myself re-acquainted with J strokes, drawing, reverse draws, etc. It’s a great day, even when we have to pull the canoe across grass between lochs.
Tonight John has been fly fishing in the loch at the foot of the Southern slopes of Suilven, catching a few Brown Trout, while I mucked about in the canoe. The wind has died almost completely and the sky is moslty clear with some red to the West. Suilven looms over us like a huge upturned ship hulk. I have no tent so we’ve set up a cover of canoe and tarp, where I’ll sleep in my bivi bag.
North of Ullapool
We wake up to a beautiful morning. On the way over to Ullapool it rains hard, but then turns nice again. We check out the weather forecast in Ullapool and make a decision to canoe/portage to Suilven tomorrow. Then we get some tea and cake in Ullapool.
It’s windy, but we manage to climb Stac Pollaidh before tea camped by a loch. John cooks up a curry while Stella struggles with the tent, holding it down with large rocks, as the ground is too hard to get tent pegs in. Oh, and I did a ‘chimney’ on Stac Poll – v scary in places, made my legs go to jelly.
Text Han at 1am to wish her a Happy Birthday – she is still up, Willow’s snoring apparently…
Boat of Garton
I drive Katharine from Edinburgh to Dunblane, then, after dropping here off, I drive to Aviemore. I pick up some food in Tesco (it was the only place I could find that was open, so I had to shop there even though I usually avoid Tesco if at all possible, for reasons that I’ll maybe talk about elsewhere) and then drive on to Boat of Garton.
I know John and Stella aren’t too far away by this time, so I hang about on the edge of town, where I can get reception, and sure enough John calls to say that they’ve arrived at the pub. We have a pint and then head of in a two car convoy to John’s secret wild camp site.
It’s misty and now raining quite a bit. But the meal we (well mostly, John and Stella) put together was good and I have my bed to myself, as those guys are out in their tent.
Life since the office 
Major endorsements