A week at Plodda/Corrimony
A brilliant week working at the Corrimony RSPB (Black Grouse) reserve, whilst staying at Plodda Lodge. Lots of singing and cakes (even some three course meals). Jane successfully navigated us through the first couple of days, before Rosie joined us on Monday evening to see the week through.
We finally got to see a Black Grouse (male) on Friday, and I personally managed to visit three sizable waterfalls in just the one week, Guisachan, Plodda and then Corrimony falls on Friday afternoon for lunch with the vols on our last full day together.
All too soon it was Saturday and time to pack up and leave. As Mick sat in Plodda Lodge garden strumming and singing “You can’t always get what you want…”, I was loading bags into the back of the van, thinking about what an amazing group of people I’d had the pleasure of getting to know over the week. And I must admit I got a bit of a lump in my throat. Later, after the Focaliser changeover in Tesco car park, I drove Birch (a van) back to Findhorn. The Sun was shining and I realised that I was pretty damned happy to be working on a Saturday. You can’t always get what you want, but if you try…
Ok, photos now available here
Some of my favourites are shown in the gallery below…
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- The first day of the experiment.
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- After applying the spare wheel Jane needed to rest
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- Jane’s last day on the hill. No one looks sad to see the back of her, but of course we were.
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- Mick Dimaio put a peartato in my lunch box. This is the silliest photo I could find of him. It’s not even close to pay back…
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- Craig came out to see us and then spent the day on the phone! Only kidding, he did take some pics of us too.
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- Guisachan Falls
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- High vis vest fashionistas Naomi and Louise. And Ellie.
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- Friday lunch next to Corrimony Falls
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- Charlie, Lisa and myself. I look happy, but it was time to pack the bus
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- “I saw her today at the reception…”
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…
Life since the office 
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