Searching

I had a look at the blog stats today and was delighted to learn that this blog is currently...

• the 6th Google result for "Tuley Tubes" (and we had someone from the US forestry service in California visit the page because of it)
• the 7th Google result for "Olearia macrodonta dropping leaves"
• the 10th Google result for "Dualchas"
• the 11th Google result for "Donald Cameron Kinlochourn" (from google.nl actually)

• and finally, the NUMBER ONE Google result for "Sere Landscape"

Study time

I am visiting for a few days to write a couple of assignments in my final module of the masters before the dissertation. All I need is broadband and a big monitor, both of which are available here. Roy is away on ringing duties and visiting his sister, so I am also keeping Cecilia company.

Tragically the weather is pretty dreich, although this has the obvious benefit that it makes it less arduous to be indoors studying. It would actually be pretty sad if the weather was glorious and I had to stay inside.

I arrived on Sunday, and met the Lodges who were visiting for a couple of nights. Cecilia and I went for a walk around the Policies and investigated boar and badger (or fox) signs.

Boars and Badgers at EPW

Update: Some photos of wildlife signs from Ursula here.

I also managed to successfully use a hose to siphon off most of the water from the boat. A very satisfying appliance of science.

On Monday I managed to write most of my first assignment (quantity, not quality necessarily!) and went for a short walk to the bridge over the Garry, and also met Iain Lothian at Poulary.
Today I went for a walk in the morning (not raining!) and took some more photos.

Wet EPW

Old Photos

Photos from Easter last year that I've only just got around to posting...

Easter at EaPouWoo

New Year

Andrew & I, R&C and the Commander (UM) spent New Year at the Wood.

The weather was pretty poor so we spent a lot of time indoors reading and browsing the internet and eating. We did get out for a couple of short walks (with photos).

EPW NY 2012

And see this amazing video of Smaug in action:

Autumn visit

Photos from our visit this weekend.
JB & AM went ice climbing at Kinlochleven (inside) on Saturday, I watched. AA, CD and AB stayed inside in the dry and made bread and cake.

On Sunday a short walk was had around the policies when J,R&T arrived for half term holiday. I took photos at the only sunny time; the rest of the time it rained.

Ursula's photos from New Year

Link here

Life indoors when it's cold outside

We (R&C&Andrew&me) spent New Year at the Wood, with a friendofparents (Ursula) who came on Sunday.

The weather had changed from cold/snowy to cold/wet/grey so there wasn't a lot of attraction to the great outdoors (except see previous post). R did a lot of log-chopping outside and C dragged some logs back from a fallen birch, but apart from that we mostly enjoyed the views from safely inside, in the lovely warm house.

I knitted, C did some obsessive-sudoku-marathon, Andrew did some Sudoku and some sleeping, C made bread, I read Bujold on my Kindle, Ursula turned up with not one but three Sunday papers and embroidered, we all ate too much (too many biscuits, cakes and chocolates left over from Christmas!) and then in the evening we lit the fire and talked.

Life indoors at New Year

New Year walk to Lochan an Staic

Andrew and I went on a late-afternoon (dark when we got home) amble up through the forest opposite the house to a nearby Lochan. There was still some icy snow on the track in places, and not many views (except of lots of trees) until we got to the Lochan, but that was frozen and pretty so it was worth the walk.

We also discovered a new bridge about half-way up (about the point where the track turns from due South to SW) which could be very useful for a future bike-ride along the south side of the glen.

Walk to Lochan an Staic

Autumnal colours

EPW Autumn

R&C, Andrew & I and our friends Jonathan, Alison & Alexander (10) were at the Wood this weekend. R&C got there first on Thursday to go to a meeting at the pub, the rest of us arrived on Friday evening (or very early Saturday morning). R&C left on Saturday evening and the rest of us left on Sunday afternoon. It was all very jolly and we had the most beautiful weather.

On Saturday Andrew & Jonathan went up Gleouraich (I think they're inventing most of the vowels in that) and Spidean Mialach, the two Munros nearest to EPW on the North side. One can see the latter from the house. The rest of us enjoyed the sun from the deck, and went on gentle perambulations around the policies. On Sunday, we tidied up in the morning and then went for a walk at Kinloch Hourn (I forget how long and twiddly the road is to get there, even from EPW) with fantastic views along the loch to Ladhar Bheinn - the Other Place is just out of sight alas.

Tuley Tubes

Tuley Tubes