Easter 1

Just back from my Easter holiday, so here comes a teaser with more to follow:

More Glen Affric Pics

While I'm away shooting more pics in Glencoe, here are some more pictures of Glen Affric from a few weeks ago.

One of the wilder burns we had to cross

The boys walking ahead

Caledonian Pine

 

 

Pentlands on a Sunday

So I made plans to go for a coffee with a friend and then the forecast looked good and he said we should do a walk and I thought ok, let's stroll across the Meadows or check out Arthur's Seat, but he was thinking bigger and said he'd pick me up and we're going to the Pentlands.

So nice to have friends with cars. And what a car!

Looking at Edinburgh and Arthur's Seat in the centre

 

I like a good fence in a photo

More fence

All my favourite Pentlands hills at sunset

My friend's car

Well, I don't approve of sports cars and I was a bit worried someone would see me in it, but I must admit it was pretty cool to get driven around in the countryside in a Porsche.

Neighbours

Today, I had a look at my list of things to do once I reduce hours or take a career break, kind of a bucket list. One thing on it was to meet the neighbours. (The other things are more glamourous, I promise! Like visiting the Montreal Jazz Festival, the big American National Parks, doing all the walks in Scotland, etc.)

I've lived in my flat for almost three years and I would recognise the people from only one of the 6 (or is it 8?) flats in my house if I met them on the street. And this is only because they have a big white hairy dog. And even with them I've never exchanged more than a "Hi" or a nod.

Apparently, there is one obese mystery guy living in the top flat, which he never leaves. And there's also a family with a girl of school age. Across the hall lives an old guy who is not very mobile and leaves his laundry to dry in the cupboard in the hall. Smells good. Downstairs lives another woman with a dog. In the other flat downstairs resides the local drug dealer. Judging by the clientele, I would guess coke but then what do I know.

So considering that I don't have very sociable neighbours, and that I haven't been very sociable with my neighbours either, it was quite a surprise when a neighbour rang at my door today to apologise for the noise they were making in the flat upstairs. He invited me up. I was a bit stunned - a neighbour is speaking to me! And I made excuses. But he was also very friendly, so I said I might come up later.

Just by listening from my flat I was able to follow the course of the party over most of the evening. There was football and then rugby and then just drinking. There was mostly blokes and they were getting drunk. After a long period of indecisiveness because I was feeling a bit shy, I decided at last to follow through and go up and say hi and introduce myself, which I had failed to do when he came down. It was on my bucket list after all!

People were quite drunk but still trying to make friendly conversation. German skills were tested. I got a good look around the flat and a drink, and I met the other half of the couple who had been living here since December. Nice guys, very polite, going to do the West Highland Way in June, so we have that in common. One thing to check off the bucket list.

Subversive Act #fail

My attempt at subverting the organisation was put a damper on. I was caught breaching security protocols and now have to lie low until I've passed my probation.


But my paper crusade is gaining traction - the issue was discussed at the senior leaders' meeting and  a consultation on preferred paper use is getting launched "in due course" (which is civil service speak for "whenever").

Test, test... ahem

I tested my fancy new ethical down sleeping bag (*click*) and my new mat (*click*) last weekend on a short trip to Glen Affric. I have walked there before (*click*), but I was hoping to see it in the sunshine this time around. This wasn't to be, but my walking company brightened up the walk alright.

We stayed in Camban bothy and got properly smoked by the coal fire, but I was toasty in my bed.