St Andrews Night(ish)

Okay, a couple of days early, but we had a great time at last night's St. Andrews Night celebrations in the Carnegie Hall. A full turn-out, a very friendly crowd.

The main act for the night were "Tattie Jam" - Seylan Baxter on a lovely 5-string electric cello, and Ruaridh Pringle on guitar/banjo. A good variety of songs, with great vocals.

After Tattie Jam's first set, we had a Stovie Supper. We both enjoyed "seconds", followed by a lovely trifle.

Peformances from a local group of banjo, accordian, etc. added to the night's performances. Finished around midnight and we wandered home in the freezing fog!!

Avatars on XBox Live

So, we've got the new XNE on Ann's XBox 360. Here's what our new avatars look like. It's been suggested on one of my forums that we look like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sarah Palin!!!!

Swan & Goose numbers

Interesting to see the article on the BBC Breakfast programme this morning about the decline in the number of swans and geese in England this year. Well, maybe that's because they've all decided to stay further north this year.

Over the last few weeks we have been seeing hundreds and hundreds of whooper swans and geese flying over the Tarbat peninsular. Far more than we've ever seen in recent years. Yesterday morning there were around 15 v-formations of geese flying overhead, with around 30-40 geese in each formation. Quite spectacular - and noisy!!

Not again :(

Well, it's the first time my Elite has failed, although Ann's standard XB360 has failed twice with the RROD.

Airnav Radarbox over Scotland

This image, taken from my Radarbox, just goes to show how busy the sky is with aircraft over Scotland these days.

Autumn in Glen Cannich

A lovely Autumn day, so we took a drive out to one of our favourite spots - Glen Cannich. Had our lunch parked at the Mullardoch dam, which generates electricity as its water descends through a tunnel to Loch Beinn a' Mheadhain in Glen Affric.

Whooper Swans Return

Today we got our first clear sighting of the Whooper Swans returning to Tarbat Ness. What a wonderful sight as eight swans landed in the field behind us. They rested for a few minutes, and then took off again.

We'd spotted a flock of around 30 swans earlier today, so it was great to see them land back on Tarbat Ness.

August 2008 Climate Statistics

August was a strange month. On paper, rainfall was very high at 208% of the past average. However, much of this was caused by one day, 21st August, where nearly 50mm fell in one day.

Total rainfall = 119.6mm (past average from Met Office = 57.4mm)
Minimum temperature = 9.4°C
Maximum temperature = 28.7°C
Maximum wind speed = 13 mph
Maximum wind gust = 22 mph

Google StreetView

Looks like we've just been Google Streetview'ed

July 2008 Climate Statistics

A hot, dry month. Rainfall was only 35% of the past average, and towards the end of the month we had our hottest day so far this year.

Total rainfall = 18.6mm (past average from Met Office = 52.5mm)
Minimum temperature = 10.5°C
Maximum temperature = 27.9°C
Maximum wind speed = 11 mph
Maximum wind gust = 19 mph

Portmahomack - Monastery of the Picts

Just finished reading this great book by Professor Martin Carver, all about the 10 years of archaeological study at Portmahomack. A quote from the preface seems appropriate.

"Readers whose interests have been aroused are urged to visit Portmahomack itself at the earliest opportunity. There they will find not only a village of considerable charm in a Firthland setting, but also, within St Colman's church, the captivating museum of the Tarbat Discovery Centre."

The book covers the history of Portmahomack from the 3rd century all the way up to the 20th century.

Cruise Ship Columbus

Another cruise ship (Columbus) spotted leaving the Moray Firth:

Torrachilty Wood

Good walking weather today, so we took a drive out to Torrachilty Wood for a lovely walk through the forest, on to Rogie Falls and the fish ladder. Just under 5 miles, but lots of elevation changes!!

June 2008 Climate Statistics

Another month of using my weather station, so I've pulled together some statistics for June 2008.

Total rainfall = 53.7mm (past average from Met Office = 52.9mm)
Minimum temperature = 6.5°c
Maximum temperature = 27.4°c
Maximum wind speed = 15.6mph
Maximum wind gust = 29.5mph

Model ship update

Thought it was about time I posted some up-to-date photos of progress on my model ship, since my previous posting when all I'd done was paint the hull.

Grand Princess Cruise Liner

Managed to get this photo of the Grand Princess cruise liner as she left Invergordon this evening. Photo was taken from our front garden looking SE over the Moray Firth.

Holiday on Skye

Enjoyed our 4 days on Skye. Weather was rain, rain, and more rain, but we managed to find dry spells in between.

Visited Armadale and the Museum of the Isles on Monday on the way to Heribusta where we were staying for the week.

On Tuesday, we toured the Trotternish peninsular, and then went on to Portree and took a boat trip out on MV Stardust to see the White Tail Sea Eagles.

Wednesday, we explored the Waternish & Duirinish peninsulars, including Dunvegan Castle & Gardens.

On Thursday we took the grand tour of Harris & North Uist. Ferry from Uig to Tarbert on Harris. Coach tour across Harris to Leverburgh. Ferry across the Sound of Harris to Berneray. Then another coach across the causeway to North Uist, and on to Lochmaddy. Finally, the ferry back to Uig.

Slideshow of photos at this link ===> PHOTOS

Portmahomack wins The Rural Seaside Award

The Rural Seaside Award was presented to Big Sand, near Gairloch; Gairloch Beach, Gruinard, Mellon Udrigle, Portmahomack, Redpoint North, Shandwick Bay, and Firemore near Poolewe.

Ross beaches win awards - Ross-shire Journal

May 2008 Climate Statistics

Second month of using my weather station, so I've pulled together some statistics for May 2008. Highlight of the month has been the VERY low rainfall.

Total rainfall = 10.4mm (past average from the Met Office is 45.4mm)
Minimum temperature = 5.8°c
Maximum temperature = 24.7°c
Maximum wind speed = 12.0mph
Maximum wind gust = 19.3mph

Phil Cunningham & Aly Bain at the Carnegie Hall, Portmahomack in September

Can't wait for this - we've booked our tickets!!!

Accordionist Phil Cunningham will be performing with fiddler Aly Bain at Carnegie Hall, Portmahomack, on September 8 and Strathy Village Hall on September 9.

He said: “The festival is great because it gets to far-flung places and the people there really appreciate the effort that the performers and the festival has put in to getting performers there. That’s what Blas is all about. Highland culture is everywhere, not just restricted to places of high population.”

High-flying musicians will make mark at Highland showcase - Press & Journal

Kingfisher

Ann has completed her latest cross-stitch. Now I've got to frame it!!

Peugeot 207cc arrives!!

Took delivery of our new car yesterday:

April 2008 Climate Statistics

First full month of using my weather station, so I've pulled together some statistics for April 2008.

Total rainfall = 35.8mm (past average from the Met Office is 42mm)
Minimum temperature = 0.9°c
Maximum temperature = 17.5°c
Maximum wind speed = 13.3mph
Maximum wind gust = 19.0mph

Weather Station

I've now got my weather station (a TFA Nexus) up and running:

Tracklaying

Spent some time this week laying track on my new model railway layout. A small, 6ft x 2ft industrial scene depicting a whisky distillery, with a couple of 3ft extensions for fiddle yards still to be added.

Glen Affric and Glen Cannich

Spent today up at Glen Affric and Glen Cannich. A beautiful sunny day, we even had a picnic and sat watching the deer up on the hillside.

Dalchork Bird Hide

A lovely sunny day, so we took another drive out to the bird hide at Dalchork.

First snow of the winter

A cold, windy, day with the odd heavy snow shower. View from our living room looking across the Dornoch Firth.

Shannon

Sadly our pet sheltie Shannon passed away just after the new year, aged 10 years old. She'll be sadly missed. Here's a couple of videos from her younger years.

Happy New Year 2008

We spent a glorious Hogmanay down on the seafront. We gathered at the war memorial at 11:30pm. We all lit candle lanterns, and sang a couple of hymns. Then we followed the piper along the seafront down to the fountain, and counted-down to midnight.
A good display of fireworks from the harbour wall, and then off to the Carnegie Hall for soup and sausage rolls. A good opportunity to wish everyone a happy new year, and then off home.

Apologies to everyone who tried to phone us around midnight - we'll catch up with you all today.