Hiya! It is I, Bruce. Today I am here to tell you about the phenomenon known as DOG DAYS. Now, I was frankly very excited when I heard there were some DAYS named after DOG. If it was up to me, such days would involve many favourite DOG things: things such as SWIM, STICK, SNOOZE,…
Read MoreHiya! It is I, Bruce. Today I am pleased, because, after a long break for the Winter, the walking and camping times have begun again! This particular walking and camping time was a surprise, because the weather is good, and Tom has not yet begun New Job. We packed up the van, and set off…
Read MoreHiya! It is I, Bruce. I have just returned from a F-U-N time on the island of Islay. This time was particularly fun as I have spent the past few weeks having no fun at all (going back and forth to the place where they put you on a table and poke at you, and…
Read MoreWe’ve spent the weekend in the Highlands, where Tom has been running a race – the Stuc a’Chroin 5000 While he was away up the hill, Bruce and I went for a walk. . . We were lucky with the weather (later we saw hail and snow!) Bruce was very suspicious of this wee suspension…
Read MoreWe spent the weekend up in Wester Ross. This is a truly beautiful part of the world. And despite it being a holiday weekend, it was also incredibly quiet. For two days, we had this glorious landscape pretty much to ourselves. One of the many lovely things about this area of Scotland is its native…
Read MoreI have unfortunately not yet recovered from the evil infection — I am still not up to any sort of strenuous activity, but am also getting very berloody tired of being holed up indoors. I had itchy feet – but Tom had a plan. We would head off to the Highlands: he would do enough…
Read MoreI rather enjoyed being a tourist in Ireland. Here are some of the touristy highlights . . . and a few lowlights of our trip. Best local produce Without a doubt, the culinary highlight was the wild smoked salmon at the Connemara smokehouse. The lowlight was Irish beer, or rather, the singular lack thereof. As…
Read MoreI have been very excited for about a week or so. Why? Because we have just acquired this dream machine . . . You may remember the insane enthusiasm such vehicles inspired in me when we went away in one last year. The comfort! The convenience! The ability to drink tea from a teapot! When…
Read MoreIt was probably inevitable that I would return wanting a campervan. . . (yes, I am the blurry gnome in the tartan blanket) . . . unfortunately, my only prospect of owning one right now is winning the one currently on offer over at Dorset Cereals. But who can argue with the luxury and convenience…
Read MoreHere is the first thing I saw in 2010 . . . . . . and here is the second . . . Tom preparing the first cup of tea of the decade — a welcome sight on an incredibly chilly morning. We saw in 2010 in a tent by the edge of Crummock Water.…
Read Morecreatures in the landscape. places that suffered brutal clearance . . . . . . neolithic tombs recall these islands’ human losses . . . Barpa Langass. darkness in the place of bones. But outside, a living landscape full of light and colour. . . yoke-yellow lichen on a fence post. stuff of the shoreline…
Read MoreThe islands of Vatersay and Barra are beautiful and arresting. Camping on the Vatersay machair, there are beaches to the East: and to the West. The East beach is good for swimming and strolling. The West beach is more exposed, and a little more compelling: all pounding waves and gneiss boulders with fabulous ice-cream swirls.…
Read MorePhase 1. Here are myself, and my sister (Helen), circa 1979. Back then, family tents were gigantic bungalow-ranch-style constructions, with separate sleeping pods, living/ kitchen areas, faux glazing, and obligatory orange curtains. Putting up one of these babies was a process quite close to building an actual bungalow. To expedite matters, my mother devised a…
Read MoreCan it be? No, really? Yes, indeed it is the Dorset Cereals eggcup of dreams! Cheers, everyone — your votes were really very much appreciated. A big bloggy thanks to you all! In proper award-receiving manner, I must also thank my postie (who kindly leaves parcels for me on the mat rather than returning them…
Read MoreA few weeks ago, something rather unpleasant happened while we were camping on Islay. I’ve not talked about this much. I found it quite disturbing at the time, and — because it happened in a place I am very fond of, while engaged in an activity that I love — I’ve not really wanted to…
Read MoreWe’re off to one of my favourite places. Whatever you are doing, enjoy your weekend!
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KDD & Co 