Menorise; Saturday Sayings

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."

(Leo. da Vinci)

"Bouncing Bertie", who became known as the boffin of Blogville, left this life yesterday.

In deep compassion and love, his human, Gail, wished him the rest he now deserved.

Bertie was one of the first blogs I ever followed - and became one of my first followers in return.

Due to that connection, Gail and I have formed a fond friendship.

Thank you for that, Bertie lad - and for all our visits together and the licks and cuddles.

RIP - you may be gone but will never be forgotten.

Much Love, YAM-aunty xxx

(if anyone would like to download the image, feel free to do so - it was taken in the gardens at Dunoon's Castle House)

Me-not-ootering; Others Abootering

Prior to the intermuttsus fiasco, you will recall I was expecting visitors. Bertie accompanied his Gail over to the Hutch for a wee change of scenery. They even managed to actually see the scenery. Mainly on the Monday, but even in the murk that lingered the rest of the time.

In fact, the climate was even fine enough for yours truly to venture down to the shoreline with them for a brief spell in the fresh air. I guddled around in one spot while they made more energetic coursing of the promenade. I did find some lovely shells to work the Hisstix's lens upon; they will appear in due course. There was also this rather interesting stone...

I wished I had brought it back for our resident geo-boffin to inspect; it had weight such that I thought perhaps ironstone - and, Gail thought (from this image), a granite inclusion. Whateva - a bonny thing! 

There was an interesting light created by the looming grey...and the escaping sun that did make an actual appearance for a wee while that day. The long white 'stick' you see here is actually the root-stem of kelp. Torn up in one of our recent storms, no doubt.

Back at the Hutch, we couried in against the wintry climate. The wind kept a decent clip on it and brought a significant blast of the wet stuff. Gail worked on blogs, I read them (from the YAMroid), and Bertie ensured that all was present and correct in the stuffy ranks. Efurrybuddy has its place, and in that place it should stay! There was a point at which the dear fellow felt Gail was not in her correct place and made a few complaints until she shifted places...

I got snoopervised a bit, too - mainly while in the kitchen. To be fair, we spent quite a bit of time in there; once Gail and I got into conversation, he found it was just as well to settle down and keep connecting with our feet. You know, just to ensure we remembered he was there! I had a few special treats for him, but I was not quick enough to get the camera working on the chomping...

Nary a crumb left behind. No need for a vacuum, then!

There was a bit of a fiasco with the delivery of the new 'puter. A message on the tracker said that the post office had attempted delivery but was 'unable to access due to blocked driveway.' This was curious for the simple reason that there is no driveway at this address. I was intensely suspicious of the possibility the postie had not read the label properly. There are two other places in Dunoon with 'Alexandria' as the lead word. One is Parade, the other is Street, and here, the Hutch, is a Terrace. I discovered (and my guests witnessed) a slightly neurotic side to myself! Having had many successful deliveries here, that this item of some value and of which I was in desperate need should be noted as undeliverable was frustrating. It was difficult to accept there was even a proper attempt; they have my mobile telephone number, I was not - and rarely am - absent from the address - the disturbance to my mental wellbeing was a tad embarrassing. 

Anyway. Having failed to reach the post office to ensure they knew what they were about, I ended up writing a brief and not-subtle message on a 'parchment', and dear Gail and Bertie made an expedition into the wild and woolly weather to hand-deliver that missive into the distribution office premises. Friendship indeed!!!

There was a slight doubt as to the benefit that would be gained from this action. However, the next day, on the tracker, a notice came up from the Dunoon PO that "the customer has asked for an address change..." I most definitely had not!!! I had asked that they read the label properly as there is no driveway here and there was no obstruction to prevent delivery. Sadly, my guests had to leave before the delivery, but it did come about 90 minutes after their departure. This item, which was supposed to be signed and witnessed by me, was simply left on the doorstep and the driver scarpered away before I could say, "ah you found the right place today then?!" 

The writing of that note, and the timely delivery of it by my pals, yielded pawsitiff results, so now I am on a learning curve as I discover all the things that are different when using Chrome OS... but also all that is fun and good about it. 

What a joyful thing it was to have dear Bertie come to stay once more. Extra special. But my company for the week didn't end there...

Menootandaboot; Bus-y Bus-y Part Six

On Sunday morning, it was clear that the weather was on the turn. There had been quite a wetness in the night, but it was off by the time we were thinking of going out the door. (We had been a little slow off the mark in the morning due to Rugby World Cup matters.) The sky was very overcast, though, and the wind was a bit 'lazy' (instead of going around you it was going 'through').

No matter. We headed along an even smaller road from Alligin to a place called Diabaig ("Deep Bay"). Research reveals that this was the maritime supply hub for the Torridon area before roads came. (From this, one assumes that ships brought product and then smaller boats came round from Lochs Shieldaig and Torridon to obtain their goods. It explains the surprisingly grand stone pier in this hamlet of little more than two dozen homes.

The building you see on the left of this image, taken from the pier looking back at the settlement, is the old schoolhouse. It is now transformed. The Ghille Brighde (Oystercatcher) restaurant is a destination, and, despite there being virtually nothing else within miles, we were surprised by how busy it was!

We, however, would have lunch back at the cottage but headed first for a look at the other part of the settlement called Inveralligin. It is larger and closer to the shore than at Wester. (I discovered on returning to Edinburgh, that Neighbour M used to spend childhood holidays in a caravan on one of the crofts here - I think the one which now has free(very)range chooks... I digress)

Although it was cooler and rather windier than the previous evening, Gail decided to do her dunk in the water again - only this time in the kayak.

Monday came and we cleaned and packed and set off back to Aberdeen, taking the time to stop in at Beinn Eighe visitor centre, for a little wander in the woods.

Our next stop after this was in Nairn, on the east coast (Moray Firth). We had lunch there. It was about 4 pm when we got into Aberdeen. Just one night for me, as I then had to get back on the buses, well one anyway, to get down to Edinburgh.

A FABulous trip and am already thinking about all the great places I can discover now I have this bus pass... watch this space!!! I leave you with a 'drive-by shooting' of a Nairn church, and a close-up and personal shot of a Nairn fisher wife.

Menootandaboot; Bus-y Bus-y Part Five

After our picnic, Bertie, Gail and I piled back into their car, and off we set Westward to a place that retains much of the original Highland feel. On the way, we passed lots of beautiful scenery of all types. Enhanced by the presence of pure sunshine. Unbelievable, but very, very welcome!

When we arrived at Wester Alligin, I looked out the window of the bedroom I was in. The scene was almost unreal... this is how it looked in that north-west nook of the Bonny Land:

Seriously. The low-angled light, the haze, the contrast. It tricks the eye. Stunning.

The added joy? No midgies! At least, so few as to make no matter. We settled in for the evening.

Next morning the sun again obliged. By the time we set out for our little tour of the area, it was reaching to the mid-twenties centigrade. We stopped first in Torridon village. From the carpark there, we walked the head of the loch, past the deer park and back by road to drop in at the art gallery.

Following a lovely browse through some wonderful works (and a lovely natter with Les), it was back into the car for a run around the south side of Loch Torridon, looking out for a picnic spot. We found a stunner and managed a few minutes of peace before there came a rush of folk. The only problem with such fine weather in the Bonny Land is that it guarantees everyone and their campervans, bikes, or cycles emerge from their cocoons. Remote places suddenly sprout populations.

The major problem with this is that, in small places like Shieldaig, they run out of ice cream. Even the local shop only had a limited selection of proprietary ices, none of the artisan choices we would normally expect. Oh well. We had fruity ices with ice cream centres and they served well on that day. On the way, we met some lovely peeps and their pooches.

As we drove back to the cottage, we were met by the local flock. After a cuppa, Gail announced she was going swimming. Jolly good for her. I stayed at the top of the brae and took down the evidence.

So ended our Saturday. And good weather. We couldn't complain though. It had been a real treat thus far.

More on Monday!!!

Menootandaboot; Bus-y Bus-y Part Four

Friday, September 20th dawned as bright and warm as the day before. Warmer, even. I rose, enjoyed my breakfast, packed and left the bags with Sandy until I went and enjoyed a morning at the museum.

Tucked between the Baile and the castle, I needed to make my way down Raining's Stairs again. Very familiar now!

I was the first in the door at 10 am. Inverness Museum is not large by the standards of the southern cities, but my word does it pack a punch! Straight away I was impressed with the excellent layout. The info boards had just enough and didn't try to cram it all. The salient points were clear and easily absorbed and the items on display were top notch. Many of the geological exhibits were from a collection donated by Baroness Angela Burdett-Coutts. (A very interesting lady in her own right. You can read a 'thumbnail' history HERE. Read about her philanthropy HERE. For those who like a more full read and deeper picture, read HERE.)

The collection of Devonian period fossil fish had me lingering quite a while! This one, in particular, I fell in love with and could just imagine it in a frame on my wall... it was not much bigger than my hand.

The flow of the museum was such that it took me from the very earliest form of the land to the first inhabitants, the ongoing population and continuing effects of nature. The formation of society and the concept of "Scotland" as a nation. Well, I don't really need to tell you how museums work, do I? However, am merely trying to convey how well this one met its purpose using a quite minimal presentation of the highest quality. In short, I was impressed! Some of the info boards were as interesting as the artefacts.

There was a fascinating image on one wall. There had been a recent reconstruction of all information on the face of Prince Charles Edward Stewart, done forensically and using all modern 'modelling' techniques. The result was this:

Bonnie, indeed!

There was a natural history section too, with some of the finest taxidermies I have ever seen. What is more, one could stroke the otter and the badger - the otter fur was GORGEOUS and I may have stood a tad longer than was decorous, running my hands upon its back!

After a restorative cuppa in the wee cafe, I left a donation and complimented the ladies on the truly world-class quality of their museum - small but perfectly formed. I can attest to the 'world-class', as I've been around a bit.

Onward and upward - literally - as I had to get back to the B&B to collect my bags and connect with Bertie and his Gail. We arrived within minutes of each other. Perfect. Off into the sunshine. I proposed we picnic in Narnia at the Ness Islands before taking to the road for Torridon. This suggestion was readily taken and, I believe, gave a different view to Inverness than had been previously held.

...to be continued!...

Me-Now-Views; Less Speak More Peek

...and now there is only this...
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