Category: Journal
-
A bit of wind at Loch Muick
My father is visiting and as a day trip today we decided to check out Loch Muick. It’s a large fresh water loch bordering the Balmoral estate, just south of Ballater. We have never been there before despite making countless trips to Ballater. The loch is surrounded on all sides by steep cliffs with lots…
-
Throwback Thursday
Me after eating chocolate cake: Share your own photo from the past to the comments. It doesn’t have to be a baby photo. It just has to be before today. Update I posted some instructions on how to upload images to the comment box on WordPress.com Or you can post the image to your own…
-
Akashinga – the female anti-poaching unit
I love this short BBC video about the all-women anti-poaching unit in Zimbabwe. It brings tears to my eyes to watch, not just for the elephants they’re protecting, but for the women and how the job has transformed their lives. They are the Akashinga – the brave ones. It’s part of the International Anti-poaching Foundation,…
-
The loo awards
Before I started working for Award Force I never knew how many award programs there were in the world and for things you never expected like the The Loo of the Year Awards and The National Fish and Chip Awards. It’s also heart-warming to see how much an award means to the people who receive them like…
-
Keith Brewery and mystery beer
Someone sent me a box of beers from Keith Brewery. I have no idea who sent it but the one I’m drinking right now is delicious. Thank you! The Keith Brewery website was designed by someone with a sense of humour. Hello, we’re Keith. And we spend more time brewing beer than designing websites. Too…
-
Is HS2 coming to Aberdeen?
We received a funny letter yesterday, addressed to The Occupier and with our full address in Aberdeen on the front. Inside was a notice about impending archaeology works in our local area in preparation for HS2. HS2 is a new high speed train being built in England to connect London with the north. You can…
-
Eating stinging nettles
Spring is here and the nettles are growing again so I decided it was time to make a meal out of them. Most people know that stinging nettles are pesky green plants that irritate the skin when you touch them. What you probably don’t know is that they’re a nutritious source of iron, calcium, potassium,…
-
Aberdeen City Council to report on the bike path for Union St petition
Yesterday I got to speak at the Operational Delivery Committee at the Aberdeen City Council to argue the case for a bike path for Union Street. This is following on from the petition I submitted in February. It was initially meant to be discussed by the Petition’s Committee in March but this meeting was cancelled.…
-
Rewarding excellence
I’m excited to announce that I have a new job! This week I started working for an Australian company that makes software for managing awards programs. It’s called Award Force. Humans are extraordinary creatures. We are always pushing the boundaries of knowledge and innovation and an important part of this is recognising achievement and excellence.…
-
Pedal on Parliament 2018
It’s just over two weeks until Pedal on Parliament in Aberdeen. If you want a more cycle-friendly Scotland then join us as we cycle, walk, scooter, and march to The Town House on Broad St. Starting from Rubislaw Terrace Gardens on Albyn Place at 11am or Hazelhead Park at 10:45am. Come in fancy dress, decorate…
-
My son told me off for being sexist
My 11-year-old son told me off for being sexist this week. We were watching TV and one of the characters threw something poorly and I said, “That’s a girly throw”. I know, I know, I’m ashamed to admit I said that but at the same time I’m proud to say my son told me off…
-
Wallpapering again
I thought I’d never do it again but this week I felt inspired to remove some wallpaper in our kitchen that was starting to peel off. It’s time-consuming to remove old wallpaper and then stressful applying the new stuff because the glue ends up everywhere and the paper invariably tears and then there’s the anxious…
-
Kishorn and Courthill House
All good holidays must come to an end and that end, for us, is today. Yesterday we spent a quiet day pottering around Kishorn and sitting in front of the fire. I even did some crochet. Here’s a photo I took of Loch Kishorn a couple of days ago when I got up early and…
-
Diabaig, Scotland
I must be a sucker for punishment because we went for another scary drive today. This time we took the road from Torridon to Lower Diabaig. Like the Bealach na Bà it’s also steep, narrow, and with hair-pin bends but marginally less scary and without the snow. It starts off with a drive around the…
-
Lochcarron Weavers and Strome Castle
Yesterday was rainy and so we had a lazy day and pottered around Loch Carron. We spent an hour in the Lochcarron Weavers Shop. They have over 500 tartans and lots of knitted garments. This is my kind of shop! Daniel spoke to one of the shop assistants at length about Martin tartan. They don’t…
-
The West Coast of Scotland
We’re on the West Coast of Scotland. It has been more than 20 years since I’ve been over this way. It’s only about 4 hours from Aberdeen which isn’t far, but it is too far to come for just a weekend which is what most of our trips are. Fortunately we all have a full…
-
Highland dancing and trees
Elizabeth had her Highland Dance exam today and it went very well. Here she is before the exam. Her kilt was too long so I got some braces and hitched it up. That did the trick and meant that I didn’t have to attempt hem surgery which would have been a huge undertaking with all…
-
We’re all quoting Shakespeare, every day, without realising
I’m reading Bill Bryson’s book on Shakespeare which is typical Bill Bryson and full of fascinating facts put together in an entertaining way. What is amazing for me is how much influence Shakespeare has had on the English language. I did not know this but around 10% of all quotes in circulation today are from…
-
A Highland Dancer
Elizabeth has her very first Highland Dance exam coming up at the end of this month and her kilt arrived today. It’s a little bit long and I’m not keen to take up the hem because there are so many pleats at the back. Maybe I can put her on a stretching rack instead? That…
-
More sledging bloopers
These were taken last weekend. All the snow has gone now and we probably won’t see it again until next winter. It was fun while it lasted. No one was injured in the making of these videos. Me speeding down the hill …. or not. Daniel speeding down the hill and falling off. Daniel speeding…
rachel.blog 