A vulture who lived in my tree
was a wonderful creature to see
He lived solely on steak
but kept me awake
every night when he got up to pee
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Category: nature
St Kilda – Island on the edge of the world.
Anyone who saunters through my blog will very soon find that I was, for over 28 years, an Army man, a soldier, a squaddie!
This involved living in all sorts of weird places, in peculiar circumstances, and doing all sorts of things that the average joe doesn’t get to experience.
One of the places I lived was on the remote island of Hirta, in the archipelago of St Kilda. In all I spent over 8 months there, normally on a rotational basis of 6 weeks on, 12 weeks off. You can read a little about it here, and here.
During my time there I don’t think that I ever experienced the superb 4 day block of good weather that Angus Mackie and his group of kayakers did for their trip that is shown here.
This post is not about me but it does show a place that is dear to my heart, and to anyone who has ever been lucky enough to experience it.
Just as anyone who has experienced a true desert will know what “desert fever” feels like, those who’ve been to Kilda will be forever drawn back there, even if it is only in memories!
This expedition report is rather lengthy, and will be hastily skipped through by some, but for a few it will be of great interest. The link at the bottom will take you to a marvellous set of photos and videos. It takes a while to load as they are high resolution, and lots of interactive 360˚ shots. I hope you have time to enjoy them.
A link to a newly updated blog post of “A Superlative St Kilda Sea Kayaking Expedition with Skyak Adventures.”
St Kilda is a place of superlatives!
The remote island archipelago of St Kilda lies some 40 miles west of the Outer Hebrides and not only is it a UNESCO World Heritage Site but it has the highest sea cliffs in the UK, the largest seabird colony in northern Europe and a quarter of the world’s gannet population.
It’s also an amazing place for sea kayaking…!!
I’m Angus Mackie, a professional forester and photographer, based just north of Inverness on the beautiful Black Isle. I’m on the North Coast 500 and am well placed to discover most of the Highlands. The iconic scenery of Glen Affric and the Cairngorms are close by whilst many of the wild and dramatic locations on the west coast are within easy reach.
Mountains, landscapes, coastlines…. As a landscape and panoramic photographer who specialises in 360° photography, I enjoy exploring Scotland and its wild and remote places and have discovered some of the best photography locations in the Highlands over the last 35 years of living up here. With a broad and wide ranging knowledge of the Highlands, I still enjoy finding new locations and fresh perspectives for my photography. The use of natural light to capture stunning scenery at spectacular locations is very much a key factor for my photography.
I’m a qualified Summer Mountain Leader, a Sea Kayak Leader and a UKCC Level 2 Sea Kayaking coach, with many years experience of leading and guiding. I am also a longstanding member of Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team.
Copyright © 2018 Scotland360° and Angus Mackie.
Lundi limerick #17
I somehow managed to miss my regular Monday morning slot for a limerick last week.
I blame it on Christmas and New Year making me lose track of what day it was.
To compensate, for disappointing the thousands of readers I don’t have, I am offering a limerick, and a video, for this weeks charming beast.
My Quokka is always so happy
he smiles and he never gets snappy
he sleeps in the day
at night he will play
he’s a thoroughly nice happy chappie
Twittering Tales #118 – 8 January 2019
It’s time again, for Kat Myrman’s wonderful challenge, to write a story, inspired by her picture prompt, in 280 characters or fewer.
Here is this week’s prompt, and my contribution. In fact, I have 2 tales to offer this week!
Check out all the fabulously creative entries here and, if you’ve never had a go, why not try a story of your own? You may surprise yourself!
Photo by Anasegota at Pixabay.com
Polly’s Revenge – following on from Polly’s Dream
Her mistress was insisting that Polly drank a kale and cabbage smoothie every day.
It tasted awful. She was not going to put up with it.
She’d had some senna pods stored in the cage corner, just in case.
She now mixed all of them in with the smoothie.
They’d soon change their minds!
(280 characters)
The Intern’s error
Each intern was warned – “Do not take petri dish B17 out of the fridge”
Simon didn’t listen!
So, when he was told to take out the samples ready to incubate them, B17 was amongst them.
She had been waiting for 39 years, and now, breathing at last, she prepared to take over the earth!
(280 characters)
Lundi limerick #14
A noble Narwhal from the East
was invited to go to a feast
he set off at dusk
with his 8 foot long tusk
to find that the host was deceased
to view the unicorn of the sea follow this link:
Lundi limerick #13
A Manatee’s large and quite round
and three different species are found
they are known as sea cows
and have furrowed brows
speaking softly with hardly a sound
to view them follow the link
Twittering Tales #113 – 4 December 2018 – A taste of justice
Time again for Kat Myrman’s wonderful challenge to tax our creativity. Just take her photo prompt and write a story, inspired by it, in 280 characters or fewer.
Here is this week’s prompt and my contribution. Check out all the fabulous entries here and, if you’ve never had a go, why not try a story of your own? You may surprise yourself!
Photo by Skeeze at Pixabay.com
A taste of justice
I can see you Henry Roy James, and I know you can see me!
But you don’t recognise me.
You still think you got away with it, but really, you didn’t!
The jury may have believed you, but natural justice shall prevail.
You killed me, and I’m going to kill you.
Then I’m going to eat you!
(279 characters)
Twittering Tales # 111 – 19 November 2018
Time again for Kat Myrman’s wonderful challenge to tax our creativity. Just take her photo prompt and write a story, inspired by it, in 280 characters or fewer.
Here is this week’s prompt and my contribution. Check out all the fabulous entries here and, if you’ve never had a go, why not try a story of your own? You may surprise yourself!
By mh-grafik at pixabay.com
Just what sort of beast built this tunnel?
The bricks were perfectly shaped pellets of dried shit, you could tell by some of the newly placed cubes.
Poo!!!
He could only assume that the wombat population, hereabouts, had undergone a metamorphosis and were now the size of elephants!
(280 characters)
Wombats REALLY DO produce cubed faeces!
Lundi limerick #6
A fine flying frog has been seen
whose skin is incredibly green
it glides through the air
without any care
where it’s going or where it has been
Lundi limerick #2
A beetle called Bertie, from Brum,
got stuck on his back in the sun.
A friend came from Dover
and flipped him back over,
preventing a slow roasted tum!
Brum: a colloquial name for Birmingham, England.
