Nikki, Will and Daisy's Walkies

We're Back!

2011-12-13T15:16:00.000-08:00

Hi, we finally have an OK-ish Internet connection yehaa! What a year it has been at the cabin site -just catching a few days off before the Christmas rush so will catch up with the blog eventually! The newly refurbished cabins are great and the reception even better now that we have a shop, coffee, pizza and booze! Somehow we managed to win an award from Hoseasons for best cabin site in the UK for customer service, despite the building works, awful pot holes in the road and team numbers down - worth all the extra hours then.

I'm off to catch up on some sleep then, but here's a little pic' of a recent get together with our friends from Cobleland campsite at their end of season do....

Busy Bee's

2011-08-21T11:42:00.000-07:00

Hi there, sorry for no recent posts lately. We have been really busy at the cabin site working on refurbishments and getting through the 'silly season'. I will post more after the summer season soon! Best wishes*

Imbolc or Groundhog Day

2011-02-02T14:18:00.000-08:00

It's Groundhog day.... again! Well, we are supposed to be getting an earlier Spring this year up in the Trossachs as the sun was not shining, so neither a groundhog, badger, hedgehog, snake or a hag could have seen their shadow. Punxsatawney Phil, didn't see one either apparently!

These poems worked out right for Scotland last year;

"If February give much snow

A fine summer it doth foreshow"

"If Ash (leaves) comes before Oak, we're in for a soak

If Oak comes before Ash, we're in for a splash!"

Here the loch is finally thawing, but could we get more snow yet? Otherwise if its a mild February stormy weather is to be expected!

The Forestry Commission picnic table at Lemahamish obviously decided to go for a swim during the floods after the great thaw!

Full Moon

2011-01-19T14:11:00.000-08:00

How amazing was the full moon this month! January's full moon is the Wolf, Cold or Winter Moon and apparantly, if you want to know how long it will be before you get married, then look at the first full moon of the New Year through a hankerchief. The number of moons showing through it it represents the number of months of single life! Darn it, I read this too late, I'll have to wait until next year now!

Yew are Lovely

2011-01-10T14:05:00.000-08:00

Yes yew, look at how gorgeous you are dripping with all those poisonous needles and flaky bark at Porchester Castle... and you seem to live forever. The locals love you, the pagans loved you, the insects and birds love you and so do I!

Family Food

2011-01-08T13:56:00.000-08:00

At last, back to see family who we always miss loads, especially around Christmas time. So, here we all are stuffing our faces with amazing food in an Italian restaurant in Fareham to make up for our time away.

2011-01-08T13:01:00.000-08:00

Will and I, before Will got that awful virus that stopped us getting to see everyone we wanted to. Sorry, we will see you all next time!

Two cheeky chappies, clearly enjoying their food too much!?

Happy Hogmanay!

2010-12-30T13:44:00.000-08:00

Arthur the piper, piped in an early new year for us so we all giggled the night away with mulled wine and a ceilidh - great fun as ever! Best wishes to you all for the New Year!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T13:39:00.000-08:00

A white Christmas then, although it didn't actually snow today. Daisy enjoys her present opening, sorry Lesley and Graham, she opened the whoopee cushion and destroyed it thinking it was hers when our backs were turned. She must have smelt the plastic and thought it was a squeeky toy! Never mind, I still have Will for sound effects!

Santa has Arrived at Strathyre!

2010-12-24T13:22:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to all! Santa popped in for some mulled wine at the cabin site and joined us for a while where we told Christmas stories and various traditions around the fire. The tree outside had some solar lights which had been out for two weeks, but decided not to work until tonight - magic!

2010-12-24T13:20:00.000-08:00

Local faery, Kee, from Doon Hill also popped in to put wishes on the tree for the kids. Everyone must have been good boys and girls as Santa had come back during the night and left a stocking for all the cabins.
Me and the boss are dressed as Celtic Druids for the old stories, myth and folklore tales where I revealed just what makes a bearded fat man dress in red and white and deliver presents around the world and how his reindeer fly using a toadstool! The Celtic Tree month is birch, so we made birch pendants with the Celtic ogham signs. Birch signifies cleansing of bad thoughts, so new beginnings, love, good fortune and changes in luck can be invited, together with the promise of light as the days get longer again.
Apologies to everyone that had a candy stick from the tree, they turned out to be plastic, eek!!

Perfect and Clean

2010-12-08T13:20:00.000-08:00

Perfect and clean, except why do people think that you can chuck and leave rubbish and dog mess under the snow??? Idiots!

Ice Crystals

2010-12-07T13:14:00.000-08:00

The snow has stayed all dry and fluffy, but we've had so many cold, clear nights that there is surface hoar everywhere - lovely! The hips are frozen in time for a while too.

Frosty Loch

2010-12-07T13:10:00.000-08:00

The loch has started to freeze over, so it will soon be making those wierd sounds during the night!

Perfect Chilly Days

2010-12-04T13:06:00.000-08:00

We have managed to miss most of the bad snow, instead our snow has stayed fluffy and the skies a perfect blue :-)

Quinze/Shovel Ups

2010-11-30T12:56:00.000-08:00

Will thought he would try building a shovel up to stay in. Needless to say he didn't sleep in it, although it was nice to hear that two young lads built one of their own and slept in it until 3am!

2010-11-30T12:53:00.000-08:00

Snowy Sunrise

2010-11-30T12:52:00.000-08:00

Look at it!!!

Snowed in Again

2010-11-28T12:48:00.000-08:00

Oh well, snowed in again and a bit earlier than last year!

108 Sun Salutes

2010-11-27T12:41:00.000-08:00

The first of the snow arrived today but we still managed to get to the David Marshall Lodge to complete the 108 sun salutes for a local wildlife sanctuary. I can't take Will anywhere though, he blew off during the session in a room full of ladies and put us all off! Will's excuse was that there should be more men at yoga...

Motorcross

2010-11-21T12:35:00.000-08:00

Will has an everlasting 40th birthday! This was a present from Daisy, as she hates motorbikes! An interesting character from 'Fun in the Mud' taught the lads and fun and muddy it was. What's with the spare tyres though boys??

All Hallows Eve

2010-10-31T15:20:00.000-07:00

Happy Celtic New Year everyone! Another chance to let go of unwanted habits and start a fresh with your dreams :-). We did a Halloween 'Trick or Treat' party at the cabins where I told everyone where all the little traditions of Halloween originate from and we played both new and old games, including; wrap the mummy, apple bobbing and fortune telling - great fun.

Here is Will and I dressed as Druids, well, Will is more of a Celtic warrior (although they fought naked, oh er), but traditionally they wore animal masks to confuse mischievous faeries or non ancestral spirits on their festival of Samhain. They then feasted with and remembered their ancestors and practised divination, being easier to achieve on this night. I tried to do some, not sure if it works yet, I'll have to wait and see.....

2010-10-18T15:14:00.000-07:00

I've never seen a frog here before until today, only toads. Here he or she is, fat and full up for the long winter hibernation ahead, barely flopping itself across the slate path.

The weather is definitely changing, lots of mist in the mornings on the loch now - lovely :-)

Crannog Centre

2010-10-17T15:07:00.000-07:00

At last, we have managed to get to the Crannog Centre on Loch Tay. It was really interesting and gave us lots of inspiration for our own ranger activities. They even helped me to pronounce Samhain properly (the Celtic end of year festival), ready for our Halloween 'old and new' party at the cabin site.

What is this?

2010-10-14T14:22:00.000-07:00

What on earth is this fungi??? It looks like small Bertie Bassett sweets. I can't find it in any books, even a specialist at the Crannog Centre, Loch Tay didn't know. It was only there a little while on Norway Spruce stumps, gone without trace after a few days, sizewise - note the pine needles on the forest floor with moss. Stupidly, I didn't look to see if there were gills! Anyone help???

Back to the Trossachs

2010-10-08T13:53:00.000-07:00

Back home to the Trossachs, and back up to Doon Hill as we haven't been there in ages. I left the faeries a different gift this time - an earth mandala, inspired from some reading on holiday and a visit to the Findhorn community village. Will, on the other hand, ever the sceptic decided to call 'Frank-opeadia' for some fishing lessons instead. It was nice to see him finally doing something that he's always wanted to do. Shame the fishing season ends this month. Frank said Will did very well trying to master all the techniques, and he did catch a wee little fish (that he let go).

2010-10-04T13:30:00.000-07:00

Here's a wise old Scots pine Dryad showing his belly button off! They even look amazing when the tree starts to decompose, the insects and fungi love it too :-)

2010-10-04T13:23:00.000-07:00

This picture looks a bit dull, but the grass here was a really vibrant orange - not quite as bright as this Fly Agaric toadstool that has lost its spots, but bright!

2010-10-04T12:58:00.000-07:00

We had a lovely walk amongst the Pine and around Loch an Eilein. On the way around we came across a snapped tree, but looking closer I found an amorous harvestman and harvestwoman!

2010-10-03T11:02:00.000-07:00

Back to the Cairngorms and the Lairig Ghru - nearly got to the Pools of Dee, yeah! This Scots Pine looked really unwordly, vivid and precise in real life, it really is a unique place here :-)

2010-09-30T10:58:00.000-07:00

The Falls of Shin were amazing, I bet the Sprites were having a great time in the water!

2010-09-29T10:50:00.000-07:00

The weather has taken a turn so we gave up on an attempt to reach John O'Groats against the gales, and turned south passed the long Loch Shin and stopping at Lairg to sit out the bad weather. I managed to get some excellent pic's of common ink cap and the next day, some cobwebs holding the morning dew on the way to the Falls of Shin.

2010-09-27T10:43:00.000-07:00

Rock pooling is great at Scourie, here's a sea potatoe shell and unfortunately a dead crab. We did a bit of karma litter picking, ridiculous what comes in with the tide each day :-(

2010-09-27T10:33:00.000-07:00

Ended up at Scourie with this view from our camper window :-). We watched two seals flopping about in the water below, yay!

2010-09-27T10:28:00.000-07:00

Travelled west to Lochinver for more fabulous views, including Suilven, then back up to Kylestrome, which was amazing too; looks like the Pyrenees in this weather. I wouldn't like to drive over the bridge in high winds in the camper though!

Ardvreck Castle

2010-09-27T10:09:00.000-07:00

Ardvreck Castle on Loch Assynt, lovely and strangely the area was covered with silver weed - good for seeing into the 'otherworld' apparently when placed on the eyelids, if that doesn't work you can always stick it in your shoes as a foot reviver and refresher (which definitely does work)!

Sorry, it's actually yarrow that was used for seeing into the 'otherworld'! I've just read that silverweed was used as a crop - the roots a tasty parsnip flavoured potato substitute, or they were dried and ground to make porridge or bread. (Also medicinally applied as a compress for heartburn or hemorrhoids :-) They do still work for sweaty feet though!

2010-09-26T09:58:00.001-07:00

Approaching Gairloch looking south. There's abrilliant cafe/bookshop at Gairloch!! We stopped at Ullapool, although we shouldn't have considering all the lovely stops that we had passed so far, but a well missed take away was calling. Alas, it was crap, so never an indian or chinese take away again!! Always disappointed, so worth waiting for a gauranteed good one or at least a restaurant.

Holiday - yippee!

2010-09-26T08:56:00.000-07:00

Heading north and following the west coast in the most amazing weather was exactly what we needed to unwind. Photographs can never quite give you the full effect of course, but can give you a quite a good idea when the weather is this good!

Eilean Donan castle and the Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve (Britains first)!

National Park Walk

2010-09-22T16:07:00.000-07:00

Eeek, we had to do a ranger walk for the National Park today at Ardgartan Campsite/Argyll Cabins, Arrochar. Lots of hard work learning a new area in a short space of time, but great fun and we met some lovely people. Our friend Lesley actually grew up there so her help was invaluable. Forest Holidays were showing various heads of the National Parks in Britain what we do as a company as a lot of our sites are in the National Parks. We had two nice ladies from The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park come on our walk, but most went on a hike up The Cobbler. The weather was drizzly but we still had fun, which included a game of 'Forest family Fortunes' under a bothy bag at lunch time.

This marks the climax of a very busy successful ranger season as we now have a few days off, yeh, to rest and re-energise. Just in time for the Celtic festival of Mabon, the Autumn Equinox - a time for celebrating the friuts of your labours literally and emotionally! We won 'Heroes of the month' for August too for all our hard work and good customer feedback for our walks and mountiain bike activities, so that was really lovely. The wine, chocolate and flowers were gorgeous.

We are really sad not to be able to work at Cobleland campsite anymore next season though, but pastures new are hopefully growing and we will visit our special friends and regular campers there a lot!

Strathyre's New Bug Hotel Opens

2010-09-21T16:04:00.000-07:00

The new bug hotel at Strathyre Cabins has finally opened. Will, added the final bits of wood and my slate signs just in time for the cold weather.

There are still vacancies for the winter season, so bugs, climb this way!

Last of the River Racing

2010-09-09T15:56:00.000-07:00

Will enjoys a splash on Loch Lubnaig, before doing our last raft race of the summer back at Cobleland.

The reining champion is of course Cameron's 'The Determinator', winning the last race and a total of four times this season. Cameron, was also our best and most loyal customer and was awarded with lots of prizes and a special gold certificate, one of only two given out. Roisin, our second best customer got the other one!

Here's Will's raft 'Wilson' after some finishing touches before putting him away for the winter. Luckily he didn't lose 'Wilson' the ping pong ball on the last race - the river was raging! Tom Hanks, the action man didn't have to cry then :'-(

Mushrooms and Toadstools

2010-09-07T15:52:00.000-07:00

Mmm, toadstools you can't eat, mushrooms you can - but not all the time. If in doubt, leave it out. Here is my favourite picture of the season so far of a birch bolette covered in moss. The other is some Destroying Angel with some pesky mouse droppings on top, eek.

Fly Agaric

2010-09-06T15:47:00.000-07:00

I love finding these and watching the different stages of their growth. The stories on this one are endless, it's the best one to talk about on our ranger walks.

Fungi Foray Time Again

2010-09-01T15:43:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year when you feel sad that the days are getting shorter, but then feel better because all the fungi is popping out of the earth. Here's a Penny Bun, or Cep and some Panther Cap (I love the latin name aminita pantherina). One is poisonous though, the other is not.

River Forth

2010-08-15T15:36:00.000-07:00

Many an interesting thing in the River Forth. Here's a caddis fly case city we found on one of my ranger walks and Will, finally gets to have a play in the river himself after getting a blow up kayak for his birthday from his Mum and Dad.

National Space Centre

2010-08-08T15:31:00.000-07:00

On our way back to Scotland we stopped at the National Space Centre in Leicester. Will had wanted to go for ages (having previously wanting to be a space man), so Debbie and Mick bought us some tickets for his 40th birthday present. It was really interesting, even for me and look forward to going back. The 360d surround cinema was the best.

Oli & Nikki get Married

2010-08-06T14:53:00.000-07:00

The day was really great and everyone had a fab time. Congratulations Oli & Nikki!

2010-08-06T14:50:00.000-07:00

Oli, Will, my sister Debbie, Mum and me.

2010-08-06T14:00:00.000-07:00

My nephew, Liam, was really sweet reading out a love poem at the ceromony. He was so emotional he burst into tears, but amazingly managed to read it all the way through really clearly. Anyone who wasn't already crying, was by now. A moment in his life to reflect on always, or at least we will when he gets a girlfriend.

Freddie his brother, meanwhile had literally a hair rasing experience to come. Busy with all the groovy dancing on the dancefloor, little did he know that a few days later he would be getting his appendix out at QA! All better now thank goodness.

2010-08-06T13:21:00.000-07:00

Will, being the best man prepared a suitably silly speech, which included using a 'South Park' style mask of my other brother Phil to deliver his message as he couldn't make to the wedding being that he was in Cananda serving in the army. A usually confident Will, was thrown a little after Oli's really touching speech, but still managed a few laughs during his own speech :-D

After the celebrations, Oli & Nikki were off to Durdle Door, in Dorset for a camping honeymoon, but then after counting their wedding vouchers then went on to another slightly up market honeymoon in Cuba.

Stag Night

2010-08-05T14:48:00.000-07:00

Another stag do, but just a few drinkies at Port Solent before the big day. Oli made sure Liam came along to make sure Will didn't do anything naughty with him, but Will did succeed in making Oli really nervous about what he 'might' do....

Hec, it must have been a rough night, there's a dinasour on Southsea seafront, having just left the wedding venue, The Queen's Hotel??

Back Home to Portsmouth Again...

2010-08-03T14:41:00.000-07:00

Back again, this time for my brother, Oli and Nikki's wedding. Before that it was great to catch up with everyone again. Here's our nephew's Freddie and William painting, my goodness, mum needs a house clearance if she thinks she is going to move into a caravan! Loving her pinny on William though :-)

Had meals out for all but one day while we were down - naughty but nice. Here we are with Will's family in The Seagul pub at Portchester.

Wacky Races at Cobleland

2010-08-01T14:36:00.000-07:00

The high adrenaline sport of raft racing is starting to get really popular as we enter the August holidays. Here you can see 'Wilson' (with action man) winning, but we had to disqualify him as it was unfair to let the ranger win. He never won again all season!

Here's the ranger tent-many a fond memory on the site over the last two years. Sad this will be the last season here as Cobleland will be managed by the Camping and Caravanning club next year :-(.

Harebell

2010-07-23T14:30:00.000-07:00

Back at Strathyre, the harebell's are out floating about in the wind on the loch edge. Apparantly they get their name from the story of faeries wearing the flower heads as hats, who would ring them to warn the hares of any dangers.

Happy 40th Birthday Will

2010-07-15T14:13:00.000-07:00

After a relaxing session of yoga (Will being embarrassingly the only bloke, but is doing miracles for his back), we returned to the campsite for a few surprises. Lesley and co had decorated the reception with balloons and embarrasing photo's that Will's mum had sent up. Then, as happy birthday was being sung, from behind the counter, up popped our friends Jonathan (who we met doing 'Land's End to John O'Groats) and his brother Nathaniel.

2010-07-15T14:10:00.000-07:00

Later, after lunch in the hotel the lads went cliff jumping, then a 'Total Wipeout' style assault course on Loch Ard.

2010-07-15T14:00:00.000-07:00

The day was finished with an amazing meal at The Byre Inn, Brig O'Turk. They even made the most delicious chocolate birthday cake, freshly made about half hour before, mmm.

Here's one of Will, with hair just before it started falling out on his 18th, he, he!

Happy 39th and 364th day Will

2010-07-14T14:03:00.000-07:00

Will's 40th birthday has come as a bit of a shock to him, so to take his mind off it I had planned a few surprises. The first being 4x4 driving at (good) Crieff, from his mom and dad the day before to celebrate the last day of his 3o's. I can't believe he didn't flip the car, I was holding on so tight I scraped the skin off my knuckle trying to hold on at what felt like a 45degree angle. Will loved it of course.

Here's our friends Lesley and Graham-who had a go too, and 'Frank-opeadia' (and his tach) :-!)

Ancient Tree Hunt

2010-06-24T13:37:00.000-07:00

I've just added these lovely mighty Douglas Fir trees to the Woodland Trust's Ancient Tree Hunt. http://www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk/recording/

You can join in the project wherever you are. All you need to do is get out into the forest and go looking for ancient trees. Download an information sheet so you can measure or estimate interesting trees in 'hugs'. The average adult hug is 1.5m (although mine is only 1.25) and hug from 1.5m up the tree. If you can hug an oak tree 3 times or more for instance, then put it on their map to be verified and hopefully protect it in the future.

The Wood nymphs and Tree Spirits will love you for it and they may return your help for an answer to a question you may have if you sit under it... An Ash is a tree of wisdom, so if you have a problem it can help you to solve it, Beech being a tree of justice and law, or the written word, Hazel is the knowledge or inspiration tree.

Raft Race Saga Continues....

2010-06-13T13:31:00.000-07:00

Cameron is back with his winning raft, 'The Determinator', beating Will's 'Wilson' again. But what's this, oh dear, the following week Cameron has been beaten by a girl no less with 'Team Awesome'! Go Roisin :-)

Vibrant and Calm

2010-06-10T13:23:00.000-07:00

Although short and sweet, the visit home was really good to catch up with family again. Just look at what we come back to though..... juicy, vibrant, tasty Broom just waiting to be gobbled up - just the flowers mind, or you'll be flying away on your broomstick, then throwing up if you ate the seeds! Then, on the Cobleland doggie walk loop the river looked divine with a bluebell backdrop. Lesley and Graham have seen a kingfisher here, but no such luck as yet for us.

Go Ape Stag Day

2010-06-06T13:15:00.000-07:00

My brother Oli, is getting married this August and he chose a Go Ape day, well in advance of the big day in case of any injuries. As we were down south for Will's dad's birthday, the gang went to the Moors Valley Country Park, Ringwood. Great fun and not a broken bone in sight, phew!

Happy 60th Birthday Mick

2010-06-05T13:10:00.000-07:00

It was Will's Dad's 60th birthday so we travelled back to Portsmouth for a really quick visit to wish him a happy birthday.

Delightful Dragonflies

2010-05-29T09:44:00.000-07:00

For crying out load, how on earth is this possible? Here at Cobleland we have been watching the dragonflies emerging from their nymph cases - amazing! But how does such a large Gold Ringed Dragonfly come out of its case only half its size, telescopic abilities I suppose? They climb out of the River Forth and camoflage themselves on a nearby tree, then over a few hours transform and emerge from something really gruesome and blossom into an amazing dragonfly. Nature never ceases to amaze me.

The nymphs live in the water for a few years, eating small fish with it's 'Alien' type snapping jaws and then break out the back. Apparantly the film 'Alien' is based on this 'tiger of the insect world. I can see how, luckily they don't feed on us, but in prehistoric times their wingspan was 2 metres and flew at 40mph!

2010-05-22T09:35:00.000-07:00

I just love it when the bluebells are out. Luckily, I still haven't heard them ringing, otherwise I wouldn't be here. Instead I would be playing with the faeries in their faery realm!

Here's a busy little chap making his new home in our ranger tent. Sadly, we had to relocate him to the bug hotel, otherwise he would only have been swatted by now.

Fishy Goings On...

2010-05-19T12:30:00.000-07:00

We tested our new mountain bike route that we will hopefully start doing as part of our ranger activities at Cobleland. Our friends, Emma and Blair came with us and we saw some interesting fishy things along the way in the Loch Ard Forest.

2010-05-19T12:29:00.000-07:00

Interesting sculptures along the way....

2010-05-19T12:28:00.000-07:00

To end the day, we went out for a nice meal in The Forth Inn, at Aberfoyle. We met up with Calum, from work to bid Emma farewell as she and Blair left for pastures new in Fife.

Here's Emma with one of her leaving presents, I think her favourite, a nice pair of boobie earings.

First Raft Race of the Camping Season

2010-05-16T12:16:00.000-07:00

Here is Cameron, our regular weekend visitor to the campsite, winning the first raft race of the camping season at Cobleland campsite. His raft, 'The Determinator' was much larger than Will's raft 'Wilson' of course, and understandably was really chuffed to win. How will the rafts evolve and who will be the reining champion by the end of the season......?

Oops, Cameron was a silly billy in the ranger's tent walking into the tent pole - again, he he he!

Cobleland Bug Hotel

2010-05-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

Just finished the finishing touches to Cobleland's bug hotel. It also now has a do not disturb sign - bugs sleeping, in the hope that any peskie young campers are not tempted to 'disturb'!

Natural beauty tips

2010-05-08T10:08:00.000-07:00

Mmm, new tasty wood sorrel is out, tastes just like apple skin. Great at clearing up rashes too apparantly.

The violets are out too - ladies used to infuse them in goats milk as a facial wash making them so beautiful, even a Prince would not be able to resist them!

May Pollen

2010-05-05T10:05:00.000-07:00

Blackthorn blossom is everywhere and this lovely peocock butterfly is enjoying the sunshine.

Spring is Springing

2010-04-29T09:54:00.000-07:00

Female catkins on Goat Willow and Sycamore leaves just waiting to spring out!

Tour de Forest

2010-04-20T11:21:00.000-07:00

As we passed our trail leader course for mountain biking in March, we've been testing out a route for the cabin site guests. Great fun and views! We tested the route out on Emma, who particular enjoyed the bothy bag :-)

Siskins

2010-04-19T11:17:00.000-07:00

I love Siskins! Especially their warning calls, here's a male and female being piggy and brave on my feeder at the cabin site.

Something else I find cute are these brand spanking new larch cones and needles.

Loch Katrine

2010-04-16T11:06:00.000-07:00

We all had a trip on the Sir Walter Scott on Loch Katrine, gorgeous but chilly!

Crannog and Catkins

2010-04-16T10:52:00.000-07:00

Someone??? has put the flag back on the crannog remains (an old iron age safe island). Despite all the snow melt and flooding after Easter, the loch levels are really low again. We haven't been able to see the crannog for ages.

All the willow catkins are coming out too. You can hang a catkin shoot in your house for a good health charm, or make a wish with a willow. Ask for permission from the sacred tree first, then tie a knot in a shoot whilst making your wish. Keep it with you until your wish is granted where you must return with the shoot, untie the knot and thank the willow by leaving a gift. Alternatively, use willow for 'the original magic wand', or sit amongst willow for inspiration. :-)

Edinburgh

2010-04-15T10:43:00.000-07:00

We all went to Edinburgh, which was great. Will and I hadn't been for 15 years, so we had forgotten all the interesting stuff about the castle. Shame 'The Witchery' didn't have more traditional or realistic witchy stuff though. There's so much interesting history and herbal stuff thats being forgotten!

Will's Mum & Dad come and Visit

2010-04-14T10:22:00.000-07:00

The impossible has in fact happened, Will's Mum and Dad have travelled to another country to come and visit us :-). The weather was amazing and we all had a great time touring the Trossachs, with the luxury of a log cabin too!

Raft Racing

2010-04-11T10:16:00.000-07:00

We're back at Cobleland now doing our ranger activities at the weekends. It was great to see some of the kids again that we met last year over Easter. The ranger tent is up and open for business (despite being flooded already) and Will is starting a raft build and race on Sunday. We just need to get an action 'Tom Hanks' man and his friend, Wilson!

Spring!

2010-04-09T10:10:00.000-07:00

At last, some colour in Scotland; coltsfoot, or 'son before the father' as the flowers come out before the leaves and daffodils of course.

Winchester Round Table

2010-03-15T13:25:00.000-07:00

We went back to Winchester today and caught up with my old mates from Hampshire County Council (from when we had proper jobs)! Really great to see everyone again and Winchester is always nice to visit for the history.

Forest Hunts

2010-03-14T13:21:00.000-07:00

We took our neices and nephews out in the forest for some treasure hunting and lunch in our campervan. Here's William and Amy asking the forest faries for the treasure with their magic wands in The New Forest, and Liam and Freddie in the Forestry Commission park at Hundred Acres in the Forest of Bere.

Family Holiday

2010-03-12T13:14:00.000-08:00

At last, a well needed holiday after successfully passing our mountain bike leader course and yet another confidence and presentation course (I hate role play :-o), so it's been great to have some time off before the silly season starts again at work. It's also been great to see family again after six months, but it's been a serious food and drink fest. Oh well, we can always bike off the calories in the Scottish hills when we go back. Here's our nephew, Freddie hiding behind a knickerbockerglory and Will's family; it was Will's Mum and Dad's 40th wedding anniversary recently, aah, they don't look old enough do they!

Icy Bike Ride

2010-02-24T13:08:00.000-08:00

In preparation for our mountain bike leader course in March, we thought we best take our rusty old bikes out on a ride. We picked the worst day all winter, we've been having perfect clear crisp days - until today; lots of slushy snow and an icy wind, it was freezing! A stroke of luck though, someone cut their cabin holiday short and they had one with a hot tub, so we thawed out in there, he he.

The Ice Continues

2010-02-21T12:56:00.000-08:00

The loch has been frozen for ages and has been making really wierd noises! Daisy is probably fed up with being flung across it though for comedy effect by Will, tut.

There's still lots of birch polypore bracket fungi despite the cold, which is great to show everyone on our walks, as there's not a lot else! Looking forward to the Spring ;-)

Icy Lochs

2010-01-31T05:53:00.000-08:00

The ice queen was busy again last night, designing these lovely icy grass formations on the loch edge.

Icy and Moody

2010-01-31T05:45:00.000-08:00

We decided to go up the tourist track to Ben Ledi today, but the path was really icy under a thin layer of snow. Some fell runners seemed to manage in their trainers, heck, being a scaredy cat, I had to put my crampons on for most of the walk!

Burn's Night

2010-01-25T03:57:00.000-08:00

To celebrate Burn's night, a piper, a highland dancer and a haggis came along to the cabin site. Arthur hurled us all around the room as well, 'strip the willow' was the best ceilidh!

Loony Weather...Still.

2010-01-10T10:55:00.000-08:00

Well, it's finally gone and done it, Loch Lubnaig has frozen over. I wouldn't walk on it though. I hear the Lake of Menteith (the only lake in Scotland) has been enjoying curling stones being hurled on its surface, but this water is a bit deeper!

It's wierd though, as it has seemed to warm up a bit. We can tell due to the blown air heating in the van not screeching on overdrive, keeping us awake all night. Doesn't bother Daisy though, she has the best seat in the house (van). Despite her bed having prime position on the best hot air vent, she still insists on laying like lady muck right in front of it, frying her brain! Mmmmm, maybe that's why she's so loony!

Early Morning Walk

2010-01-07T10:39:00.001-08:00

Overlooking a nearly frozen Loch Lubnaig from underneath larch cones. Despite getting up early, it turns out the route to Beinn an t-sidhein is closed for felling work so we couldn't climb up high for the views after all. Never mind, we discovered some new logging roads to explore in the Strathyre Forest instead, including this frosty waterfall.

2010-01-07T10:31:00.001-08:00

Och, I can't drag myself out of bed in the mornings lately, but I made the effort today! The sunrise and sunsets have been amazing, hitting the snowy mountains all pink 'n' stuff, so we wanted to walk up higher to have some better views. Here's moonset on the cabin site at 08:25, I know, that's not even that early - hah, I don't miss the commutes into work :-).

The Water's Freezing!

2010-01-05T10:20:00.000-08:00

Oops, even the river beds are drying up!

It looks like the loch isn't far off freezing either, despite it's depth. The average day here has been -10 midday for a few days, face crackingly cold, but brilliant views and blue skies. If only we got the sun for more than an hour through the glen here!

Snow Angels

2010-01-03T10:12:00.000-08:00

Lovely bright sunshine and soft powder snow. This calls for a snow angel to oversee our year ahead!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T09:55:00.000-08:00

The ice palace is just getting frostier!

A few days later and Stank Gorge waterfall is like an ice queen's cavern.

2009 comes to an end!

2009-12-31T09:40:00.000-08:00

Well, it hasn't thawed out yet, so the ice palace near the cabin site is still impressive. New Year's Eve, was very quiet here, no fireworks thank goodness, Daisy loathes them. Instead, we had the clearest, chilliest view of the stars and a partial lunar eclipse. It looked like a chunk had been nibbled out of the bottom right edge of the moon.

Very best wishes to all for a fun and healthy 2010!

Christmas Day 2009

2009-12-25T09:35:00.000-08:00

We were house and cat sitting for some friends in Callander this Christmas. Only just about got out of the cabin site in our van, with the help of a friendly 4x4 driver! We miss our Landie!!

Here's Daisy enjoying opening her favourite present, a squeeky ball of course! Then, wide eyed and waggily tailed, the look of delight before consuming Christmas dinner in about 10 seconds flat!

A Bit of Work, then a Bit of Play

2009-12-24T09:26:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve and we did some ranger walks in the snow. Here's Will, enlightening everyone on the wonderful silver birch on Forest Survival.

Then, a bit of play on the snow tube before my Dusk Watch.

Ben Vane above the Clouds

2009-12-13T09:14:00.000-08:00

No wanting a brilliant hill day to end, we reached the top of Stank Glen and sucked in some more vitamin D (we might not get any more for a while) and finished our hot chocolate. Not rushing back would mean finishing our walk in the dark, but we were familiar with the way and we had our trusty head torches. Then, even better than when you find a quid down the back of the chair, Will, remebered that he had packed Christmas cake in his sack! Food tastes so much better after a walk eh, guilt free too :-)!

When we eventually reached the logging roads, we entered the layer of eeery cloud again and entered a magical world of sparkling frost, glittering with the light of our torches. What a magical day!

2009-12-13T09:07:00.000-08:00

On the way back to Bealach nan Corp above Stank Glen, we had good views of the snow capped hills to the north and that everlasting sunset above Glen Finglas to the West.