Wednesday 18.09.2013

Battery flat on camera so no pics of the beautiful September evening, the sun at just the right angle to cast a shiny gloss across everything - the grass, the long rows of corn, fluffed up and waiting for the combine, the wings and backs of gulls and crows as they tumbled about in the chilly breeze.

Still, sometimes does no harm to walk without thinking about photos and it was only flat because there so many things to take pictures of in sunny, seductive Falmouth - the last weekend away of the summer.
Steep, narrow streets

with the harbour a constant backdrop.

Tropical trees,

a little bus rattling along only-just-wide enough lanes down to hidden coves and bays

and food: clotted cream and jam and scones,ice-cream, pasties,fish and chips.........and after that lot there`s only one thing to do......

Sunday 08.09.2013

One Misty Moisty Morning last week, no old men clothéd all in leather but 92 (I counted) swallows/martins (swalltins? martows?)packing their bags and ready for the off.......



......but I note they`re still here this afternoon........

A splendid September day in fact: also started with a thick mist which burnt off by late morning and left perfect walking weather - a cool breeze on the open hill but warm sunshine and shirt-sleeve order in the woods.
Corn getting cut bit by bit

butterflies and bees foraging away

as were the dogs

all under a fluffy sky.........

I think we were practically skipping by the time we got back - tra la!

Wednesday 04.09.2013

A perfect balmy September evening, an Autumn hors d`oeuvre: grass still green, corn nearly as high as a baby elephant`s eye,

the beasts still in the fields, a little more pensive and less `boinging` than in the spring but still there.......for now,

not to mention the accompanying soundtrack of combine harvesters working late into the night. No real hint of leaves on the turn but mushrooms and rowan berries and rosehips galore....there will not be many more of these evening walks.

The dearth of entries here over the last month doesn`t signify a lack of walking. There has been much walking but less access to the computer: walks across and around the fields of Devon

and Northamptonshire

with not a little music and boogieing thrown in

and spectacular fireworks to boot.







Walks in the leafy suburbs of London, walks through the market town of Stroud....being very Stroud....

and croquet on a Cotswold lawn.

In amongst all that, good food, excellent company, lots of train journeys (hooray!)and probably not enough sleep.

So one more jolly jaunt in a week`s time to round off the summer - an Octogenarian birthday on the Cornish coast - and then it`s firmly shackled back to work as we descend into the long dark nights (candles,firesides,books, films, scarves and woolly hats - can`t wait).

Sunday 04.08.2013

First chance to get back to the woods in a while. Perfect mid-summer morning: blues and whites and myriad greens

with a balmy breeze keeping it fresh.

Some of the wider expanses of grass have been cut so we`re almost back to good walking territory, plenty of deer and birds and small furry beasts to keep the dogs entertained, all in all feels like our own private park.

Happy day wandering round a warm and sunny Glasgow on Friday but harder on the feet and the dogs would have created havoc.......

Sunday 21.07.2013

So if the dog won`t go to the mountain....well, you go on your own. This house-sit has been a pleasant sojourn in a stunning setting which it`s hard to imagine ever getting tired of.......

....but after a while simply looking at it ain`t enough.

So snuck off this morning early, leaving car-averse dog in bed, and headed for Oxen Craig.

Another beautiful summer`s morning,warm and still in the woods...

...a cool breeze above the tree line, a sky full of clouds which still hung over the tops adding a touch of atmosphere.....

.....then back through the woods

returning before dog realised I`d been away.

Three more days staring at the view will be easier now.

Wednesday 10.07.2013

Failed to agree that driving to the Back o` Bennachie was the way to go so we could walk in the woods and possibly climb up Oxen Crag but avoid walking on the busy road.

Thought I was on to a winner as dog bounds enthusiastically into back of car but then he bounds just as enthusiastically out again and sinks to the ground with a look that clearly says "No way, you can`t fool me,cars mean Vee Eee Tee Ess and I`m not getting in".

Well, his owner did warn me he didn`t care for cars.

But it was another perfect summer`s evening so we did walk along the road, dog lunging occasionally at the passing traffic, and made it into the woods at the foot of the hill which were quite magical in the evening light.

Delicate grasses

a rich mix of flowers and scents,

and that familiar backdrop.

Thursday 4.07.2013

Tempus has been doing a serious amount of fugit-ing - whoops, look out there goes June and mind your backs because July has come up behind at a gallop.
And can there be better conditions for an evening walk than a July evening in the north of Scotland, the sun just going behind the hills, bathing the grasses in a beautiful light

casting shadows and silhouettes

making for an altogether magical midsummer atmosphere.

Current house-sitting gig affords stunning views and the delightful company of an Hungarian Vizsla - neurotic and laid back in equal measure, the kind of animal that simply makes you smile.