I returned to the coast today, first time in ages, it was needed and very welcome.

I once would not have found this morning cold, but because I take blood thinners now, I guess, this is the cause, but just another lesson learned, it was quite a low tide, there was rocks on show, that I have never seen before and I think, if it had been sunset, I might have been able to do something.

But to be very honest it was a struggle, I even took pictures of birds, which is really not my thing, but just have to work, with what was there.

I still had a great time, I sat on a bit of drift wood, watched the world go by, one thing, not as many dog walkers as there once was, few runners and a few people walking.

If there is a chance of a sunset, when I am on holiday, might give it a go, or if it is stormy, will be there standing or sitting in a little sheltered spot and happily clicking away.



I did get a few pictures of the coastline, this castle at Greenan was one of the first away days, I done, when trying for some different types of blog pictures, then you have the Heads of Ayr, sat on top of them a few times, nice lunch spot, need to venture there again and see, what pictures, I might be able to get with the long lens. You can walk for miles and it is pretty flat., on the coast line, plenty of ;little spots. some I could share stories off, some I think I already did in my old Whokens blogs.

In Scotland we have lots of these old castles, this one means the most too me, I miss her. Never had one bad memory here, the place where smiles, were made. I am just an old romantic fool.

I think , that if the weather gods play nice, I will head to the coast this Friday, for me the morning is not the time, I would normally go there, until winter that is. Something, different, a challenge of sorts, to make one picture, that I am happy with.

Sea air is suh a wonderful smell, it always has to me. leaving foot prints in the sand, looking for a seashell or just that little something that catches your eye, the closer you look, the treasures you see, like all the bits of glass, shaped by the sea, the tides change the view all the time.

The flotsam and jetsam on the tideline, it all holds questions for me, how far did it travel, why do people just throw there rubbish about , we as a tiny part of this world are a disgrace, mother nature gives us, such beauty and what do we do.

When I first started blogging here, I did post a lot from the coast, the beaches, the wildlife, the castles, that sit on its cliffs, one gave me some of the happiest days of my life. I chase smiles, not for me but for others, to make them smile, when they look at what I see, to maybe make a bad day better

I use to post pictures hoping to find , but I now know.

I saw a little quote this morning, I smiled as I read for such true words written, It was what I once did .

I read a blog on here, the other day, memories of one terrible weather day, high in the hills, with Eve, from with in the hood of her jacket, she started singing You don't have to tell me you love me, You don't have too tell me you care, For I don't care. It brought such beautiful memories back


It was still dull on Friday, when I got this little beauty still roosting Female Common Darter.

One week on Thursday and holiday time.

I have blogged fairly regular this week, it just seemed right to do so, I had been looking at a few pictures , catching up with ones from the start of the year, that have just been sitting on the hard drive.

Yesterday I took over 600 pictures, a lot, but there might have been 50 of the same little Dragonfly it was windy, so I might not have one sharp one out of that, last night I did go through them culled it down to 80, which is still a lot for me. Today it will get halved again.

I only look for one keeper.

But my time out is more important than the pictures, would it bother me, if I got no keepers, not for a minute.

This little spot is quiet, I have only seen 4 other people up here,one a dog walked and 3 like me, taking pictures, they were all part of a local wildlife nature group. The steep walk up deters most people even though the path is good.

I did carry one of my landscape lenses yesterday, but never used it, i should have and if the heather had been more in bloom, I would have, when I am on holiday, I am going to spend a day here with the landscape set up.

I sat in my usual lunch spot, I did take a few selfies, to show, my spot, but there was one distracting thing in them,, which was me, so deleted them.

I never really make plans, but sitting here yesterday, I wrote some thoughts or ideas down, reflective moments in life, nothing wrong there.

That little wooden structure is where I have my lunch, it is is a shooting blind, well it once was , but in the little pond, I have never seen anything, that you would shoot, you can see the Heather just starting to bloom., till the next time

I decided to cut my working week short, the last 3 weeks have been very heavy weeks, the metal, I play with, has all had weight to it, add in the constant heat and where once, it would have been easy, I struggle to the point , where I am now. Something has to change and it is going too.

If I had not taken today off, all thoughts of , my adventure would be a no goer, it happened last Friday , but I need to be where I am going, to seek out small things and to look at how the Heather is coming out, my landscape photography head is on now.

I wish, when I was younger, it was not all about work, that I had a better balance, but it was work work work.

If you could turn back time. what would you change for you, now there is a question.

I saw from an early age, how my Mum struggled to make ends meet, no money for treats, but I am glad of that, it taught me to value more than it would have if you just got use to things being given to you. I saved my pennies from an early age and still do so, always had a little jar , tub anything to hold loose change.

It teaches you, that good things are worth waiting for.


I wish, I had set the tripod up for this one, I was experimenting that morning, raising the ISO, to get a handheld shutter speed, was around ISO500 and 1/80th second. I used the 70-200 lens, unfinished business is how I see this one and the whole area around it.

In a little while it will be time, to think about getting back to the sea. Friday is going to be a coastal day if conditions are right from late September. I miss the storms, I miss the sunsets, I miss the castles, my photography has changed a lot since, the days where I was never away from the place, really looking forward to these new adventures. So many ideas, long term projects with maybe a little book at the end, will only have 12 -15 pictures in it, I have a few other ones on the go, it challenges you, which is something I like.

Sometimes, it is better to just smile, let them think, what they want and just think, kiss my arse.


Just a little butterfly shot, hoping to get out on an adventure on Friday,

I am planting more and more things in the garden , so I can get my photography fix, when time is short.


I shared a close up of this flower on status, little bit wider few with the added bonus of a Bee landing on it, while dinner is cooking, just getting 10 minutes out here, is enough for me. You can see how the colours just attract things,

Only a few more weeks, till next holiday and I need it, will probably have a day of during this week as well, My body speaks and I listen, was like on Friday morning had ideas of heading up the hills for my fix of dragons and damsels, but I was realistic in knowing, I would have struggled.

But I got out last night, done around 6 miles, harvest time is here, picture at end of blog.

My walk, was one that is a once in a blue moon one, but I had my photographic ideas head on, so was looking for new ideas and yes, got some. I checked to see, if the Fungi is showing , but only a few decaying ones, but will wander there again, tomorrow morning all being good, I might wander to a little spot, that it might be over 40yrs since, I walked in this little strip of wood, but my photo head is firmly on again and so I search, I chase and I seek.

It changes for me around August, tend to look more towards the landscape.

When I walk , sometimes, a podcast on, but mostly I like to have my thoughts. I have thought a lot this week, how one message on here, made a bad day good, more that they might ever know.

Tried to order a new bike, but it is the time of year of new designs coming out, so they were not taking orders, in no great hurry,

I found trainer socks, that till now, have not slipped down, so ordered another 2 pair, sock are a weakness for me, it once was T shirts, but not as much now, nice underwear as well, but now mostly wear Under Armour ones, worked a treat, when my work has been hot, no signs of sweat rashes , I use to always have to rub Vaseline on, but not since changing. I do have a few sets of bamboo ones as well.

I gave a lot of clothes to a lady in the village, who was collecting them. so much money spent on them, but even better knowing someone is going to get the use of them now.

If you have gotten as far as this, many thanks. it means a lot..


I spent a while among these newly harvested bales of barley, trying to find a picture, farmers never think of us photographers, when they lay them out, but sometimes it is not about the picture, last night, I ended up walking home in the rain from here, but I was in my happy place..

I had worked most of the day around the garden, watched the Tour De France, which has been an absolute classic, winds had been there all day, rain showers and only around 16C normal Ayrshire summer day really.

Forecast had said, winds to drop from around 6pm and so, thought get out and try for some pictures.

I decided on taking my trusty steed.

I use this bike, most days, I have travelled to work on her for going on 7 years and have not missed a day in over 4yrs, the weather never bothers me, I kind of like some of the nasty days we get, it is all about being geared up for it, Last winter it dropped to -10 one morning, but I have spikey tyres on and they work a treat, but do not think for one minute, I throw safety to the wind, I never do, not that stupid.
Off track again.

The place where I was at was an old coal mine, my papa worked there in the 30's but it is all gone now, the pit bing was there, when I was younger, but they flattened it out and it has been pretty much left.

Over the years it has become a little wildlife haven and I spend a bit of time there, It has given me a few decent pictures over the year and with the tree's now getting bigger , I know will try and get more of my landscape pictures, the heather is taking over in areas and I am hopeful ..

But it has changed, it was my go too, place for orchids, was hundreds, there once, now not so many and it seems less each year, just the way, but seen two new species of butterflies, there this year, one, I got a picture of and like last night, might have a new nemesis of the butterfly world, but to be honest, getting things easy are no fun and I have great patience, one day maybe one day.

Like so many times before, come around 7pm, the wind dies, the clouds part and the sun gets through, then like magic, where I had stood for 45 minutes or so, I had seen one butterfly, one becomes two and soon, there is quite a few, I feel the smile on my face as I watch, so many are tired looking or battered soldiers, I call them , but it is just age, they live for so short a time and have to do so much, maybe we can learn from them.

I headed home, about 90 minutes later, not really caring about if, I had a picture of anything or not, more and more, it does not matter to me, each time I get out, I learn, I note things down and just feel so blessed, that I am truly able to to still be able to get most things done..


My best pictures of the night, was of this plant Self Heal, it really is all about light, the sun found a little window in the canopy and hit upon this little bit of ground, meant me lying in a puddle, nothing new there.