Autumn is here, favourite time of year. Ok as each season changes it becomes my favourite.

I asked a question on status yesterday, was to help me for a little talk I am doing. I have done 3 talks over the last months, try to change it up each time. This one will involve the use of a few pictures, selection of these is harder than the words, they have to fit, to talk as much as the words. Now these are all pictures that till the other night no one has seen, it is also strange in that so much of it , has been taken in the last few months.

I entered a competition with a few pictures. One has got down too the final selection, now it will be decided by how much you pimp your picture, as you can guess, that is not something I am going to do. If I had known this was how it was going to be judged, I would not have entered in the first place. I get in the book, which will do for me.

Soon a site, that i have been on for a while, I will be leaving, I think I see things like that have a lifespan for you and one day done.

I got into a conversation today about woman drivers today and got asked if I thought they were worse than men, answer from me is no. Out of what i would say were the drivers I was never worried about my safety 4 out of 5 were woman,

I also learned that you can 3D print a dildo and yes, I did see it . the things you can do with technology.

I had to pop the hard stuff today, to manage the pain, was so bad, that I struggled to get down the stairs this morning, not looking great for work tomorrow as well. I went to bed last night with a twinge in both hips, but woke in the early morning with more than a twinge.
One of those days where, you just can not get on with it.

I spent a lot of the day looking at ways, I can reduce the weight I carry when I wander with the camera. I canny do big miles now with all the gear.


A fun shot, just point to lens, adjust some setting and fire.

How easy it is, to start rumours, so a lady picks you up at work and she is driving her Porsche, sure set the tongues wagging, now if she was to turn up in her other car, well, said she might just do that for a laugh.

I guess it goes back to the old favourite word assumption,, the art of seeing something that might not be there.

All that and it was only Monday.

Rest of the week was quiet, till Friday. Blood results and a few other things. Sat on the beach before that, weather was like summer and we done the usual thing of sitting and talking eating cake and drinking tea. Cake wise, it was a low carb treat , as best I know, it was made with Coconut Flour and Linseed Flour and blueberries. It was really really nice, by the time we got back to the cafe, I was gutted, she had sold the rest, said they were very popular and then asked fancy being the guinea pig for me. Now foe us diabetics, someone going out there way to try these things so we get a treat is very nice.

Well the doctor, went kind off, welll, My blood tests were good no, great actually, taken me an age to get below 9 for my diabetes, but I actually got it down to 6.4, which was over 3 points less than the 6 months before. I had been hopeful, this might be the case, but you just never know. Now one other little thing, For around 2 years, the blackouts have returned, when I was younger I use to get them and just like before, they could not find a thing, but end result two dreams die, one was to get back to showing vegetables and flowers at the shows and to do this, I eventually had to get a driving licence. But now, I will pretty much never be allowed to drive, certainly not on the public roads, So now will just get my focus reset.

I think from now on Beach Buddy deserves a name, will call her Felicity. Last night as she was fishing, I was trying to get a picture of a bat, out of taking close to a thousand pictures, not one too keep, there was 8 in the air at one time, there is a colony close by, that the bat people look at and I think the last time, they checked the roost there was around 30.

It was the most beautiful of summer evenings, it was like being small again, when you just never wanted it to end, the harvest was still going on at 11pm and just sitting there drinking tea.
Well garden work to get on with,


I have been taking more arty type of pictures as some call them. One day I can see the small scenes will be all that I actually do.

I worked out this morning that I have around 1630 days left to work till my official retirement day not a lot really, only working 3 days a week drops the number quite a bit. The random things that go through my head.

I helped to gather brambles yesterday, not done this for a little while , enough for 50 jars I was told. To make 50lbs of Jelly is a bit of work, in the end still need to get a few more next weekend. When we will go too my favourite spot, where the biggest wild bramble , I have seen grow.

I got told last night, that I was the best thing that happened this summer holiday, massive compliment indeed.

I also got asked the question, why do I still blog on here. I like to write for me, a bit like writing my journal, I do it for me. That is see it, like my journal, it does not matter if anyone reads it or not, But no one reads your journal my reply no one has ever asked too,, So you would let me read it and I went into my little bag and handed it over. So as I was taking my pictures she read it. Quietest I think, she ever has been.


Last night, was I think was the first time this year, I have taken a picture at sunset of the sky anyway, no wind, lovely clouds in the sky and that little bit of magic at the end.

A challenge was issued and accepted last night,

Autumn is coming. This morning it had that right feel of change. Even as I walked in the dark, my senses are always turned on. A rare morning, not one item on me for taking a picture. Probably all photographed out, been a wonderful week, capturing new memories.

I saw a picture yesterday posted in the Nature group, memories of being there the last time, a place, that I will never step foot near, never look back, she would have said, but I scattered Eve's ashes there, the place she loved, the place where she took so many pictures. My beautiful creative little friend, far far to young. Glencoe was her stomping ground, the high hills her playground. Blogged a few times about her and could blog so much more. The best thing that came out from having Julie as my girlfriend then was having Eve around, I think she was the only person that really got me. Only 5ft tall but you would have thought she was a giant. I was not into photography then, one day, when we were out, she had stood for over a hour, trying to work the picture out, she caught me smiling and I said drop the tripod a little lower,, ok smart arse she replied, maybe you should be taking the picture, 5 minutes later I heard , wanker.

Little secret to be told,, I shoot Canon as it was what she used, that and her large format system.


Found the spot last night, took this one, last light of the day. Wonder how many times, I am going to stand there , till I get the one.

Another day another blog, would think at this rate, I was thinking of trying to do a 365 again, not many readers would remember, when I blogged every day for it was long than a year. Nit enough interest for something that now adays.

Done the doctor's blood taken and around 2.5lbs lighter than the last time, never got my cake or a walk on the beach. Other things come first.

The pictures I took yesterday , were a success , she now has her zine image and will get it printed.

I then went off, for a wander in the woods and found the most amazing fungi. Sat for an age just studying it, taking in, what was before me, before I even thought of getting a camera out, stacked the pictures last night and now, I think it might be my new screensaver on the computer. But I did get a couple more bits of different fungi, that were very nice.
I got asked the question, do I always get a good picture every time, I go out, for it seems like it. I have to admit, I get lucky, but not all the time.

I have a file Borders, I call it, only started it this year, last night, when I looked, there was just over 150 pictures in this, never thought there was as much to be honest. These are best from this year mainly and few old ones as well, I never take it for granted and never will.
Easy to say I just point and shoot, but But my eyes take in so much more, coming home on my bike this morning, when I just saw some nice looking tree's . Now not sure if I can get as close as I want, but next Friday, when I am coming back from the doctors again,, phone will be with me this time and will see what I get.


I think I might stand in front of this giant tonight, see if I can a picture, it is way taller than anything else in my wood close to home. But all these years and mother nature gives all the time.

I Gave a little talk the other night, was 15 people there, they were mostly involved in the arts. I had only gotten asked on Monday, no time to prepare, just wing it, stand up and talk, for the first few minutes it was just finding my stride and then it is easy, forgetting that I am introvert and it just flows. It was about inspiration.

It went well, plenty of questions at the end. I finished with something along the lines of Inspire yourself.

Today, I have a portrait picture to take, posh talk for saying got someone's picture to take, it has to be in a black and white, day does look perfect for that. It is to be for on a cover of a zine, I have seen the pictures that she has taken for it and helped her change a few, but for a 15yr old to do what she has is very good. The title she stole from me. Was going use it myself for the pictures, I had been taking for my own little book. I think I now had around 10 projects on the go.

Bloods tomorrow and then walk along the beach, going to have large lump of cake with my tea, we have our own mugs in the shop, where we stop, ok, her daughter owns it, her baking skills are hard to beat, the cakes she does create for people on the side are crazy in there design.


I got this in the garden around this time yesterday morning, handheld the flower stem, balanced the lens on my hand and click. Got some of the best bee pictures, I have ever taken. The kind of portrait shots, I actually enjoy taking.

Toys for me, is pretty much all about photography gear, I got a new macro lens, took it out on Monday to try out and I know, I am going to have a lot of happy hours with it, but the knock on effect is now, I know, I am going to bite the bullet on another lens next year, a long tele photo. For someone like me, who has a weak left arm, the stabilisation is just fantastic, making hand holding easier.

I was reading yesterday, that for my little part of the world, it has been the worst summer on record, August so far has had 3 times the amount of rain and more to come today, seeing the sun is a rare thing, temperature wise I would say on average it has not been to bad, ok below average yes, but talking to a farmer and he was saying the yield on the silage has been fantastic, where normally they might be looking for 4 cuts, but 3 cuts was enough this time.

NN has had a few good moments the last last few days, seeing someone finding happiness and a returning lady. We all have our own ideas on what NN is all about, we all have to find the parts for us. Now I really just look at groups, well one group only I like to see what is posted in the Nature group, people sharing there parts of the world and what is to be seen.


IThere is a question in this picture for me,, in the valley , you can see a tree, for years the same question, wonder if there is a picture to be made, now it is an easy walk to get there and each time I have been up there, I say I am going to walk over and see. I seek and search, way it has always been.

I start a week's holiday tomorrow, well 4 days, I am lucky in a lot of ways, only work 4 days, so never really count the other 3 days as holidays. Usually for me, a Friday is a kind of recovery day for , the longer day's I work. Next year, I am going to drop my hours.

No sitting on the beach on Friday, beach buddy's little GGD, was not well,

No Salmon fishing either, the river on her property was in full spate, now the rain we have had the last few days, has been really heavy at times, like throwing buckets of water over, you stuff and last night, It actually woke me, as it was hitting my room window.

Today is not looking better. But could be worse.

Beach buddy asked why she is still being called beach buddy, when she is more country girl, which is true, a lady of the manor or big hoose, was I might say.

Some might wonder if, we are an item, one of her GD did ask her and she just laughed at her. thing is we just get along. Both single and have been for a very long time.

She has a good family, 3 daughters, 3 grand d and one little great grand D, one son in law and one soon to be ex son in law who karma will work her magic on, I am very sure.

He is one of those alpha male type who was nothing more than a wife beater. My initial thoughts that he was a wrong un, was spot on, then one day BB daughter is all wrapped up on one of those days where it is just to warm to be wearing clothes like that and sweating buckets as well, the penny just dropped., a mixture of old and new bruising to her body. It all came out to her mum and me. But all in the hands of lawyer and karma now.

I get more blood work done this week. Got the date for the next injection.

I ordered a new lens for the camera a 100mm macro lens, was going to wait till next year, but then just thought what if. In time, I might add two more, before I retire. Supposed to be here today, just in time for tomorrow when I climb up a hill to the little loch up there and spend the day.

I think on Tuesday a day in Glasgow. Wedensay will be the coast, Thursday lying around a woodland shooting fungi, I hope.


The greens will soon be replaced with the browns, but no matter what this walk is always full of joy. Above here is where they clear felled the larch, but some has been replanted and some the boss, Mother nature is doing her thing , she says, let me make it beautiful once again.

The short version of the last two weeks would be along the lines of time in hospital, went to a wedding, walked for miles, took around 500 pictures, caught my first salmon in 20 plus years and then caught another, the other day. Helped break a marriage up. for only the second time ever started a book and gave up on it. Got to play in a workshop, Smiled madly and danced badly. Each part has a story to it, that would make a blog that would take me an age to write, so short version it was, if anyone reads it ..

Last Monday, was the first and maybe the only time this year, that I never had a vest on below the short sleeve jersey as I cycled to work, in 8 years of doing this, always managed a lot more days in this, shows, just how bad out summer here, has been, the constant wind that has been here for months is still here, not one clear blue sky day at all this year so far. Nature deals you the hand and well I just get on with it, bit like with my health adapt and still enjoy.

You like to hide, to stay in the shadows, the cover of the grey man, she said. followed by why, how one question leads to another and another.

Four days to work and then holiday.

I gifted 3 pictures to someone who is putting together a calendar to raise funds, I took a picture, that someone said was the most beautiful picture, they had seen, a woman standing in a river fishing, late evening light, her daughter is now going to get it printed and gift it to her mum for Christmas.







A little part of my own garden, I like colour, all grown by myself, the garden is just part of nature and being outside for me. When making the dinner at night, I wander around with the camera often and just see, what is there. Over the next year, so much more is going to be added, one last large garden then project and then, time to just enjoy and do the daily jobs of keeping it all tidy.