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Category Archives: Personal

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100 Things

I was just browsing the blog of a very talented friend of mine, Zoe Richards , and I came across this list . Zoe had found it on another of our friend’s websites, the equally talented Shawna at Pattycake Photo . Simply copy the list, paste it to wherever, and bold up the things that you’ve actually done. Leave me a comment & a link here when you’ve done it, so I can see your answers!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Italy
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland Paris
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Gone on a hot air balloon ride
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a cheque
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Princess Diana Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Scottish Highlands

75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone else’s blog to your own

I’m Moving (Literally this time!)…

This is just a short note, amongst the chaos that is my box-filled house, to let you know that I’m moving this weekend. It shouldn’t make any appreciable difference, but it’s just to inform you that I may take a little longer than normal to respond to emails and phonecalls.

Your patience is appreciated during this ever-so slightly stressful time! I’ll be back on form and back up to full speed before you know it, and I’ve got some exciting news to share with you all soon!

Scottish Road Trip - The Outer Hebrides

So here I am, in the Outer Hebrides, on the Island of Lewis. After taking the ferry from Uig on Skye, I arrived at Tarbert on Harris (where the tweed comes from!) and had a wonderful drive up through some gorgeous scenery to arrive just outside of Stornoway.

After a bit of a relax and an absolutely fantastic meal at the Digby Chick restaurant, we headed out to have bit of an explore of the local area. Lewis is absolutely stunning - dramatic, wild landscapes, stunning white beaches and a range of wildlife (I’ve already spent an afternoon chasing golden eagles!). There’s definitely a lot to recommend it.

The highlight of my visit to the Western Isles so far, has been a trip to visit the Callanish stone circle. At over 5000 years old, these stones are actually older than Stonehenge (and significantly more remote!), not to mention that they’re set in one of the most dramatic and beautiful settings.

Callanish Standing Stones

Callanish

Stone Circle

Scottish Road Trip - Leaving Skye

Leaving Skye

Told you that I didn’t stop too long on Skye! Here’s the view looking back as I left…

Scottish Road Trip - Glencoe to Skye

After leaving Glencoe, my drive became much more scenic, not to mention far more sedate. After stopping off at Fort William in the shadow of the Nevis range for supplies and fuel, I continued on, upward and westward. Seeing a sign for the Commando Monument, I pulled in to grab a couple of photographs.

A look back in the opposite direction (with the help of a trig point) shows Ben Nevis in all his glory

Along the way, just beyond Invergarry, the frustrated landscape photographer in me felt moved to pull in and grab a few more photographs. At least I attempted to battle the high sun and harsh light to capture something worthwhile! I managed to stuff these five shots into a workable panoramic…

Eventually, I arrived at the beautiful, not to mention famous, Eilean Donnan Castle. I stopped to take the tour, but not until after I’d stuffed this 25 shot composite HDR image into my camera:

Eilean Donnan Castle

After I was finished at the castle, it was time to move on again - through Kyle of Lochalsh and over the bridge onto Skye. Although I wasn’t able to stop too long, I did get a chance to take in some of the sights, and also to meet friend (and superbly talented photographer), Lynne Kennedy.