Dick’s Blog

Playing with photos.

The Guardian quick crossword done in my best time yet. Have a go

I never did have the sort of twisted mind needed for cryptic crosswords – the last bastion of the sad.

Yesterday I was on board a RIB heading at top speed into the head of Loch Scavaig in Skye. This was simply wonderful, blasting along into a fjord with the mountains rising right out of the sea. Suddenly the RIB slowed down and the driver turned towards some splashes. 10 seconds later we were amongst a pod of half a dozen bottlenose dolphins which were leaping out of the water on either side of the boat.

I grabbed my camera, took off the lens cap, switched it on and pressed the button – nothing! The message ‘No Card’ came up. I’d not put the CF card back in after downloading the pictures from the day before. I grabbed my bag and searched for the other card but couldn’t find it. The dolphins were about 5-10ft away jumping right out of the water. I sat and watched them then finally I had another look and found a eventually card (far too many pockets in my camera bag), loaded the camera and got a couple of shots but the dolphins by then had stopped dramatically jumping. A wee lesson was learned.

For years I have done all of my own DIY work in the house. Now that my shoulder is giving me problems I’ve ended up getting someone else to cut my hedge, repair my chimney and I’m even getting a plumber in to sort a leaky radiator – unheard of.

350 miles of driving to go into the hut to do a job which didn’t need done.

On the plus side I did see dolphins on the way in.

Well, the chimney is finished and the rain held off long enough for the cement to set.

I spent the morning splitting logs and now have two ridiculously large log piles. It has been fairly physical work and I’m pretty knackered.

I have to get up at 4.00am to drive to Skye where I’m getting a boat into the Coruisk Hut to do some work on the gas system and restock the hut with gas mantles for the lights, a round trip of about 380 miles.

I’m thinking of heading South next week to see my cousin who is in hospital having had a foot amputated. I need to check this out with other members of the family to see if they can put me up. At least the weather should be better in the south.

I’m off to bed to try and get some sleep. A dram would be nice but not if I’m driving at 4.30! Pity.