Home

I lost a new friend this week.  He was someone that I barely knew, a fellow wanderer, with whom I shared two short work expeditions before he died suddenly, doing what he loved, on the hill. I don't wish to say much about this loss, he has dear friends and family who will be grieving deeply.  However, it did stop me in my tracks and make me think about what I'm doing, working away from home so much, "living life to the full" but missing out on the love of the people nearest to me, and the chance to return it.
I've lived my life without compromise.  I have cared little for financial gain, followed my dreams, and tried to live each moment to the full,  hitting that old cliche on the nose- "as if it was my last".  And yet in doing so it has meant that I have missed out on raising a family, and spent long weeks away from home. People envy me, my drive, my luck, my dream job, and everyone understands why I do it. But when someone I knew was taken from the world without warning this week, the only place I wanted to be was home.

Bliss

What do you do when you have a day on Arran between expeditions, you are tired, and the sun is beating down from a cloudless sky?  Get on the water, thats what! This was last Saturday, back from a Gold DofE Exped in Glenshee, and just before a Silver in the Kinlochleven area. Time to rest the legs, chill out, and relax in my sea kayak.  Wally and I paddled around Holy Isle at a leisurely pace, took in the sights, and were back at home in time for dinner and for me to catch the last ferry off the island.

Making for the Inner Lighthouse opposite Kings Cross

Moon jellyfish drifts past.

Looking back towards Arran's hills, basking in the sunlight.

The Inner Lighthouse keepers cottages, home to a closed Buddhist retreat.

Rounding the southern end of Holy Isle

Pasing the Outer Lighthouse

Gold Days in Glenshee

Oooops!  Its catchup time again.  At least it means I'm busy....
Its all a bit out of date now, but I've been out an about a lot this month with wall to wall Duke of Edinburgh's Award expeditions.  This one was a real treat- perfect weather, a great group, and a new area to me. We started from near the Spittal of Glenshee, and finished not far away, and over the course of three days explored the glens and hills of the area around Gleann Taitneach. We even managed a few Munros!

We climbed gently out of the Glen and over Carn a Gheoidh

Home sweet home, Gleann Taitneach

Blissful weather! Looking back down the Glen

Loch nan Eun

Big views on the way up Glas Tulaichean

Aspen in a remote gully.