Berlin

Ya! Wilkommen aus Berlin!

G and I had a few days with Roland who was renting an apartment downtown before his annual sojourn out to to run his expeditions with River India.


One of the interesting leftovers of the WWII blitz.

This was the church built to replace it over the road.


We enjoyed Helmut Newton's photography exhibition, very Berlin i.e. not one to take the kids to. Although there was a school-trip inside being given a talk on it. Wouldn't happen in the UK. There'd be an outcry on the Jeremy Vine show.


Again another example of the liberal Berlin scene.

Roland fits in perfectly.

I even got mistaken for a German, being asked for directions. Ich weib nicht!

The Holocaust memorial in the centre of town.

Second Wurst, same as the first!

Roland lives on these things...

We had a night at the opera, Rossini's Barber of Seville.

There was an amazing amount of options, with a different opera almost every night.




Brandenburg Gate where the wall first fell.





The weekend we were there was the Berlin marathon.

This is perhaps the weakest marathon photo ever captured on film. Look, one of them isn't even running!

They love putting lycra on in Berlin.

Roland and G are off to India in a few days.

I went home to Scotland...

Kinlochard to Ullapool

Right, still no pictures of the house for you, it's a work in progress, but take our word for it, it's magic.

This is looking down towards it.
The ginger ratio is much higher out here. A picture postcard for you.

Brian and Florencia were over from Argentina for a couple of weeks so everyone descended on Kinlochard for a get together. We had 9 people staying in the house (I bought earplugs for Helen). Here's Gaz looking mighty pleased with himself as he usually does, Loch Ard in the background.

It's mostly commercial forest around us, so the landscape changes quite dramatically every decade or so.
Here's Brian doing his best 'Next calalogue' pose.

And the beautiful Florencia getting to see Scotland at its finest (thank god it didn't rain on our road trip!).
We stopped at Rannoch Moor on our way to Glencoe.

Coming into Glencoe was as dramatic as ever.


Top of the Devil's Staircase in Glencoe.
Dylan's Scotland t-shirt didn't help the national team the night before (we lost to Holland and are out of the World Cup qualifiers).
A few of us headed up further to Ullapool and beyond.


This is our Corrs-style band photo.

Shetland August 2009

Another jaunt to Bousta, Shetland.

Helen finally getting time with dad, having had about 5mins since we returned from New Zealand.

Here's Polly getting curious of the sheep.

Helen and I took a walk out past Norby, Sandness, where some old mill buildings are being restored.

Not sure where the beast is that was tied up here...

Looking down to St.Ninian's Isle.

We went out to the lighthouse at Sumburgh head...

Glorious weather that week in Shetland (as always it seems).

Puffins!

The ultimate loneliest cabin...

I was allowed to break my duck at drystane work. Dad let me loose on the wall that hides the septic tank! You gotta start somewhere.

Each bout of labour was completed with a beer in the garden. And sometimes a cigar...

The brilliant weather led to some great sunsets.

The cosy Bousta extension.

I don't need another hero...

View Larger Map

I had A-Team like music rattling around in my brain as we wobbled our way around.

But now that I look at the pictures, I think it's more Ski Sunday.






We love maps.

J-Johnston-sElfporTrait-img2009


Home can be anywhere.

There's me and my imaginary friend again...




View Larger Map

Ah, now there's a funny story about that...we bivvywhacked down for the night...


Ah, a map! Why didn't you say so?

Maybe we'll find another map over there somewhere!


"Patta cake patta cake, baker's man..."

Ski centre at Glenshee. Lovely folks, worst toilets in Scotland. And I include Trainspotting...

Stewart was like an aggressive ram from hills around Newcastle...
He shouldered wee Jim and I down this scree slope as a "short-cut" to getting back to the road.

There he goes...legs like tree trunks.

Jim and I were a little more skitterish.


Then it was back to Hobbiton for thick sliced bread with butter and honey.


The Miller's new "family" tent, where wee Ruairi is Lord Ruler of his Domain.

With The Millers

Alright so it's been ages since we posted. I know. Get ready for a whole shebang.

This is going waaaaay back to March 2009!

Celebrating our time spent with the Millers - Helen, Stew and Ruairi.

First up, culinary Indian delights of which we have become slaves of...

Ok so it looks like a scotch egg, but it's spicier!

Being Bridge of Allan you can't just wear any old wellies...

Sometimes if you think about gravity you feel like you might fall off...

The Helens... notice neither look pregnant. Oh how that has changed!

Stew constantly fills Ruairi's head with stories of bears and trolls... I don't know how the wee man sleeps at night. This is them approaching the bear's cave.


The mighty Mel Gibson monument. I mean Wallace!



In June we went to the Kelburn Garden Party. The son of the laird puts on the festival, as well as letting some dudes with spray cans decorate the family mansion.




Jim came with us to the festival.



This was perhaps the most laid back music festival ever witnessed. Even the security looked bored.
The Miller's family tent in action for the first time.

The two sides of Ruairi.

Jekyll...
Hyde...

Gettin' awa tae A'berdeenshire

Hallo!

This is Pitfichie Castle.
From the other side of Pitfichie forest on the hill... or something more vague than those descriptions.

Me and my dawg...

This is like that story about the boy with imaginary friends..

The guy in this picture isn't my friend, although we did nod knowlingly at one another from the top of the hill. 2 things to remember though: He took off as soon as I reached the top, and he was wearing a lot more padding than me (don't tell Helen).


This is whatdoyoumacallit...summit 5457m.


This is me at the top. Took 25 minutes on that amazing orange machine.

See, no padding!


Then I cycled to the south of France. Had trouble getting my bike on the Eurostar. Took it apart into 100 tiny pieces and carried them on in a plastic bag.

I'm just joking with you.

This is of course Hobbiton...

Had a stretch of one of those perfect few days.

Helen was watching my progress with her hawk-like vision.


In Scotland we love living in very old old places.

Kildrummy Castle, circa 1250.



All these pictures are high-res by the way, so click on them to get a nice big shot.


Remember what I said about Scots loving to live in old old places.


He kept a close eye on us as we walked the perimeter.

They flock to Helen wherever we walk...

They all do...
This was a pretty perfect red roofed cabin near Loch Kinord.

We slipped around Burn o' vat in the rain.


Water seems to fall through the rocks all around you.

Pink Kaloo goes on holiday by mistake!

Dear Isla,

You didn't notice but when you left the cottage I jumped out of your bag because I wanted to go on an adventure! Don't worry I'm coming back soon!!

Caroline found me and gave me to Helen. Helen and Jamie put me in their car (which was a bit smelly because I was next to Jamie's bike) and we went to Bridge of Allan.

It is very sunny here and lots of people are eating ice-cream. I've really enjoyed myself so far. I sat on the deck enjoying the views with a glass of wine.


Helen's teddies - Truffles and Big Ted - have also been looking after me, we sat and watched TV together. Big Ted in particular has been very attentive.



I was quite tired after a very exciting day, and I snuggled in next to Helen for some sleep. She's not as cuddly as you.

Helen told me she will get me back to North Berwick safe and sound, but until I do please don't worry about me. I'm enjoying my adventure!



Lots of love

Pink Kaloo

Shetland April 2009

I think I will let the pictures speak for themselves on this post.

This was from my trip to Shetland with Sorley a couple of weeks ago.

Included all the usuals: cheeky laughs, marmite, seals, football, sunshine, crofts, walks and cats.