Auld Reekie

The alarm goes off early. I hit snooze. I then thing “did I hit snooze, or did I just switch the alarm off?” So I get out of bed, so I don’t fall asleep and miss my train. The alarm goes off when I’m shaving.

The trip down is good, and I listen to 2 1/2 albums on my HTC Desire, and the battery only goes down a wee notch.

As the train nears Montrose, I recall that it was the TGO Challenge dinner last night, and text Darren (he’d have been awake anyway), and say I’ll keep an eye out. I see one chap with rucksack on the platform, as he moves, there’s a flash of a t-shirt. He gets into the same carriage, and  sits near me. I don’t recognise him, and leave him to stare at the beautiful Scottish scenery. Thinking that he’s thinking “I walked across that”, resolves me to my Summer plans of getting out to the ‘Gorms. But I’ve been there before. As the train nears the end of the line at Edinburgh, I say a few words to him. It’s JH on his way back to Taunton. We’d had chats on forums in times past. Hand shakes hand, and he’s off to wait for his train, while I wait for an old University pal.

The rest of the morning/afternoon is spent chewing the fat and buying books. I’ve a cold and he’s got things on his mind, but it’s fun to catch up again. Waterstones is raided, and I apologise to the lass at the till for leaving big gaps in their Scots poetry section:

• “Gair nan Clarsach/The Harps’ Cry”, ed by Colm O Baoill, translated by Meg Bateman [Birlinn]
• “Duanaire na Sracaire/Songbook of the Pillagers”, ed Wilson McLeod and Meg Bateman [Birlinn]
• “Chuckies fir the Cairn”, ed Rab Wilson [Luath] – purely for the title

At the nearby gallery I get Walter Benjamin’s “The work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction”, and Elisabeth Couturier’s “Talk about design”. I have a hankering for something new to get me motivated.

On the way back, I switch on GPS (for 5-10 minutes) and wifi and download app updates on 3g and reply to emails … and watch the battery life drain down to the orange warning. Switching off the power-hungry apps, I settle into 30 minutes of an audiobook on MortPlayer, and reading a PDF book. The battery life remains steady.

I do notice that the image above appears much sharper on the HTC Desire’s AMOLED screen than it does on the LG LCD monitor at home. I looked at file sizes and ruled out a quality difference, as the file on the phone and the file on the pc were identical copies. All I can think of is the difference in screen quality. Or maybe it is something else.

Derry Lodge and Glen Luibeg

I’d promised myself a couple of days in the Cairngorms this weekend. The week flew by. A few trips to local gear shops furnished me with meal-pouches and a fresh gas canister. Kit was dusted off, cleaned, treated and repaired. I couldn’t unlock my PacerPoles, but found the new carbon-fibre poles in Craigdon Mountain Sports. An impulse buy which performed well over the weekend.

After a false start on Friday, I parted with a new Therm-a-rest NeoAir sleeping mat to add to my kit. Apart from a couple of speeding cars and one overtaking on a blind corner, the drive out to Linn of Dee was excellent. Swapping out my sleep mats, I then had a fine walk up to Derry Lodge. The half-moon and familiar Landrover track allowed me to walk it all without a torch until I reached the pitch.

Clearing away pine cones and debris, the tent was soon pitched and the pack (Osprey Atmos 50 litres) was emptied. I pack items into stuff/dry-sacks, so I end up batching bags together in the tent, eg sleeping bag, mat, pillow. After a good night’s sleep, I breakfasted and headed out to see what the weather was going to do on the tops.

The weather was definitely changeable. Snow above 800m was also on the forecast. I decided to turn back to Derry Lodge and have a lazy time.

The weather changed again, but I was already in a mindset to kick back and put my feet up, and enjoy the day.

I rigged up a reading-lamp, which was more comfortable than the head-torch, and got through a lot of Tom Standage’s “The Victorian Internet”. Normally, I don’t take a book, instead a thin, cheap book of poetry. I may change that habit now.

After a cold night, I broke camp and headed back to the car. There were some hailstones (just a few seconds-worth), and the shower didn’t come to much. Looking back, I couldn’t guess whether I would have had a good or bad time up on the plateau, but I still had a good time not risking it.

The journey home included a brief stop to resupply in Braemar (yes, it did include “The Hungry Highlander”), and dropping my Furtech trousers in to HillTrek in Aboyne to get some decent belt-loops fitted.

Birlinn

One of the books I got in the excellent Ullapool Book Shop yesterday was the "Kingdom of the Isles:Scotland’s Western Seaboard, 1100–1336" by R. Andrew McDonald. I noticed that, once more, it was a book from the publishers, Birlinn. Rather appropriately, it features a birlinn on the cover, as seen on the right of the carving.

Sholto of Scheltrum Miniatures has been modelling some birlinn, and some of us at the club are talking about a "Lord of the Isles” campaign. It should be fun, and give us clansmen a bit of personal background to research.

REMF

Not much been going on this week. Okay, so that is a lie, there has been lots happening, but nothing vaguely related to this blog.

Paramo short gaiters arrived from Foothills. Part of my WHW AAR. Also part of this was the ordering of a pair of Goretex over-socks from Furtech. My feet don’t do well in Sealskinz socks – great for river-crossings, and for around the tent, but not for hiking in. Oversocks had been on my radar since some people, eg Dawn, had mentioned them.

I’ve been reading some more of Jon Vonhof’s “Fixing Your Feet” . There is a great section on solutions for feet problems…lots of solutions. Great – everyone is different, and there is no one solution. Something it takes time to realise.

A very nice woman has mailed me her … sorry … their BushBuddy woodburning stove, and I’ll be having a play with it over Christmas. I’ve given Honey Stove feedback to Bob, so it will be good to see them both side by side. He has certainly piqued my interest. I want to see how it all works – or doesn’t – in a moorland situation.

The StickPic arrived during the week. I had found that they were selling off ‘seconds’, so got a few dollars off. Which was nice. I hadn’t had the chance to try it out yet … well, I have, but you really don’t want to see late-night photos of me in my PJ’s waiting for the cold-drugs to wear off so that I can sleep. In case you don’t know what a StickPic is, here is George and Jason’s videos about it. I’m sure they can send John and Andy a typed transcript instead ;-)

Having had problems with my tv recorder, I finally cleared off all the recorded shows and re-formatted the hard drive. No longer will every activation of the device start up with a clip of Chris Townsend pitching his Akto! Och. But hopefully it means that the recorder will stop ‘forgetting’ to record programs. A very useful device, and has changed my viewing habits.

Cheated and painted the gun crew in a uniform expensive black cloth, and based up the demi-culverin.

And my new washing machine was delivered today. Hopefully the saga ends there. A tale of attempted DIY, poor online shops and poorer real-world shops.

Having caught the “Culture Show” special on Baz Luhrmann last night. Besides being another chance to see some great clips from his work, I was left pondering a quote of his: “we don’t have anything if we don’t have stories”. Even something as humble as a washing machine has a part to play in the epic.

So far, so good, and no leaks.

Triple S – Aye? Nae

It has been a funny old day.

The US presidential race ends at Manassas, where the British journalist noted that there was an American Civil War battle – actually, there was two battles fought on the site, which is sometimes referred to as Bull Run. Both pre-dated the emancipation proclamation made after Antietam/Sharpsburg later in 1862.

Speaking of American conflicts, Donald Trump got handed the keys to a nearby site of special scientific interest so that he can build homes and a golf course. There seems to be a very slight chance (i.e. one politician interviewed) that he will not destroy the dunes and the wildlife. BBC news link. Photos.

No doubt a certain zoo … oops, heelan’ safari … is planning to unleash the hounds sooner.

Mick and Gayle posted a video clip of the bad weather at The Kingshouse, and Glen Nevis campsite.

I collected my BackpackingLight.com goodie box from the local corner shop – good for Parcel Force to save me a cross-town journey (especially as the car battery is dead).

That book “Fixing your feet” by John Vonhof is massive! Sections on feet, footwear (hmm, why is it not feetwear?), prevention and treatment. Two wee tubs of BodyGlide, and a pair of possum fur gloves. I tried the gloves on and they were toasty. But I was in the house at the time, as I didn’t want to get them manky as I worked on the car.

And there was an email at work, asking if anyone wanted to visit the local landfill site. Like I said, it has been a funny old day.

The Road goes ever on and on

I put on "The Fellowship of the Ring" dvd last night after getting back from Edinburgh. I'd seen it many times, and saw some of the extended scenes on YouTube. Unlike the current feeling of the US Courts, it does make me want to buy the extended versions of the movies. I got the extended final film in sale, and wonder at buying the other two now.

But it really makes me want to go back and read the books (again) from the beginning. For me, the start is the Silmarillion. I never bothered with the later books that the Son brought together from his Father's notes.

Obviously, I went looking for news of the Hobbit movie, and find that some of the linking stories between the Hobbit and LOTR may be made into another movie (once the legal battles end). I just hope that the scriptwights don't make the usual mess of appending their own agendas and own works to the stories that Tolkien crafted.

No, I'm not talking about the omission of Tom Bombadil (and his tasty wife), or the re-jigging of the early chapters. Film-making would still be in progress if every scene from the books was being shot. Nor tweaks to make up for those cuts. Anyway, film news from IMDB.com

Sourcing the Amazon

I was looking at getting a copy of Sarah Kirkconnell's "Freezer bag cooking". Obviously I drop in to the blog, and know that I can get the book from the USA, but went looking in the UK. here I found it on Amazon.co.uk, with a £1.99 sourcing fee.

So. A bookshop is wanting to charge me £1.99 to find a book. Which, being a stupid Brit, I'd obviously be happy to pay. Heck, we're willing to treat people as criminals if they overfill a bin or fine someone for putting junk mail in a public litter bin, or rip off students repaying their educational loans.

Britain - we're crap - there you go, and I won't charge you £1.99 for the information.

Podzine 21 April 08

Bob's new podzine came up on iTunes yesterday - one of 7 (seven!) podcasts released. Amazing. Of special interest to me is the advice on ticks. Horrible wee nasties.

The Podzine 21/4/08

Download MP3 File

Links to interviews with Cicerone's Paddy Dillon and Ronald Turnbull (revisiting "The Book of the Bivvy"), wild cooking and others.

I collected a surprise package from the sorting office today, so I'm off to listen to the Aquagear Survivor water filtration system.

Aquagear Survivor - Pure Water Anywhere

Download MP3 File

More on that later.

RIP Anthony Minghella

News of the release of the "Nr 1 Ladies Detective Agency" has been hit by the sudden death of director Anthony Minghella today. (news)

I am sure that his final work, due to screen this Easter, will be a tribute to him.

RIP: E. Gary Gygax

Gary Gygax passed away on Tuesday morning at home in Wisconsin. He was 69 years old and had had health problems for several years.

There are 133 articles about him on Google News

I guess that without D&D (especially AD&D), the world would be a different place for many folk. No Lord of the Rings movies (Tolkien was just another academic author), no Discworld books, no Harry Potter, no Babylon 5 (much seemed based on the Traveller universe). Without people freeing their imaginations, the computer games industry would be different, the technology industry would be different. I would be different.

Not a bad achievement for the son of an immigrant to the USA who spent most of his life in the same town. The BBC have a more modest list.

And The Clocks Were Striking Thirteen

It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.

And so starts George Orwell's "1984".

On each landing, opposite the lift-shaft, the poster with the enormous face gazed from the wall. It was one of those pictures which are so contrived that the eyes follow you about when you move. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU, the caption beneath it ran.

Orwell was writing it exactly 60 years ago this year, and it was published in 1949.The book is as apt today as it was when I read it in 1984.

He had been appointed to a sub-committee of a sub-committee which had sprouted from one of the innumerable committees dealing with minor difficulties that arose in the compilation of the Eleventh Edition of the Newspeak Dictionary. They were engaged in producing something called an Interim Report, but what it was that they were reporting on he had never definitely found out. It was something to do with the question of whether commas should be placed inside brackets, or outside.

Following links from Wikipedia, there are copies from Australia and cartoon versions, even a radio play from 1949. I must re-read it before April this year. There was a good series on BBC2 recently about British Science Fiction. I think it came originally from BBC4. I used to read a lot of early sci-fi when I was travelling to/from school on the bus, but I think it was American early and "golden years" stories. Unlike tv programmes and fleeting media, I find that reading things stays more in my brain. But I'm sure that's just a sign of my age. But then again, what's the point in remembering tv programmes if you can't give a copy of the documentary to a mate - but you can point them to a book, or a film. We are losing information into the aether of marginal tv channels where the makers can generate extra revenue in the hope that we, the public, will follow. If the data is out there and we can't find it, then it might as well not exist and we should call the fire brigade.

There was a whole chain of separate departments dealing with proletarian literature, music, drama, and entertainment generally. Here were produced rubbishy newspapers containing almost nothing except sport, crime and astrology, sensational five-cent novelettes, films oozing with sex, and sentimental songs which were composed entirely by mechanical means

If you've never read the book, go to the library and get it. Go to a bookshop and buy it (maybe even from one of these cheap shops or charity shops). Or read the linked file text from Wikipedia. You won't regret it. Or you can get back to your entertainment, being happily advertised as "brain-dead tv".

Bush Wars

I see that Tetley have another advert out for their Red Bush tea. I bought some when Tescos started stocking it after the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books and radio plays came out on BBC Radio 4. I can't help but wonder that Tetley are doing this as a precursor to the BBC's tv film.

The tea I got previously was from the Red Bush Tea Company and an unstated percentage of sales would be donated to the Kalahari peoples.

Previous posts 1, 2

The Angry Corrie 72

I think I missed this TAC, so, whilst the Alpkit Filo dries from its wash of Nikwax down proof, and my 94-year old granny clings to life after breaking her hip trying to escape from the nursing home after months of fooling the staff into thinking that she could hardly move. I shouldn't have jokingly commented on how her escape pack was coming along after seeing the knotted rope by her bed. Cunning obviously runs in the family, or in that case, hobbles slowly.

The Angry Corrie Nr 72

From the pages of TAC: Poet, Simon Armitage, is in a band "The Scaremongers". Jim Waterton's now climbed his 746th Munro, leading to a discussion on Compleators. An evocative piece from Mick Furey. An insider's view of the recent Nevisport problems.

Hmm, I went to the Nevisport site and it looked like to old site. In the "about us" section there was nothing about changes in ownership. It was only when I googled the trading address of 149 Vermont Street, did it come up with "Trespass".

Back to TAC: There's a review of "Seachd", which I've not seen. I don't know if I can honestly add a "yet" to the end of the previous sentence, as I rarely get to see the filums in the cinemar. A review of BBC's "Mountain". Ooh, the 2007 ed of Peter Drummond's must have "Scottish hill names" is also reviewed. I've got the old edition, and don't know if I can justify buying the new version. I'll need to compare them, and I doubt that Tisos will be happy for me to do that. Maybe splash out on a copy of "The Wild Places" by Robert Macfarlane instead.

I'm amazed at the depth of research and diversity in the "Quotes", excellent coverage of old and new media. Enjoyed the empathic article on social etiquette by Davie Cunningham: "You say hello on the hills but not when it's a walk in the park. Doing a circuit of Dun Rig from Peebles, it's a socially tricky skill working out the changeover. Generally, if they're walking their dogs, you've crossed the line."

And finally, I'll need to read properly and delve back into the "Wildernista" that Oliver Francks commented on.

A packed magazine, with more than that for folk too. To be perfectly honest, for me this was a longer read than Trail and TGO combined.

Can Mr JLB Matekoni Fix It?

Sadly, the news from Botswana is that the Nr 1 Ladies Detective Agency will not be ready for showing until Easter. Source. Although the BBC press release says Winter 2008. An article from the BBC News on the 4th of December said it was going to be a Winter highlight.

Perhaps we can commission Mma Ramotswe to find the answer to the mystery? Or Moo Moo Ramotswe? [plaque]

Previous post

PodZine 10.12.07

Bob's got another 'zine out. Great interview with Chris Townsend about gear from 2007, and what's coming up on 2008. Primus heat exchanger, rrrrrrrrrrr. BG! won a prize. Andy Howell's back with book reviews. What more does a'body need?

The Podzine 10/12/07

Download MP3 File

Source

I'm definitely going to have to get hold of Robert Macfarlane's books.

The Prevention of Literature

Just noticed that Project Gutenberg in Australia has some different books to read than the main Project Gutenberg. I noticed that George Orwell wasn't listed on the .ORG site, but is listed in the .AU site. And, yes, I did check under Eric Blair too. I can only assume that it is to do with different copyright laws.

Hilltrek Blues

Chris Townsend (left) and me (right) and my expanding waistline (centre).

Photo provided by Dave at Hilltrek.

If you only ever buy one backpacking book, buy "The Backpacker's Handbook" . Unless you are doing the Duke of Edinburgh awards, in which case you'll probably need three, just to be on the safe side.

Trail Bites

Claire Maxted left her routes post and went bivvying in the Lakes. PTC is now Trail's lightweight expert. Trail photographer, Tom Bailey, gives some advice and takes some cracking photos to illustrate an article on Robert Macfarlane's book "Wild Places".Simon Ingram gives the lowdown on his Summer ML training and Graham Thompson tests the new MSR Reactor stove in the open.

Chris Townsend in Aboyne

Just had a pleasant time with Chris Townsend in Hilltrek in Aboyne. He signed my well-thumbed "backpacker's handbook" and i bought a signed copy of his new book "guide to walks in the north-west highlands". Over free tea and shortbread, he told me tales of derring-do about being a mountain and wilderness writer and photographer. And the scoop? Well, that's private.

All i will say is that he is taller in real life.

The Hebridean Mission

As the town hall clock chimes 1.37, the ferry starts to depart from the dock. A cormorant attempts to dry its wings on a rocky outcrop. A seal lurks between the old piers. 3 minutes later and the peat-fired boilers of the boat start pushing up backwards. "left hand down a bit, Mr Philips" and we do the nautical equivalent of a handbrake turn. I can see the tartan furry dice on the bridge swinging at a 45' angle.

We are now in the capable hands of Captain MacAubrey as he attempts to slip past the blockading French squadron and thence across the Minch to the next part of my journey.