Well my last post was just before my milestone birthday, So here I am officially an O.A.P. or so I keep getting told.
To be honest I dreaded the big 60 but it is quite painless really, and it doesn't feel any different from the other milestones the 50 and 40.
Anyway I had a trip to Burghead with my brother in April for 5 days, we managed to catch up with my good friends Andy and Lyndsey Howard we had a lovely evening at North Kessock before we all headed for a bite to eat, we visited the usual places, Findhorn, Lossimouth, Cumminston, Spey Bay, and to Troup Head for the first time to photograph the Gannets, was a fabulous 5 days.
I had a few weeks to rest up ....(being an OAP and decrepit or as my brother put a shambles as he helped me along) Then I was off to Orkney for 10 days with my cousin and his wife, this was the second time I had been with them, and we were not far from Waulkmill Bay, I don't think I have ever taken so many landscape shots, but the icing on the cake has to be the Short Eared Owls and the Hen Harriers and the Arctic Skuas, (photos still to be added to the website)
The other thing that was a bit special was the Weeping Window at St Magnus Cathedral, the only disappointing thing was I missed the Aurora Borealis, despite about a dozen Aurora alerts to my phone, and arriving at the Stones of Stennes at 3am in the hope of catching a glimpse, but that just means I will need to go back again.
So whats next? My annual trip with my brother and my friend Janice to the Farne Islands a little later this time but hopefully there will be plenty insects about too (look out Puffins and Terns here we come).