AndyBlog

The crowded beach at La Zenia

Hard to believe from this panorama, but a force 6 gale blows through the beach, making everything rather difficult. I've already caught someone's parasol as it blew by.

This is all being posted a day late because when I finally found an internet place with wi-fi they were about to close. They open at 10am in the morning, so I will attempt to be out there, bright and early to get this posted. Being without internet in this way reminds me of a holiday in Cornwall - where I had to drive 4 miles inland just to get a mobile phone signal.

I could connect this up to my mobile phone out here and use the internet that way, but the costs are prohibitive, thanks to Orange's current withdrawal of any international packages or savings. They have done this in response to offcom's ruling that international calling prices must be slashed at some point in the future. I don't know the exact date. So, until that day, Orange seem to have decided to make hay while the sun shines. Full price on everything and no concessions, call deals or packages.

I am disgusted with their attitude and I am seriously starting to doubt whether my future will continue to be Orange.

Rant over.

Having a lovely time...

Wish you were here.

Please click on these panoramas and see them big - they're quite cool.

It's really just a question...

...of what you think art is.

True Grit

Not much snow and ice down in Bristol, or so it seems.

Couldn't resist another one:

Clouds, sun waves, blown spume - all the key ingredients.

Cresswell looking lovely

Quite a sea today at Cresswell

Been down that Blyth today....

...in the rain.

Truth is definitely stranger than fiction

Ever seen lorries with pipes on like this?

I have.

I've been driving along the motorway and seen several lorries with loads like this and I've wondered what the heck those massive pipes were for.

My guesses, and the guesses of those with me in the car were wide-ranging and sometimes entertaining.

"Maybe they carry huge amounts of waste oil to massive incinerators?"

"Could it be that they actually carry the internet inside them, thus explaining why it is so slow today?"

"Perhaps they are used by giant trolls to flush their lavatory waste away?"

Never, in my wildest dreams (and they are pretty wild, folks) did I get near to the real explanation:

"They are used to join up with pipes from the sea to carry a mixture of sand and seawater to a beach that is being re-stocked with sand from Skegness."

I do believe I would have laughed at anyone who guessed that, and imagined theirs to be one of those humorous responses designed to make us all laugh.

The Derwent Reservoir

The beautiful reservoir between Shotley Bridge and Stanhope

I've left this as a larg'ish file, so please click and enlarge it to enjoy it more betterer.

"Oh Lord, I want to go back..."

So here I am, back where I belong - but my heart is still in Tiree. The only thing I have been able to think of since my return is when I might go back there.

We were blessed with extremely good weather, but I believe thee island would retain its magic, even if the weather was dreadful. I find myself wanting to witness one of those fantastic storms I've heard about, or go out when the wind is so fierce it is all but impossible to make headway.

It used to blow like that on the foothills of the Pennines in Yorkshire where I grew up. Coming home from school it was possible for me to lean into the wind and be fully supported - like lying on a really soft couch - did you ever do that?

I digress. I'm plotting an early return with TL to enjoy the island at a more leisurely pace this time. It's all but impossible to find accommodation at such short notice, but we're giving it our best shot.

My greatest regret was that TL was not there with me to enjoy the beauty. Tiree offers the kind of relaxing chill-out break that I do believe she would enjoy very much.

So, it's fingers crossed that we can book everything and get out there at the end of July.

Here's hoping.