No more excuses

Well, they weren't really excuses, more like stuff that I knew was coming and would have to dedicate time to. In all honesty, I'm the King of Procrastination, I don't actually need an excuse. And the motivation to get out on the hills wasn't really there although I did at least get some outdoorsy stuff done, just nothing worth writing home about.

So we had the wedding and, as stated previously, we couldn't have asked for a better day. Just marvellous.

Next, was the detrioration of the sight in my left eye. The visit to the opticians in April had led to only one conclusion; no prescription on Earth was going to fix it and surgery was required. Now, Eye and Surgery are two words that should never be uttered in the same sentence but it had to be done. I had no choice. Well, I did; I could go around half-blind.

In truth, it was making me miserable. Driving was a chore and work was just plain frustrating. And I'll blame it for me not wanting to get up a hill more often. You don't realise just how much you rely on your sight until you start to lose it. So, 3 days after my birthday, I went under the knife. Or micro-scalpel or whatever the hell they use. I was awake but couldn't see anything other than a very bright light. I did see the syringe that delivered the local anasthetic beforehand though. And that's every bit as rubbish as it sounds, btw.

It's made a huge difference tho'. I can actually function without glasses for the first time in years. And by function I mean I can get about without walking into anything. I still need spec's for the usual stuff but I wouldn't be completely fucked without them.

Now that I can actually see the hills again, I want to get back out on them as soon as.

The last thing that was stopping me getting away anywhere was the anticipated arrival of our first grandchild. I couldn't very well go gallavanting off when I might be called on at any moment for emergency dog-sitting duties.

But he turned up yesterday, all 8lbs 12oz of him. John Connor William McLean. If that's not the coolest name for a boy then I don't know what is.

Action Hero

I'll try to resist putting on an Austrian accent when I speak to him but I make no promises :o)

So aye, early September should see me back outside. I owe The Boy a walk and it's long overdue.

And may your days be good and long upon the Earth

I'd be lying if I said there were no pre-wedding jitters because there were. Not about the getting married bit, more the social side. See, I don't do crowds and I'm not known as a party animal. Then there was the whole stand up and make a speech routine. So aye, a degree of trepidation was felt.

But when my wife pointed out our mystery guest, I knew all would be well. There, providing overwatch from the high ground of the "cutting sponge"*, was Master Chief.


Sometimes it's the little things that mean the most and can turn a great day into a perfect one.

Magic o)

Now you will feel no rain,
For each of you will be shelter to the other.

Now you will feel no cold,
For each of you will be warmth to the other.

Now there is no more loneliness,
For each of you will be companion to the other.

Now you are two bodies,
But there is one life before you.

Go now to your dwelling place,
To enter into the days of your togetherness.
And may your days be good and long upon the earth.

*Cutting Sponge - for lightweights that don't actually like fruit cake. I know. Fuckin' weirdos.

Possession is 9 Tenths....

Maybe I've been watching too much Supernatural but I'm starting to think that my car's been taken over by a demon. I feel like every time I decide I'm going to head for the hills, she acts up. It can be anything from a worrying squeak to a flat out refusal to start. This time she's, as I put it, "Vibrating like a motherfucker".

I may have to start referring to her as Christine rather than The Warthog.

Yesterday was moot anyhow; we had the wedding photographer comin' round mid-afternoon so the scope of any activity would've been somewhat limited.

No biggie. It was a case of "Assume the position." and be awesome for a couple of hours.

Mine's the Creme Egg one.

Plans are still being formulated in the meantime. Exploring Scottish Hill Tracks has come off the bookshelf and pages marked. And funds have been raised for the Vaude Power Lizard* via the sale of both the Laserlite and the Big Agnes SL1. Public transport options are also being taken into account :o)

* Shite name for a tent but it won't stop me having one.

Apologies for absence

Well, it's been a while. A whole 2 months since I last posted, even longer since I posted anything related to the outdoors.

Starting the year with a car in the garage, for the third year in a row, didn't help. Nothing like having no transport and a big bill to put the mockers on the fun times.

And then we had a death. Nobody that'll be missed to any great extent but it did start me thinking about shit that'd been boxed away for nigh on 4 decades. Still, I got to visit my mother in her own home for the first time in 20 years and have a nosey around the auld home toon. Nice to see the sea and fishing boats and stuff. Felt a bit weird but I'm sure it'll get easier as time goes on.

There's been some good stuff too; the Future Mrs D and I have set a date and will be wed in May. I can't really use this an excuse for not getting out as my beloved is doing all the organising. I just have to turn up, say a few words, dance a bit and that's it :o)

Later in the year, round about August-time, we'll become grandparents for the first time. I know what you're thinking; "But Kev, you're so young. How can this be?". Well, it's our eldest, 27 and married that is with child. Certainly bucking the trend for round here, where 30 year old grandmothers are not uncommon but there you go.

I think the biggest problem I have right now is work. I can't say anything here because they visit from time to time. Hello btw. But aye, come Friday, I'm so fucked off that I really can't be arsed doing anything very much.

All is not lost however; the Future Mrs D has offered to "chum" me up some hills. Wee ones at first and then some bigger stuff. And The Boy has suggested a 2, 3 or 4 nighter somewhere. A trek of sorts. I'm thinking maybe a bit of the West Highland Way. Or Blair Atholl to Aviemore. Or maybe head east from Spean Bridge.

Here, look at me making plans. Things are looking up :o)

Last one out....

Lights are off, doors are locked and there's no sign of life. The hoose is rigged for Silent Running. It must be Hogmanay :o)

Hope you all have a happy, healthy and prosperous 2010.

Awra best, people :o)

Bed now. Shhhhhh......

16 Candles

We joked he'd wake up with a full beard but there are no perceptible changes.

He's becoming a man but he'll always be The Boy. The best son a father could ever ask for.

OMM Name FAIL

OMG i m gay. At least, that's what I thought it said. The "gamy" is a bit unfortunate on its' own, never mind potential anagrams.

OMM-i-gamy. What were they thinking?

Piss-taking potential aside, its' yet another example of OMMs' modular approach to carrying stuff. I like it a lot. Regular readers may have noticed various bottles turning up in photies and a complete lack of tubes sprouting from packs.

Spot the tube? :o)

I dallied with hydration systems a while back and never really got on with them. All that drinking-on-the-go stuff wasn't for me. I like to stop, have a few sips and have a look aboot. And it's an excuse to get my breath back, if I'm being honest :o)

Anyway, nobody's gonnae convince me that a plastic bag and some tubing is cooler-looking than a Black Sigg Oval.

Lost and Found

I went for a quick walk on Sunday. Not far by any means but just far enough to remind me of what I'm missing by sitting on the sofa, smoking fags & staring at the telly.

The Author. In Serious Mode.

Aye, more of the same, please.

"We're in the pipe, five by five."

"Grab your gear, rookie. We're shippin' out."
"Shipping out to where, Sarge?"
"New Mombasa."
"New Mombasa? But......that's on Earth."
"That's right, kid. Seems The Covenant have decided to pay a little visit and the folks back home want us to throw the welcome party. You in?"
"Yessir."
"Boots on the ground in 36 hours. See you down there."

His mind races. First time out as an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper. A Helljumper. Was he ready? Only one way to find out; put his boots on the line and get ready to drop.

Absolute Badass.

Halo 3:ODST

Happy Shepherds

After the week I've had, I was glad to see the back of it. That it went out in a blaze of colour kind of made up for it. And this settled weather looks like it might hang on for a wee while yet.

Interesting.

High Pressure. The nice kind.

Numb3r5

Couldn't let 09/09/09 go by without posting something. I had something appropriate lined up but I'm fecked if I can remember where I put it.

Here's some numbers in the meantime.

Pure Awesomeness

Nun Attack!!!

There's been a definite nip in the air these past few mornings. Autumn's nearly here and, this being Scotland, Winter won't be far behind. I'd been going through the gear pile and there's plenty of choice when it comes to warm stuff. A lot of it's synthetic and there's a few bits of down in there but there's always room for a bit more.

I had a PHD Yukon Pullover on the wish list but never got around to picking one up in the last sale. But, as luck would have it, I spotted something similar during an infrequent visit to OM. A quick bit of Googling and my mind was made up. Turns out the seller was the same guy that I'd bought the LIM 55 from, months ago. A couple of emails back and forth and a Nunatak Skaha Plus was mine.

Gear Porn

It's a custom job with an extra 2oz of down and a tunnel handwarmer pocket. It is, quite simply, stunning. Packs down small but lofts like an absolute bastard while tipping the scales at 440g. Team it with the PHD Minim 500 and I've got a bitchin' winter sleep-system.

Fuckin' awesome.

Signs

The corn's been harvested and the baler's at work. Proper bales. Not those stoopid round ones. Can't build a fort out of them. Magic.

"Ooo, Shiny!"

The first words I uttered on opening the box that arrived yesterday morning. The postie, bless him, was early and caught me just before I left for work. A good start to the day and on a Friday too.

It had been sent by Ed, one of the "Windy Boys" over on Outdoorsmagic. I'd dropped in there to enquire about something and it turned out that he had one spare. So, after a couple of emails and a monetary exchange, a new Bushbuddy Ultra was mine.


I'd been thinking about getting one for a while now but was spurred into action by The Boy's love (and mine) of an open flame. Even though campfires aren't prohibited up here, it's still a bit off-putting when you're confronted by "Thou shalt not set fire to stuff!" notices at the start of your walk. This seems like a guilt free compromise*.

The Boy made me do it.

All we need now is a dry day before the schools go back so we can get out somewhere.

*The folding fire-box/Trench Mortar was deemed "A bit shite" and consigned to the Oddities box.

Be good to yourself

Getting presents from folk is awfy nice but you should never miss an opportunity to treat yourself too.Any excuse, eh? :o)

Lay down your burdens

I've been meaning to write a few words about the LIM55 for the last few weeks but other than "It's great!", I can't think of anything else.

Oh awright then. I'll try.

It's a tremendously good bag. Seriously, I can't fault it. Everything goes in with room to spare. The big, stretchy outer pockets take bottles, and tents, with ease. The roll-top closure is a piece of piss to use and that wee lid pocket is a work of quiet genius.


I hardly noticed it on my back. I put it on at the car and took it off several miles later with no adjustment in between. The harness and hipbelt are probably about the best out of any pack I've used and that includes the OMM packs I'm always banging on about. (Note probably. I need a few more trips yet)

Speaking of which, the OMM Chest Pouch fits nae bother and that makes me very happy indeed. That, and the wee pockets on the LIM's hipbelt, means that pretty much everything's to hand.

It does look like a sack o' tatties but I can forgive it that. Oh, and according tae The Boy, it goes with my boots, the Nike Tallacs. Matching bag and shoes? Disnae get better than that :o)

Sunday Post

I'd hoped that the wee box from Bob & Rose would've arrived on Saturday morning but it showed up on Sunday. When did posties start workin on the Sabbath?

Glen Derry Redux

It was all a bit last minute but, nearly a year to the day since the last time, me and The Boy headed to Braemar for a wee overnighter. We stopped off at Braemar Mountain Sports, stocked up on Honey Stingers and hit the road again. It's a nice wee drive up the glen wi' some splendid views.


Passing the Aktomobile at Inverey, we turned into the Linn o' Dee car park in no time at all. Packs on, it was a long, hot walk up to Derry Lodge but we passed the time talking about Geography no less :o)

There were a few folk about but we'd got the Ignorant Bastards out the way less than 10 minutes from the car park and everybody else was all happy and smiley.

I counted 11 tents dotted about the lodge but our pitch from last year was free so we bagged it again.


Tea, brews, banter and a wander up to the wee metal bridge followed. We hung about there for a bit and then walked back down on the opposite side of the river, spotting a deer, the only one we saw the whole trip.


It was all very relaxing until The Boy turned his ankle less than 20 feet from the tents. A short period of parental panic followed. I was running thru' various scenarios including how to explain to the MRT why it was that my child was wearing glorified trainers out here in the wilderness. Happily, a platy of cold water wrapped round it seemed to work and the swelling wisnae too bad.

We turned in late and slept late. No rush. Breakfast was taken on the riverbank, in warm sunshine. Magic :o)


The walk back was a tad on the hot side to say the least but it was enjoyable in a slightly masochistic way. Sad to say, it was way too hot for me to even consider a burger from The Hungry Highlander but a can of cold Irn Bru and some of The Boy's Chips'n'cheese hit the spot.

We were home less than 2 hours later and my beloved, bless her, had organised a wee barbie for our homecoming. What a crackin' weekend :o)

March or Die!

We were walking along in companiable silence when I noticed that I was mesmerised by my feet. Specifically, the wee puffs of dust that popped up with every footfall.

"You can actually see the heat rising", said The Boy.

"Aye. It's all a bit Foreign Legion", I replied.

Grinning, we strode on; the miles back to the car disappearing under our dusty boots.

Away mission

Away team to the shuttle bay. And nobody wear a red shirt FFS.