Talking about Talisker

We arrive early for our tour. For the first time, we must arrive at an appointed time, and being on an island and travelling in the morning we have no concept of the area’s rush hour or whether we get stuck behind a caravan or tractor. None of this happens, and consequently we arrive half an hour early. We take in the view of Loch Harport and bask in the smell of the distillery before it opens its doors. We check into our tour and are invited to lounge in the bar area, which just looks just like a regular bar only darker with extra polished wood. We’re also given a rather deluxe pin badge. As well as merchandise and historical exhibits on display, there’s also bottles of whisky on display, some of which have aged over 40 years and fetch up to £4,500. Then our tour commences and our guide invites us to venture into an adjacent building and climb the stairs to the malthouse.

 

What happens if your card is declined at a restaurant and you've already eaten the food?

Your best hope is that the vendor is sympathetic and that your negotiating skills are in order! It’s all about how others perceive you and what their judgement of character is like. It might well be a fault with the bank or the restaurant’s card machine rather than yourself. Once you’ve determined who’s at fault, it’s time to come to some kind of arrangement. Perhaps a friend can help you out by coming to your rescue. Or maybe you can leave an object at the restaurant while you pop home to make alternative arrangements. Don’t forget to tip them for their patience. The manager has every right to call the police though. If this happens, the police usually act as a third party to determine whether a crime is being committed or if it’s just an honest mistake. If it’s the latter, the police may be happy to act as an escrow agent until the matter is resolved. Failing all that, I hope you’re good at washing dishes. 

Bridge Over the River Sligachan

Almost every time we ventured out from our door, we’d pass through the next village and cross this little bridge over a river before ascending the hills. Just by the road is a small car park to stop and admire the view, and next to this is the original stone bridge with its moss and single-layered track. The new one is built to accommodate the road. It’s well worth a stop. The river itself is narrow but quite wide, so it’s ideal if you fancy taking a paddle. There’s also plenty of space nearby to pitch a tent. Numerous trials pass through the area since it’s quite central to the island’s capital, and there’s a cairn with statues of walkers on top to get you inspired. There’s even a hotel complete with bar and restaurant nearby if you want to wait for the elements to attempt to settle. It’s a great place to stop and stretch your legs if you’re a driver and need a focus stop. 

"If your joy is derived from what society thinks of you, you're always going to be disappointed."

-Madonna.

It would be nice to trust everyone and think that they’re always looking out for you. But sadly this isn’t the case. Who knows what their true opinion is? They might even speak to you as a comfort to dismiss you as politely and as sentimentally as possible. It would be nice to be praised at all times, but sadly this doesn’t happen. There’ll always be someone that criticises you, even if it’s for the minutest of things. Some may not even have heard of you as they’re too absorbed in their own lives. There’s just too many people around to come to a consensual opinion. Instead, you need to take pleasure in the simple things and celebrate when they come to you, especially when there are others who have a great deal less. And if you can share your gains, then society will become a better place for everyone. 

Old Man Torr

It wouldn’t be a trip to the view of the island without viewing one of the most iconic landmarks. Nestled on a hill is a simple natural column with a jagged pointy triangular head. It made me think of the Washington Monument. Because it was getting dark we pulled off the road and viewed it from the verge but I would have liked to take the time to climb it. There were a couple of cars parked around us and many people were in the process of completing their expeditions. A lot of them had sizable rucksacks and bright plastic coats. I suppose that they weren’t taking part in a hide and seek competition. Unfortunately, there were few opportunities for me to return for a go and we’d also have to find a map first. The one that I bought only covered the southern part of the island where we were staying.

 

Doctor Who: Season 13

This short series across multiple moments became very confusing to follow, and there were moments where the characters seemed to change their attributes completely. It’s a shame that the opening episode didn’t emphasise the whole Halloween theme all the way through, though it was fun to see the Sontarans take centre stage again. There’s also a bunch of immortal creatures which have taken abundance, and hopefully The Doctor will get another opportunity to face them again. I liked The Doctor’s ultimate decision to either face up to her past or roll on and discover like the rest of us; though I think a few fans screamed in agony. If Chibnall had been granted another series, then maybe we would have discovered more. The winter special once again featured the same enemy and is getting to be a bit repetitive and it’s a shame that little of it rolled on from the series. It’s as if it was written for a one-time audience rather than for the regular fanbase, and Bishop was underused. It’s also a strange time to be introducing a love interest for the doctor, but fans already know what’s coming and we know that one character is going to e disappointed. I’m very much looking forward to Russell T. Davies taking back the reins. 

Mist over Mealt Falls

Even though it was early evening, night was approaching. We’d had a windy and cloudy day and it gets dark early in these parts. As we were on the cliffs, we could feel the wind travelling inland unimpeded. As we turned towards the hills, we watched the clouds descend from the hilltops onto the land. There was a slim layer of sunlight sandwiched between the two and the mist was that thick that it was as if the hills were covered in snow. You could even argue that the mist was purifying the land as the air was so fresh. If we had been in a city it would have been an evil, smoky mist. Even though we were wrapped up well and we were watching from the outskirts, I read to think how cold the air and water was when covered over in the mist. We decided not to hang about too long for fear of facing both dusk and fog. 

Dude, Where's my Car #dreamdiary 128

I’m off to the pub with a few friends. It’s quite a way away so I offer to pick them up and we’ll all drive down together. It’s a bungalow on a raised veranda with a grass space all around it with benches. It’s made of wood and there’s an island bar in the centre. The trouble is that the pub has a ridiculously small car park and it’s full and there’s no spaces on the street either. So I drop them off and drive back to where my nearest friend lives before I can find a space. I park behind another car who’s half-mounted the kerb like the rest of the street to allow the rest of the road to pass. It takes a good fifteen minutes to walk back to the pub and I warn my friends to give me due notice to fetch the car when it’s time to pick them up. But when I return to my car, it’s not there.

Falling by T.J Newman

Falling by T.J. Newman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It’s exciting to be part of an author’s first publication. This is a tale about teamwork and how the experienced and inexperienced come together to deal with a catastrophe. There are some situations that you just can’t process correctly to work out what’s happening and it makes you think that the plot would be better suited to a TV movie than a book. The baseball scenario was overstretched and should have been introduced earlier, while others like the celebrity seemed to have been forgotten about towards the end of the story. Also, the tightness of some of the teams makes it difficult for the reader to become part of the experience when the team is already established, especially when you use nicknames for them like Big Daddy. However, there are some great twists in this story that you just can’t predict, and when Newman’s narrative convinces you that it’s all over, another event occurs. It also illustrates the fact that no-one is privileged despite their situation, and everyone has a different part to play. It’s a great tale about the good and the bad of humanity.

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How do you Like them Apples?

It’s always hard to get hold of a good apple. I usually go for the small ones so that I can have one as part of a snack. It’s healthy and appetising, and it’s very handy as it’s something that I can force myself to eat if I decide to skip breakfast. It takes up less room in my fridge, and they create a smaller mess if they do rot through. The dates aren’t printed on the packets any more which makes you question why they’re in packets in the first place. It’s a shame that they’re not loose so that you can’t examine all sides. You need a fine eye to look for signs of brown. Do you got for the colourful juicy red ones or do pick the green ones in the hope that there’s still time for them to ripen? You’ve just got to hope that they last another five days. 

Kilt Rock

Our next destination was on the east coast of the island. The car park was closed for maintenance so we parked on the verge and made our way on foot. There were some foreign visitors who didn’t understand the safety aspect of these barriers and decided to move them themselves so that they could use the car park, but little did they realise that they were on CCTV. Beyond the car park was a bridle gate and from there we journeyed to the cliff’s edge to a metal barrier where, if we stuck our neck out far enough, we could see a waterfall make its way over the edge and into the sea. In the distance is a straight edge of sandstone, and the different shades in the rock makes it look almost kilt-like. It would have been much more impressive if we had visited it by boat as the focus would be based more on the cliffs than the rocks. 

Things to Try

Sex. It’s going to be hard to get though. I need to be more confident in my offer. It’s still a man’s world so most women would probably want me to take the lead and I’d probably be a bit suspicious if an overconfident woman came onto me. So I need to try out a different approach. I’ll probably have more success in an area where I’m not well known so I don’t have to worry too much about my performance being fed back to people I know. Maybe I should stop caring about what others think; especially when it comes down to subjects that I’m not interested in. I’d also like to try different venues and activities. It would be nice if I got to share them with other people but it’s hard to encourage others to be experimental. Maybe I need to find some new people to hang out with. I’ve always wanted to try skiing, but I don’t reside in the best area for it. I am able to travel; but that just adds to my time which becomes difficult when I’ve got other commitments. One day I’ll get there. I’ve just got to bite the bullet, seize the day and jump in rather than hide away. Hopefully there’s still time for me before the opportunity vanishes. 

Single Track Café

We’d been recommended this place by some friends that I just happened to bump into. It was an ideal place for us as we were feeling a bit windswept and I needed something to keep me perked up to continue driving on our tour. From the outside, it looked quite desolate. A single-track road led past the cattle grid down to a gravel car park. The building consisted of thin strips of wood in a triangular shape that was more suited to a hide than a coffee shop. The interior was even stranger, with a few make-shift tables and the walls were lined with congregated aluminium. Still, the staff were friendly and the coffee was okay. They even had decent toilet facilities, albeit in a side building. I think the best thing about the place was that it had Wi-Fi in the middle of nowhere. Sadly, the place has since closed. I wonder if it’s been converted into holiday homes. 

Arms and Elbows

She’s short for her age but determined and confident. She loves being a collaborator and in sports she’ll try to captain her team no matter what her position is. Ginger hair and a petite frame gives her speed on the field, while freckles on the nose and brown eyes brings her a plain earthly appearance. Her short brown hair is often left to grow long at the back which is sometimes plaited or put into pigtails. She loves playing with it. She’s a big fan of short shorts, complimented by short white socks and tiny trainers, but in the winter she tends to dress like the boys rather than be feminine. She takes part when she has to and always puts herself forward, but becomes quiet when it comes to casual conversation. She’s aware of what she has to do to stay in everyone’s good books, and she’s never one for mischief.  

Duntulm Castle

Our next destination was to the north of the island. We parked on a roadside corner next to a gate opposite a catering van. Crossing the gate, we continued cliffside up the hill until we reached the castle ruins. A small cairn marked the castle remains, and it wasn’t difficult to pass over the fence to climb onto the ruins themselves, although there are wooden fences to stop people from venturing towards the cliff’s edge. We got some splendid views of the surrounding island which looked like a giant hippo sleeping in the water. I had no idea whether the tide was in or out so I didn’t have a clue if we were experiencing the best view. It was good to stroll down the hill for a fort-side view of the castle too. It’s amazing how the cliff-face and the surrounding grass and moss look like steps and blocks. It would be good fun to come up in the spring to see the rabbits run around the warrens here. 

Perri Kiely's Fun News

The hardest part of getting this feature to work is by saying the guy’s name. Obviously if you’ve heard his radio show then you’ll have an idea but for a newcomer like me it was impossible. After trying twice, I pronounced his surname differently at which point it worked and the device pronounced it the same way that I said it the first time round. Three facts were read out; none of which were particularly inspiring. The first fact sounded like a man’s growth being interrupted by Tom Cruise visiting in a helicopter while shooting his new film. While that might make the actor liable, it certainly doesn’t scream fun. The second fact was an F1 fan being mistaken for a gangster and we don’t really learn how the decision-making process was made. The third one was about a duck talking which didn’t sound very family friendly. It may just be a slow news day, but I might not bother with a next time.

Circling with Fairies

We arrive at a fog-covered loch. In the distance are beautiful conical hills covered in grass. In a way, it feels like we’ve walked into Teletubby land. We find a lay-by and venture out. There’s the odd marsh with long brown grass and since it’s so wet you can mistake the road for a river from a distance. The waters are still and move only with the wind. Once you climb up and gain some height, you can see a waterfall flowing through the glen. At the top of one of the hills is a stone ruin of a castle. It’s a bit of a scramble to get there and the path on the ridge is very narrow, but it’s worth doing. There’s also a stone circle laid out in a spiral which cumulates into a small pile of muddy rocks. It’s all very mystical and eerie. Currently there’s no set path, but they may have to build one soon to preserve the area.  

 

You Can't Please Everyone

No what opinion you have, there’ll always be someone that thinks the opposite. It just goes to prove that each human experience is unique. Some might be easily pleased while others would require every aspect of the experience to be great to consider it to be on the same scale. While you might control the experience, people will always relate their experience to another or to another point of their day if there’s no comparison. And while you think you might be standing up for someone, there’ll be others who think that you’re discriminating against them. So how do you treat everyone fairly? I don’t think you can. We are each born into different circumstances so we don’t all start the same. But it’s how we finish is what counts. Will you live a life of luxury while help others at the same time? Will you find every day a struggle? Or will you do the best that you can to help your fellow humankind?

Plushie Cakes

The plan was to have a meal together. We didn’t book since it was a weekday night in September in an isolated country pub. Luckily, we managed to get the last table. We ordered drinks then settled down to wait. Our guests arrived half an hour late then inform us that they’d already eaten. That was a bit annoying. If we had known, we could have gone ahead and ordered and could have finished our meal just as they arrived. But to be sociable, they did order a side plate to share then decided to join in dessert. But while we shared recommendations of places to visit and bakeries to try, we also learnt about a dedicated social media group devoted entirely to plushies. Amazingly, this dominated the conversation, and despite knowing them the longest, I couldn’t think of much else to bring to the table. At least the journey back to the cottage wasn’t too bad. 

Bad Hair Day #empress 11

Zhong dreamed that he was on a boat. He felt that he was sliding across the floor. Suddenly, he felt a sense of weightlessness as if her was flying! He opened his eyes to see a mass of black fur. Not only that, his leg was entangled by it, forcing the rest of him to hang upside-down. It felt like the fur was being uprooted, but what was below him? His body was swaying too fast for his eyes to become fixated on a single object to focus. Eventually he settled on what looked like a large rock in a desert in front of a curvy hill. As his eyes adjusted, he started to realise that his axis was vertical and wondered how far from the ground he was. The rock in front of him seemed to have stopped moving and he was swinging right for it. He reached an arm out to prise his body away from it…only to find that it was soft. 

Skye Red at the Old Inn, Carbost

As a meeting of great minds came to pass in the presence of brochs, it was felt that the experience should be repeated in a pub somewhere and that we should all get together for a meal. It had to be somewhere with good beer but also somewhere that did home-cooked food. There weren’t that many places in the guide, and for some reason we picked on the opposite side of the island. I insisted on drinking that night but as a compromise I volunteered to drive to the distillery, which ironically was just down the road from the pub. We left the car in its car park and headed down the steps and into the cosy inn. We secured a table stuck at the back with some lovely stone walls. Only one beer was available but I learnt that a second was on when the rest of our group arrived.

Jack Frost

This family film had far too long a backstory to get through before the main event, which would certainly be off-putting to younger viewers. They might relate to the bullying which could be more of a horror film rather than fun family entertainment. There’s also some serious snowball fights and the kids that take part in them know their stuff. It’s a shame that Charlie didn’t pursue a romantic interest. Keaton’s acting seems as he’s trying too hard when he’s on-screen. The film does have a huge soundtrack which reflects the band but this takes the focus away from the plot which could explain why it appeals to adults more than children. It’s also quite real towards family life. The snowman itself is quite creative, though its eyebrows give it a mean look and chubby appearance. The conclusion isn’t convincing either; although I suppose it does provide a coping mechanism to those who have lost a family member.

Away with the Fairies

Today’s task was to find the fairy pools. This was a long cascade of pools running through the glen with some spectacular waterfalls right in the island’s centre. We had a rough idea where to go thanks to a guidebook, and it seemed that everyone else did as well as a quarry was being converted into a car park and already we had to pay £5 to park. We followed a trail alongside a stream against the backdrop of some impressive hills, and the rock pools just kept appearing and appearing and appearing. I got brave enough to crawl down to the rocks and took a quick dip. I would have gone for a swim but the weather was against me. It would have been great to see just how long they could stretch to, but Maz’s mobility problems prevented us from strolling as fast as we would have liked. On a brighter day, there would be some great rainbow displays. It’s definitely somewhere that I would like to return. 

Panic at the Pub! #dreamdiary 127

I’m off to the pub! It’s a country place that mainly serves food, but we just want to sup a pint. We walk into the front room where there is only table service and all the tables are laid out as a restaurant. There’s also no-one there, so we decide to pop outside and walk around to the back bar. We walk through a cavernous metal barn that’s laid out as an amphitheatre. There’s a few people seated at high-raised small tables in the centre of the structure. I’m hoping that we can sit outside the back with a view of the field. As I walk out of the amphitheatre, I find myself standing in a field with the pub behind me, and the entrance to the back bar seems to lie on a footpath around the corner. As I near it, I hear a huge moo and a giant Jersey cow is running towards me. I sprint out of its way, and it carries on past me chasing a giant sponge black and white football with a huge grin on its mouth like a playful puppy. 

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Dracula by Bram Stoker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It’s one of those novels that I’ve always wanted to read. I thought that there would be a bit more gore and erotica than what was contained within, especially with the impression that the introduction gave. I certainly expected that the protagonists would face a bit more horror, although Reinfield’s role was enjoyable. It was great to see the situation develop from different perspectives, but it was confusing at times as to which character did what; especially with no acquaintance made to the reader. It’s also quite convenient that the protagonists have lots of money to aid them in their search, and their interviewees always seem to tell the truth. I did enjoy the hunt at the end but the mystery of how Dracula died was all too sudden. Did he turn into ash or stone? Did he decompose before our very eyes? We shall never know, which is why there are so many different versions of retelling this tale.

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Why did they pick a Gay Actor for Sheldon Cooper?

Could it be that the producers were gay? Is there a Hollywood Agenda? Probably not, although the question does have a point as many of the hunks that Penny dates are portrayed as brainless or too masculine for their own good which severs the relationship in some way. But if you look at the other actors, I don’t think that it comes down to a matter of sexuality. They had a wealth of people to choose from. What the casters were looking for that could act asexual and not care about the birds and the bees. They needed someone that could always portray themselves as secular without their eyes being drawn to Penny’s neckline. Parsons might not have been a well-known actor as he is now, but he certainly proved to be the best person for the job, having to memorise long speeches while sounding intelligent enough to know what he is talking about.

Poncing about Portree

Today we headed to Portree which was the largest town on the island. We found a small car park right next to the coast, and it didn’t take us long to get a nice view of the harbour. We found a crafts fair in the community centre and had a quick walk around before following the coastal path out to “The Lump”. This was a scenic coastal path on a piece of headland. At its tip was a grass amphitheatre, and there was also a beautiful Victorian stone watchtower to ascend and explore. We had a wander down to the harbour then decided on fish and chips for lunch. We had to wait a while for an outside table, but when our orders were called it was worth it. After a brief supply stock, we just needed a convenience stop before we headed back to the car. A coach party had formed a queue, but luckily one of the less mobile members of our group had a radar key to access the private disabled toilet. Normally, they’d be happy to help the coach party out, but as they were knocking on the door while she was in there she decided not to bother.

 

"It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed."

 -Theodore Roosevelt.

It’s a shame when things don’t go your way and consequences arise. But what is worse is if you didn’t put any effort in to prevent it or to ensure your success. You might spend more regretting that you didn’t attempt the task rather than giving it a shot. Are there any guarantees that it will be a total disaster? Is there someone out there that can help ease your woes and help the process? What’s the worst that could happen and is that scenario likely to occur? And what would the consequences be if you didn’t make an attempt? Go on, take some courage, be brave and have a go. It's a great opportunity to illustrate your independence and it’s better than sitting around moping. You never know, you might create a success story or the situation may at least end up being a lot less worse than you envisioned.

Saucy Mary

Back at the village, we decided to visit the war monument by the loch. It was a typical cenotaph but it was hidden by a small forest and you had to climb the hill. At the top was a marvellous view of the Skye Bridge. We decided to press onto the castle and found a mural by the harbour and stopped by a shipwreck. Here, we noticed that the tide was coming in which meant that we might be at risk of returning by the same path which we came. Maz had mobility issues so she decided to turn back, but I pressed on with Ben. We reached the ruin which was little more than a hangout for kids, but its peak allowed us another pleasant view of the bridge, together with the village and its harbour. Luckily, there weren’t any boats departing, so we didn’t feel compelled to flash our breasts to charge a toll.     

Accomplishments

I got up. I did a test for coronavirus. I had breakfast and made myself a cup of tea. Yesterday I did the same minus the coronavirus test but with the addition of a haircut. All these things sound trivial, but it’s factually what I’ve achieved this week so far. Last week I attended work where I’ve achieved sixteen years of retail experience, and may make it seventeen in nine months’ time. I have a degree tucked away somewhere in English, though its merit may have deteriorated over the years. I’m a loved uncle. I have my own car and good health, though a not so good physique. I have completed an indoor skydive and have a video and certificate to prove it. I have a good knowledge of computers and hold a practical qualification to prove my knowledge that I can use certain software. I have friends but most of them have faded away and it’s time to look for new ones. But I can’t help but think that I should have achieved more than this by now. Still, there’s always time. I just need to put the effort in.

I can see a Rainbow

Before heading back, we pulled over to look at the Glenelg War Memorial. Set against the backdrop of Kyle Rhea, this statue of an angel shielding soldiers was in a stunning location. As we looked towards the water, we saw the hills covered in cloud while a rainbow floated over the shore. Our plan to get back home was to hitch a lift on the ferry. Unfortunately, being in a remote area, we couldn’t get access to the internet to see if they were still in operation because of the previous day’s weather. This meant a round trip back across the main road; though the time flew by as we were enjoying the lovely scenery. We climbed the old military road and we stopped for another photo opportunity at Ratagan Pass which had a view of Loch Duich with five sister peaks in the distance. Once we’d returned to our village, we were eager for another walk to stretch our legs before retiring for the evening.