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  1. Home Movies

    August 3, 2008 by John

    I’ve started putting some of our old home movies (from Mum & Dad’s old Super 8 cine film) on YouTube.

    Here’s a taster…

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  2. Shawbridge flats demolished

    July 20, 2008 by John

    Two of the blocks of flats close to us were demolished this morning. Lots of vids on YouTube, but this one was the best.

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  3. The joy of the swing

    July 5, 2008 by John




    The joy of the swing

    Originally uploaded by John The Geologist

    This is how to enjoy the sensation of flying through the air on a swing. My niece Charlotte in Newlands Park yesterday.

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  4. Applecross Inn

    June 30, 2008 by John

    View from Sand, Applecross
    The second stop on our West Coast holiday was the Applecross Inn, accessed by driving over the 600 m ( Bealach na Ba (Pass of the Cattle) from Lochcarron. The day we did it the cloud base was around 300 m, so we crossed the pass in a dense fog.

    The Applecross Inn is a typical coastal pub and hotel, staffed by friendly and welcoming people. On the Wednesday night we were there the bar was buzzing with campers, walkers, locals and people staying in the inn. We had to wait around 10 mins for a table, but the owner got us a table by the windows looking out at the rain! The seafood is superb, landed locally and really fresh, treated well by the kitchen.

    Local prawns (langoustines), garlic & herb butter, crusty bread, salad.

    Crab salad (dressed crab, smoked salmon, marie rose sauce, langoustines), crusty bread, salad.
    Local mackerel, new potatoes, salad.

    Sticky toffee pudding, ice cream.
    Apple & plum crumble, custard.

    While we were there, we went for a refreshing afternoon cuppa in the Potting Shed Cafe in the walled garden of Applecross House. The garden has been restored over the past few years and it is amazing to see what they can grow in this sheltered spot.

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  5. Ardanaiseig

    June 29, 2008 by John

    Ardanaeiseig Hotel

    We stayed at Ardanaiseig for 2 nights at the start of our West Coast holiday, and arrived on a beautiful late afternoon after having walked up The Cobbler.

    From the outside the hotel is a somewhat shabby Scots baronial house built in local granite. Inside, it feels like a highland country house. Our room was spacious and comfortable with antique furniture, and a great view over Loch Awe to the Argyll hills.

    View across Loch Awe from Ardanaieseig Hotel

    We had dinner both nights. Each night had a fixed menu, which meant that the kitchen could concentrate on putting out high quality food. The highlight for me was the dessert on Monday – coffee, doughnuts and iced double cream – this was a coffee creme brulee topped with cappuccino foam, with a solid doughnut and double cream ice cream. And it didn’t skimp on the portions either.

    Monday

    Amuse bouche: Crab spring roll
    Butternut squash veloute with pancakes
    John Dory with artichoke
    Best end of lamb, aubergine puree, garlic crisps, garlic foam, courgettes and white beans
    Pre-dessert: passion fruit minestrone
    Coffee, doughnuts and iced double cream
    Coffee & confectionery

    Tuesday

    Amuse bouche: Ballantine of quail with red onion and black pudding
    Veloute of Jerusalem artichoke with truffle shavings
    Ravioli of goats cheese with red pepper coulis
    Sea bass, potato scales, mussels in saffron sauce
    Pre-dessert: stawberry jelly
    Chocolate fondant, white pepper ice cream, raspberries
    Coffee & confectionery.

    And I must also mention breakfast!

    Fresh fruit, nuts, dried fruit, cereals
    Croissants, pains au chocolat, toast
    Full Scottish – beef sausage, bacon, black pudding, tomato, mushroom, potato scone, poached egg
    Smoked salmon and scrambled egg

    Ardanaiseig does some things really well – in particular the warmth of the hotel is matched by the warmth and friendliness of the staff (many of whom seem to be Aussies on a RTW trip). The rooms are comfortable and spacious, if a little quirky, and the food is intelligent and well presented.

    The hotel could be even better – the dining room would benefit from someone supervising and mentoring the front of house staff, the food could make more use of seasonal ingredients (butternut squash in June?), and they could plant up the beautiful walled garden with veg to provide that really local flavour to the kitchen.

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