Blairgowrie Highland Games 2014

Hot off the press.......Blairgowrie Highland Games will be held on the 20th July 2014,  before it was always the first Sunday in September the day after the Braemar Games.  Bit of a shame as I always have guests staying making a weekend of Highland Games frivolity. The new date will clash with 80's Rewind at Scone, so you could look out the dodgy legwarmers and blonde permed wig on the Saturday and save the nice tweed/tartan ensemble for the Sunday.  Laird McBlair already looks the part, although I may have to run him up a wee kilt.

Autumn Colours in Highland Perthshire

Today I had a day off, well until the afternoon anyway.  The sky was blue, the sun was shining and I had the car.  Absolutely no excuse needed not to get out and about and do what I love the most. Enjoying the Scottish scenery, dog at my side and camera in hand. Slow start as stuck behind a huge flatbed lorry on the Dunkeld Road, but soon on my way up to the Queen's View near Killiecrankie.  That road was a slow drive as well, near head on collision with a bus and then stuck behind a 20mph Mercedes who's driver didn't get the concept that he should have maybe have pulled in and let traffic by, he also pulled into the Queen's View car park and decided to take up two parking spaces.  I must have had my knowledgeable, approachable look on today as was cornered by a couple wanting to know about walks in the area.  During the day quite a few people stopped and talked, I put it down to not having a hat on! I forgot it. As always the Queen's View was stunning then I went back down and parked at the bridge over the River Garry and wandered along to the Linn of Tummel where I chatted with a random man taking photo's and discussed all the filters he had for his camera.  Lot's of people out with their camera's today and as always the 'light' in the October sun is wonderful for scenic shots. I then had a short stop at Faskally Loch where the dog enjoyed his swim and played with a Collie. Then to Black Spout Waterfall and a quick photo at Polney Loch before home.
Incidentally Scotland is in the top 3 destinations to visit in 2014 as listed by Lonely Planet

The Falkirk Wheel

Today I ventured out of Perthshire with the children and the dog down to the Falkirk Wheel.  The weather was not kind to us today, but that's what waterproofs are for, doesn't really matter if you get a bit drookit anyway, you dry off.  However, not so good for taking photos.  We had a grand old time and what a piece of engineering the wheel is, amazing.  I was in my element, you must go.  In the visitor centre was a superb array of photographs taken by secondary school pupils as part of a competition, very impressive.
On the way home I stopped at my old school at Dollar for a look, the children just said I'm posh, guess that is the general judgemental attitude to people who went/go to private schools! The school has changed dramatically since my day.
Quick pit stop at Burleigh Sands at Loch Leven and we all got covered in wet sand and the dog enjoyed a swim, then home.