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    Sutherland Kale

    The Highland Good Food Conversation are looking for Sutherland Kale stories now. It is a rare seed but one that grows well. I spent some time with mine at my allotment today and have a connection with it that is nothing to do with whether I like its taste or not….. Read on for my story or add yours and see others https://padlet.com/highlandgoodfood/pg01wclca24jo8gh   Sutherland Kale I have a love-hate relationship with Sutherland kale. It must be part of my heritage. Both sides of my family go way back into Sutherland and I grew up in Sutherland so there is this romantic side of me who thinks that I should eat…

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    The Star of ‘Between Mountain and Sea’ – The Real Milly Dog

    The real Milly Dog, who is the main character of the book ‘Between Mountain and Sea, A Dog’s Adventure in Coigach and Assynt’  , is a very sweet-natured Lollie (I have made that name for her mixed breed up as a dog who is a lab crossed with a collie). I got her from a croft on Skye (there is a longer story there..) when I was ranger there and our first walk together involved a wee sit down to watch an otter. She was a 4.5 month old puppy and she just sat beside me on a rock looking and sniffing the air. That was the dog for me. She…

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    New Book – Between Mountain and Sea, A Dog’s Adventure in Coigach and Assynt.

    Setting the scene and procrastination… I am a frustrating procrastinator when it comes to my books. Despite it being something I want to do more than anything else, I find things such as cleaning windows (I don’t like cleaning) or taking my dog my for another walk to come between me and them… In fact, quite a large part of my procrastination comes in the form of walking.  However, for this I don’t think procrastination is the right word and proof comes in the form of my new book which is composed of many hours walking through my local landscape with my dog Milly. Walking and looking and listening all gets…

  • Travels with a sketchbook

    Sketching and Sailing – on board the Wylde Swan

    My encouraging and thoughtful brother bought and purchased this website for me for my birthday… six months ago. So you see I’ve been putting this off for a while. With excuses of lack of time and the will to sit in front of the computer during the summer, now with the wind-assisted rain hammering my window, comes my first ever blog. I’m not sure how I feel about it. Exposed and scared? Definitely those things but also inspired to have a voice and, as one of life’s recorders, it will be a nice record for me if nothing else. And so, from autumnal wind to summer sailing… Sailing to St.…