Playing..!

For years we've lived by the Basingstoke canal nr. Woking in Surrey- hence the canoe. When our children were little they'd go out with their dad in the canoe sometimes with a tent and camp overnight on the canal bank or on the nearby river Wey. We've enjoyed messing about on the river/canal with friends locally so it's good to know that eventually when our house gets built we shall be living with water at the end of the garden

Even if it is a long way down and very steep

Yes I know it's heavy but someone has to hold the camera

Finally, the jetty - honest. Just needs a little touching up maybe. And a neat little slipway perhaps instead of the piles of very squishy slippery seaweed

Made it

It's deeper than the canal - this is a shallow bit but mostly you can't see the bottom at all

We stayed relatively near the edge but at times it was quite rocky

Two cormorants about to fly off. We also saw herons and two seals I don't know whether they were common or grey ones they were some way off and just their heads popped up from time to time to see what we were doing

Coming Home. The tide was coming in which was in our favour and the wind had dropped so we made good time which was just as well as we were a bit.....

Knackered..! I didn't just hold the camera I paddled as well!

Flotsam and Jetsum

This old boat has been abandoned on the shores of Lochbroom - joy riders maybe? I was trying to get a very artistic picture but I got the sun in my eyes and the broken old wheel reminds me of a giant slug.

Picture of the same boat taken without the sun in my eyes.

In and around Ullapool

Walking to the shops over Ullapool Hill

However you approach it, Ullapool comes as a surprise. From the south east or from the north, or in this case from Ullapool Hill you can't fail to be struck by its whiteness and regularity of layout and design.

Shore Street

View from Shore Street

Madeleine McCann's Aunt teaches at the school in Ullapool

A ship berths in Ullapool Harbour

Ullapool from the north. The blue Loopallu tent (bottom right of the picture) is home to the Loopallu Festival held each year here. Franz Ferdinand was amongst guest artists appearing this year. A hugely popular event.

We're Off...!

Earlier this month we packed up,waved good bye to family and friends and set off on a 630 mile

journey, complete with canoe, to the highlands of Scotland. The plan; to build a danish timber framed house (sorry it's in danish!) on an acre of hill side just south of Ullapool