Exception

Well, I had to point to this story. It made me ill. In August 2006, a group of army cadets set out on Loch Carnan, South Uist, in winds of force 7. A boat overturned and all but one was saved. The 14th was not found until 45 minutes later, drowned under an upturned boat. The fatal accident inquiry is hearing harrowing and shocking evidence. Read more here, but heed my warning.

Header entry

I am posting this entry to reiterate that this journal remains suspended, as are my activities in J-land. Northern Trip will resume if and when I return to Lewis.

On May 1st, 2008, I lost my mother (as earlier entries indicate), and I am currently in Holland, coming to terms with my loss and supporting my family where possible. I am writing a diary-type journal called The Shell Gallery, using the screenname Veluweman. Feel free to come over and leave a comment.

Orkney & Shetland pictures

I have scanned in the last pictures of my 2004 journey through the Northern Isles of Scotland. I link to the relevant entries in Northern Trip - The Start, and thence on to Flickr.

5 September 2004

6 September 2004

7 September 2004

8 September 2004

9 September 2004

11 September 2004

12 September 2004

14 September 2004

20 September 2004

Pictures

Well, many thanks for the compliments on my photography. I guess it's a combination of being in a pretty environment and having an eye for the right scene. Mind you, there are plenty of horrible places in Holland as well as in Scotland, but then I'd never picture them.

Photo updates - Orkney

I spent 4 weeks in that archipelago, and have started to work my way through a fair collection of pictures, about 100. The first two days can be viewed through the usual process. Follow the link to the diary entry, thence another link to the pictures on Flickr.

2 September - Mainland Orkney and Papa Westray

3 September - Papa Westray

Photo updates - Durness & Cape Wrath

28 August 2004

29 August 2004

Again, a link to pictures can be found at the bottom of the entries.

Photo updates

I am currently catching up with pictures from 2004, when I started Northern Trip as a true journey through Northern Scotland. I have put photos on Flickr, from the following dates. Please note the link takes you to the diary entry of that day (on Northern Trip - The Start), where a separate link takes you to the pictures on Flickr. You may want to open the journal in 2 windows (just a tech hint), lest you keep jumping back and forth.

14 August
15 August
8 October
9 October
10 October
11 October
12 October
20 October
22 October
23 October
24 October
25 October
26 October
27 October
28 October
29 October
30 October
31 October

Thank you all

Just want to take the opportunity to once more thank all who went to the bother to comment in recent times, in excess of more than 100 all told. I am currently not blogging, and neither am I replying to emails. I do check emails, hence the post here.

I am currently in Holland. The funeral went as well as could be, but the emotion remains raw. Whether I shall remain here, or return to Lewis is totally undecided. If anything, it's too blinking hot here. Not used to 80F...

If anyone is interested in more Scottish pictures, please check out the pictures on my Flickr account. I am in the process of scanning 250 pictures from the start of Northern Trip, and the first 90 are there now. More to come, keep an eye on Flickr.

Monday

Very nice and warm here in Stornoway, everybody is outside (except for me at the moment). Will make final preparations for tomorrow's journey later this evening. Plane is at 8.30 am, so will have to be at airport even earlier. Hope that formalities are sorted quickly, after which I can organise onward transport.

I hope to return to Stornoway at some point in the future - whether that be soon or late I cannot tell at this point. Neither can I tell whether I'll resume blogging on here or on the alternate journal (The Shell Gallery).

I wish all well, and special thoughts to those coping with a bereavement of their own.
I hope that those of you who are coping with ill health yourselves or in the family will soon find an improvement.

Bye for now,

Sunday

I may make one or two posts before I head off early on Tuesday.

Although my alerts are off, I was checking a few journals on Technorati, and found that Kathy [onestrangecat] lost her mom yesterday, May 3rd. I know what she is going through, please call round. I'm very sad for her, and worried.

I am deeply moved by the tributes to myself on various journals, as well as the 100-odd comments on previous posts, as well as on Call for Support.

I shall be very sad to leave the Isle of Lewis which has been my home for the past 3½ years. You can access some of the work I've been doing from my website, www.adb422006.com.

No need to comment

Please place on alerts (if you want of course) my new journal The Shell Gallery. It'll be a while before I start making entries - if I decide I want to continue blogging.

Thank you

Although I've turned off alerts (save comments alerts), I have read the many messages by email and comments, also on Call for Support, in sympathy and compliment.

Just want to let y'all know that I'm touched. I cannot look into the future, but if you want, you can keep my alert open.

I'll continue to monitor emails until (probably) Monday.

Suspended

I know this will come as an unexpected announcement and a shock, but I am having to suspend this blog until further notice, due to a bereavement in close family. I'll email the group with further details. I do not know when or if I'll be resuming this journal.

I am also going to turn off alerts by the end of today, again with the same proviso - I do not know if I'll be able to return to J-land.

As the eventual answer could well be negative, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all for welcoming me into a wonderful community.

The Call for Support journal will remain available.

All the best,

Guido

Thursday 1 May

Labour Day today (please note the spelling), which used to be marked with marches with red flags, plenty of military ironware and patriotic or socialist sing-songs along tree-lined streets in Eastern Europe. That all fell silent 20 years ago. Only China still engages in that rigmarole.

May 1st is Beltane, the ancient start of summer, marked in Celtic Europe. Winter is over (is it?), the beasts can go to pasture and the evenings have already grown very long.

It's an overcast day today, and rain is possible.