Jim's General

26th of september

by on Thursday, September 26th, 2013

plums
Last of this seasons Victoria plums. It has been a wonderfully plumtastic year and we have been guzzling plums for the last couple of weeks. Sad to see the end of them…next year may well be disappointing…
stdu
Stuart Duncan at Redbarn studios is helping me to finish my eleventh studio album. He is great to work with- hardworking and cheerful…
redb
Outsie Redbarn studios near Dundee..
millstredb
Wouldn’t like to have this millstone hanging round my neck…
braaninver
Low water on the Braan near Dunkeld. a beautiful spot..

22nd of September

by on Sunday, September 22nd, 2013

romecr
It is the high season for salmon fishing on the River Tay and anglers are lined up at Rome Croy just north of Perth. Salmon are sploshing about everywhere….
fishon
By Jove this chap has got one on!
fishpic
After a ten minute tussle his pal takes a snap before it is carefully released… It looks about ten pounds or so. The record for the Tay is 64lbs.

19th of September

by on Thursday, September 19th, 2013

stapeir
It has been a busy month. I have been finishing recording a new CD and Susie and I took a group of good folks around Scotland. Here is St Andrews from the end of the pier. The ruined cathedral on one side and the er ruined castle on the other.
braemhg
The Braemar Highland Games, a swirling mass of pipers, dancers, runners, throwers, tuggers… and royals
braequ
Yes that distant figure swaythed in pink is the Queen as men in skirts test the quality of new telegraph poles
clavasplit
Scene of the Diana Gabbled-on kilt-lifter(Scottish version of bodice ripper)’Outlander’ which she wrote without ever having set foot in Scotland. There’s about to be a big Hollywood movie made, shot partly in Scotland…
clavaring
One of the ancient burial rings at Clava Cairns.. a magical place
clavacat
Next to the monument above. Come on kitty, cross my path.. it did – where’s the nearest bookmaker…
DSC_0038
Stayed for the first time in Fort Augustus very close to the series of locks on the Caledonian Canal. Loch Ness is in the distance. Had lovely pint sitting outside the famous Lock Inn.
bennev
On the ferry to Mull looking towards Big Ben, Nevis that is. It is a difficult mountain to see as it hides behind another peak and is very often covered by cloud. The highest point in the British Isles.
jimduart
Keen observers may recognise this jacket from a past album cover. It has worn much better than I have. Castle Duart, ancestral seat of the Macleans of Mull, in front of Ben More the highest mountain on Mull. I once scrambled up  Ben More on New Years Day in  howling Gale. Great cure for a hangover…
ionafrferry
Eager pilgrims on the Ferry to Iona from Mull. A place of enchantment that attracted both Druids and Early christians and seems to have a benign micro-climate all of its own..
kingfitay
Back home to the office er river, perched on that big rock is a kingfisher. the photo does not do it justice, the plumage is absolutely stunning – honest!

16th of August

by on Friday, August 16th, 2013

roller
Scotlands biggest roller coaster which is a baby by international standards but is the scariest I’ve ever been on.. it feels incredibly unsafe as if when they built it they didn’t quite line up all the supports properly. It is in Strathclyde country park….I took Sandy and his pal there..
rollsign
These signs are usually overcautious but this one is on the money…Theres one bit where you are guaranteed a mild concussion..
lochlev
Loch Leven. Family trip the the castle on an island where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned…The Loch is also a very famous trout fishery…
lochlcast
She was kept in here and got very bored apparently…the highlight for the kids was a little stone toilet which discards waste directly outside down a chute…gardeloo!

30th of July

by on Tuesday, July 30th, 2013

b&sbrodgar
Family hols to the Orkney Islands, which is basically a neolithic theme park
brodgar
All a bit Spinal Tap….
stenness
Sheep also go on holiday you know…
strm
We stayed in Stromness close to where the German fleet scuttled itself after WWI….
birsay
Moody view from the Brough of Birsay
birsayring
Neolithic wannabe monument at Birsay…
scaraho
You wont find this at Ikea .. five thousand year old house furnishings at Scara Brae…
scaraview
and they had some view…
stmag
Side of St Magnus Cathedral the finest medieval building on any of the Scottish islands…
hoy
Old Man of Hoy a rock stack seen from the ferry between Orkney and the mainland…All in all truly magical place…