Fantastical things!

On 10/01/202310/01/2023 By Peter's ponderingIn alliteration, animals, beauty, birds, cats, dogs, environment, insects, magic, nature, The spoken word, trees, walks, wildlife32 Comments

I love to see the blackbirds on the decking, pecking, pecking

and to hear the jackdaws squawking like they’re talking when I’m walking.

Then the little robins sing, in the Spring, it’s their thing:

little wrens aflutter, give a mutter in the gutter

and the mighty seagulls fly, way up high, in the sky.

If I’m lucky I will see a small bee in the tree

or a little startled frog, all agog, in the bog:

perhaps a pecking hen in the den, maybe then

I’ll see a barking dog in the fog with a log,

and after that a rat closely followed by a cat.

I see so many things nature brings, some on wings.

Some of them are tall, some are small but they’re all

such magical, fantastical things!

Peter’s Pondering Pipes #25

On 29/08/202222/01/2023 By Peter's ponderingIn #Peter's Pondering Pipes, about me, Army, beauty, birds, boats, community, decline, Fact, heritage, Music, My life, Pipes, sadness, seclusion, wellbeing35 Comments

This is part of a series. Previous posts can be found by clicking on #PETER’S PONDERING PIPES.

Evacuation of St Kilda – 92 years ago.

On 29th August 1930, following years of hardship and a dwindling population, the remaining 36 islanders from St Kilda were evacuated at their own request. They sailed to the mainland never to return, thus ending a way of life unchanged for centuries.

The slides were taken by James Smith during several visits as a work party member and the music is from “Skyedance” by Alasdair Fraser.

This is really all about the people of St Kilda, a hardy bunch of folk who lived very much hand to mouth until tourism and exploitation threatened their way of life. I have highjacked part of the story to feature the pipes within the musical accompaniment to the video.

I was fortunate to live and work on St Kilda for a total of eight months during the period December 1979 to January 1982, serving a rotational tour of approximately 6 weeks on and 12 weeks off depending on weather conditions for safe travel by either Landing Craft Logistic or by helicopter.

https://vimeo.com/744150939?1&ref=fb-share&fbclid=IwAR07LwZD6fEsbBkNSjb2AtOYD_qWDFt-MgY1Y86b6u5FBJL5avmRbhxW1oc

This file has, unfortunately, either been deleted or permissions have been withdrawn. There is no other suitable alternative – my apologies!

Here is a BBC news report which may be unavailable to anyone outside of the UK.

Summer Love | Peter Matthews — Whispers and Echoes

On 31/08/2021 By Peter's ponderingIn creativity, dance, love, Poetry, Re posts, sea27 Comments

My third Summer based poem shared from Whispers and Echoes. Please follow the link.

Lying on the lawn with Lorrilee A game of tennis then a nice cream tea Walking hand in hand beside the sea Dancing in the moonlight full of glee * Watching fluffy clouds go scudding by Looking at the seagulls flying high Playing silly games with twinkling eye snuggling close together, my oh my Peter […]
Summer Love | Peter Matthews — Whispers and Echoes

My Life #26 – St Kilda – Island on the edge of the world.

On 04/02/201921/06/2023 By Peter's ponderingIn about me, Army, beauty, birds, boats, Fact, heritage, My life, nature, Re posts, sea, ships, water10 Comments

Anyone who saunters through my blog will very soon find that I was, for over 28 years, an Army man, a soldier, a squaddie!

This involved living in all sorts of weird places, in peculiar circumstances, and doing all sorts of things that the average joe doesn’t get to experience.

One of the places I lived was on the remote island of Hirta, in the archipelago of St Kilda. In all I spent over 8 months there, normally on a rotational basis of 6 weeks on, 12 weeks off. You can read a little about it here, and here.

During my time there I don’t think that I ever experienced the superb 4 day block of good weather that Angus Mackie and his group of kayakers did for their trip that is shown here.

This post is not about me but it does show a place that is dear to my heart, and to anyone who has ever been lucky enough to experience it.

Just as anyone who has experienced a true desert will know what “desert fever” feels like, those who’ve been to Kilda will be forever drawn back there, even if it is only in memories!

This expedition report is rather lengthy, and will be hastily skipped through by some, but for a few it will be of great interest. The link at the bottom will take you to a marvellous set of photos and videos. It takes a while to load as they are high resolution, and lots of interactive 360˚ shots. I hope you have time to enjoy them.

A link to a newly updated blog post of “A Superlative St Kilda Sea Kayaking Expedition with Skyak Adventures.”

St Kilda is a place of superlatives!

The remote island archipelago of St Kilda lies some 40 miles west of the Outer Hebrides and not only is it a UNESCO World Heritage Site but it has the highest sea cliffs in the UK, the largest seabird colony in northern Europe and a quarter of the world’s gannet population.

It’s also an amazing place for sea kayaking…!!

I’m Angus Mackie, a professional forester and photographer, based just north of Inverness on the beautiful Black Isle. I’m on the North Coast 500 and am well placed to discover most of the Highlands. The iconic scenery of Glen Affric and the Cairngorms are close by whilst many of the wild and dramatic locations on the west coast are within easy reach.

Mountains, landscapes, coastlines…. As a landscape and panoramic photographer who specialises in 360° photography, I enjoy exploring Scotland and its wild and remote places and have discovered some of the best photography locations in the Highlands over the last 35 years of living up here. With a broad and wide ranging knowledge of the Highlands, I still enjoy finding new locations and fresh perspectives for my photography. The use of natural light to capture stunning scenery at spectacular locations is very much a key factor for my photography.

I’m a qualified Summer Mountain Leader, a Sea Kayak Leader and a UKCC Level 2 Sea Kayaking coach, with many years experience of leading and guiding. I am also a longstanding member of Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team.

https://www.scotland360.co.uk/Blog_St_Kilda_July_2014.html?fbclid=IwAR0jolFavOHKug8o9RkHNk_oxkkAcyjGYtSI-heTlQk7dehf9o-Xyo-xans

21 June 2023 – Unfortunately, yet another link that has disappeared. If you are really interested then I’m sure, with a bit of investigation, you could find this marvellous video!