Ceud Mìle Fàilte

Photography Nature Technology Food
Movies Music Politics

and life in the Highlands.

Fàilte

Thank you for dropping-by, I hope you enjoy your visit. The main content is to be found in the blog where I discuss everything and anything but topics including photography, nature, technology, food, movies, music and politics make regular appearances.

I commonly write reviews of movies (or films, if you prefer). Some movie reviews are short, others will be discussed in more detail. The scope covered will be mainly mainstream English language movies from the 1930s until the present day.

About me

My name is Iain MacDonald and I live in the Highlands of Scotland (although I have lived elsewhere in the past). I am a big fan of Free & Open Source Software which I use both professionally and at home.

Computing and technology tend to infuse themselves into my other interests, as once you learn some skills in one area it is convenient to use them to solve problems in other spheres.

When not tinkering with computers, I am likely to be found repairing things because living in the countryside you learn to be resourceful.

Of course, man doesn't live by SSH tunnels and kerosene vapour burners alone so food, as a subject, makes regular appearances too. Did I mention I used to work in hospitality?

Latest Life articles

My most recent ramblings.

  • Feeling sheepish

    I went for a walk along a forestry style track, yesterday. Ahead of me was a ewe, with two lambs. The ewe felt nervous about my approach, and started to trot away from me. The lambs were, of course, following her closely. However, the sheep didn't trot away uphill or ... [Read more...]

  • Regatta Hydrafort Matt Jacket

    I needed to buy a waterproof jacket for use when working. I also have a Gore-Tex jacket from Craghoppers, which is excellent, but I didn't want to ruin that jacket by using it for working every day. I have a few other Regatta products which are well made, so, for ... [Read more...]

  • Highland Life and the Coronavirus

    It is quite extraordinary, I've never experienced anything like it. We are now a couple of weeks away from Easter, which is normally the time when the summer tourist season starts. The roads would see increased traffic, and the tourist hotspots would start to be busy. Not this year. [Read more...]

  • New Manual Coffee Grinder

    I was without my vintage wooden Zassenhaus, so I rushed out and bought a new manual coffee grinder. The one I got is from Maison & White, and it is amazingly good. It is adjustable from very fine to coarse. Grinding is done with ceramic burrs, and the rest of ... [Read more...]

  • Push or Pull?

    A couple of days ago I saw these two boats coming up the canal towards us, as we were doing the daily dog walk. It was clear from a distance that the two boats were very close together, and I assumed the first boat was towing the second. [Read more...]

Click here to view the whole Life section.

My latest Mastodon posts

Mastodon is a microblogging app that is part of the decentralised web known as The Fediverse. See this article for more details.

Fitheach (@fitheach@mstdn.io)

Sun, 02 Aug 2020 20:13:48 +0000

There are probably other "Great Western Roads" in the world, but, for me, there is only one. It goes from St George's Cross to Anniesland Cross in Glasgow, a distance of three miles. It is the start of the A82 trunk road to the Western Highlands.

Like many roads in Glasgow there are some architectural gems on the route, but also many eyesores. Glasgow's "city fathers" have a lot to answer for.

Nonetheless, in the past, the name of the road was a reminder I was going home.

Sun, 02 Aug 2020 17:18:43 +0000

It is funny how the meaning of words can change. I can't hear, or see, the word "tinder" without thinking of *that* website. Frankly, the word has been ruined.

Anyone else have words that have been ruined in a similar way?

Sun, 02 Aug 2020 17:07:37 +0000

Seven in the morning, tinder all my money
On the Great Western Road
Feel the wind in my face, take a look in my eyes
Some things never leave you
Some things never leave you
🎶

Sun, 02 Aug 2020 15:02:12 +0000

While waiting for dinner to cook, I'm watching Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005).

A well-off, suburban couple discover, after 5 or 6 years of marriage, that they are both state-employed assassins.

Completely silly, escapist nonsense, but I'm enjoying it. A smart script, over-the-top action, some hilarious situations, and the two leads (Pitt & Jolie) are excellent.

Recommended, if you want some entertaining fluff.

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Sat, 01 Aug 2020 10:26:06 +0000

Oops, forgot the credit:
Ultima Thule.

Sat, 01 Aug 2020 10:23:15 +0000

Traigh Udal,
Uibhist a Tuath.

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