Anxiety and Depression

Since my ex wife divorced me nearly two years ago, having to move out of the family home which I’d paid a mortgage for and move into rented accommodation I’ve suffered immensely with anxiety and depression.

Some days I’ve found it hard to get out of bed.

Some weeks I didn’t eat for 2-3 weeks at a time. Living on apple juice and yoghurts.

I’ve not exercised (or even moved much) for nearly two years.

I’ve lost 25lbs – mostly muscle mass.

Me – 1991

I’ve ascended most fells in The Lake District and Ben Nevis twice.

Near Styhead Tarn

Scafell Pike

Ben Nevis

And here I was today. Having to get my flu jab. I decided to walk it to try and get the old legs and lungs working. I was dreading it.

On the way I’m sure two snails overtook me…

Walk to The Medical Centre

I made a massive mistake. I believed my marriage / family WAS my life. I believed in it. And in the process lost who I was. My identity was my family.

I devoted almost 30 years to my wife and then son. Then I was abandoned and betrayed.

And you know…I didn’t just lose my family and my home. I lost my family meals, my family dog walks, my holidays, birthdays, Christmases and Easter’s. My future. I live on my own now and at times I don’t see anyone for weeks at a time apart from my weekly shopping excursion.

I’m slowly trying to find myself again. I need to get back into:

  • Training both resistance and cardio
  • Photography
  • Walking
  • Hiking
  • Cycling

I’m slowly coming out of the ‘nose dive’. At times I was very very ill. Both physically and mentally.

I’d never known anything like it.

I’ve bought a new camera – a Canon R7. I know ‘buying things’ isn’t the answer. I’m just hoping it’ll give me a little incentive to ‘get out there’!

Canon R7

Wish me luck!

Adventures Of A Wedding Photographer

Disclaimer: Any photographs displayed are not representative of any of the ‘stories’

They’re simply for illustrative purposes…

Mother of the bride “Make me look beautiful”

Me “It’s a camera not a wand” 😂😂😂

Bride (4’6” about 15st – 210 lbs) “You’ve made me look fat”

I’ve not been your dietician for the past 30 years!

Guest “Have you photographed weddings before?”

“No I usually work for the local morgue photographing cadavers, but it’s my day off today…”

“What side does the Grooms family sit on?”

“Whatever the Bride says…”

Was once photographing a wedding in Liverpool when the Bride and her mother started arguing about her choice of groom. They’d been together 12 years and had two children! It came to fisticuffs. I left….

Plenty of more tales for another day…

Skye, May 2017…

It was only last July that I vowed to never ever visit Skye again…see here why

I knew my lovers tiff wouldn’t last long…and on the 5th May 2017 I made my way back!

My alarm was set for 0500 hrs. however, on account of the excitement I awoke at 0448 hrs. I showered, packed the car, picked up some provisions from my local Asda, picked up my companion for the trip and set off.

The first stop, as is usual for me on these trips, was Inveruglas…a Red Bull, pie and packet of crisps later I was ready for the next stage to The Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge.

After a brief walk around it was back in the car to the next stop…the car park at Dornie…

Next stop, the campsite at Glenbrittle! We pitched our tents, had a brew (or a cider 😉 ) then had a walk on the beach…

After a couple (ahem) of ciders it was bed time.

On the Saturday we walked up to the Loch an Fhir-bhallaich near The Coire Lagan…details of the walk are here…

It was a wonderful sunny day and the views were glorious.

After we descended we just chilled around the campsite, reading or simply taking in the atmosphere…

On the Sunday we broke camp, drove to The Sligachan Campsite and set up camp there.

We rested a while, then I met a good friend of mine in Seumus’ Bar

We have a pint (ahem) of Guinness then it was time to say our goodbyes…for now.

Sunday evening was quite windy…however, when the wind died down I popped out to take a couple of hand held shots of the sunset…

The next morning, we got up early and left for home by 0710 hrs.

I’ll be back Skye!
Skye images here…
 

What I carry when outdoors

When going for a ramble or a more serious walk I tend to carry the same things in my rucksack.

I’ve always used ‘mental systems’ so that I remember things. For the great outdoors it’s:

  • Food
  • Water
  • Shelter
  • Communication
  • Navigation
  • Emergency
  • Photographic

Let me break that down for you.

Food 

Pasties, sandwiches, fruit, nuts, chocolate.

Water

Plain water to make a brew with the Jetboil and some diluted squash. Occasionally a bottle of beer for summit celebrations!

Shelter

Thermal smock, waterproof, hat (baseball and woollen cap), gloves.

Communication

iPhone. Very occasionally Motorola Radios if there’s more than just me.

Navigation

Map, compass, GPS (Satmap Active 10 and mapping app on iPhone). Route card. Occasionally guide book.

Emergency

Petzl head torch, Leatherman, whistle, lighter (Zippo).

Photographic 

CCS camera bag or Lowe Pro depending if more than one lens is taken. Camera, spare batteries and CF Cards. Cleaning cloth and blower brush. Remote release. Tripod (Benbo Trekker or Manfrotto).


 

I’ve just ordered a new rucksack…a black version of the Berghaus Ridgeway…I’ll keep you  informed…

http://www.berghaus.com/ridgeway-65%2B10-rucksack/421583.html

Back to Skye!

I fell a little out of love with Skye in the summer of 2016 on account of the amount of visitors / tourists who simply didn’t know how to drive / park – especially around the beauty spots (honey pots) of:

The Fairy Pools

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Neist Point

land3

Talisker Bay

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And Elgol

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Anyway, I’ve gotten over my little hissy fit and have decided to go back to Skye in May…so I’m currently planning my camping trip….

skye-april-2015-26

In the doldrums 

I’ve been in the photography / walking / camping doldrums for a few years now. Must be an age thing.

I used to be a very keen fell walker and have done it since about 1983.


  

Anyway, I’ve snapped out of that now. I’ve just prepped my new Berghaus Crusader rucksack for this years adventures.


And I’ve bought a new OEX Lynx tent for some camping adventures!

And I’ve sorted out the camping kit.


Let the adventures begin!

All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis!

I’ve just recently watched (a few times!) the recently released (on DVD) Macbeth.

   
   
All copyrights belong to their respective owners.

It’s a fabulous story for those of you who are not familiar with it plus it’s shot in some fantastic locations. 

It just so happens that I visited most of them in 2015!

Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland   

   

The Quiraing in Skye   

 

And around Sligachan and The Fairy Pools in Skye   

  
    
    
   

So, watch the movie and who knows, you may be tempted to visit the shooting locations!
Here are my less cinematic movies of my visits to these locations in 2015.

Seahouses 2015

Skye 2015