Scotston Hill (NO 346400, 373m) Balkello Hill (NO 361394, 397m) 9.5 kilometres 370 metres of ascent This little circuit was an effort to connect together various paths I’d used in three previous, longer walks in this area. I parked at the Balkello Community Woodland and headed northwest, to pick up a path that runs westwards … Continue reading Sidlaws: Auchterhouse Hill Circuit
Rodney Russ & Aleks Terauds: Galapagos Of The Antarctic
These islands not only play an important role in the Southern Ocean ecosystem, they also have a rich human history—from their discovery around 200 years ago, through an era of exploitation, until finally today, when they are treasured for their intrinsic value as wild and beautiful places. I picked a copy of this book off … Continue reading Rodney Russ & Aleks Terauds: Galapagos Of The Antarctic
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Russian Far East: Part 3 – Chukchi Peninsula
In my first post about this trip, I described how we got to the Siberian port of Anadyr. In my second post, I described our stay at Wrangel Island, in the Russian Arctic. This post is about what we did between Anadyr and Wrangel (and between Wrangel and Anadyr), as we sailed along the coast … Continue reading Russian Far East: Part 3 – Chukchi Peninsula
Sidlaws: Kinpurney To Castleward
Kinpurney Hill (345m, NO 322417) Back Drum (287m, NO 336430) Castleward (273m, NO 343438) 14 kilometres 500 metres of ascent (with detours) Two glens penetrate the north side of the Sidlaw Hills—Glen Ogilvie and the Denoon Glen. Between them, they create three ridges that point northwards from the central bulk of the Sidlaws. I’ve walked … Continue reading Sidlaws: Kinpurney To Castleward
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Russian Far East: Part 2 – Wrangel Island
[T]he most desolate looking place I have ever seen, or ever wish to see again. Ernest Chafe, The Voyage of the “Karluk” (unpublished manuscript)* So. My previous post ended with our rather hectic embarkation on the good ship Professor Khromov, moored off the Siberian port of Anadyr. The Khromov is an Akademik Shuleykin Class … Continue reading Russian Far East: Part 2 – Wrangel Island
Russian Far East: Part 1 – Getting There
So—there’s been a bit of negative feedback on the Travel section of this blog, from those who know us. Apparently everything so far has been a little bit tame by the standard that people have come to expect from our previous travel destinations. So this one should redress the balance a little. We’ve just returned … Continue reading Russian Far East: Part 1 – Getting There
Nosism
ˈnɒsɪz(ə)m nosism: The use of “we” in stating one’s own opinions. Two minutes later, a man called Chamberlain who did Prime Minister impressions spoke on the wireless; he said, “As from eleven o’clock we are at war with Germany.” (I loved the WE.) Spike Milligan, Adolf Hitler: My Part In His Downfall (1971) Milligan is … Continue reading Nosism
Christoph Baumer: The History Of Central Asia
Sima Qian found himself personally affected by China’s wars against the Xiongnu in quite unintended fashion, for in 99 BCE he was castrated on the orders of Emperor Han Wudi … If I’ve been quiet on the reading front for a while, it’s been because I’ve been working my way through these gorgeously produced volumes. They’re big—almost … Continue reading Christoph Baumer: The History Of Central Asia
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-ize
-aɪz -ize: a suffix used to form verbs from adjectives and nouns Ubiquitization: This is a strategy adopted by service firms in order to physically distribute their products and services ‘everywhere’. Jones & Robinson, Operations Management (2012) A variety of specific E2 carrier protein and E3 enzyme pairs impart another important level of selectivity through … Continue reading -ize
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Sidlaws: West End / East End
Another Sidlaws day of two halves—the morning at the west end of the ridge, the afternoon at the east end. Bandirran Hill (NO 203314, 275m) 3 kilometres 130 metres of ascent Bandirran is as far west as you can go on the Sidlaws ridge and stay above 250m altitude. To stay high and go farther … Continue reading Sidlaws: West End / East End