Please take a photograph of your group "in action." Don't forget to ask for permission from everyone for the photo to be published on the web. Then email it to the address below and we will upload it to the gallery.
Walking Group One 25th April 2024
Five hardy souls collected today at Happy Valley for the first Hill Walk of the year .The temperature was cool with a North Easterly wind blowing and a hint of rain on arrival.
Off we set heading towards Russadale Quarry, spotting a Buzzard on the way.Turning into the footpath we remained sheltered from the wind all the way to the top of the hill.
The sun was out at the Quarry and a Greenshank was feeding at the edge of the Lochan. Then it was up the Peat road to the summit with spectacular views across Stenness and Harray Lochs, plus a view of the Closed Road beyond the Watch Stone. On the other side we looked over the Flow and down towards the Oil Platform and South Ronaldsay
Then it was back down after a stop for a snack and finally a walk around Happy Valley itself. The Daffodils planted by James and others were looking lovely and the Bluebells are days away from opening. Then it was on to a well deserved lunch at the Pier Cafe, having walked 4 miles and gone up 800 feet (and down again )
The next walk will be on Friday 24th May and hopefully more hills and views.
Keep moving.
PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP 1 - DECEMBER
by Tim Wright - 19:02 on 10 December 2014
Seven of us managed to make it to Skaill House through Stormy weather ,Hail and Thunder. We were met by Malcolm Macrae ,who very kindly gave us the run of the place and was happy for roped off areas to be bypassed and items to be moved to make a better photo. A tripod was necessary as the light was poor from outside due to the storm. There was lots to photograph and plenty of room to take one's time over composition .I had a great morning as I am sure did everyone else .A quick trip down to the beach before lunch showed huge waves and a lot of rocks in the inlet by the toilets while the spray was over the cliffs by 50 or more feet .The major photographic problem was camera shake ! The sun came out fleetingly and tantalized as to what it would look like in the sun but 15 secs later the Hail arrived again .A rapid exit ,then, to the Standing Stones Hotel for Lunch .The food was excellent but the mince pies needed beefing up a bit .
"Water" was the project for the month .A variety of watery landscapes ,fountains ,reflections, raindrops and even an iceberg or two were shown .Well Done to all who took the trouble to contribute to a lovely set of photos .
The next meeting is planned for Wednesday 28th Jan at 2pm in the Dounby School Computer Room when I hope we will see some photos of the group's interests .Please let me know if you can contribute a 50 photos /20 mins max show for us .Please, remind me if you have already agreed to do this today . I would like to get all the presentations on to my computer in Power Point before the day so that the running order is right and not mixed up. Also, we can put titles on and make it look the Real Deal ! Otherwise, it will be photos of the Azores from me and I prefer it to be your contribution .It is good discipline to look at a group of photos ,string them together in a sequence and work out what you are going to say about them all in 20 mins. .It concentrates the mind wonderfully !
The project this month is "Seasonal Celebration or Event ".This can include Christmas ,New Year ,the Ba ,the Scapa Swim or in Winkies case food !
A happy Christmas to those who are not coming to the Lunch at the Kirkwall tomorrow ,to the others ,See you in the Morn.
Tim
Skaill in December - Tim Wright
December Strorm - Costa, Evie - Barbara Todd
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