Second Wind

Parrot from a painting with Charlotte Anker

I retired from the library service in June 2022. I had worked in libraries since 1984, starting there as a Saturday and relief library assistant. I qualified with a BSc (Econ) Honours from University of Wales, Aberystwyth in 1999 and after a few years became a Library Manager in public libraries. 

In the lead up to retiral, I semi retired working only two days a week for 18 months and lifting my pension to cover the other three days. I went to art classes at a studio in Sheriffmuir with artist Charlotte Anker during this free time and embarked on an evening art course at Forth Valley College with artist Lesley Ann Derks.

I had taken art at school and really enjoyed it but working full time had put paid to the chance of following this creative path and school was very much in the past.  Of course as a librarian I had marketing as a big part of my remit, and organising book festivals gave me a fair bit of design and social media experience. I knitted quite a bit in my spare time and as a young mother and homemaker I was forever trying to make new cushion covers and curtains.

I really took to working with paints and drawing again and I found I really loved it. So when I fully retired I looked for a daytime course in Art and Design and found the HND Art and Design at Forth Valley College, Stirling. 

First step was to apply and submit a portfolio of work. This would have been a problem but luckily I had built up a few paintings with Charlotte Anker and Lesley Ann was giving me new techniques and media every week so between these classes I had enough.

Some inclusions to my portfolio:

Chinese inks

Aurora Borealis in oil pastels

 Amaryllis

 

 Silk Painting with Lesley Ann Derks

A Charles Rennie Mackintosh in reverse from a painting with Charlotte Anker

Still Life

 

Lewis 2016

The Ullapool to Lewis Ferry

Leaving Ullapool

Bye Bye Ullapool, see you on our return

The Crossing

The Black Houses

Callanish Stones

The Road to Nowhere or Garry Bridge - the folly of Lord Leverhulme - the Soap Man

Devil's Burden 2017

I hadn't ran many races last year because I was injured and so missed Devil's Burden 2016. So on Saturday 21st January this year I was feeling very excited and also a little apprehensive. We all met at 7.30 am in Alloa and it was very foggy and dreich. Gordon had us all organised in our teams and we were to drive up in the cars of the teams we were running in. My team was Susan Westland first leg, Sue Woods and Robert Davidson second leg, myself and Elke Braun third leg and Ally McNair fourth and final leg.

Devil's Burden is a 31k hill relay run over the Lomond Hills in Fife. The first and last legs are run solo and the middle two legs are run in pairs. All legs need a little navigation but the middle two legs need a little more and as I was leg three this year, I was armed and prepared with my compass and by the look of the misty weather was pretty sure I would be needing it! The race starts and finishes in Falkland. There were four teams so twenty four Wee County Harriers this year. The teams are mixed gender and abilty. The main object for Wee County Harriers is to get around the legs without getting lost and without injury. And to have a lot of fun at the same time.

All our first leg runners set off at 9.30am and it was still misty. I have run the first leg for the past two or three years and it is a nice off road trail run with only one checkpoint to mark off on the card. The advantage of running the first leg is that once you have run, you can relax, encourage the other runners in your team and enjoy the team spirit.

 First leg team members - Iona Mackay, Stephen Beveridge, George Furmage (running with Ava), Ava Parker and Susan Westland

Car parking is always at problem at the changeover points but it was good to wait to see the first runners off. The camaraderie is what I absolutely love about Devil's Burden. Ally had met us up in Falkland and he was happy to drive, plus it was his wife's car! So we all bundled in and set off for the second leg start at Strathmiglo and we were in plenty time to see Susan, our first runner, coming in.

Robert and Sue then set off on the second leg and it was still very misty. The second leg over West Lomond Hill and Bishop Hill is not the longest but is traditionally the hardest leg to navigate so we wished them well and decided to wait out our time until the third leg in Loch Leven Larder. Second leg were going to be at least an hour and a half. Other Wee County teams had the same idea and it was great to meet up with new members for the first time as well as catch up with others. Ava Parker, Ellie Gray and Karen Williams were all first time Devil's Burdeners and the chat and tea over maps were great.

Third leg starts at Kinnesswood and the parking there is even worse than second leg start. By this time the faster runners who set off at 10.30 are catching up so traffic congestion is inevitable. Elke and I rushed to the third leg start with only minutes to spare. Word was coming in that the mist was clearing but we could see no signs of that.

 Elke and I waiting to start Leg 3

The first climb out of Kinnesswood is brutal and Elke and I could only pick our way up through steep tufts and crags.

Donna and Nicky on same Leg 3 as us coming up through the first crags

 However once on top of that first hill - wow!! - cloud inversion and glorious day. Jackets off, compass away and off we went on what was to be an amazing run. We took photos, we looked around and, to be frank, I could have stayed up there all day. Had to give a thought to the ones waiting to start leg four though so we continued on. Leg three, Kinnesswood to Maspie Den and back to Falkland, stays high for quite a few miles so I can imagine on a bad weather day, this would be quite exposed. It goes back along and by Bishop Hill and towards West Lomond again. This is by no means a technical description. For that you can check the maps.

Looking back towards East Lomond Hill

Running towards West Lomond Hill

 Once it started to cut down towards Falkland through the woods, we were back in the mist and it was really cold. But I have to say that the last few miles are all downhill and this is a great finish. I was so enthusiastic about nearly finishing however (and keeping up with Elke) that I tripped on a stone and went flying with dramatic flair. So two skinned knees and a pair of ripped leggings later, Elke and I crossed the finish line and Ally started off on the last leg back up through the woods and over East Lomond Hill before heading back to Falkland again.

Finish of leg 3 with Elke and start of leg 4

I would definitely do leg three again. I absolutely loved that run, although I doubt if we will see those conditions again, it was such a delight to witness and made for a perfect day. 

We waited for all the leg three runners to come in and then walked back into Falkland and the finish to greet the leg four runners in. Ally enjoyed his run too and headed home straight after his leg because it was his and Emma's wedding anniversary and he was making up for being away all day and filling her car with smelly, muddy runners by taking her out for a nice meal. The rest of us were content with the abundance of home made soup and rolls always available after the Devil's Burden race thanks to Fife Athletic Club.

I would urge all Wee County members who love off road trail runs to try Devil's Burden. Since joining the club, I think I have only missed a couple and although it seems like a long day, it passes so quickly and is so much fun.

Highland Cross 2016

 

One of the highlights of my running year 2016 was the Highland Cross, a Duathlon held every year to raise money for Highland charities. Entry is in teams of three and each team must commit to raise £500 for charity. We managed to raise £1150 through quiz nights, selling home baking after races and donations from family members and friends.

During 2016 I had been carrying an injury and my running was not going too well. However I did get a new bike and was cycling to work so getting a lots of miles under my belt. The week before my event however, my confidence took a bit of a dent because I was in a tumble at high speed in the wet. My new bike was a little scraped as was I!

On the weekend of the Duathlon we travelled up to Inverness and I managed to get my bike loaded onto the truck with about thirty seconds to spare. The bike was going to be transported around to the changeover point at Glen Affric. I was meeting fellow team mates Anne and Jane and we were getting the bus round to the start at Morvich on Saturday morning from Inverness. My injury seemed to be playing up this weekend and it was touch and go whether I would even start the race.

 

The weather was glorious and the scenery was stunning up at Morvich and we waited for the start with anticipation. Another Wee County Harrier, Sandy, was also doing the event with some family, so we met up with him too. Funnily enough as soon as I started running, my injury just disappeared and I really relaxed into what was going to be a very sociable and friendly event.

We wanted to really enjoy the run so we chatted, ate, laughed and giggled as we ran the 20 stunning miles from Kintail through to Glen Affric. It is a really well organised event and the marshalls are wonderful and encouraging.

 

The terrain is quite rugged in bits but we took our time and walked any really steep hills. We were not racing anyone and we did not have a time to finish in mind, we merely wanted to complete!

The 30 mile bike ride starts with a very steep descent which normally I wouldn't mind. However after taking my fall off the bike the week before, I was taking the descents a bit gingerly, so we lost a little time at the start of the bike ride.

This is an event I would love to do again. Great organisation, friendly marshalls, stunning scenery and they even organised the weather for us. An added bonus was that it finished in Beauly which had a mighty fine chip shop. Here's hoping I get into the 2017 event!

Dolomites 2016

August 2016
Travelled to Selva Val Gardena on Saturday and arrived in glorious sunshine. We were very tired after the plane and bus transfer but went exploring the town after checking in to the Hotel Ingram. Really impressed with the welcome and the information given at check in. We were given maps, activities information, some of which are free, and a free bus pass for the Val Gardena area. Lovely quiet town surrounded by rocky mountains. We enjoyed a five course meal each night served by really friendly staff.

First day of our holiday, Sunday, and torrential rain. We went down town and had bruschetta at Cafe de Alpes. A relaxing day snoozing, reading and recovering from our travels the previous day..

Second day Monday, walk up to Stevia, a good walk to get us back up to mountain fitness. Weather is dry, very warm but not glorious sunshine, perfect for walking really. Did a really good circular route and back to Selva where we enjoyed a Magnum each.

Tuesday was another bright start and after a good breakfast we took the bus up to Passo Sella and climbing there. The bus winds its way up very steeply and is always busy but wonderful once you get  used to it. Sassolungo is very busy with cyclists, cars, climbers and there are chair lifts which look like coffins to take people up the peak.

 

Back at the hotel we enjoyed a candlelit dinner which had been arranged by the hotel owners and staff. A good way to break the ice with everyone else staying at the hotel. And a really good meal!

On the Wednesday The sun is splitting the trees and we walked  up to Refugio Campianio, a great steep hike. Then we went over to Refugio Comici which is like Sauchiehall Street on a Saturday afternoon. We then walked over to Passo Sella and jumped on the bus to take us back down the valley.

On Thursday we went back up to Passo Sella and again went climbing at the City of Rocks. We had a fabulous salad at the restaurant in Sassolungo.

It was torrential rain on the Friday again so we took the bus down to Ortisei and went to the museum there. There was an exhibition of the work of Luis Trenker who was born in 1892  and was a mountain climber, architect, then actor and director. When Italy took over Val Gardena he moved to Germany to keep his German nationality and joined the nazi party.
Georgio Moroder was also born in Ortisei and is making an appearance this summer. Posters were all around the area and all shops were decorated with Moroder related paraphernalia. No-one was in any doubt that he was making an appearance and the Italian President was in the audience at the event. George Moroder wrote all Donna Summer's work and worked with Phil Oakley on Electric Dreams. An exhibition was underway at the museum of his work and to tie in with the visit.

On Saturday it was another glorious day and we went a walk to Passo Gardena where there was a beautiful little chapel and a cross on the top of the hill. We walked back over down to Selva past another Refugio where preparations were underway for a wedding - what a great venue to get married. Guests were arriving by gondola.

Sunday and brilliant sunshine again and I got started climbing up at the City of Rocks. Haven't climbed for over ten years outside but got right back into it. Great fun! So much easier climbing in sunshine.

 
Had to run for the bus back to Plan. Got hot pizza and Magnums from the Spar - absolutely delish!

Monday another glorious sunshine day! Had a late start as bus broke down and we had to wait for the next bus. Travelled up to Passo Sella and walked all the way around the Sassolungo Massiff. A huge day in sweltering heat, but it was scenic and satisfying. Late bus back.

Tuesday was meant to be wet so we stayed quite local, bought some presents, had some lunch in our favourite Cafe de Alpes. Wasn't as wet as forecast but after our long hard day yesterday, we relaxed, read and snoozed.

Wednesday and rain again with snow on the peaks. We were going to take the bus to Corvora but it didn't turn up so we walked down into the village, definitely a cooler air. Bought some presents had soup at Cafe de Alpes, then it cleared up so we decided to walk up to Passo Grabla to look at some climbing crags. Good walk and crags are in a scenic position right next to a waterfall. We walked back up towards Passo Gardena and discovered the road was closed explaining why the bus didn't show up, possibly a landslide.

Thursday was another climbing day in Passo Sella, we tended to go climbing and walking on alternate days. Climbing is not quite so strenuous so this gives us a little rest day in between long walking days - a bit of mix and match.

The Friday was our last full day and we walked right up the back valley of Selva and discovered a Wolkenstein Castle cut into the rock and also wooden carved stations of the cross along our route. During Lent the locals walk along past these Stations of the Cross and pray.

No holiday is complete without checking out the local library. All information venues had notice boards outside and someone was employed to update them daily throughout the area. There was no limit to the information I was given and this is something that could easily be replicated electronically. Inside the library was pretty cool too.

The Dolomites don't have a Matterhorn or a Mont Blanc to attract tourists but the hotels, guest houses and people really make up for this in their welcome, information for tourists and locals, and their friendly hospitality. I was really impressed by the hotel but also the surrounding information provision. I will definitely be back to this part of the world and still have so much to do here.