February 2025

11th

Cooked Charlie a steak pie.

Baked pie with a pastry top designed to look like a tractor. The tractor design is formed using pieces of pastry to create the body, wheels, and even small details. The pie crust is golden brown and appears to be baked to a crisp.

Pleased with the pastry.

9th

While conducting household tasks today, I noticed the inaugural blossoms of the year, white snowdrops, have emerged from the lawn in the front garden of Woodburn Farmhouse.

Cluster of snowdrops (Galanthus) in bloom, growing in a patch of grass. The snowdrops are in the foreground, and in the background, a partly visible dark-coloured pickup truck can be seen parked near a wooden fence and gate. The overall impression is one of early spring in a rural setting, with the snowdrops suggesting the arrival of warmer weather. The raindrops on the snowdrops hint at recent precipitation.
A rustic, whitewashed cottage with a green bay window. In the foreground, an old, weathered plough rests on a lawn dotted with snowdrops. The scene suggests a quiet, perhaps rural, setting. The juxtaposition of the antiquated plough with the more modern house and the delicate snowdrops creates a sense of time passing and the enduring beauty of nature.

A woman in Borthwick valley posted a photo of her white snowdrops resembling the word "black" at the beginning of last year. This is an unusual statement.

8th

After a week of non-stop inputting entries into my diary, Charlie and I proceeded to walk toward Gameshope, passing by Megget and Talla Water.

Paved road curving gently through a valley landscape. The road is flanked by dry, brown grass and leads towards distant, low hills under a cloudy sky. The hills are sparsely covered with dark-coloured vegetation. The overall mood is serene and somewhat desolate. There's a pale patch of blue sky visible between the clouds, hinting at a break in the weather.

Even though the truck is old, it's strong, comfortable, and can do all the jobs we need it to.

Tranquil reservoir nestled within a valley. The water is dark and calm, reflecting the overcast sky. The surrounding hills are sparsely vegetated, displaying muted browns and greens. The overall mood is serene and somewhat austere, typical of a bleak, yet beautiful, upland landscape. A dam is visible in the distance. The photograph is taken from the bank of the reservoir, looking across the water towards the opposite hills.
Panoramic view of a tranquil reservoir nestled within a valley. The water is dark and calm, reflecting the overcast sky. The hills surrounding the reservoir are sparsely vegetated, showing mostly dry, brown grasses. A single dark-coloured pickup truck is parked on the right side of the road overlooking the reservoir, adding a sense of scale and solitude to the scene.
Serene landscape featuring a calm body of water, possibly a lake or reservoir, nestled between gently rolling hills. The hills are sparsely vegetated, appearing somewhat barren, with patches of brown and green. The sky is overcast, a muted grey, adding to the overall tranquil, yet somewhat melancholic atmosphere. The water shows light ripples, suggesting a subtle breeze. The overall impression is one of quiet solitude and natural beauty in a somewhat remote location.

I departed from Woodburn at 1 p.m. to ensure that there was sufficient lighting for the purpose of taking photographs.

Serene landscape featuring a calm lake nestled between gently sloping hills. The hills are predominantly brown and green, indicating a likely temperate climate. The sky is overcast, casting a soft, diffused light across the scene. The scene suggests a remote and sparsely populated area.
Serene landscape featuring a calm body of water nestled between rolling hills under a cloudy sky. The foreground is composed of grassy hills, speckled with rocks. A small cluster of rocks is visible in the mid-ground, near the water's edge. In the background, the hills are covered in sparse vegetation, and a line of trees can be seen on the left. The overall atmosphere is peaceful and somewhat muted in colour due to the overcast sky.
Panoramic view of a rural landscape featuring a small wooden bridge spanning a rocky stream, which flows towards the viewer. A dirt road forks in the foreground, with one branch leading towards the stream and the other turning away. In the background are rolling hills, one of them a distinct, dome-shaped hill. Charlie stands near the stream on the right side of the image, seemingly observing the scene. The sky is cloudy. The overall impression is of a serene and possibly remote location.
High-angle, long shot of a valley landscape under a cloudy sky. A stream flows from the background towards the foreground, carving a path through dry, brown-gold grass and rocky terrain. The stream eventually leads to a larger body of water (likely a reservoir or lake) visible in the distance between the hills. The overall palette is muted, dominated by browns, greys, and the pale grey of the sky. The scene is one of quiet, rugged, natural beauty.
Tranquil stream flowing under a low stone arch bridge. The stream bed is rocky and the water is clear. The surrounding landscape is dry, brown grass and a low, rolling hill under a cloudy sky.

Although we initially took the incorrect path, we still enjoyed the walk.

Serene landscape featuring a shallow stream meandering through a valley. The stream is filled with smooth, dark rocks, and its water appears relatively clear. The valley is characterised by dry, light brown grasslands, that slope gently upwards to meet the hills. The sky is overcast, with a muted, grey tone dominating the scene.
Tranquil, desolate landscape under a cloudy sky. A small stream meanders through a flat expanse of dry, brown grass and low vegetation. In the mid-ground, there's a low stone structure, possibly a ruin or a remnant of a wall. Rolling hills rise in the background, their surfaces appearing barren and windswept. The overall mood is one of quiet solitude and the vastness of nature. The muted colours and cloudy sky enhance the feeling of stillness and perhaps a sense of remoteness.
Panoramic view of a valley scene. A river meanders through the valley floor, flanked by grassy, brown hillsides under a cloudy sky. Two dirt paths/roads are visible, one on each side of the river, Charlie is walking on one of the paths in the distance. The overall mood is serene and somewhat desolate.
Panoramic view of a mountainous landscape. A river flows through the valley, cascading over rocks in a small waterfall. The hills are covered in dry, light brown grass, and the sky is mostly cloudy, with patches of blue visible. The overall impression is one of wild, remote beauty, possibly in a highland or upland area.

We brought coffee, KitKats, and beef and mustard sandwiches. The weather was nice, and there was only a light breeze.

Tranquil mountain stream flowing through a narrow valley. The valley slopes are covered in dry, light brown grass, typical of a temperate upland or highland region. A faint trail or path is visible along the valley floor near the stream. The sky is heavily clouded, giving the scene a somewhat sombre or muted tone. The overall impression is one of serene, yet somewhat harsh, natural beauty.

It was an easy hike, and I was glad to get some exercise.

Landscape scene dominated by a fast-flowing stream or river cascading down rocky terrain. The stream cuts through a valley flanked by gently sloping, sparsely vegetated hillsides under a cloudy sky. Two small structures, possibly buildings or shelters, are visible in the mid-ground. The overall impression is one of a remote, possibly mountainous, and somewhat bleak but beautiful natural setting. A dirt track or path runs parallel to the stream. The colours are muted earth tones, with browns, greys and the white of the water and a touch of snow.

We arrived at Gameshope Bothy after a vigorous fifteen-minute walk uphill.

Mountain stream cascading over dark rocks. The water is white and frothy, indicating a relatively fast current. The stream flows through a narrow channel carved into the landscape. The surrounding land is sparsely vegetated with dry, brownish grass and some patches of darker green

The bridge was gone.

Calm river flowing through a sparsely vegetated valley. A small, round stone bothy is visible in the middle ground against the backdrop of rolling, brown hills under a cloudy sky. A wooden post stands near the riverbank in the foreground.

Did not want to jump this burn.

Small waterfall cascading down rocky terrain into a stream. The stream flows through a rocky, sparsely vegetated landscape, with a hillside rising in the background under a somewhat cloudy sky. The overall scene is one of a wild, natural, and somewhat desolate beauty.

But Charlie wanted to see what was inside the bothy.

Charlie walking across a shallow river. The river bed is rocky and the water is relatively clear. In the background, there is a small stone bothy and a large hill. The overall scene is rural and somewhat desolate. The man is walking across the river on stepping stones, which are rocks sticking out of the shallow water. The sky is overcast, and the overall colour palette is muted.

The pictures on top were taken with my iPhone 14, and the ones below (except the ones inside the shed) were taken with my Panasonic DC-FZ82 bridge camera.

Charlie in a brown jacket and blue jeans crossing a shallow stream. He is stepping on rocks in the middle of the stream. The stream is situated in a rural, mountainous area, with dry, brown grass and low stone bothy is visible in the background. The overall atmosphere is serene and somewhat solitary.

When he first tried, I warned him not to jump this, but then—well, no.

Charlie standing on a rocky outcrop overlooking a small stream flowing through a valley. The valley has a barren, mountainous landscape with brown and grey hues. The overall mood is calm and somewhat isolated. Charlie appears small in comparison to the vastness of the landscape.

He walked down for a few hundred yards before crossing successfully.

Bleak, yet beautiful, mountain landscape. A small stream flows through a rocky valley, its waters appearing somewhat shallow and slow. The valley is bordered by steep, dry, and sparsely vegetated hillsides, with dark-colored rock formations prominently featured on one side. The overall mood is serene yet austere, reflecting a chilly, possibly overcast day. The path suggests a sense of journey or exploration.

The weather worsened nearing the end of our walk, Charlie gave me the truck keys to warm up whilst he did a jimmy riddle.

6th

A walk along an Ancrum footpath today, took a few photographs with my Panasonic DC-FZ82 bridge camera.

Gibbous moon against a clear blue sky. The moon is approximately three-quarters full, displaying significant surface detail including craters and maria (darker, smoother areas). The overall impression is one of serenity and vastness.

The 1200mm zoom is the reason I acquired this camera; it is significantly superior for moon photography.

Long shot of a rural landscape. In the mid-ground, there are the ruins of a stone Tower house, set within a gently rolling pasture. Bare, winter trees are scattered across the pasture. Beyond the pasture, there is a field that appears to be freshly ploughed, followed by a line of trees forming a distant horizon. The overall impression is one of serenity and quiet decay in a peaceful, agricultural setting. The image has a slightly hazy or atmospheric quality, adding to its tranquil and somewhat melancholic mood.

Tippendean Tower, this was just before freezing mist rolled in to chill and smother the night.

2nd

I acquired an additional IP camera for the farmhouse's front, replacing our previous 2K camera with a 4K 180-degree angle dual lens.

Black security camera with multiple infrared LEDs surrounding the lenses. It's mounted on a white bracket, Leonie's hand is holding the camera and bracket. The background is a plain light-grey wall.
Two discarded or abandoned white and black security cameras lying in the grass next to a paved area. One camera is cylindrical and the other is angular. Both appear to be detached from their mounts and have wires trailing from them. The scene suggests removal of a security system.

Build on the 2K mental camera is much better quality than the new 4K, which is plastic.

Close-up view of Charlie, from the chest up, using a small yellow screwdriver to work on a dark green wooden painted surface. Charlie is wearing a dark blue jacket, a light beige hat, and glasses. The background shows a textured off-white wall. The scene suggests a repair or maintenance task is underway.
Charlie standing on a ladder against the corner of a building. He is wearing a dark blue jumpsuit and appears to be working on the building's exterior, possibly performing maintenance or repair work on the gutter or wiring. The building is an older structure with textured white walls and dark green trim. The overall scene is one of everyday maintenance or repair work.
Charlie in overalls standing on the roof-line of a house, just above a bay window. He appears to be a worker, possibly on a repair or maintenance job. A ladder leans against the house, suggesting his work. The house is white with dark green window frames and trim and is situated in a rural setting with a grassy hill visible in the background. The sky is overcast.
Security camera mounted on the exterior of a building. The camera is black and white, with a rectangular shape. It is mounted on a white bracket, which is attached to the building's green painted eaves. The wires connecting the camera are visible. The building's exterior is a combination of painted wood and stucco. The overall impression is one of security and surveillance.

Now that our farmhouse's whole front is covered, we had to change the angle to avoid the farmhouse wall interfering with the infrared night vision.

1st

Waiting on Charlie, he's shopping at Harbo in Hawick.

Panoramic view from inside a car, looking out at a building that appears to be a car repair shop or similar. A Harbro van is parked outside. Other cars are visible in the background, partially obscured by the vehicle the photo is taken from. The sky is clear and sunny.

We purchase ewe pellets and energy buckets from this shop. I searched for clothes in Gala shops, Charlie wanted to visit Walkerburn.