February 2025

8th

After a week of non-stop adding back entries to my diary Charlie drove me along Megget and Talla Water then we walked onward towards Gameshope.

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-colored 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.

Our truck might be old, but its powerful and warm to travel in, and more than able to do the jobs we need it to do.

A 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.

We left Woodburn at 1pm, I wanted enough light for 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 midground, 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.
A 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.

Initally we walked along the wrong footpath, but appreciated the walk anyhow.

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 colors 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 took with us beef and mustard sandwiches, coffee and kitkats; the weather was mild, with only a slight 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 somber or muted tone. The overall impression is one of serene, yet somewhat harsh, natural beauty.

The track was an easy hike, and I was glad of the 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.

After a brisk fifteen minute uphill walk we found Gameshope Bothy.

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.

I didn't fancy jumping 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.

However Charlie wanted to see 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 photographs above were taken with my iPhone 14, the photographs below (excluding photographs inside the bothy) are from 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.

His first attempted, I told him not to jump this; then again er, 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.

A 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.

Dusk is much better for moon photographs, I purchased this camera for the 1200mm zoom.

A 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 plowed, 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

We purchased another IPcam for the front of the farmhouse, replacing our old 2K with a 4K 180 degree angle dual lens.

A 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.

The entire front of our farmhouse is now covered, we had to alter the angle so the farmhouse wall did not disrupt 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.