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Didòmhnaich, 14/Mar/2010

Islay Blogging Roundup #115

Islay Blogging Roundup in stencil

Suddenly it's the mid of March already, less than a month to go until Easter and soon after the WalkIslay Islay Walking Week. At least in Aldermaston Wharf from where I'm writing this it for the first time felt like spring was just about to arrive. Still a cold wind but nice warm sunshine. Let's hope spring arrives by the time the holiday season kicks off. With that thought over to what the blogs have been writing about Islay and Jura over the last week:

Weekends in Islay, a nice wee blog with irregular entries I've been watching for a while, has been back to Islay (and Jura) again: Lovely Jura has some nice pictures from a day trip to Jura. Hilary has a nice garden, you can see Jura from Hilary's back garden. Finally there is Sunday Morning (and evening).

Alison recently visited Islay as well and after her return asks When did you last turn your mobile off? (My answer: last night. I switch mine off every night). I think Stuart might still be on Islay as I write this, he started his journey with Blockbusted, followed by My Hebridean Ointment and yesterday's Where Susie Leads, I Must Follow.

Among other places Susie led him to the distilleries, nicely taking me to a few Islay and Jura whisky postings: The Torridon Blog writes about the Bruichladdich Black Art, John Hansell reviews the Kilchoman Autumn 2009 release and Vuoto Siderale writes about the Ardbeg Rollercoaster in Italian. Whisky Israel takes us over to Jura for a Quick Dram : Jura Superstition while The Jewish Single Malt Whisky Society takes us back to Islay for the Bruichladdich 18yr (not 2nd edition) and the Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist 1990, 16 years old.

The Bruichladdich Blog provides an update on the Warehouse Building and like many others picks up on Google Streetview in New: Spot the Pot Hole. David announces the Queen of the Moorlands Whisky Tasting Dates for the Islay Festival of Malt and Music 2010. Some very nice ones in there. Onversneden has Een indrukwekkend setje Port Charlotte (which I believe means something like ‘an impressive set’?)

Ron also picks up on Google's latest offering for Islay in Islay on Google Streetview and More Islay Streetview. He also has news of Auntie Flora's New Shop in Portnahaven. Elliott in the meantime has pictures of the M.V Martin and the M.V Shetland trader. Which makes me wonder if Google will at some point develop a ‘Google sea route view’, complete with bearings etc?

Of course there has been some birdwatching as well, the Islay Birds blog has a nice picture of a Black Guillemot and memories of the first Skylark singing this year. Then there was the greedy pheasant and a tale of duck spotting at the Loch Gruinart reserve. I wonder if these were Stuart and Susie? John Islay Birder Armitage spent quite some time watching a Merlin before leaving for Inverness. On his wildlife blog he wonders about Signs of a recovery? (for the rabbit population on Islay that is).

As usual I'll close with the pictures: Ewan Graham has posted several nice pictures on his Islay Photos blog, Tree at Dusk and Ballulive Powerlines I quite like. Mull from Ballulive is also very nice, something different to the snowy Paps of Jura. Speaking of Jura, Jura Picture of the Day has It’s not just deer on the island and an old ad in Ads from the past #1. On Scot Through A Lens I found nice pictures of Tràigh Mhachir, Machir Bay, Islay, Scotland and Dunyvaig Castle, Lagavulin, Islay, Scotland.

On Ron's Picture Blog we find Piggies at Dunlosit Estate and an Evening at Caol Ila Bay. Mark Unsworth on his Islay Photography Gallery goes a bit more abstract this week with Pebble Patterns and Rock Grain. I must admit I prefer more ‘old-fashioned’ shots like the one of Lower Killeyan. From my own Islay Pictures photoblog I think I'll pick the The Big Strand at Laggan Bay and the Burn crossing Beach, Isle of Islay this week.

I think that's all this week, I hope you found a few interesting links. Of course I'll close with the usual reference to the Scottish Roundup for the bigger picture if you're so inclined, this week with Turning Left?

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