A year ago

This was the scene around here on 29 November 2010. By contrast only some wet snow is evident in the garden this morning, although the Ochils had their first sprinkling a few weeks ago.

It’s been a wet and very windy November and I hope the above conditions come quickly in December.

There are a few photographs taken last December here

Abandoned wind turbines in the USA

QDanT  has given me this link which is worth reading.  http://toryaardvark.com/2011/11/17/14000-abandoned-wind-turbines-in-the-usa/

Edit: I should have said that there is some controversy about the source of the information presented.

Strathy North wind turbines approved

The Scottish government has given approval for SSE’s 33-turbine wind power station, 3 miles south of the village of Strathy in Sutherland. The Highland Council had already approved the plans despite 166 letters of objection and only eight in support.

The RSPB has condemned the decision since it could affect protected species – Golden Eagle and hen harrier populations nest nearby; black and white-throated divers nest on nearby lochs. The site, close to the Forsinard Flows Nature Reserve is “bounded on three sides by a special area of conservation and special area for bird life”

The RSPB has also objected to SSE’s plans for 77 turbines at Strathy south and a third windfarm (different developer) at Strathy Forest.

 Alex Salmond and SNP Government continue their vandalism on the Scottish landscape.



                      The turbines at Burnfoot in the Ochils – and more are proposed.

Anti-windfarm conference, Ayr

The above conference is being organised by CATS, Communities Against Turbines Scotland. A report can be found here.  More encouraging news.

Hello Alan S, Byeways(Dave), Chris, Alan and Sheila

Many thanks for your enthusiastic comments and good wishes. What a supportive and lovely lot you are!

Lynne

Commercial! Book signing - Waterstone's Perth, 10 December

Lynne will be at Waterstone's in Perth on 10 December from 12 noon onwards signing copies of her book.

Search and Rescue Training Flight - Ochils

We heard the helicopter before we saw it, but knew from the engine noise that it was not from the type that whisks the wealthy from Edinburgh Airport to Gleneagles Hotel. Alas, neither was it a helicopter gunship on a mission to destroy the Burnfoot wind power station!

Unfortunately, the quality of the uploaded video is poorer than the original.

Livid

See why here. Lock them up and throw away the key. B******s.

Sea eagle

Something to lift the spirits I think - here

'Overambitious' Scottish renewable energy plans

A brief BBC report can be found here. Could the tide be turning? 

This is not a quiz

Anyone know what this might be? We saw a small amount of this jelly-like substance on the road near the fish farm and thought it was related to processes carried out there, but this picture is taken well up the hill. The fact that it's next to a wooden post is irrelevant.