Dr Fiona Porter
@fionaporter
Glasgow based but out in the hills as often as possible. Physics background. Mahler and opera fan. Learning Gaelic and Italian. Veggie. Likes dogs. Feeder of hedgehogs.
Just finished the fascinating (and very readable) An Inconvenience of Penguins by Jamie Lafferty. Highly recommended and definitely the best book about penguins I have read.
Those stamps are still in use in Glasgow libraries, although the names of previous readers are a secret. I could get books out from the library to read on electronic devices but I'd far rather read paper ones.
I don't know how you or indeed anyone copes with these temperatures. Maybe you need to visit the Scottish Highlands - you can wear a jumper, and even a rain jacket later in the week!
Back from a short break on Dunalastair Estate. A little piece of heaven in Perthshire and some great Scottish hills to explore.
Amazing sea cliffs on @scotwildlife.bsky.social Handa island last week - so many seabirds, especially guillemots! Saw puffins and skuas too. The photo was the best my phone could do.
Greatly enjoyed last night's performance of the Marriage of Figaro- and the Glasgow audience clearly did too. Still some seats available at the last two Glasgow performances.
Madainn mhath! Time spent watching baby bunnies visit your garden is never wasted.
The best shortbread is homemade Preheat oven to 150 C. Mix 2oz each of icing sugar, cornflour, 3.7 oz plain flour and 1 tbsp semolina. Rub in 4 oz butter. Flatten the crumbly mixture on a lined baking tray in a 7" diameter disk. Prick with fork. Bake for 35 mins. Slice into 12 wedges at once. Enjoy!
#hedgehog week is almost over. It is a delight to watch them when they visit. This very short trail camera footage shows one hedgehog stealing the food tray of another!
The gorse in full bloom on the hills today. Wish I could post the gorgeous coconut scent too.
Glad they are getting it sorted. The water was fairly coming through underneath it!
Went outside today to the unmistakable sound of a chiffchaff. 😊 Great to hear they have arrived. Birdnet agrees too.
Well I don't find this Royal Bank of Scotland note depressing at all!
It is striking how the youngest are dominating GP consultations for influenza like illness in Scotland at the moment, not the elderly. Data from last week.
Just finished the fascinating Nightwalking by John Lewis-Stempel.
Pine Martens by Johnny Birks was both fascinating and made me laugh out loud several times. A woman in the polar night by Christiane Ritter was a spellbinding tale The Happiness of Dogs by Mark Ritter showed why the unexamined life is most worth living.
Great walk up Ben A'an today - cold but not too windy. No sign of snow, but the higher hills had their heads in the clouds.
That is so disappointing. I've used them for some great trips, but not since covid. I see they were taken over by Inghams in 2008, who were bought by the German group Dertour this February. By the way, their adverts for a new trip (below) show scenery that you don't encounter on the trip.
A very interesting and enjoyable talk. Even if it made me late putting out my nightly hog food and water.
No hills today, but a very enjoyable walk around Glasgow's murals. There is a trail on walkhighlands www.walkhighlands.co.uk/glasgow/glas... and lots more info at www.citycentremuraltrail.co.uk
Stunning pictures. It was a great day - amazing views from Ben Lomond too.
The views from Ben Lomond were amazing today. Brocken spectres and fog bows too. For one lucky lady it was her first Munro - what a way to start.
Great tips. I have just put out my hedgehog house, so they can ignore it for another winter. Happily they have a big brambly patch nearby that they clearly prefer.
It is not looking a good day for the hills - take care if you're out there.
The #birds are clearing out the Big Easy feeder in just under two days. It holds 1.1 kg of sunflower hearts. Busy, busy! It is especially popular with greenfinches and goldfinches. All 6 feeding ports are in constant use.
