We met these fine folks at Edinburgh Zoo earlier this year. Before I went in I was disappointed that the Brilliant Birds exhibit had been removed. Exactly as advertised the birds in that previous incarnation were indeed brilliant and something of a favourite of mine. Particularly the Lilac Breasted Roller which served as a tangibleContinue reading “The Slow Path”
Tag Archives: Children's Fiction
The Sky’s Twin
This week’s photo was taken from the top of the Glenfinnan Monument looking out over Loch Shiel. Obviously, go there given the chance. In my opinion the view speaks for itself, except to say that my photo doesn’t do it justice. There’s also a lovely walk by a famous viaduct for those of us intoContinue reading “The Sky’s Twin”
Descent
During a recent wee break up by Fort William we happened upon a rock and mineral museum. It’s way more fun than it sounds. (Although I suppose its possible that I’m way less fun than I’d like to think!) This week’s story prompt image is of one of the many fascinating exhibits: naturally forming bismuthContinue reading “Descent”
Racing the Sun
Arran is one of my favourite places in the world. It treads the delightful line between familiar and novel. Evidence, perhaps, that we go there far too often. After all, there is so much world out there to see and I have experienced a pathetically small sample. Despite this I am firm in my beliefContinue reading “Racing the Sun”
The aging room
This week’s image is hot off the presses. I took the photo in the Dalwhinnie distillery warehouse just a couple of days ago. It is actually the first such room I’ve been in. As a life long non-drinker, distillery tours are an unusual joy for me. Some years back I accompanied my wife on aContinue reading “The aging room”
The Pool
One of my favourite things is tromping around in the wilderness. The place in this photo is part of the reason why. At the end of a narrow and winding path a short walk off the main road through Eskdale you will find this little grotto. Well, once upon a time. Since the first timeContinue reading “The Pool”
The Troll
I have to introduce this week’s story prompt photo with more than my usual amount of vagueness. I took the photo on a family outing to… somewhere. I’m moderately confident that it’s somewhere in the north of England. I recall the holiday to a wee place just off the A1, and I think this wasContinue reading “The Troll”
Tree-Forge
The origins of this week’s story prompt photo are a little muddy in my memory. I know I took it on a family walk during lockdown 1. Okay, that’s not true — at this point the lockdowns blur together somewhat, but I think it was the first one. I’m mostly sure that it was inContinue reading “Tree-Forge”
Faltha’s Celebration
Way back when I first wrote Summer Sorcery (in that no-one-else-gets-to-see-ever first draft) I imagined a backstory scene with Faltha and Malachite. There’s a nod to it on p125, but the book didn’t need derailed with the plot-irrelevant personal history between two important but ultimately secondary characters. However what made it into the book plantedContinue reading “Faltha’s Celebration”
Curiosity
Another one from the Highland Wildlife Park archives. This photo, from November 2019, was an opportunistic snapshot as we walked past the snow fox enclosure. I’d actually stopped to tie my shoelace and looked up to see this guy studying me intently. I wonder what he thought I was doing. Perhaps he was just lookingContinue reading “Curiosity”
Brandon Lim 