Identifying the Landscape

Have you ever been out walking or climbing and taken some photos of what you think is some stunning scenery but have no idea what hills or mountains you're looking at?

Thankfully, there are a few resources that can help with that as long as you know where you were (or are) while looking. If you don't know where you are then I'd suggest you're lost and that's a whole different problem.

How to Find Out Where You Are

If you need to find your current GPS coordinates, then that's easily done (assuming you have a GPS-capable smartphone) using Google Maps. Google have a simple guide on how to do it using a computer or smartphone here: https://support.google.com/maps/answer/18539?hl=en

There are loads of free apps that will do much the same, although most are supported by ads. A compass app is also useful, especially if you're lost.

If you have a paper map and compass, then there are some decent guides on how to use those here:

• https://getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/guides/beginners-guide-to-using-a-compass/ 
• https://www.thegreatoutdoorsmag.com/skills/how-to-read-a-map-and-compass/
  

If you don't have a smartphone or a paper map and compass, then you really are lost I'd usually suggest finding a watercourse and following it downstream in the hope that it'll hit a road. I've never been lost in a desert or jungle and that strategy won't help in either of these scenarios so your best bet then is to use the sun (climbing a tree is optional but watch out for dragons):

• https://www.thegreatoutdoorsmag.com/skills/navigation/how-to-use-the-sun-to-navigate/
• https://www.wikihow.com/Determine-Direction-Using-the-Sun

Identifying Them Thar Hills

Okay, you know where you are (or were) and we can move onto identifying what you're looking at. Again, a smartphone or computer is the best way to do this but it can be done using a paper map and compass like we did years ago and I'm not going to describe how to that here.

These days, if I'm outdoors I'll try the PeakLens (Android) or Horizon Explorer mobile apps (Android and iOS). Sadly, the PeakVisor app is iOS-only and the PeakFinder app is not free. All of these apps will try and identify what you can see via your device camera using augmented reality.

If you've taken some photos and are enjoying a cup of hot soup or coffee after a day on the hills and are wondering what you're looking at, then here are a few online apps that can help identify any mountains, peaks or hills in them:

• PeakVisor Explorer - the app isn't available for Android but you can search here.
  
  

  

  Panorama from Neilston Pad
  

  
  
• PeakFinder - the app isn't free but the web app will let you search by name or GPS coordinates.
  
  

  

  Panorama from Neilston Pad

  
  

• Generate a Panorama - lets you generate a panorama given location and direction.
  
  

  

  Panorama from Neilston Pad
  

  
  

 

A Visit to The Burrell Collection

The Neilston Men's Group recently visited The Burrell Collection in Glasgow. The collection of artworks, then valued at about one million pounds, was donated to the City of Glasgow by Sir William Burrell and his wife Constance in 1944.

 

Originally opening to the public in 1983, the collection's 9,000 works of art spanning 6,000 years of history are housed in Glasgow's Pollock Country Park in a purpose-built museum. It's since undergone a full refurbishment and has re-opened in March 2022 in a brand new building. I'd been to the earlier museum so was keen to see what the new one was like. First impressions were good - it's much bigger, there's lots more glass so inside is much brighter and spacious, with lots of places to have a seat and enjoy it. The museum has done a great job of presenting the collection in a clear and accessible way. The galleries are spacious and well-lit, with informative labels and interactive displays.

 

Sadly, parking is no longer free and it'll set you back £5 per car now. That said, the car park was very busy when we got there just after 11 a.m. but it was a sunny day as the park, Glasgow's largest, was busy too and there are plenty of walking trails around that if you want to make a day of it.

 

The collection is a mix of Chinese art, medieval treasures including stained glass, sculptures, arms and armour, over 200 tapestries, and paintings by renowned artists including Rembrandt, Manet, Cezanne, Hals and Degas. There are even bits of furniture, carpets and several, very large carved stone portals.

The Reheasal by Edgar Degas

There are three levels in the building and most of the artwork rooms have plenty of information and some have videos that fill the walls. There's even an animated movie of the painting above (The Rehearsal) that brings the characters to life and pans around the room - it's really well done. Yes, there are lifts if you need one as well as stairs.

Burrell was obviously a bit of a magpie, well, one with a great deal of money, but he also seems to be of a different mould from most of the people that made their money from shipping in that he had a bit of a social conscience and a philanthropic nature as he wanted his prized collection to be viewed and enjoyed by everyone.

The group split up and we wandered around for about an hour before meeting back at the coffee shop for a welcome refreshment. We could easily have spent a few more hours wandering around so I'd be happy to go back sometime.

To offset that parking fee, there are what seemed to be free, regular guided tours on the go. There's also a decent sized restaurant and a coffee shop, as well as the wee coffee shop we used, several picnic areas, an exhibition space and the obligatory souvenir shop.

The web site has a very decent "Plan Your Visit" page where you can get all the information you need before you go - opening times, accessibility, and how to get there. You can also download the floor plan but you can get a printed copy of that from reception as well.

I wish I'd spotted the fact there's a mobile app that has an interactive guide to the museum before we went so, if you are planning on going to the museum, then this might be worth checking out. It's available for Android and iOS and can be downloaded from the Bloomberg Connects web site. The app features free digital guides with expert-curated content to over 200 museums, galleries, sculpture parks, gardens, and cultural spaces from around the world, including a few others in Scotland. 

There are more photos taken in The Burrell Collection here:

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

We went to see Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, the fifth installment in the Indiana Jones film series whuich has had a mixed reviews from critics but I'm glad we ignored any of them as it was very much in the mould of the previous movies and very entertaining.

The film's story centres around the Antikythera mechanism, an ancient Greek artifact that we now know is hand-powered orrery and described as the oldest known example of an analogue computer used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses decades in advance. That said, in the movie, it's also called the Dial of Destiny and attributed to Archimedes, an ancient Greek scientist well-known for running around in the buff while shouting "eureka", and supposedly it can be used to reveal the location of time fissures, wormholes through which one could travel back and forward in time.

The tale begins in 1944, near the end of World War II, and the Nazis are plundering arts and treasures as they retreat and pile it all on a train bound for Germany. In steps Indiana (Harrison Ford or at least his CGI-enhanced younger self) as he's heard they have the Spear of Destiny, the weapon with which the Roman centurion Longinus pierced the side of Christ on the cross. Here is also where we first meet this movie's Nazi villain, Dr. Voller (Mads Mikkelson). He and his thugs are also after the Spear.

Without wishing to reveal any spoilers, they also discover the Dial of Destiny on the train and as both Indy and Voller struggle to possess it, it's lost in the scuffle. Then we jump forward 25 years and, as Indy is set to retire, fate steps in as again Voller and his henchmen show up looking for the Dial and so does Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), his old collegue Basil Shaw's (Toby Jones) daughter.

So, we have the hero, the villain and the femme fatale in place and things just go action mad from there on as the two, sometimes three groups vie for possesion of the mystical device.

John Rhys-Davies is back as Sallah as is Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood and, with Denholm Elliot sadly gone, we have a very good replacement geek sidekick in the form of Toby Jones and even Antonio Banderas pops up as a Greek sponge diver.

All I can say is we both enjoyed it. It's a standard Indiana Jones romp and yes, it has some flaws and unlikelihoods but they all do. Yes, pedants, we don't know if Archimedes invented the Antikythera mechanism and maybe you could fly without a passport back then but it's all enjoyable hokum so just sit back and eat the popcorn.

Thoroughly entertaining 9/10 😀

The Satsuma Complex by Bob Mortimer

The Satsuma Complex is the debut fiction novel by Bob Mortimer, the comedian and presenter best known for his work with Vic Reeves and fishing adventures with Paul Whitehouse.

It’s a darkly comic crime thriller that follows the misadventures of Gary Thorn, a shy and unremarkable legal assistant working in Peckham, who becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue and danger after meeting a mysterious woman in a bar. It’s also a wee bit semi-autobiographical as Bob used to be a solicitor working in Peckham.

The story is full of Mortimer's trademark absurdist humour, from the opening scene, in which Gary has a conversation with a squirrel, to meeting his mate Brendan, a private investigator with a penchant for novelty socks, who subsequently turns up dead but not before giving Gary a phone number and a pendrive that looks like a corn cob. However, The Satsuma Complex is more than just a comedy; it is also a suspenseful and well-crafted crime novel. Mortimer does a skillful job of building tension and suspense, and the story is full of memorable characters, both good and bad.

One of the things that makes the story so enjoyable is Mortimer's ability to create a sense of place. The book is set in Peckham, South London, and Mortimer brings the area to life with his vivid descriptions of the streets, shops, housing estates and pubs. The reader can almost feel the heat and humidity of a summer's day in Peckham, and they can smell the fried chicken and curry from the local restaurants.

The Reeves and Mortimer style of comedy was never something I enjoyed that much…far too manic for me but Bob minus Jim Moir, as in his autobiography And Away… or in Mortimer and Whitehouse is a more serene experience even if we still get Boiler-Suit Man and Mr. Clown Shoes woven into the tale.

Overall, I found The Satsuma Complex a perfect choice for fans of Mortimer's comedy, as well as anyone who enjoys a good mystery. If you're looking for a funny, suspenseful, and well-written crime novel, then I highly recommend it. It's a great debut novel from a talented author. 8/10 😀

Walking on Gailes Beach in Irvine

Gailes Beach in Irvine is a place we regularly go for a walk or just to chill out. It's only 30 minutes drive away from Neilston so is much closer than Fuerteventura or Crete. Okay, those may have much nicer beaches and are generally warmer than Irvine but they're not just down the road.

Gailes Beach

Gailes Beach is roughly five miles long and runs from Irvine to Barassie. It's very flat and sandy, backed by a long series of sand dunes, and is kept pretty clean and tidy. It's easily reachable by car and there are regular bus and train services from Glasgow so it can get quite busy in the Summer. That said, walk a few miles along the beach and it's much quieter, with only the odd stalwart dog walkers and horsey types. We tend to do just that as there are some well-sized blocks you can sit on about half-way along, ideal to take a break at and enjoy the scenery.

A Snow-covered Isle of Arran

There are some splendid views to had from the beach. You can see Barassie and Troon to the South, Ailsa Craig and the Isle of Arran lie just offhsore. You can also watch the small fishing boats and larger ferries that ply the Firth of Clyde as well as a fair range of birds that use the beach and sea as a source of food. If you stay long enough, then there are some stunning sunsets to be seen as well.

Ailsa Craig at Sundown

There's often an ice-cream van near the coast guard-come public toilet building, some very nice coffee shops and cafés on the edge of the harbour if you need some refreshments and, if you're looking for a meal or a drink, then there's The Ship, which does some very decent bar meals.

There are more photos taken on Gailes Beach and Irvine Harbour here:

A Death in the Parish by the Reverend Richard Coles

A Death in the Parish is another Canon Clement mystery and the follow up to Murder Before Evensong.

Set some months after the first novel, things in Champton St. Mary are just beginning to return to a semblance of normality when the bishop decides to merge the parish with those of neighbouring Upper and Lower Badsaddle.

The merger brings with it a new associate vicar, who is a very different type of clergyman than Daniel, his wife and two teenage twin children. Chris Biddle is evangelical and charismatic, and he quickly clashes with Daniel's more traditional style of ministry.

Added into the mix are Miss March, the proprietor of the local dress shop; Miss Hawkins, an aging parishioner who's dying and wants Daniel and his mother Audrey to be executors of her will, and the Tailbys, a local couple known for preying on the old and less-capable. Daniel's mother Audrey is also struggling to come to terms with their poor financial status and Daniel's incapacity to understand such menial details.

This is a fair improvement on the previous novel. Yes, it's still a bit slow and plodding and again we're about 30% in before the main crime is committed but the author fills the void with lots of details about the village, his parishioners, their overlords the De Fleurs and the machinations and rituals of "The Church" until another murder rocks the village and Daniel again finds himself once again investigating it.

A Death in the Parish is a charming and insightful portrait of life in a small English village. Coles captures the sense of community and belonging that's so important to village life, and he also explores the challenges that such communities face when change comes.

Overall, A Death in the Parish is a well-written and enjoyable cosy mystery novel and well worth reading. It's a must-read if you've already read the first one of the series. 9/10 😀