J&M Murdoch's Transport Museum

The Neilston Men's Group's first outing was to J&M Murdoch's Transport Museum, which has its home in what was originally Neilston's Crofthead Mill, which was built in 1881. The mill and surrounding buildings are now called Crofthead Industrial Estate.

Crofthead Mill

The mill is now home to J & M Murdoch & Son Ltd., a family business who provide road haulage, waste management, disposal and recycling services across central Scotland and are the biggest employer in the area.

Our group were met by brothers John and Drew Murdoch who explained that, trucking being their main business, it sparked a love of restoring older vehicles. That interest has spread among their workforce and it's not unusual to find people working on restoring vehicles long past going home time.

Just behind the reception, they have a wee museum housing a few large trucks, a collection of very nice motorcycles, a golf cart, a big American muscle car, an old tractor and even an electric train carriage and more. The lads are great recyclers so have also collected a range of industrial tools like scales and lifts and they even have the bell from an old Neilston school, rescued as it was being demolished.

Trucks

We were treated to a very nice sandwich lunch (there was cake as well) and we were shown a range of videos showing some of the things the company had been doing, including their aggregate reclamation facility on the braes opposite the village. All of it was interesting and the brothers and staff proved to be very affable and hospitable hosts. We even had a visit from their father John, one of the founders of the business back in 1965, who proved just as friendly and welcoming.

Most of the serious restoration work happens in another building so we all trooped over there for some more truck porn. I think one of the lads said it used to be a paint shed in the old days but it seemed pretty happy housing a collection of elderly trucks and other vehicles.

More Trucks

The group would like to thank the Murdoch's for allowing us to visit their facility, which isn't normally open to the public, and hear about their love of restoring old vehicles. We'd also like to thank Christine for organizing the lovely lunch. We all thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

The Neilston Men's Group is a group of local men who get together regularly to socialise and participate in activities. They are committed to making a positive contribution to the local community, and they believe that visiting the transport museum was a valuable way to learn about our local heritage and the workings of our largest local business.

There are some more photos taken on the day here:

If you're interested in learning more about the history of Crofthead Mill, then take a look at this information on the Bobbins & Threads web site:

• The History of Neilston Mill
  

How I Geotag My Photos

Over the years I've used several methods to Geotag my photos. The wee Sony point-and-shoot camera that I carry around in my bag every day has GPS built-in but my Canon dSLR doesn't so that was where I had to get a bit manual. To be honest, the little Sony's GPS is so slow to acquire a position that I've often turned it on and taken a shot too fast for the GPS to have registered.

I used to set the GPS position one image at a time in Flickr then, realizing that life was passing me by and I wasn't getting any younger, I bought a little GPS data logger and that worked fine...for a while. It consisted of a mobile, GPS dongle that you could tote around on a photoshoot and a base station. Once you got back home you plugged both the dongle and the camera SD card into the base station, pressed a button and it did the business. It didn't need any Wi-Fi or mobile data connection to use but when I upgraded to using 4Gb SD cards (it was a while ago, stop laughing) there was a problem - it didn't support anything over 2Gb and corrupted the images on the card :(

So the next step was obvious - forget the base station, connect the mobile logger or its microSD card directly to the PC, copy off the log files and process the photos on the PC. I used a free utility called GeoSetter to post-process the photos and log files and I still use that today.

GeoSetter

However, I invariably forgot to charge the mobile logger or even take it with me so I thought I'd look for a simpler solution. I carry a smart phone everywhere, who doesn't these days, so I was sure someone would have written an app for just that purpose and sure enough, there are loads of them available. I'm using an Android phone but I imagine there should be similar apps available for iPhone. Windows Phone and even BlackBerry phones.

Also, I go abroad on holiday a fair bit and while we're not poor, we're still not in the league of those that can afford to pay the extortionate roaming data charges involved in maintaining an on-line presence wherever they go. So I needed something that would work without a data connection and export the logs and, after trying quite a few apps, I initially settled on using Google's MyTracks. Sadly, Google has recently announced that MyTracks is shutting down and it'll even cease to work so, back to the drawing board. That said, it didn't take long to find a substitute in an Android app called GeoTracker. I also tested out GPSLogger, which also worked favourably.

So far, I'm pretty happy with that setup. GeoTracker will work without a data connection, uses very little battery power and can export to GPX or KML formats. All you have to do is start it up, let it track you while you wander around (yes, you can still use the phone for other things), stop it and save the log when you're done.

Getting back to the PC side of things, GeoSetter might be getting a bit old but it still works (I'm using Windows 10) and it can sync a folder full of log files against a selection of photos so there's no need to merge log files and it can compensate for time zone shifts. It supports JPEG and TIFF images as well as most camera RAW formats.

I also use another Windows tool called ExifToolGUI, a GUI front end to an excellent command-line utility called ExifTool by Phil Harvey, which is must-have tool for manipulating photo EXIF data. It's even used by GeoSetter and most other EXIF utilities. ExifToolGUI can also geotag photos so you might prefer to just use that alone but I use it to set the lens type used in the EXIF data as it can extract that from the MakerNote tag. It's not strictly necessary but useful if you want to know which lens you used at some future date. You can also use it to set such tags as Author and Copyright, etc.

ExifToolGUI

 So, my photo-shoot work-flow is as follows:

1. Make sure the camera date and time are set correctly.
2. Start up the GeoTracker app on the phone, make sure it's got a GPS signal, start recording and then forget about it.
3. Wander around, sometimes getting lost, and take photos with nary a care about GPS or Geotagging. I'll occasionally pause GeoTracker if I'm not shooting (sunbathing, swimming, sleeping, eating, etc.) but I could just as easily stop it, save and start a new log when I move again.
4. When I've finished shooting, stop GeoTracker and save the log file. There are options to export it to external storage or various on-line services but you can always do that later if you have no Internet connection.
5. Export the log files as GPX format files as those seem to work best with most of the tools I use.
6. Upload RAW images and associated GPX file(s) to the PC.
7. Run ExifToolGUI and, selecting all of the RAW files, run the option to set the lens info details from the MakerNote tag.
8. Run GeoSetter and, selecting all of the RAW files, use the option to synchronise with GPS data files to set the GPS data information in each photo. This also handles time offsets, multiple data files, etc.

After that I'm ready to cull the dead wood and move on to post processing, which I currently do in Zoner Photo Studio but I'm seriously considering a move to Adobe Photoshop LightRoom., which can sync photos and GPX files without the need for other software.

With fitness apps being on the rise, you could quite easily use something like Endomondo, Runkeeper or Strava, all of which have apps for the major mobile platforms, to log your movements but I'm pretty sure they all need a data connection and will only export GPX files from their web apps after the logs have been uploaded. All good for use at home but sadly not when off travelling.

UPDATE: I made the leap to using Adobe Lightroom after all so geotagging images from GPX files is taken care of.

Actually recording the tracks is a changing landscape as most of the basic geotracking apps on Android (I'll never use an iPhone) have stopped working reliably since the release of Android 10. They only record tracks if the screen is on, which seriously affects battery life

Both the Strava and RunKeeper apps do record with the screen off but I've found that the Strava app regularly has errors and glitches in the tracks so I'm currently recording tracks using RunKeeper. Downloading GPX files is still restricted to using the web interface but that's okay for now.

Improving Your Writing

If you write English language content intended for someone else to read (blogs, web articles, reports, novels, etc.), then there are some very useful and free, online tools available…

Hemingway - A free, online application that helps make your writing bold and clear by:

• highlighting long, complex sentences and common errors 
• highlighting adverbs - pick verbs with force instead
• showing you where a shorter word will do
• Highlighting phrases in the passive voice

Expresso - A little tool to edit texts and improve your writing style. It will teach you to express yourself through writing more efficiently and help make your texts more readable, precise, and engaging.

Readability-Score.com - An online app that can check text or URLs for readability, based on the Flesch-Kincaid tests. Also shows text stats and readbility scores based on the Gunning-Fog Index, Coleman-Liau Index, SMOG Index and the Automated Readability Index (ARI). A premium account will let you do batch runs and upload documents for checking.

WordsCount - A free, online readability checker that handles up about 15,000 words and uses the CLEAR method as well as the SMOG, Gunning-Fog and ARI tests.

Slick Write - a free online tool that checks your writing for potential stylistic mistakes and other features of interest. It also has extensions for LibreOffice, Open Office, Chrome, Firefox and WordPress.

The Readability Test Tool - An online app that can check text or URLs against the Flesch-Kincaid, Gunning-Fog, Coleman-Liau and ARI tests.

Some other useful resources are:

• The Plain English Campaign, which has some free, downloadable guides to help with your writing
• The Lynch Guide to Grammar and Style
• The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr.

NB: Microsoft Office now has built-in readability statistics for Flesch Reading Ease and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level but these have to be enabled in the Proofing preferences.

A Stroll Round Balgray Reservoir

​Despite the weather forecast predicting a miserable day, we woke up to a sunny and seriously cold morning, all blue skied and bright, so after lunch we drove over the slightly scary road from Neilston to Balgray Reservoir in the Dams to Darnley Country Park.

Balgray Reservoir

So, far from being drenched with rain, we had a decent stroll across the dam to Aurs Road and back again, around the edge of the reservoir up as far as Aurs Road on the other side. Not a huge walk by any standards but a decent taster as our first foray into the park.

There was a smattering of snow on the ground and wildlife sitings include a flock of lapwings, a pair of mute swans and a great crested grebe.

Mute Swans

Great Crested Grebe

All images of the day are here - http://flic.kr/s/aHsjMLBsiw/show

Port de Pollença, Mallorca

We recently went on holiday to Mallorca, one of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. For anyone thinking "doesn't he mean Majorca?" Well, yes you can call it that if you want but the locals speak Catalan and that's what they call it. The island is Spanish so both Catalan and the more commonly Castilian Spanish are spoken but all the official notices and road signs are in Catalan so you might as well get used to it.

Port de Pollença Harbour

The town is pretty much a tourist resort but a good bit quieter than nearby Port d'Alcúdia, one of the most popular resorts on the island. We stayed in the Oro Playa aparthotel in Port de Pollença (Puerto Pollensa) in the North of the island. The accommodation was good but, like most places we stay when on holiday, we almost never partake of the laid-on entertainments or restaurants so can't say much more than that. It was clean and well kept and the staff were very friendly., which is pretty much all we wanted The only downside was its proximity to the Puerto Azul hotel, which blasted out endless holiday songs at high volume for its kids club. Seriously, if you don't have kids, then don't ever consider going to the Puerto Azul, you'll be suicidal in a week.

As for the resort itself, the town is centred around the harbour area and the main square, where there are loads of restaurants and snack bars. There's also a very good beach stretching down from the South side of the town and around the bay. As for the eateries themselves, most are very good quality quality and I don't think we had a bad experience in the two weeks we were there. As ever, the Indian restaurants are woeful compared to those at home but we've gotten used to that by now and expectations of a decent curry abroad were set aside long ago. The nightlife is another issue though - there's very little of it. The resort is obviously more aligned to family or elderly tourists so if you're looking for a wild nightlife go to Alcúdia instead.

Port de Pollença Beach

It's not completely bar-free though and we did find a couple of decent ones near the main square, one Australian and two Irish-themed ones. Not that they'd ever seen a real Aussie or Son of Eire behind the bar but they were lively enough and had some live music most nights. We ended up in Mulligan's most nights as the area's only decent rock band, and the only one we could find in the resort, called The Hustlers played there several times a week. The downside was there are also two Elvis impersonators doing the rounds. One, a young fit-looking guy, was really bad and seemed to sing anything but Elvis numbers and the other looked like he'd lived the Elvis lifestyle and was close to expiring at any minute. I'm sure he also had a Glasgow accent.

There's not a lot else to do in Port de Pollença. I did find a little nature reserve called l'Espai Humit de la Gola. If you walk along the front, you'll notice a little bridge over a stream that's pretty full of fish. and always attarcts a few tourits. If take the road leading off on either side of this, you can get down into the reserve. It's not large but it's a pleasant stroll through a butterfly and bird infested wetland area. There appeared to be a resident Little Egret that was always worth watching as it pranced around catching who knows what in the shallows.

l'Espai Humit de la Gola

So, to sum it up - good beach and good food but not the best of night-life although Alcúdia isn't far away. If you want to get out of Port de Pollença for the day, there a decent walk though the Boquer valley to Cala Boquer, you can also walk over to Cala San Vicente but that's a bit more strenuous. Getting to the little town of Pollença or Alcúdia is easy by bus too and there's always car hire if you want to go further afield.

A Cold Afternoon At Castle Semple Loch

Sunday again and the weather isn't great but still decent enough for a stroll by Castle Semple Loch near Lochwinnoch.

Castle Semple Loch, looking towards Kenmuir Hill Temple

It's still cold so the loch was partially frozen over with a thin film of ice but that didn't stop the usual gamut of over-wintering waterfowl from enjoying the day.

A Frozen Castle Semple Loch

There were plenty of birds in evidence - mallards, mute swans, tufted ducks and goldeneye as well as the ever-present gulls. The wind was whipping over the loch surface and where it hit the edge of the ice, it produced a really strange tinkling sound. Anyway a few hours wandering in the cold here was enough and we headed back home for a warm fireside.

Tufted Duck

Mute Swan

Ardardan and Balloch

It was a cold and potentially snowy Sunday and we'd wanted to go for a walk up Ben Lomond as it looked spectacular on the Saturday, all cloaked in white. Unfortunately, it was completely hidden from view by low and freezing clouds and snow was forecast so, being sensible folks, we opted to stay closer to the ground and go for a wander along the shore at Ardmore Point, a privately owned peninsula with a nature trail laid by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, near Cardross on the Firth of Clyde.

Nosey Toffee Coo

Unfortunately, my navigational skills were lacking on the day and I took the earlier turn off, missing Ardmore and ending up at Ardardan Estate instead. Ardardan is set in a little walled garden between Cardross and Ardmore and comprises a farm shop, garden nursery and tearoom. Not quite what we were looking for but we had a nose around anyway to pass the time. The farm shop was a bit upmarket for us, selling atrociously priced grocery items more frequently seen in the likes of Harrods or Fortnum and Mason's. The only positive thing was the fact that they sold Stornoway Black Pudding.

Of more interest to us at the time was a short woodland walk around, well a small wood. The path basically led off from one end of Ardardan, circled a small wood and came back round to the farm again. It was probably no more than quarter of a mile round but it had started snowing and seemed interesting enough at the time. On the way round we got to say hello to some inquistive Highland Cows and their calves. It's not a bad place to take kids for a few hours as they can see some farmyard animals like chickens, pigs and the "Toffee Coos" while mum and dad can edge them towards the tearoom. It also has a spectacular fountain with leaping dolphins, which looks a bit out of place among the farmyard clutter.

Drumkinnon Bay

Deciding the weather wasn't even up to a shoreline walk at Ardmore, we drove on to Helensburgh and then up and over the hill to Loch Lomond to see what was going on at Drumkinnon Bay at the Balloch end of the loch. Loch Lomond Shores is yet another pretentious, upmarket tourist trap but it does have a coffee shop and some potentially spectacular views of Ben Lomond. Not today though as it was snowing and the Ben was completely obscured from view.

Gulls On Ice

With an almost grey backdrop to the loch, there wasn't much to see except some stark contrast images of snow, ice and frost and a tied-up Maid of the Loch. Oh and some gulls wandering around on an ice-floe on the water. After a suitably hot coffee and a bun, we headed home for the warmth of the fireside and the telly - brrrrr!