Back from the North

by

Coming back from the beautiful barren North to the lush South was a culture shock at first. We utterly fell in love with the bleakness of the Scotland’s north coast and the Orkneys. Siri and Selma even wanted to stay there! But we also really liked the Outer Hebrides, where our journey started. We saw them as grand and sometimes even subarctic. And we didn’t try that much of the peaty whiskies that we couldn’t do quite some hiking in the mountains.

Von rauer Schönheit des Nordens zurück in den üppigen Süden zu fahren, war zunächst ein Kulturschock für uns. In die Kargheit der schottischen Nordküste und der Orkneys haben wir uns verliebt. Siri und Selma wollten gleich dort bleiben. Aber auch die Outer Hebrides, wo unsere Reise begann, fanden wir einfach großartig, geradezu subarktisch. Wir probierten nicht so viel leckeren torfigen Whisky, dass wir nicht auch einige Bergwanderungen unternehmen konnten.

This is Siri’s and Selma’s favourite car on the Isle of Harris. We drove with our dear Volvo in front on alarmingly narrow roads on cliffs high above the sea like the “wee-mad-road”. Our dear Selma always held on tightly to the door when brave Siri whizzed around the bends.

Das ist Siris und Selmas Lieblingsgefährt auf der Insel Harris. Allerdings fuhren wir in unserem Volvochen vorweg meist auf erschreckend engen Straßen wie die “wee-mad-road” am Meer entlang. Liebselmalein hielt sich immer an der Tür fest, wenn Sirilein kühn die Kurven kratzte.

This is Dina’s favourite car on the Isle of Lewis. Posh, isn’t it?! She took part in a Hebridean Rally before she changed back to our black Volvo because it provides more comfort and space for all the stuff we were carrying with us. And it got more and more every day with peat, Talisker and Orkney whiskies, Harris Gin and Tweeds.

Das ist Dina’s Lieblingsauto auf der Insel Lewis. Voll schick, nicht? Sie nahm damit an der Hebridean Rallye teil, ehe sie wieder in unser geliebtes Volvochen umstieg, das doch mehr Konfort bietet und Platz für all den Kram, den wir mit uns schleppten, geschweige aller Mitbringsel wie Torf, Talisker und Orkney Whiskys, Harris Gin und Tweeds.

We saw lots of standing stones in Scotland. The jaw-dropping Stones of Callanish (Calanais, from the Old Norse meaning peninsula) we liked most. There are about 5000 years old and in contrast to disenchanted Stonehenge we could move freely around the menhirs. And of course we were thrilled that nobody knows why those stones were erected.

In Schottland haben wir viele Steinkreise gesehen. Am besten gefielen uns die atemberaubenden Steine von Callanish (Calanais, vom Altnordischen für Halbinsel). Sie sind etwa 5000 Jahre alt und im Gegensatz zum entzauberten Stonehenge konnten wir hier frei herumlaufen. Uns hat natürlich fasziniert, dass keiner weiß, warum diese Steine errichtet wurden.

When we arrived at the Orkneys later we were told that here was the neolithic centre of northern Europe. These prehistoric men seemed to be as captivated by this landscape like we. However back then it was warmer, more dry and less windy.

Als wir später auf die Orkneys kamen, hörten wir gar, dass dort das steinzeitliche Kulturzentrum des nördlichen Europa lag. Irgendwie waren wohl diese vorgeschichtlichen Menschen von dieser Gegend ähnlich fasziniert wie wir. Allerdings war’s damals hier wärmer, trockener und weniger windig.

As you can see we were most of the time on our own with those stones. So Siri and Selma could listen to old Norse whisper. Why these granite stones where set in the pattern of a cross and how they were transported to this place they weren’t told. Selma’s theory: They were pushed on kelp.

Wie ihr seht, waren wir hier die meiste Zeit alleine und Siri und Selma konnten ungestört altnordischem Geraune lauschen. Warum die Granitblöcke kreuzförmig gesetzt, wie sie transportiert und aufgestellt wurden, konnten sie jedoch nicht erfahren. Selmas Theorie ist, dass sie auf Seetang hierher gerutscht wurden.

Now we have to settle in at home and take care of our beloved garden
So, jetzt müssen wir uns erst wieder einleben und uns um unseren feinen Garten kümmern.
Take care, so long
Tschüss, bis dann
The Fab Four of Cley xxxx

 

 

© Text and illustrations, Hanne Siebers and Klausbernd Vollmar, Cley next the Sea, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

476 thoughts

  3. Wonderful photos of the standing stones – – even though they’re such massive chunks of granite, for some reason, they give the sense that they’re ready to levitate! Pretty neat! And I’ve had none of these single malts

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  5. Great to read from you again! I have been so much looking forward to your roadtrip posts, I hope there’ll lots more to come. Your photos and stories are standing up and out of the crowd, like the standing stones. 😉 You are some fine Hebridean ambassadors! 🙂
    Kram, Annalena x

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    • Dear Annalena,
      Hebridean ambassadors … that would really suit us 🙂 whereas Siri and Selma would prefer to become fairy ambassadors of the Orkneys.
      Of course there are much more of Dina’s pictures to come.
      Love and hugs xxxxx
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 3 people

    • Thanks for the lovely fairy dust, girls.
      Glad to read there’s lots more to come, can’t wait to see what you have in store. 🙂
      Have a great summer, all of you!
      Hugs from my stuga,
      Annalen

      Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you, dear Annalena,
      our next posts will be about a grand beach and a fairy tale castle. We are writing on it. Tomorrow you can travel with us to Harris.
      Wishing you a GREAT time in your stuga.
      With lots of love xxxx and finest fairy dust
      your friends The Fab Four of Cley

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    • Guten Tag, liebe Uschi,
      Nord-Schottland ist das ideale Reiseland fürs Wohnmobil. Dort sind viele unterwegs, je weiter gen Norden, je mehr.
      Ja, es war eine atemberaubend schöne Reise 🙂 🙂
      Vielen Dank und alles Liebe dir und Herbert
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 2 people

  7. Wunderschöne Bilder! 👍😁 Schottland möchte ich unbedingt auch mal besuchen. Das Raue liebe ich sehr. Darum bin ich ja auch Irland-Fan. ❤

    LG und viel Spaß euch bei der Gartenarbeit,

    Susanne

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  8. Love this cars a lot! 🙂 I’m sure you had the best of times touring Scotland. How did you get to Harris and Lewis? Did the midgets bother you up North?
    Very much looking forward to more posts, we want to drive the NC500 next year.
    Love, Paul and Amy

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    • Dear Paul and Amy,
      May to the middle of June is the right time to avoid the midgets. We didn’t encounter any but they can be horrible. We had hot sommer weather up North, very sunny but always some wind (keeping the midget away).
      You can get to Harris and Lewis by a bridge or with a ferry. We took the bridge at the Eilean Donan castle – the classic fairytale castle to the Isle of Skye and from Skye we took a ferry from Uig to Tarbert, South Harris.
      You have to be quick to drive the NC500. Since it was voted by international photojournalists the second grandest road in the world many people want to make this trip. We didn’t meet much traffic, it was too early in the year. Coming back much more cars and camper vans were heading up North.
      With lots of love
      The Fab Four of Cley
      By the way, you have to book very early the hotels and B&Bs, there not so many!

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  13. My dear friends, good to see you back home, safe and healthy! Sounds like quite a roadtrip, just quite to my liking!! 🙂 Gorgeous photos, Hanne. I’d love to take four weeks off for a holiday like this, but I’m afraid it’ll have to wait until I stop working. If you keep posting posts like this, I suppose the places will be crowded in five years time though.
    Take care, see you soon,
    Per Magnus

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    • Our dear friend Per Magnus,
      our trip was great 🙂 we could immediately go again. You are right you have to be quick to drive the now famous NC500. Including the Outer Hebredies we drove over 2000 miles but we had time enough for mountain hiking, visiting standing stones and destilleries and just enjoying grand sand beaches.
      Thank you for liking Hanne’s photos – there are more to come.
      See you soon
      hugs and kisses from
      your friends The Fab Four of Cley xxx

      Liked by 1 person

  15. It’s wonderful to take place in your campervan and step into the ancient places of Scotland, dear Fab Four. 👏👍🏻
    We are thinking about you today and looking to London with our fingers crossed for a soft brexit. 🙏🏻
    Klem, Hjerter ❤️

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    • Dear Hjerter,
      we hope so as well. A brexit in May’s way would be a desaster for the UK. We would probably move to beautiful Scotland if they become independent.
      With lots of love and hugs from us
      The Fab Four of Cley xxx

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  16. Hallo Ihr Lieben,
    schoen zu wissen, dass Ihr alle Vier wieder heil und gesund zuhause seid! 🙂 Und natuerlich bin ich auch froh, dass Ihr im Norden so eine schoene Zeit hattet, mit so viel fantastischen Erlebnissen. Ich freue mich schon auf die Berichte, die da kommen werden, und auf die vielen Fotos. Einen Vorgeschmack haben wir hier ja schon: danke, liebe Dina!
    Ach ja, der Campingbully koennte mir auch gefallen. Und noch mehr natuerlich der schoene Oldtimer. Ich versuche gerade rauszukriegen, was fuer eine Marke das ist. Ein MG? Ach Dina, wie wundervoll muss das gewesen sein, mit diesem Teil durch die fantastische Landschaft zu kurven. Das habe ich eigentlich immer noch fuer die Cotswolds vor. Da kann man solche Teile ja mieten.
    Hier hatten wir uebrigens vor ein paar Tagen eine Oldtimer Show [ich habe daruber gebloggt]. Da ist mir echt das automobilistische Wasser im Mund zusammengelaufen. 😉
    Ihr Lieben, ich wuensche Euch alles Liebe und Gute im schoenen Cley. Liebe Grusse, auch von Mary,
    Pit

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    • P.S.: vonr hier gibt’s auch eine Neuigkeit. Gestern ist die neue Kamera angekommen, eine Nikon D500, mit dem 16-18mm DX Zoom. Ich bin sowas von happy! 😀

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    • Gratuliere, lieber Pit!! 👍🏻📷 Wir freuen uns mit dir und wünschen dir viel Freude damit❣️❣️❣️❣️Klasse, jetzt macht alles gleich noch mehr Spaß. Meine Profispeicherkarte hat auf die Orkneys den Geist aufgeben, megaärgerlich wenn nicht alles klappt, nicht wahr. Gott sei Dank, hat die Kamera 2 Speicherkarten, trotzdem sind mir einige Aufnahmen entkommen. Ich hoffe, deine Begeisterung steigert sich mit jeder Aufnahme! 😊🤗 Mach’s gut. Die Nachbarn kommen heute zum Essen, ich verschwinde wieder in die Küche…

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    • Hallo Dina,
      danke fuer die Gratulation und die guten Wuensche. Stimmt: es ist schon aergerlich, wenn ploetzlich ein Teil der Ausruestung versagt und einem dadurch Fotos verloren gehen. Sehr schade fuer Dich. 😦 Mir ist das mit meiner alten D70s auf unserer Narrowboat-Tour im Black Country Museum in Birmingam passiert. Die Kamera erkannte ploetzlch die Speicherkarte nicht mehr, und durch mein “Trial-and-Error”, um das wieder in Ordnung zu bringen, war dann plotzlich die Speicherkarte leer. Meine D500 hat ja auch zwei Speicherkarten. Mal sehen, wie ich sie nutze. Man kann eine davon ja auch als Backup nutzen. Ich weiss es noch nicht.
      Das Problem mit der Kamera, dass sie die Speicherkarte nicht mehr erkannte, hat dann ueber die Jahre hinweg immer mehr zugenommen, und vor ein paar Wochen in San Franzisko war es dann endguletig so weit: nichts hat mehr geholfen. Und so musste dann eine Neue her. Darueber, wie ich endguletig zur D500 gekommen bin, spaeter mehr.
      Liebe Gruesse, in Erwartung ganz fantastischer Bilder von Dir,
      pit

      Liked by 1 person

    • Danke Ihr Lieben! Den ersten richtigen Spass hatte ich schon am Samstag. Wir hatten hier unsere alljaehrliche “Anitique Tractor & Machinery Show” – immer wieder ein Vergnuegen, da die alten Prachtstuecke zu sehen. Da bin ich doch nach gerade einmal etwas ueber zwei Stunden herumstroclhen und fotografieren mit sage und schreibe 183 Fotos zurueckgekommen! Ich bin immer noch dabei, sie sozusagen auszuwerten. Und – die meisten jedenfalls – etwas zu ueberarbeiten. Eigentlich haette ich schon laengst ueber diese Show bloggen wollen. Mal sehen, ob es heute etwas damit wird. Ich denke mal, vielleicht einen ersten Teil. Aber ich muss auch unbedingt Rasen maehen, und das dauert ja auch ueber 4 Stunden. Na ja, wenigstens habe ich aber schon ein Bild von Samstag in meinem Bilderbuchblog [http://tinyurl.com/ybq6offu]. Koennt ja mal reinschauen.
      Macht’s gut im kleinen Dorf am grossen Meer und liebe Gruesse, auch an die restlichen 2/4 der Fab Four,
      Pit

      Liked by 1 person

    • Ja gaaaaaaaaanz viel Freude mit deiner neuen Kamera!
      Da sind wir ja auch über deine Bilder to come gespannt.
      Liebe Grüße vom kleinen Dorf am großen Meer
      The Fab Four of Cley xx

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    • Danke, lieber Klausbernd! Jetz kommt aber erst einmal ein Zweitstudium: 450 Seiten Kamera-Handbuch! 😉 Aber ich halte Euch – und alle meine anderen Follower auf meinen beiden Blogs auf dem Laufenden.

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    • Hi, lieber Pit
      naja der VW-Bus ist heillos untermotorisiert und kriecht im Vergleich zu unserem geliebten Volvo nur wie ‘ne Schnecke die Berge hoch. Das ist ein netter Traum, mit solchem Auto die über 3000 km zu fahren, aber ganz und gar unpraktisch – aber Siri und Selma lieben ihn. Und der offene Sportwagen voll schick anzuschauen, aber unbequem, unpraktisch und anfällig. Beide Autos sind so etwas für ein paar Tage fürs romantische Gefühl.
      Der Norden Schottlands mit den Orkneys ist wirklich megatoll. Hinter jeder Kurve atemberaubend Neues …
      So, jetzt muss ich in der Küche helfen.
      Liebe Grüße vom kleinen Dorf am großen Meer
      The Fab Four of Cley

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    • Lieber Klausbernd,
      ichg stimme Dir zu: beide Autos koennen Spass amchen, aber uer mich genause wie fuer Dich nur fuer ein paar Tage. Da aber eben Romantik pur. 😉
      Mach’s gut, und viel Spass in der Kueche,
      Pit

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    • Hallo Siri und Selma,
      dass ein Bulli – zumindest zu Anfang, etwas gewoehnungsbeduerftig zu fahren ist, dass weiss ich aus eigener Erfahrung. Man sitzt als Fahrer ja nicht wie gewohnt hinter der Vorderachse, sondern direkt darueber. Meine Erfahrung ist schon sehr lange her. Damals, ich glaube, es war in der Mitte der 80er, sind wir nach einem Segeltoern in einem Bulli von der portugiesischen Atlantikkueste zurueck nach Bonn gefahren – in einem Rutsch durch [ausser etwa 2 Stunden Pause an der portugiesisch/spanischen Grenze, weil die in den fruehen Morgenstunden noch geschlossen war, und fuer eine kurze Mahlzeit in einem kleinen Strassenrandrestaurant irgendwo in Frankreich]. Wir haben uns zu zweit am Steuer abgewechselt. Es war schon ein gewisses Abenteuer, den in der Nacht [wir sind abends los] durch Portugals Berge zu steuern, ganz besonders, weil unser Bulli deutlich staerker motorisiert war als Eurer. Unserer war “aufgemotzt”, mit einem 90-PS Porsche Motor hinten drin. Es war schon ein Spass, damit auf der Autobahn Andere zu “vernaschen” und z.B. die unglaeubigen Gesichter zu sehen, wenn wir locker mit 150 Km/H an z.B. einem Opel Kadet vorbeizogen.
      Ihr seht: beim Stichwort “Bulli” werden “Jugendgefuehle” in mir wach. 😉
      Liebe Gruesse an Euch Beide, und auch an den Master und die liebe Dina,
      Pit

      Liked by 1 person

    • Danke fuer’s Lob, lieber klausbernd. 🙂 Und ich nuss zugeben, trotz der Verhaeltnisse [z.T. schlechte Lichtverhaeltnisse. “nur” meine “kleine” Nikon Coolpix S9500, beengter Raum plus viele Leute] sind ein paar ganz brauchbare Aufnahmen herausgekommen. Alle aber mit EasyHDR nachbearbeitet. Das Programm hat Hervorragendes geleistet, insbesondere was die Details in den sonst zu dunklen Bildpartien angeht. Jetzt bin ich mal gespannt, was ich mit der neuen Kamera am Wochenende bei unserer “Antique Tractor Show” schaffe.

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  18. Good to have you back! Those menhirs are beautiful, and as you say, joyful to have them to yourselves. I know there’ll be some fine tales to tell. Looking forward to them. 🙂 🙂 Happy weekend!

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    • Good afternoon, dear Jo
      there are much more pictures to come and tales to tell. But first we have to settle in again.
      Wishing you a happy weekend as well
      The Fab Four of Cley xx

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  19. How I have missed your posts! Lovely to have you back and I mean that. The Callanish. Sigh. The imagination boggles. I cannot wait for the other posts. We wanted to set out on a Hebridean grand tour before leaving the country but well it has wait till another time. So I shall travel virtually through yours.

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    • We keep our fingers crossed that you soon find a way to visit the Hebredies. We loved it very much there and did some mountain hiking on Sky and Lewis. I am sure that Dina will present pictures from our journey across the Outer Hebredies. But first we have to settle in again.
      Thank you so much for liking our posts 🙂 🙂 We are very, very happy about and makes us go on blogging.
      With lots of love
      The Fab Four of Cley

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    • Hi Klausbernd, hiking on Sky and Lewis sounds fabulous. My feet are itching at the thought. Skye is one of my favourite places filled with memories especially of those adorable Highland cows and sipping on Talisker. I will wait to see Dina’s posts. We watch Paul Merton’s grand tour of the Scottish Highlands every time we miss it 🙂

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    • Hi Dippy-Dotty Girl
      we had a great whisky tasting at Talisker we needed it desperately after all our hiking. Did you do the Old Man of Storr? We did it in hot and sunny weather and were sweating like in the sauna.
      Masterchen’s favourite whisky is Laphroaig but Talisker is great too, not that peaty.
      Love from Norfolk
      The Fab Four of Cley

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    • I am not a single malt person but I loved sipping on the Talisker they offer you at the end of the tour. The smokiness of it was quite lovely. My husband who is a whisky enthusiast savoured it.

      We did not climb the Old Man of Storr sadly. We stuck to driving because the weather gods decided to play havoc but then isn’t it common in the Skye? You were lucky to get the sun on your day of hiking 🙂 I shall do a post on Skye soon. We got just a day of sun in the five days of exploring it. Which is why we want to go back and do a few hikes.

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    • Our dear Master loves single malt whisky but Dina prefers the Scottish Gins. We stayed at a little hotel on Skye run by a lady who is a Gin enthusiast having more than 50 Gins in her bar.
      We did quite some hiking on Skye and would go immediately back to do some more of it. We can well understand that you want to go back.
      Did you use the bridge at the Eilean Donan Castle?
      Love
      The Fab Four of Cley

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    • That sounds fascinating. The lady and her gin bar. Gins right at your doorstep! Egad it could not get better. We did indeed cross the bridge at Eilean Donan. Through the Kyle of Localsh. Oh I do believe I am sitting with a cloud of nostalgia hanging over my head.

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  20. Fabulous images! Loved your photos of Callanish, I was there some years ago, in the pouring rain, alas! I did a vey similar road trip… Love that Jaguar XK….well, I think that’s what it is, or goodness me is it an MGA

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    Reply

    • Dear Jacqui,
      you are absolutely right the VW camper van is so top heavy that it is hard to drive in those narrow bends and with with high winds it’s a desaster, besides it’s to heavy for its small engine. It’s just for fun for a couple of nostalgic days, but nevertheless Siri and Selma loved it 🙂 🙂 It was their camper van.
      Thanks and lots of love
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

  24. Reading your post at … the Callenish Stones visitor centre! We are 13 nights in Lewis and Harris and and will be 10 days in Orkney, including for the Summer Solstice. Dramatic, atmospheric and inspiring scenery and history. Loving it. Katherine

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    Reply

    • Dear Katherine
      we wish you a great time at the Outer Hebrides and the Orkneys! We are sure you will love it there. We keepour fingers crossed for you for good weather.
      All the best
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

  25. All the Scottish Islands.. West, North or East all have a collective spirit yet at the same time their own individual character. One thing is for sure and that is that I know of no one who has failed to be captivated by the island, the scenery, the people, the weather and of course their history. We all have great memories.

    Love the images…they refreshed my memories. 🙂

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    Reply

    • Dear David,
      we fully agree and love all these islands. We are still reading about the history of the Orkneys and Outer Hebrides.
      Thanks for commenting and all the best
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear John
      yes, the North is magnificent! We did it by car and if you do it in little steps you could do it probably too. Otherwise you can enjoy the pictures we will post in the next weeks.
      All the best
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Like

  27. Welcome back, Fab Four, and how wonderful to hear about your adventures. The road trip vehicles just say “fun” and the enchanting stones are mysterious and stately. Thanks for this preview, looking forward to hearing more–

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Good afternoon, dear Jet
      thank you for commenting 🙂 🙂
      The cars were fun – but just fun and not much more. Most of the travelling we did with our Volvo.
      There are pictures to come but first we have to settle down again.
      All the best
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

  28. Interesting writing and crisp photos but no people? For privacy ? A friend photographer would put his briefcase in personal photos to substitute for himself so his wonderful pictures showed he was really there.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • We were lucky that not much people were on the road, probably because we started our journey early. And one could say the places we visited are out in the sticks. All of North Scotland is sparsely populated. But we suppose that tourism will increase there therefore we decided to go this year.
      Thanks and cheers
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Like

  31. A long and adventurous trip is behind you. The photos of the neolithic structures impress me the most. I guess we will never know how these massive stones were moved and erected. It will remain forever a mystery. So Selma’s theory is as good as any. Good luck with your garden, which needs a little bit of catching-up work!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Dear Peter,
      our trip was GREAT, we loved it very much up North and Siri and Selma arranged with their friends, the weather-fairies, that we had glorious weather most of the time.
      Students of archeology tried out different methods how those stones were transported and erected. Actually Selma’s theory was tried as well. It worked but only with a lot of young and very fit students.
      It always takes some time catching up with our garden. But we like it, otherwise we would only sit at computer which doesn’t make us happy.
      Thanks and wishing you a happy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  32. What a fascinating journey! Thanks for sharing it with us. This is the first that I have heard about the standing stones and they have captured my curiosity.
    Ω

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    Reply

    • Dear Allan Ω
      in the north of Scotland and especially on the Orkneys you find a lot of those menhirs, stone circles and even a neolithic village at Skarra Brae (worth visiting). It seems to be that this area has been a centre of neolithic culture, maybe because a warmer climate then.
      All the best, have an easy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Like

    • Will do, Klaus. Who knows, I might get to see it in person some day.

      I hope that the four of you have a Fab weekend.
      Ω

      Liked by 1 person

  33. Ideal vehicles for a journey through a lovely countryside and mysterious ancient monoliths. How wonderful and perfectly enjoyed by my Fab Four of Cley!
    But I am thrilled to see you have all returned.
    GP Cox

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    • Good morning, our dear friend GP Cox,
      it’s a very special feeling driving along in a VW camper van. It’s ideal because you go slowly through this magnificient landscape. The old Jaguar gives a real feeling of a sports car and driving with an open top was great. But we used these cars for a couple of days only. Most of our journey was done in our dear Volvo.
      We saw lots of standing stones and stone circles all about 5000 years old. It’s always a fascinating feeling of looking back in time to be in touch with these menhirs.
      Now we have to settle in again. Dina works on her pictures, our dear Master gives some interviews and Siri and Selma are busy working in the garden. Normal life is back again and that’s fine but we could have gone immediately again.
      With lots of love from sunny Norfolk
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

    • The Jaguar image in my mind brings images of the old spy movies, but I can readily understand why most of your driving was done in a reliable and sturdy Volvo!! It is terrific to have you all back, but happy you enjoyed your trip!!
      Take care, my friends.
      GP Cox

      Liked by 2 people

    • Driving this Jaguar is indeed like being in a movie. And you get lots of attention, everyone admiring this car. A much more beautiful styling like the modern cars.
      Love from
      The Fab Four of Cley

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  34. Sounds like it was a great trip and I hope there will be more fabulous photos from it. There is something very special about being around these ancient stones. I always feel any stress slides away and my body relaxes, even my mind becomes open to the sounds around me. Of course it helps when there aren’t throngs of people about. Those kombis are fabulous aren’t they? I could see the four of you meandering around the world in one of those 😀
    Good luck with the garden – I expect it is knee-high in weeds now!
    Jude xx
    PS Glad to hear the girls came back with you.

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    Reply

    • Good morning, dear Sue,
      Siri and Selma wanted to stay and back home they wanted immediately to go again. So we try to change houses with a family of John O Groats (Taigh Iain Ghròt) in winter. From their house we can see the Orkneys and there is a short ferry to this enchanted island.
      Of course Dina will show pictures of the Hebrides, the Orkneys and the North coast of Scotland, but first we have to settle in, fighting the weeds in our garden and getting used to our everyday life again.
      The VW camper van was great fun for a couple of days but for such a trip too slow and too old. You have to be a car mechanic to go long distances with it. We made most of our journey in our dear Volvo. But with endless time travelling around in this VW would be fun and Siri and Selma would love to do it.
      With lots of love xxx
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

    • The Outer Hebrides and the northern parts of Scotland are great. We could immediately go again. We wondered why we haven’t been there before.
      Thanks and all the best
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

  43. Your beautiful photos took me right back to a wonderful trip I took to Orkney, Lewis, and Harris a few years ago. Yes, driving there was an adventure, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat! Thanks for sharing. Your post today brought a big smile to my face.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Dear Janet,
      we are so happy that we brought a big smile to your face!
      We could do our trip immediately again.
      Wishing you an easy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Like

    • Dear Margaret
      do it as soon as possible because we have the feeling that Scottland’s North is getting more and more touristy. We think that would spoil the special feeling of being there alone.
      Enjoy the weekend and thanks
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

  47. Herzlich Willkommen zurück in Bloghausen, ihr lieben fab four!
    Was hast du für zauberhafte Bilder mitgebracht, liebe Hanne!!! Und was für dramatische Himmel … hach, herrlich anzuschauen und dein Lieblingsauto ist auch mein Lieblingsauto 😉
    Über die Steine kann man lange sinnieren und viele taten es ja auch schon, hier, wie eben auch in der Bretagne, wo wir vor zwei Jahren auch viele entdeckten und dort mit ihnen alleine sein durften, da sich die Massen eben immer woanders tummeln müssen …
    Herzliche Grüße
    Ulli

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Guten Morgen, liebe Ulli,
      vielen Dank für deine lieben Worte. Da werden noch viel mehr Fotos von Hanne-Dina kommen, sei gespannt.
      Ja, dieser Jaguar ist schon schick, ein elegantes, starkes Frauenauto. Es macht richtig Spaß, mit ihm die engen, kurvenreichen Küstenstraßen entlang zu brausen und das noch offen. Allerdings fuhren wir die meiste Zeit in unserem geliebten Volvo – schon allein weil wir so viel Kram dabei hatten.
      Ich besuchte als Jugendlicher Carnac und war auch von diesen Steinsetzungen fasziniert. In Schottland kommt noch die dramatische Landschaft hinzu, in der diese Menhire stehen.
      Mit lieben Grüßen vom Meer zum Berg
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

    • yes, just wait a bit please and you will see Harris and Orkney pictures. Unfortunately Dina had some problems with the memory card in one of her cameras on the Orkneys but fortunately she always takes pictures with both of her big cameras and her mobile phone.
      Thanks for your kind words.
      Wishing you a GREAT weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

  50. Thanks for this interesting insight into Scotland. We loved Scotland highlands when we were there, chasing the Red Squirrel and tracing our heritage. It is interesting how the standing stones are in so many places throughout Britain, we even have them placed in a Scottish town in Australia by the Scottish community, but possibly with a different meaning. There is something romantic about the brisk cold weather of that country, the Scots had to be tough people to survive, that is for sure. Thanks for sharing your trip.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thanks for your commentary 🙂 🙂
      You wouldn’t believe it we had gorgeos weather most of the time, a bit too hot for our taste sometimes. But that’s not normal. We actually prefer the cold and grey stormy weather which fits that well to the Highlands.
      Dina will show a lot more pictures when we are settled.
      All the best
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

  51. Once again a superb post with outstanding photos! I’m happy to see that you enjoyed your trip. Scotland is magnificent. ❤
    Looking forward to much more. 🙂
    Sarah x

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  54. Dear dream family!
    Sooooo happy you had a perfect trip. A part of me accompanied you and I’m looking forward to seeing the photos.
    Skye and the islands are on my list so it’s perfect having U4
    to give me your special tips!!
    Have a super weekend.
    🇮🇪👼🏼🙋🍀👫 👭
    Your Celtic friend Joan 😘

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Hi dear Celtic Joanimausi 🍀
      you’ll love it, I know it! 😍 And we now love ☕️ Gaelic Coffee. 😊
      See you soon, I’m getting ready for Bonn, Hanne x

      Liked by 3 people

    • Dear Joan 🍀
      Skye is great, but it’s much bigger than we thought. We climbed up to the Old Man of Storr – manificient – visited the Talisker destillery including whisky tasting, and were hiking to remote beaches and lighthouses. Actually we did a lot of hiking there and we were sooo lucky with the weather.
      Wishing you a GREAT weekend as well
      The Fab Four of Cley
      👫 👭
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  56. I love it! You had me fooled at first – I thought you drove the old VW. I took a road trip in one just like that back in the early 1970’s, from NY to Canada on the coast. I love the sports car too though, and the backdrop of that bleak landscape is indeed very beautiful. Then the stones! How wonderful that you could walk around them and listen to their whispers. An imaginative theory, transportation by sliding on kelp, hmmm… 🙂
    As always, the photographs are beautifully composed and balanced, and the light is lovely.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Thank you so much for your kind commentary 🙂 🙂
      Travelling in this old VW camper van was really fun. Siri and Selma immediately occupied it as their car. Siri was very brave to drive it on those narrow and bendy coast roads and she loved it.
      Going up north from NY to Canada on the coast must have been great as well.
      We wish you a happy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 2 people

    • We did partly travel in this (rented) VW camper van just for the feeling of it, but only for our stay on the Outer Hebrides. The tour on the mainland we did in our Volvo.
      We wish you a happy week
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

  57. Superb photos and I love the cars. I have very fond memories of the more remote areas of Scotland and at one time seriously thought of renting a cottage for a year to write (that was 40 years ago when I wrote vast missives to my parents on my travels and adventures). There’s something rather unworldly about the treeless moors. It’s like a step back in time.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Vicki
      indeed, “unwordly” is the right word to describe this barren landscapes of the norhern highlands.
      We contemplate to change houses for one or two month with people we got to know in John O Groats (Taigh Iain Ghròt). Well, we hope that it will work. We suppose it would be the ideal place to write. Maybe our dear Master’s next book? Who knows.
      Thanks a lot for your kind commentary.
      Wishing you an easy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 3 people

  59. Schön, von euch vier zu hören! Welcome back 🙂
    Steinkreise oder -kreuze ganz alleine zu betrachten ist ja ein wahres Privileg. Ich erinnere mich, dass wir sogar in Avebury mit vielen anderen um die Steine schlichen.
    Ist die Zeichnung gut angekommen? Ich hoffe, sie hat die lange Reise gut überstanden.
    Liebe Grüße sendet euch Susanne

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Danke, liebe Susanne! 🙂 Als wir bei den Steinen ankamen waren recht viele Menschen dort, es ist immerhin die größte Attraktion auf den Hebriden. Zum Glück fing es an zu regnen und die Menschen verzogen sich nach und nach ins Cafe, aber die Steine so, ohne Menschen, aufzunehmen hat Zeit, Geduld und viele Positionswechsel (und etwas Cropping) gekostet. 😉 Deine Zeichnung ist nicht in Cley angekommen, vielleicht in Bonn? Ich lasse es dir sofort wissen, wenn es ankommt.
      Euch ein schönes Wochenende in Berlin.
      Herzliche Grüße, Hanne

      Liked by 2 people

    • Ich habe sie versichert nach Cley gesendet, Hanne. Ich werde sofort bei Hermes recherchieren und melde mich dann. Ist das ärgerlich.
      Liebe Grüße Susanne

      Like

    • Ich habe dir per WhatsApp die Infos zur Sendung geschickt. Es ist unglaublich. Ich habe das Paket am 22.5. zu Hermes gebracht und es ist immer noch unterwegs…..

      Like

    • Guten Morgen, huch gerade noch, liebe Susanne,
      als ich in Avebury vor etwa 20 Jahren mit dem WDR filmte, waren schon so viele Leute dort, dass wir für 2 Tage die Anlage schließen mussten. Aber im Gegensatz zu Avebury, das ich weitaus eindruckvoller als Stonehenge finde, liegen die Steinkeise und Menhire im Norden Schottlands und auf den Orkneys am Ende der Welt, weswegen nicht so viel Betrieb wie in Wiltshire dort ist.
      Jetzt versuchen wir gerade, uns einzuleben, wozu auch das Bloggen gehört. War das toll, unsere internetfreie Zeit, welche ein Privileg!
      Mit ganz lieben Grüßen vom kleinen Dorf am großen Meer
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • Ich beneide euch fast um die Internetfreie Zeit. Ich nehme mir jetzt Tage, wo ich den Rechner bewusst auslasse und nur Zeichne und Lese.
      Wundervoll!
      Genau das werde ich auch gleich tun: ich habe mir aus der Bücherei ein Buch über den Kannibalismus auf Gericaults Floß der Medusa mitgenommen, was ich genussvoll lesen möchte.
      Einen schönen Freitag wünscht euch Susanne

      Liked by 1 person

    • Ja, wie schon irgendwo weiter oben verraten, wir haben da etwas gezaubert, dass Dina und Masterchen dort alleine ware. Aber das ist eigentlich ein Geheimnis.
      Finest fairy dust from
      Siri 🙂 and 🙂 Selma, the clever Bookfayries

      Liked by 2 people

    • Hi, dear Gabe,
      first of all those menhirs are at the end of the world in quite a sparsely populated area. And it was one of the few places where we had some rain. Dina was actually desperately wishing for grey and rainy weather as it represents the mood much better than sunshine – which came immediately after this shower again.
      Our trip was really more than great. We could immediately go again – what Siri and Selma really would like to do and we as well.
      Wishing you a happy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 3 people

  63. My husband was on a photo adventure in the Orkneys last year and was enchanted by the barrenness and by having oatmeal with a little whiskey init for breakfast. We haven’t tried it at home!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Dear Lulu,
      it was the first time for us as well tasting porridge with cream, whisky and honey. It tasts great – but in the Highlands only, we suppose not at home here in East Anglia. We were enchanted of the barren, treeless landscape as well. Some part up north reminded us on sub-arctic areas in norhern Scandinavia or even southern Greenland.
      Wishing you an easy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 2 people

  64. As always you have captured some lovely images. And what a lovely trip it seems like you had. Have always wanted to spend time in some of the islands outside of Scotland. Being a whisky fan myself of course first in line would be Islay…

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Dear Dacian,
      well it’s not that far from you. We are sure you would love the north of Scotland as well as the isles. We keep our fingers crossed that you soon find a way to go up North.
      Good luck!
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 3 people

  66. Euch beiden ein Herzlichen Dankeschön für die Bilder und Texte ich bin ganz und gar begeistert, dass ihr es mit mir teilt.
    Lg. Sagar

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Guten Abend, lieber Sagar,
      uns macht es Spaß, unsere Reiseerlebnisse zu teilen. Da werden noch einige Bilder und Geschichten folgen. Der Norden Schottlands ist einfach großartig.
      Hab herzlichen Dank für deine herzlichen Worte.
      Mit lieben Grüßen vom sonnigen Meer
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 2 people

  67. Lovely to see this. Jackie and I were talking about you the other day and wondering whether you had been to Scotland yet. Will you be around this summer? I feel a visit to Cley is in order – I am also updating Slow Norfolk for another edition and so some of your ‘insider knowledge’ would be most welcome. All the very best from Norwich (South) :-). Laurence

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Laurence,
      we just came back and are in the proces of settling in. We fell in love with the very north of Scotland and the Outer Hebrides.
      Hanne will be in Norway from next week until the middle of July but I am around all the time. We would love a visit of yours 🙂 🙂
      See you very soon.
      All the best from the sea (North) 😉
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  69. I have seen many photographs of the stones in the past but I think these are quite outstanding. They convey quite beautifully the ‘feel’ of the place and the detail and light are excellent.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Louis, good evening,
      thank you so much for your kind words. You made Dina’s evening 🙂 Dina loves taking photographs in grey weather, preferably when it’s raining. And she doesn’t like to photoshop her pictures. We are all fed up with those artifical suns and skies.
      There are more photos to come.
      Wishing you a happy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

    • Da freuen wir uns, dass es dir besser geht 🙂 🙂
      Wow, du bist mit dem Fahrrad dort gefahren. Hochachtung! Nicht nur, dass bes. in Schottland die Entfernungen groß sind, sondern es geht auch noch oft heftig auf und ab.
      Mit lieben Grüßen von Nord-Norfolk und weiterhin gute Besserung
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 2 people

    • Good morning, dear Tiny,
      it was a GREAT trip indeed! You are right, Scotland is mystery country, the standing stones, old castles, the moores …
      Our two cars were super, lots of fun, but we have to admit that we made most of our trip in our dear Volvo.
      With lots of love and best wishes for an easy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 2 people

  73. What a wonderful trip for you all! The stone circles have an amazing aura, even just from the photo! Also loved theVW van believe it’s good condition considering the environment it’s in! What a fabulous holiday and hope you’re settling back home well! I bet your garden went wild with the wind, rain and sun whilst you were away! 😀❤️

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Annika, good morning,
      the VW camper van was in shipshape condition and Siri loved driving it. But actually it was quite hard work on those bendy roads going up and down, but Siri didn’t mind. Dina fell in love with this white Jaguar and as it had an open top she could photograph right from the car.
      These stone circles like the standing stones on the Orkneys radiated a special mood hard to describe. It is a feeling of going back to ancient times.
      Now we are very busy in our garden, so much to do! But Siri and Selma are helping quite a lot.
      We wish you a very relaxed weekend and say “thank you”
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  74. WOW, what a trip, Dina, so nice that you got be so up close and personal with all these standing stones! I believe I would have to set and ponder over how long ago they were moved into place, by what peoples and use my imagination to figure out how peoples of the day actually did move them. I do this often from home here in Virginia when I see pictures or videos of them, however I can only imagine being amongst them, how much more incredible that must be, a part of the past so ancient, that it just boggles the mind. Great post Dina! Wonderful photography!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • The Callanish Stones are very special as you can freely move there. So it’s much easier to let your imagination flow. Confronted with the unknown from ancient times everyone starts to project. Which people lived here and how did they build those structures and for what reason? These are question nearly all visitors ask themselves and everyone find an answer depending on their imagination, feelings and believes. We loved it letting our imagination just flow freely. There are hardly any historical facts to limit our ideas.
      Unfortunately there are few stone circles left where you can touch the stones. Most of them are in Scotland.
      Thanks for commenting and wishing you a happy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 3 people

  76. Amazing Post! Das sind Charakter-Steine wie es scheint! Und die Autos zu wechseln macht Spaß, denke ich mir?
    Sind sie nicht mehr bunt mit “Friedenszeichen” dran, die VW-Busse?!
    Jaguar mit Kühlerfigur?!
    Wir werden als nächstes ein Elektroauto bestellen, wenn noch etwas Geld übrig bleibt nach der Renovierung der Odenwaldhütte.
    Tanzen bringt nicht gerade ein Vermögen an Geld ein, aber dafür viel Freude!!!
    Mein aktueller Lieblings-Ohrwurm kommt von den Toten Hosen, in diesen Zeiten, in denen Kinder denken, dass das Wasser aus dem Wasserhahn kommt, das Essen von Netto – Kühe sind natürlich lila….Kälber?
    Ich sende euch viel Liebe vom Schillerplatz und wünsche schöne Stunden im Garten!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Guten Tag, liebe Pia,
      Elektorauto, hmmm – wir finden den neuen Tesla voll schick, aber ach, oh weh, die Reichweite … Und dann gibt’s in vielen Gegenden noch kein Ladestationsnetz. Bis das mit den Ladestationen noch nicht wie mit Tankstellen geregelt ist, fahren wir lieber einen alten, offenen weißen Jaguar, selbst ohne Kühlerfigur, oder gar einen VW Bus mit viel zu wenig PS. Nee, das Peace Zeichen gab’s nicht im Angebot, aber trafen unterwegs einen VW Bus, der das noch stilecht hatte.
      Puh, bei der Hitze arbeiteten wir heute von morgens bis abends im Garten und sind jetzt ganz ko. Aber toll ist, man sieht sofort, was man getan hat.
      Ganz liebe Grüße aus Cley
      The Fab Four xxxx

      Liked by 1 person

    • Tesla können wir uns nicht leisten, hatte an Renault Zoe gedacht. Jonas will unbedingt so einen Bus (Mama, voll cool, der spinnt wohl!)…
      Es gibt einen “Künstlerfond” in Berlin, aber seit 2 Wochen höre ich nichts vom Autohändler…
      Hannes Fotos sind die Wucht! Ich höre die Steine summen, singen, zwischen, da werden die Buchfeen ihren Spaß gehabt haben!
      Liebste Grüße zurück!!!

      Liked by 2 people

    • Als Bus finden wir nur einen alten VW Bus mit Gardinchen toll. Moderne Busse, wie wir hörten und wir auch finden, sind voll uncool. Und du weißt doch, Feen haben stets ihr Ohr am Volk.
      Kisses xxxx Hugs ooooo
      Siri 🙂 und 🙂 Selma, die fröhlichen Buchfeen

      Liked by 1 person

    • ..in Mannheim war übrigens wieder was los im Theater! New Steps Bolero, toll!!! 3 wundertolle Choreografien an einem Abend!!!
      Leider, auch meine lieben Tanzschülerinnen haben nix kapiert, es war sagenhaft!!!

      Liked by 2 people

    • Ja, wir, Dina und Masterchen, finden diese modernen SUVs und Kleinbusse auch voll unschick. Bloß nicht für uns!
      Ganz liebe Grüße vom kleinen Dorf am großen Meer
      Dina 🙂 und 🙂 Klausbernd
      xxx

      Liked by 1 person

  79. Welcome back from the North and the mysterious stones, You Fab Four of Cley. It’s wonderful that no one can explain why the stones are standing up. We need that kind of puzzles that can bring colour to a world where everything has an explanation. The pictures are magnificent.
    Hanna

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Dear Charlotte
      thank you very much for your kind words. Well, the druids have been the first tourists at places like Stonehenge und Avenbury, maybe here as well …
      The very north of Scotland looks quite similar to the north of Norway. Dina is Norwegian and she goes to Norway for one month next week as well. In the last years the weather was much better in the North than in England.
      All the best, happy singing
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 2 people

  82. You know how to travel! 🙂 I’m sure Scotland, like my country Norway 🇳🇴, has all the essential ingredients for the perfect road trip – beautiful, ever-changing scenery, incredible attractions and moody weather for great photography. This was a great opening, I’m looking forward to lots more as we are contemplating a tour next year.
    Greetings from Trondheim, Petter

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Dear Petter,
      the Atlantic Highway in Norway and the NC500 in Scotland, we travelled with many detours, are voted as the two most scenic and beautiful roads in the world by international photo-journalists of National Geographic and other magazines. We can VERY much recommend the NC500, but you have to be quick because we fear that tourism will increase quite a bit there. You are right, weather, scenery etc. is quite like in Norway.
      Our plan is to drive up North the Atlantic Highway within the next years. Our dear Master drove it a long time ago when there were many ferries. And you wouldn’d believe it, even Dina being Norwegian hasn’t driven it yet.
      Greetings from the little village next the big sea to Trondheim
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 2 people

    • Good morning, dear Sidran,
      thanks for liking Dina’s pictures. You are right, it is amazing that they are still standing after 5000 years. We suppose that our buildings from today will not last that long. In Skara Brae on the Orkneys we visited a neolithic village as old as these stones here and we were amazed how well its basic structures survived.
      We wish you an easy week
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 3 people

  85. hello dina its dennis the vizsla dog hay those old standing stones ar spooky they ar like the teeth of the aynchent wurld!!! i wunder why the old time hyoomans bilt them for!!! hay my dada sez that menny yeerz ago he playd a kompyooter game kalld the bards tale wot wuz set in a town kalld skara brae i wunder if it wuz the saym playse yoo wer vizzitting!!! probly not sinse his wuz inside the kompyooter i gess!!! ok bye

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Hi, dear Dennis,
      we have been to Skara Brae later on our journey. This is not part of it. Skara Brae is a neolithic villageon the Orkneys, as old as these menhirs on Harris/Outer Hebrides. But the bards, well the druids, are much later. They have been the first tourist there like in Stonehenge and Avebury.
      Stone Circles are spooky because there is an aura of the unknown and they are that old. 5000 years! Can you imagine this time then? Even our dear clever fairies couldn’t.
      Wuffwuff, bye
      The Fab Four of Cle

      Liked by 1 person

    • Good afternoon, dear Heidi,
      the trip was GREAT and we still are dreaming at night of all the places we saw.
      Our garden is getting organised again. Now is the time to enjoy it as it is that warm and sunny since we are back.
      All the best, wishing you a happy week
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 3 people

    • May we ask you if you call your blog “Mariposa” because of this ship in Jack London’s partly autobiographical novel “Martin Eden”? We are Jack London fans, therefore our question.
      Thanks and all the best
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

    • Sure you can ask, but I’m sorry to disappoint you! No, the name does not come from some autobiography of Jack London. It is a nickname and comes from the Spanish word ‘mariposa’ meaning ‘butterfly’. My blog site calls ‘Ontdek je plekje’. Translated to English, this is “Discover Your Place”. 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • Dear Heidi,
      thank you 🙂
      We are off in our sauna now and wishing you a pleasant evening
      The Fab Four of Cley
      P.S.
      This novel of Jack London is about developing artistic sensibilities, a kind of “Künstlerroman”.

      Liked by 2 people

  88. Wow, those rocks are incredible. I’ve visited some in Scotland and love the northern part of the country, so wild and remote, so magical and mystical. A great trip for the Fab Four, and me. Thanks. –Curt

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Dear Curt,
      we loved northern Scotland very, very much, magical and mystical indeed. We even contemplate to change houses with friends up there for a while in winter.
      Wishing you a happy week
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • Last time I was in Scotland, I didn’t get back to the far north. I spent too much time on genealogy, which was a heck of a lot of fun. Still, I am kicking myself for not journeying farther north. Next time! 🙂 –Curt

      Liked by 2 people

    • Dear Curt,
      it is the north of Scotland that is that spectacular – at least for people like us loving barren landscapes and cliffs and, of course, all those megalithic menhirs on the Orkneys.
      We met a lot of people on the search for their ancestors. Genealogy seems to be quite popular in America because they all came from the US.
      Have a happy rest of the week
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 2 people

  91. Hello! I don’t know how you found my blog, Natural Views, but thanks for liking it! I am intrigued by yours also and will have a deeper look at your work. Lovely photos, and I long to explore the north countries. I made a brief visit to Scotland, but need to return. Iceland is on my wish list!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Dear Joan,
      yes, one of the main topics of our blog is the North because we love the North, Dina is born there and our dear Master lived there for quite a while. We prefer the north of Scotland to Iceland because it isn’t that touristy – yet.
      Great that you like Dina’s pics! 🙂 🙂
      All the best and thanks for commenting
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

    • Good evening, dear Simon,
      we visited Scotland again and again and like it more and more. We were especially thrilled by the north coast and the Orkneys.
      Thanks a lot for liking Dina’s photographs.
      All the best
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 2 people

    • Dear Anne,
      driving Dina’s favourite car is fun, especially in summer when you can ride with an open top. But, of course, for practical reasons you need another car as well. Dina’s white car is a toy.
      All the best and thanks for commenting
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Anne
      we took Dina’s stuff in our VW camper van. Puh, all these cameras, lenses, tripot etc. … With such a car you need a second car following you. But it’s fun! 🙂 🙂
      With finest fairy dust
      Siri 🙂 and 🙂 Selma

      Liked by 1 person

  96. Wunderschöbne Fotos! Werde wohl noch eine ganze Weile auf eurem tollen Blog stöbern! Ganz lieben Gruß & lieben Dank fürs vorbeischauen un folgen von meinem kleinen Blog 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  97. Wonderful photos of the Standing Stones of Callenish – ancient warriors! My daughter lives on the north-east coast of Scotland and has a home in the Orkneys to which she intends eventually to retire. Bit too cold for me and my husband but the scenery looks fantastic. Thank you for this post, it’s wonderful.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Thanks for your kind commentary! 🙂
      We love the cold, well, we are kind of Vikings and therefore we are contemplating maving up north to the north of Scotland or even the Orkneys – especially if Scotland would get independent.
      Wishing you a happy Sunday
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

    • I wondered whether I could use your photos of the standing stones of Callenish as a basis for my digital artwork? I have already worked on one image but don’t want to post it without your permission and of course giving credit to your good selves. I returned to your pics after my comment and hte stones really called to me. Your original photo would not be recognisable in my artwork, as I work at the fae level to interpret them. Best regards, Mo

      Liked by 1 person

    • You are very welcome to use my photos as long as you give me the credit for the original ones. Would you kindly link our blog to your post, please? We are much looking forward to your artwork! 🙂 We will link your work on this post when you have published it.
      Best regards from the boiling hot Rhine Valley 37°,
      Dina x

      Liked by 1 person

    • Herzlichen Dank!
      Thank you VERY much 🙂 🙂
      Oh dear, it’s too hot today. Where can we find it? We are so curious.
      Wishing you a relaxing evening
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Like

    • Your welcome my link to this was Cley Next The Sea when l stayed with a previous partner and her friend the housekeeper at the time in the windmill used for a TV detective series .. This was back in late 80’s My now partner is from Yorkshire may one day return to the North after my partner lost her mother last week … Prefer that area to Midlands .. Ian

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    • Dear Ian,
      I can very well remember this filming of Cley Mill and I probably met the housekeeper of the mill. That was in the time I settled in Cley coming to England from some years living in Montreal. It’s a small world, isn’t it?
      The last days Cley felt more like in the Mediterranean than at the North Norfolk coast. Wow, it’s hot! But you wouldn’t believe it, reaching the northern end of Scotland it was quite hot there as well.
      All the best to you
      Klausbernd and the rest of The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  101. Pingback: Blogbummel Juni 2017 – 1. Teil – buchpost

  102. What a beautiful landscape. A friend and I were just talking about how we’d like to visit some of the Scottish Isles, and here you appear on my blog, visiting. I love the varied transport you seem to have used and your pictures of the standing stones. Also, ich studierte Deutsch auf die Universitat viele, viele jarhen ago–I give up, as autocorrect is trying to find English words for every German one I type. So I will practice my German reading here on your lovely blog as well as enjoy your offerings.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Good afternoon,
      actually we should write German giving you the chance to practise it. But anyway as it is much too hot we choose the easy way.
      The Outer Hebrides are magnificiant. We like Skye very much where we did quite some mountain hiking. But we were astonished how big Skye is. We went over the bridge near Eilean Donan castle, we will blog about it later, and stayed a couple of days on Skye. From there we took the car ferry to Lewis and stayed at Harris and Lewis some days as well (where we visited these stones) and from Harris we took the car ferry to mainland Scotland (Ullapool) and went up North.
      If you want to have a real nordic feeling you should visit the Orkneys as well. There you will find some standing stones and Skara Brae a megalithic village 5000 years old as these standing stones.
      Thanks for commenting and wishing you a happy week
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 2 people

    • I loved Skye and Eileen Donan. Do they still have the diorama with the ships and the Loch Ness Monster? I do want to visit Harris and Lewis. By the way, it was sleeting on Skye that year on August 1…

      Liked by 1 person

    • Oh dear, we had quite hot and sunny weather in May there. Actually we think that grim weather adds to the romantic there.
      We haven’t been in the castle therefore we don’t know about the diorama. But visited Loch Ness on our way home. We didn’t like it there at all. too touristy and if they wouldn’t have invented their Nessy there would be nothing of interest there. We were quite disappointed coming from the north to Loch Ness.
      We like Harris and Lewis and did a lot of hiking there.
      All the best
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 2 people

  103. Liebe Hanne, lieber Klausbernd,

    wie immer, wunderbare Fotos mit schönem Text! Das freut mich, dass ihr heil angekommen sied und ihr nun euch eurem Garten wieder zuwenden könnt. Wir freuen uns schon vom sehrsten auf Eure Erzählungen und Fotos.
    Wir sind seit Samstagnacht wieder hier in Freiburg. Näheres, was wir alles erlebt haben, werden wir euch bei unserem nächsten telefonat und Treffen im Herbst dann natürlich erzählen.
    Wir wünsche Euch nun wunderbare Tage in Cley und freuen uns, bald voeinander zu hören. Astrid und Konrad

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Liebe Astrid, lieber Konrad,
      zu allererst freuen wir uns, dass ihr augenscheinlich einen schönen Urlaub hattet. Etwas davon bekamen wir ja durch Instagram mit.
      Wir haben nun einen arbeitsamen Gärtner, der bei uns wohnt, aber da dürft ihr nicht glauben, dass dies weniger Arbeit bedeutet. Nun sind wir ständig damit beschäftigt, alles fein aufrecht zu erhalten. Aber er verwandelte unsere Garten in ein kleines Paradies. Bei der trockenen Hitze mutieren Siri, Selma und ich langsam zum Wasserträger. Wir hoffen schwer auf Regen, der bringt wirklich Segen.
      Dann lebt euch wieder fein ein. Wir freuen bereits jetzt auf euren Besuch. Dina ist übrigens gerade auf dem Weg nach Norwegen. Erstaunlich, was sie herumreist.
      Mit ganz lieben Grüßen nach Freiburg und gaaaanz lieben Dank fürs Kommentieren.
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 3 people

    • Hallihallo, hier schreiben die lieben Buchfeen Siri 🙂 und 🙂 Selma
      auch wir freuen uns auf euren Besuch. Aber, puh, jetzt müssen wir uns erst einmal ausruhen von der ganzen Wassertragerei zu all den neu gepflanzten Blümchen. Wir mussten auch mit unseren Freundinnen, den Flower Fairies, quatschen, dass sie kräftig grow grow machen. Da werdet ihr euch wundern.
      Wir senden euch gaaaaanz viel feinsten Feenstaub in die Stadt der Bächle
      Siri 🙂 und 🙂 Selma

      Liked by 3 people

    • Du bist echt so nett und lieb, Konrad! 🙂
      Herzliche Grüße zu dir und Astrid aus Norwegen. Du hast keine Ahnung , wie froh ich bin die Höllenhitze von Bonn entkommen zu sein. 🙂 Wir haben Midsommer und hier ist es hell bis Mitternacht, tagsüber grau/sonnig und ca 20°, perfekt. 🙂
      Hanne

      Liked by 2 people

    • Selbst hier ist es etwas kühler geworden und es weht eine leichte Seebrise bei 22 Grad. Das kommt uns dreien richtig kühl vor nach all den HitzeSchwitziTagen.
      Ganz liebe Grüße an Dina in Norwegen xxxx und Astrid und Konrad Freiburg
      Klausbernd 🙂 , Siri 🙂 und 🙂 Selma
      Übrigens letzte Nacht wurde es auch hier nicht vollständig dunkel.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Good morning, dear Erin,
      thank you very much for liking our blog 🙂 Yes, there will be more in the next weeks about Scotland’s north. The emphasis of our blog is the north, it’s culture, literature, landscapes and people. But we feel free to publish posts beyond this topic as well.
      With lots of love from the little village next the big sea
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 3 people

    • Hi, dear Erin,
      what a nice name! Could be a fairy name.
      My sister Selma and I we are the clever Bookfayries in charge of the literature to be mentioned on this blog. And shall we tell you a BIG secret? Our dear Master wrote like you a travel guide. His travel guide about magic places in England was published by Random House and was several weeks on the list of bestselling non-fiction books in Germany. But now he just blogs with us for fun 🙂
      We send you lots of finest fairy dust
      Siri 🙂 and 🙂 Selma

      Liked by 4 people

    • I had to look up “Erin” in my ethymological dictonary:
      Erin is old-Irish. It means “little fairy” and also “little elf” (actually I never understood the difference between fairies and elves), but the oldest meaning seems to be “forest”.
      But probably you know this all. Sorry to bother you but I love searching the origin od words.
      Lots of love
      Klausbernd 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • As we are native speakers in fairy language, we know: It means “little fairy” of course!
      With finest fairy dust from
      Siri 🙂 and 🙂 Selma, the clever Bookfayries

      Liked by 2 people

    • Dear Bill,
      the north of Scotland is really worth visiting. We will publish some more pictures of the north of Scotland including the Orkneys within the next weeks. We loved it that much up north that we intend to change houses with friends up there for a month or longer in winter – because we badly miss winter at our North Norfolk coast. It’s much too mild for us.
      Thanks and have an easy week
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • Dear Mona
      thank you VERY much 🙂 🙂 We love to inspire as we are always getting inspired by other blogs.
      We are sending lots of love from the little village next the big sea
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 2 people

    • Hi, good morning, dear Reocochran,
      it’s extremely rare that the stones are set in the form of a cross. Usually it’s a circle or an ellipsis.
      The cross is one of the real archetypal symbols, C.G. Jung did write quite a lot about it. It originally symbolises the axis mundi and the four directions.
      We wishe you an easy week
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 3 people

    • I am thankful for your informing me so kindly of this rarity. I was very impressed with the unique rocks and their shapes. The way they are set out in this pattern does make sense to be like a compass displaying the 4 directions, which appears as a cross.
      Hope you all are continuing to enjoy your explorations, I have not kept up well with you but always am happy to cross paths once again. 💐 Smiles and hugs, Robin
      ps. I use my full initials to include my Dad’s gift of REO, we both shared these. Mine were as Robin Elizabeth, his as Robert Earl Oldrieve. ❤

      Like

    • We are moved! You are so kind 🙂 🙂
      Thank you VERY much, dear Mo. We will immediately visit your Wildish Warrior Woman blog – great title!
      With lots of love, you made our evening
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • What a lovely gesture, Mo. Great news for us, feeding our motivation to keep going…
      Best regards from the land of the midnight sun,
      Dina,
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

    • You are very welcome. Please, don’t wait too long though. 😉
      It looks empty, but actually The Western Isles are immensely popular although it’s out of the way.
      Best regards from the land of the midnight sun,
      Dina,
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 2 people

    • We agree with our dear Dina. It’s a matter of timing as well. We have been there in May. That’s too early for most of the tourists.
      All the best
      Klausbernd, Siri and Selma

      Liked by 1 person

  114. Beautiful Pictures of the Country!! God Bless you Dina and Your Family members and Friends!!

    I own and drive a 2012 Volkswagen Passat SEL Premium loaded with everything!!

    Love Always and Shalom ( Peace ) Everyone, YSIC \o/

    Kristi Ann

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Kristi Ann
      that’s a nice car providing lots of space and the VWs are very reliable. We had a Passat before, but an older one, and were very happy with it.
      Thank you very much
      Love
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

  116. Was für eine wunderschöne Reise ihr gehabt haben müsst! Schottland, Talisker und Steinkreise – kann es etwas Schöneres geben? 😄 So einen tollen Bus hätte ich auch gerne (ganz zu schweigen von den herrlichem Klassiker!). Die Fotos sind wie immer umwerfend! Alles Liebe, Sarah 😄xxxxx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Liebe Sarah,
      die Reise war ‘ne Wucht, wie der Berliner zu sagen pflegt, einfach großartig. Und unsere Gefärte super, aber wir müssen zugeben, die waren nur geliehen. Wir hatten immer unseren geliebten Volvo mit Masterchen dabei. Der VW Bus kam teils aus der Puste und in dem Jaguar ging außer einer Handtasche nichts hinein. So hatten wir unser Begleitfahrzeug.
      Toll, dass dir Dina’s Fotos gefallen (uns auch 😉 ).
      Gaanz liebe Grüße und ein feines Wochenende
      The Fab Four of Cley xxxxx

      Liked by 1 person

  118. Pingback: Meine Woche | Binge Reading & More

    • Herzlichen Dank für die Verlinkung, darüber habe wir uns riesig gefreut!
      Erfrischende, abkühlende Grüße aus Norwegen,
      Dina
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Warm greetings to the best place on earth❣️ from the most attractive city in Norway 🇳🇴. Actually it’s not too bad here either, ☺️☀️☀️💚📷 but not quite like Rhu Sila 👩‍🌾👭💕🚶🍀💚. 🙂
      Dina 🌹

      Like

  123. I can’t believe how long it took to scroll down to the end of all these comments!! 🙂
    We went to Harris and Lewis last year and this was a nice memory trip. It was rather crowded when we went to Callanish, you obviously had more luck. With the cars, the weather and almost an empty site … Excellent blog!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Good afternoon, dear Andy,
      we were lucky indeed! Well, we went quite early in spring and that helped we suppose.
      As further north we got as more sunny and warmer it got. The last three weeks of our trip we had a kind of Italian weather. Actually Dina didn’t like it, because it’s boring for photography.
      Thanks for commenting and wishing you a happy evening
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

  126. Aww I love Scotland having studied there as an undergraduate and post-graduate. How beautiful it all is along with the people of course. Sounds like you’ve had an amazing trip! All the very best. Chris and Adrian xxx

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Adrian and Chris,
      we really, really loved our trip. It was pure fun. The landscape was magnificient, the people friendly, the weather warm und mostly sunny and the midgets were still sleeping, it was too early for them in the year. We could immediately go again 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
      We even contemplate to change houses with friends we made in John O Groats for a month during next winter. Our dear Master got to know Scotland in winter when living near Inverness. He liked it. A real winter and not so mild like in Norfolk.
      Anyway, thanks a lot for your commentary.
      Lots of love
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Like

    • Well, Dina asked our dear and clever Bookfayries to weave a special magic for clouds mixed with a bit of sunshine.
      Thanks for liking Dina’s pictures 🙂
      The Fab Four of Cley
      P.S.
      Dina is in Norway right now.

      Like

    • Thanks for commenting 🙂 🙂
      Scotland is worth visiting, especially the north.
      Well, these stone whisper in long forgotten languages but Siri and Selma being fairies could understand their magic words. But you wouldn’t believe it, they didn’t tell us their meaning.
      Happy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 2 people

    • Good Morning, dear Paul
      thanks a lot for liking our post 🙂 🙂
      Scotland is very beautiful, actually magnificient. We loved our trip VERY much.
      We wish you a relaxing weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Madhu,
      it is quite unusual to set the stones in form of a cross. Usually they are set in circles or ellipses or in a line. On the other hand the cross is an archetypal symbol. Originally the cross symbolises the “axis mundi”, the four direction and space, and the four elements. You find the cross in different cultures worldwide but in the European megalithic cultures it’s very rare.
      Dina’s car is great, isn’t it?!
      Wishing you a happy Sunday
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you so much for your kind words! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
      Well, writing bilingual is quite an efford but as we have as much German speaking followers as English speaking ones we decided for writing bilingual. By the way English is not our mother tongue, it’s Nowegian, German and Fairish (the old fairy language).
      Wishing you a happy Sunday
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

  135. I can totally relate to the first sentence in this post! While we have never been to the Outer Hebrides, we did spend a lovely weekend at the Fair Isle Bird Observatory, communing with puffins on the cliffs and playing a game of island football with the locals. We experienced our culture shock when flying straight from this beautiful, yet cold, treeless island to the lush metre-high grass of sunny Jersey in the Channel, where we visited Gerald Durrell’s Rare and Endangered Zoo. I do love Dina’s car! What a great way to see the island! And the Callanish Stones are fascinating! I had never heard of them until two days ago and funnily enough, this is the second reference to them from a totally different source! I will have to research more about them! We have visited Stonehenge and Avebury in Britain, the Standing Stones of Carnac in Brittany and Skara Brae on the Orkneys. I think Selma is right about the kelp! The Past is certainly a fascinating place!!!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Thank you very much 🙂 🙂 First of all we have to mention that we like your rose-blog. Wow, what great roses and we are struggeling with rust and meldew.
      We love the barren beauty of the North very much 🙂 and driving around this bare landscape in Dina’s car was great!
      We recently read the “Alexandria Quartett” by Gerald’s brother Lawrence, which brought us to Gerald’s book about his crazy family. But we haven’t been at his zoo. Actually we have never been to the Channel Islands.
      We wish you a happy Sunday and a great week to come
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 2 people

    • Yeah, we loved this old camper van, it was really fun driving around with it. And everybody you meet is friendly waving.
      Thank you very much for liking Dina’s photogaphs.
      Wishing you a happy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Jean
      thank you so much for you kind commentary 🙂 🙂
      Well, dear Dina and our Master can understand Old Norse and they love this langaguage of the Sagas.
      Wishing you a happy week
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 2 people

    • Dear Jean
      when I studied Old Norse during my courses of Nordic Languages and Literature I saw it as Latin, a language which is interesting for linguistic reasons only. Later I changed my attitude, especially after I have been to Iceland where the language hasn’t changed since the 12th c. And reading the Sagas in the original Old Norse is more fun as you get the sophosticated rhythms and the stave rhymes (alliteration). Anyway now I am happy that I had to learn Old Norse for my degrees.
      Dina being Norwegian learned the basics of it at school.
      All the best
      Klausbernd 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • Sadly, my mind’s never been good with holding onto other languages. I studied Latin and German in school, but I’ll be lucky if I can remember more than “What’s up?” in German. Pathetic, I know.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Siri and Selma just told me that you are an author. I am a writer myself writing fiction and non-fiction, for radio, film and TV. Most of my work I published with Random House but now I am retired. With which publisher are you?
      I find it interesting to exchange experiences with publishers and agents with other authors.
      Have a happy day
      Klausbernd 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • Oh heavens, I wish I could say I was with a publisher, but I’ve yet to even acquire an agent. Not an easy world for the “aspiring,” you could say.
      Which medium did you find to be the most challenging, as a writer? I did a little script work in school, but it drove me bonkers, not being able to dictate actions, voices, etc.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Jean
      I am very sorry for answering that late, oh dear!
      I got discovered by a big German publisher when I had published several articles he liked. An experienced editor was sent to me and in a fortnight she taught me the basics I had to know for becoming a professional author. But this crash course wasn’t enough, although my first book was a bestseller. But then the real business as an author started with agents in different countries, with all the media contacts and the politics and timing of publishing. I grew into it with the help of other authors and contacts I made mostly at the Frankfurt Bookfair, the most important place in the world for authors to get known and building up a network. This all happened over the years and, yes, actually it just happened and later I found myself with a little business with PR people, researchers, agents and editors working for me. But I have to say this were different times. I stared publishing in the 70s when European publishers were looking for authors and they kind of headhunted me from the university. Now I am happy being retired. The most stressful work as an author were for me those lecture tours for about half a year every year with TV shows in the morning and lectures and book signings in the evening. You are a public person then. But you have to this because otherwise the sales of your books are too low. And I have to admit I loved it very much in the beginning. You have to be an outgoing narcissist for this job, otherwise it will kill you. Now I do a bit of blogging, write a novel when I feel like but don’t travel any more, just giving few interviews and doing my garden and enjoy my family, house and friends. Of course, a lot of young want-to-be-writers ask me how to get published and find an agent. As an editor I look for people publishing interesting articles and who can write, because nobody has time any longer to teach writing. I look at blogs that I find inspiring but most important are articles or radio programmes. They show you that this person has already built up basic contacts.
      Anyway, you have to be aware that professional writing is a fulltime job. But only professional writing sells.
      If you are clear about becoming a professional writer the helpful contacs will appear, don’t worry. I wish you lots of luck.
      Happy writing
      Klausbernd 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • Ah, thank you for responding! Yours is certainly a full, rich life. You know, I do want to be a writer, but I’m also not blind to its demands on life. As a mother with a 7 and twin 4-year-olds, I know there’s only so much I can invest myself into writing, at least for another year. So I will hope, and pray, and do what it takes as the children age and my time increases to enter the life I so deeply want for both my family and myself. Thank you so much for sharing yourself!

      Liked by 2 people

    • The big new international star-novelist is Karl Ove Knausgard right now. He wrote a brilliant series of six books “My Struggle”, in his last volume of this series “Struggeling” he writes quite a bit about the conflicts of having a family and writing.
      Good luck
      Klausbernd 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Post Scriptum
      Sorry, I just see you asked what medium is the most challenging.
      Non-fiction is easier to get published than fiction. The most reputable medium is still the print medium and there it is novels. But as a beginner it’s hard to find a publisher for your first novel if you don’t have a clever agent. Script writing doesn’t really sell and it’s mostly a matter of the right connections. Did you ever think about texting for advertising agencies? That’s a perfect training for a writer.

      Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you very much for reblogging our work, Craig! It’s much appreciated, even though I’m very late responding … 😉
      Warm greetings
      The Fab Four of Cley,
      Dina x

      Liked by 1 person

  142. I’m so glad you found my blog which has, in turn, brought me to yours. It is so inspiring and the photography awesome.
    I must get my person signed up for some proper lessons. I may only be a dog but I don’t want to be an embarrassment to the blogging world.
    Anyway, me and my person are very much looking forward to reading more from your blog. Love Ben xx

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Dear Ben,
      thanks a lot for your lovely comment 🙂 🙂
      Well, we all have to learn all the time. We share a little dog with our gardener too, a quite untrained dog called Pipa. But she is getting there.
      All the best, wishing you a happy week
      The Fab Four of Cley
      💃🚶‍♂️👭

      Like

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