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Loch Morlich: big blog, little blog

The Cairngorm mountains beyond Loch Morlich

Beautiful Loch Morlich, Cairngorms beyond, still with patches of snow in June.

Little Blog Written by Loch Morlich

This blog was originally sent from holiday in June 2019. I was completely depleted by my autoimmune conditions, at that point undiagnosed, and spent most of the holiday lying in bed reading books.

books in bed

Honesty in Writing

It seems strange, looking back on it now, that I tried to keep my health problems a secret. Only happy pictures got posted on socials, such as ones of Aviemore Stone Circle and Reindeer in the Cairngorms. The gargantuan effort it took to get to these places, or how I hardly left the car, did not get mentioned.

I didn’t want it to be true. I wanted to ‘snap out of it’. Because I didn’t want that to be the way of me.

I still don’t, of course, and it is generally better now, flare ups aside. I guess I’m becoming more open and accepting of the situation, and I like to write honestly everywhere, not just in my books.

Big Blog

From bed I shared the news of my guest post on the official tourism site for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire: 10 Mystical and Magical Places in Aberdeenshire. Below is Pitsligo Castle, one of the sites featured in that post.

Castle door

Ducks by Loch Morlich

On the pictured morning I walked very slowly from the car to the loch, and it was wonderful to be out among such beauty. I was on the banks of Loch Morlich before the ducks were up! And probably back in bed before they were too…

Ducks by Loch Morlich

My Latest Historical Novel

Sisters at the Edge of the World by Ailish Sinclair

Set in 1st century Scotland, SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD includes the battle of Mons Graupius between the Romans and the Caledonian tribes. The book features a neurodivergent main character and some rather complicated romance.

“Ethereal and spellbinding….” Historical Novel Society

Amazon UK

Amazon Worldwide

See the press release here

Read the article Roman Aberdeenshire features in author’s new book from Grampian Online.

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Ailish Sinclair in a stone circle

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68 Replies to “Loch Morlich: big blog, little blog”

  14. I love Loch Morlich, I’ve been there several times over the years. Everytime the weather and the light has had a different quality- probably because whenever I holiday in Scotland its in May or September. Sometimes its been bright and warm (icecream weather even!) and sometimes its been grey and wet, sometimes windy, you never know what you’re going to get in Scotland, do you!

    Thanks for the pictures, it’s a nice reminder of a lovely place. Not visiting this year, alas. Next May, if all goes to plan.

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  15. Oh wow, this looks like a slice of heaven, Ailish. I feel a sudden desire to be north of the border… 🙂

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  21. I just returned from a two week holiday spent mostly in the Highlands. Met great people, enjoyed beautiful landscapes, ate delicious food, and drank great whiskey (with a Tenents beer thrown in every now and then)…can’t wait to return!

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  24. I remember Scotland and the beautiful views, I remember that one morning when the tide was out, I asked what happened to the Sea I had seen the night before, making a fool out myself…..I had never seen that phenomena before.

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    1. Tides can be dramatic like that here, travelling a long way out. I can see it would be confusing if you’d never seen it before!

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  28. I recently learned my ancestors, the MacLachlans, built Castle Lachlan on Loch Fyne. So I have a new appreciation of all things loch! Will have to add Aberdeenshire to my itinerary when I get there!

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  29. Ahh….those “pesky lil lessons learned, along the way….” – sigh – Was so happy to read your post – A. because your work, your penchant for taking pics of doorways & windows and way of seeing the world, sharing the world/history of the world that you visit, live in, are interested in? BRIGHTENS MY DAYS! and B. man alive, those health challenges AND/Or growing older, gracefully, (hah!) is always, for me, a struggle – there’s so much in the world to experience, learn more, do, grow and any slowing down ‘because of this….’ on health/physical abilities, rather chafes my arse! so, KUDOS to you, for saying, “okay – so this is what it looks like just now – so be it – gonna tell the truth!” and C. Millions of many everyday folks? Need MORE of ‘okay, so struggling today, so this is as good as it gets’ folks in blogs, vlogs, social media land – than they do of another ‘curated to look perfect’ feed(s) to follow –

    This concludes my off the cuff, public display of “You GO! From outside looking in?? Aren’t you just about the most refreshing thing I’ve viewed recently – ” even when, you personally, don’t feel at your best…..

    Hang in there and take care of you!!! You’re much to valuable to the collective world heart/soul, to wear yourself out trying to show up and be ‘perfect’ given online standards – <3

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    1. P.S. “You Go doing you, as you are, for today – me? You seem so wonderful, even when you say, “um…not at my best, just now….” – 😀
      You inspire me to ‘do better’ on that front, too! Instead of only showing up when I’m at my ‘best/may be of use, somewhere, to someone” days that are often, few and far between! LOL

      Reply

      1. There is a world of ‘ignore the less than perfect’, ‘airbrushed perfection in marketing’, tell the best story and leave out the complex or less than perfect parts’ available online for those seeking that –

        For those who prefer connecting with those who ‘write out’ the map/trail they experienced? During their journey through life?

        Ah – we have to really track down that stuff – 😀 Also, I believe, and I’m in the biz, and watch my own stats, for my own clients, that it may take a bit longer to reach $ goals, but, in the end, the most loyal customers, referrals and sales come from those who search for authenticity, to do business with, not a supergloss ad campaign – thus, telling the truth? To me? Is just investment for long term success, AND attracts the kind of folks you want in your circle/as your customers – and instantly weeds out the ones you just don’t have the time/energy to mess with – LOL

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  30. Loch Morlich is beautiful. It’s also normal not to mention problems on socials. It seems everybody will just share the positive aspects of their life. We should stop doing that. People can sympathize when you reach a rough spot. Still hope you are on the mend. Thanks for sharing your beautiful travel blog.

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  31. This takes me back to when I was a Scottish `conservation volunteer around there. We were out night walking, a BIG orange moon on our backs – it was a little unnerving, so I dashed into some trees, and came across Castle Grant, lit up and eery in the darkness. Shivers.

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  32. I sometimes went sailing at the sailing club at the other end when I was young. Glad to read you made it to the beach and saw the sleeping ducks even if only for a short time.

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  33. Pingback: Cairnbulg and Inverallochy: Come Awa In! - Ailish Sinclair

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