Ceud Mìle Fàilte
Thank you for dropping-by, I hope you enjoy your visit. The main content is to be found in the blog, where I discuss everything and anything, but, topics including: photography, nature, technology, food, movies, music, politics, and life in the Highlands of Scotland, make regular appearances.
I commonly write reviews of movies (or films, if you prefer). Some movie reviews are short, others will be discussed in more detail. The scope covered will be mainly mainstream English language movies from the 1930s until the present day.
About me
My name is Iain MacDonald, and I live in the Highlands of Scotland (although I have lived elsewhere in the past). I use Fitheach as my online pseudonym, on this website, on Mastodon, and on Matrix. I am a big fan of Free & Open Source Software, which I use both professionally and at home.
Computing and technology tend to infuse themselves into my other interests, as once you learn some skills in one area it is convenient to use them to solve problems in other spheres.
When not tinkering with computers, I am likely to be found repairing things because living in the countryside you learn to be resourceful.
Of course, man doesn't live by SSH tunnels and kerosene vapour burners alone, so, food, as a subject, makes regular appearances, too.
My latest Life articles
My most recent ramblings can be found in the Life section.
My latest Mastodon posts
Mastodon is a microblogging app that is part of the decentralised web known as The Fediverse. See this article for more details.
Fitheach
Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:51:50 +0000
I'm helping a friend install the internal walls of his new house.
So, we are getting plastered. 😆
Tue, 06 Oct 2026 08:19:13 +0000
🧵
I will investigate what happened to the Vax, and see if it is repairable. However, that will take some time.
In the meantime, #Gruoch will continue to shed, so, a working vacuum cleaner is essential. If I don't vacuum every couple of days, or so, "tumbleweeds" begin to form. It's not a good look. 😃
You can keep your Sharks or Dysons, Henrys are best. In the UK, commercial cleaners, hotels, tradespeople, etc., all use Henrys, or the variants like Hetty or James.
Tue, 06 Oct 2026 07:54:22 +0000
RIP my Vax vacuum cleaner.
After 20+ years service, my Vax started belching smoke and emitting a terrible burning smell. I knew cleaning the car was a bad idea. 😃
One of my original reasons for choosing the Vax was its ability to also wash carpets. However, I've recently removed all the house carpets.
So, say hello to Henry.
Mon, 05 Oct 2026 21:57:27 +0000
'Tis true.
Mon, 05 Oct 2026 20:42:49 +0000
Actually, hundreds of people have saved me the bother of photographing the Home Bargains' policeman. There are photos of him everywhere. He might even be a bit of a celebrity.
Although, I must say, he looks too happy and cheerful to be a stern warning to potential shoplifters or criminals.
Mon, 05 Oct 2026 19:17:48 +0000
🧵
Although fooling drivers with a cardboard cut-out policeman will only work once, I suspect that having a visual reminder of a copper with a speed-gun would make some slow down.
Home Bargains, the retailer, must also work on this assumption, as their stores often have a cardboard policeman at the entrance/exit doors.
I must take a photo of the HB policeman the next time I'm in buying dog food.