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
Sun, 08 Nov 2026 09:31:56 +0000
I've taken the opportunity to do some roof repairs, due to the long run of dry weather. Replacing rusted nails, broken slates, and renewing some woodwork.
Now, as much as I like using traditional methods, I've stopped using the slater's hammer to make the nail holes. I made a beautiful job of "cutting" a slate to the correct size and shape, only for it to split when I was making the hole.
The cordless drill with masonry bit, on medium speed, makes a great hole.
Sat, 07 Nov 2026 21:03:32 +0000
A few years ago I bought some Homeplug devices for distributing the network around the house. For me, this was the ideal solution. It utilised the existing electrical network (instead of installing ethernet), and provided a WiFi access point in the remote room (and an ethernet port). If I wanted the network in a different room, all I had to do was unplug in one room, and plug-in in the other. Simples!
However, it seems they aren't available for sale any longer. I can't imagine why.
Thu, 29 Oct 2026 21:22:14 +0000
Two to beam up.
#WalterKoenig #PatrickStewart #StarTrek
Wed, 21 Oct 2026 12:04:12 +0000
Of course, it is probably the case that the fungus mycelium got there first. The mushroom fruiting bodies are just pushing through the interloper moss. 😃
Wed, 21 Oct 2026 07:58:32 +0000
Colonised.
Nature doesn't leave a viable living space empty for long. The moss inhabited the top of this tree stump first. Then the mushrooms moved in, too.
Tue, 20 Oct 2026 07:47:20 +0000
Autumn.