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
Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:10:03 +0000
On yesterday's #DogWalk I came across this Crown Gall on a Silver Birch tree. These galls are tumours in the tree caused by infection from the bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Although, I've read these tumours are benign, I wonder if it restricts the flow of water and nutrients in this tree's main trunk.
Yes, that is #Gruoch showing complete disinterest in my arboreal investigations.
Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:17:34 +0000
For the record: the 20mph speed-limit zones are a good thing. I just wish they were allocated more generally for any area with roadside housing or schools. It baffles me that some areas have been left with 30mph, or even 40mph, speed-limits.
The default presumption should be to implement a 20mph limit unless there is a very good reason against.
Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:05:22 +0000
I knew there had to be a disadvantage to all the new 20mph speed-limit zones. 😃
As I was driving through the 20mph zone in Drumnadrochit, yesterday, my in-car Garmin satnav received a Bluetooth pairing request from an iPhone. I'm certain this wouldn't have happened at 30mph.
Sat, 21 Feb 2026 20:00:36 +0000
To-day I met a Miniature Dachshund. He was a 5-month old puppy. He was absolutely tiny. Most remarkably, he was called Elvis. #Gruoch thought he was a Hound Dog. He didn't bark which meant Treat Me Nice. Gruoch looked Way Down on him. 
Mon, 16 Feb 2026 22:39:59 +0000
I've just become aware of the newly (re-)discovered footage of Elvis in concert during his Las Vegas residency. The footage was found when Baz Luhrmann was making his 2022 movie "Elvis".
I've only seen the official trailer for the footage, which gives the minutest feel for what it might be like. However, I'm feeling really excited. I've always been a huge Elvis fan. 😃
I wasn't a fan of Luhrmann's biopic. In fact, I bailed halfway through watching it.
Wed, 11 Feb 2026 19:34:18 +0000
The polar bear is an unused exhibit at the Landmark Centre, Carr Bridge. I spied the open shipping container when doing the forest walk around the edge of the centre.