Gold Panning Trip to Kildonan

I’m just back from a fabulous gold panning trip to the Kildonan burn in the Highlands of Scotland and thought you’d enjoy seeing a few pictures. Folks drove up from all over the UK and camped at Baille an Or, site of the gold rush in the 1800s. Tents were pitched, old acquaintances were renewed and new friendships were forged as everyone gathered around the barbecue to enjoy sausages, burgers, chicken and beers. In the morning there was just time for coffee before getting kitted out and heading up the burn. Here you can see the car park filling up.

Here is me having fun!

It’s always great to watch the snipers at work. Sure learned a lot from them this trip! Thanks guys.

Well, what a weekend it was! Over 20 gms came out (enough to make 3 good rings) and everybody got a little gold. The company was great, the weather was great and the gold was great. Obsy Wobsy was top man with around 10 gms of finest Kildonan gold, including the largest nugget, a beauty of 2.5 gms. Here you can see what he had last night after 3 days and he had around a gm the following day before setting off for home.

And here is my haul for the trip – 2.5 gms of some of the most gorgeous gold in the United Kingdom.

Jungle Ruins NG Update

Thought it would be of interest to show a before and after screenshot from Jungle Ruins to show the startling difference Paolone’s Next Generation Level Editor (the NGLE) makes to the TR4 game engine. This first shot is from the original game which was textured with 64×64 pixel texture tiles.

This next screenshot is from the exact same spot in the game, only this time I’ve used 128×128 pixel texture tiles as well as touching up a few things. Amazing how much things have improved since the Tomb Raider level editor was first released.

Rush Hour

Yep, the traffic gets quite heavy up here in the Highlands of Scotland around rush hour! Here’s the proof!

Jungle Ruins

Seems I’m not happy unless I’m entrenched in large Tomb Raider projects. Now that I’ve had a break since releasing Flashback, Skull Island’s launch is being delayed and my Skribblerz Stonez 2 project is half done 8 months early, I figured it was time to make a serious start on the Jungle Ruins NGLE conversion. So that’s what I’ve done!

Here are three early screenshots. I don’t expect you’ll recognise them as the new textures make a startling difference. I’ve also fallen in love with Troels Folmann’s music in Legend and Anniversary so it’s fun working with his stuff.

 

By the way, if anyone wants to go and annoy Troels with chat about how great he is and how much you love what he’s done for Tomb Raider, here is his blog:
http://www.troelsfolmann.com/blog

Late Night Call

Funny thing happened a couple of night ago. I got a text message very late at night asking if I was still up. Had no idea who it was and didn’t recognise the number. Strange. So I texted the person back in my very best The Hobbit Troll’s purse voice.

‘Oooo’s that?’

Then the phone rang. It was a mate, Richard, who I’d not seen in ages. He’d just that evening finished my book and had gone online and tracked me down so he could tell me how much he enjoyed the book. That made my week!

One World Review

I like to keep tabs on myself on the internet by using Google alerts. Last night a google alert came in for a review of my book! That was cool. Made my week, that’s for sure. The review is by another author, Pam Robertson (Maggie Bendar) and you will find her blog here:

 http://andthebandplayedonmylawn.blogspot.com

And here is her review. Thanks very much Pam!

One World quickly grabbed my attention starting out as it did in the midst of a hijacking with racing adrenaline and bullets whizzing. This story is brilliantly told through believable characters and military expertise tempered with reality. Things happen quickly as a frightening plot with international connections and well hidden secrets is cleverly unwound. As cars race along the motorway and the body count rises, the vulnerable side of these heroes who serve their country, and indeed the world, comes alive along with the unexpected.

An exciting novel that includes raw courage as well as brutality and savage terrorists, One World is a great read. I could not put this book down until I reached the end, which really says something because I often approach a book by reading the beginning and then skip to the final couple of chapters; this was a rare find that I wanted to experience just as it was. Author George Maciver has created a compelling tale and left me eagerly wanting to read more of his work.

Lost my First Tooth

Had a bit of trouble with a tooth recently. Knew something wasn’t right but it settled down so I thought I’d leave it a while to see what it was going to do. However, it couldn’t take any weight on it and then the filling started to disintegrate. Off to the Dentist we go!

The Dentist thought at first it was just some decay below the filling and started to drill it out. Unfortunately, it turned out that the tooth was actually split in two at the roots. Ah, that explains that then. Oh well, a couple of numby jabs later and a couple of pulls with whatever that thing is they use to pull teeth, and I lost my first tooth.

That tooth and I go back a long way. Been through some stuff together. I’ll miss it. Not had it quite since I was the age below, but close! Never mind, look on the bright side, I’ll be able to use that side of my mouth to eat again.

Oh, and I came across this little fella out in the hills earlier today. This is only the 3rd adder I’ve ever seen I think. Seemed quite chatty though and stuck his head up for a bit to see what I was yapping on about.