The Falkirk Wheel is a rotating boat lift near Bonnybridge in Scotland which connects the Forth and Clyde Canal to the Union Canal. It opened in 1992 and is the only rotating boat lift of it's kind in the world.

Needless to say I have visited this landmark several times since it has opened, primarily to take photographs. I have never been that satisfied with the photographs that I have taken. I usually blame the weather, however, I was pleased with the shot below.

During my last trip back to Scotland I wasn't very happy about the amount of time I dedicated to taking photographs and only really went to two locations, The Falkirk Wheel and The Kelpies at the Helix Project. From over two hundred shots I was only really happy with one or two. Only getting a couple of decent shots taught me the importance of regularly going out to take photographs. Hopefully I can rectify this in the coming months.

It's been some time since I have visited home and I am looking forward to spending some quality time with my camera and the countryside. With a little prayer and some luck I am hoping for dry weather. The last time I visited Glencoe I was not so fortunate, although I still remember the good soup and pot of tea I had at the Glencoe Ski Center which warmed my spirit if not the weather.

Visiting Scotland is always bittersweet for me as I am reminded of what I am missing by living in the flattest country in the world. I am reminded of how green, wet and sweet smelling the countryside of my birth is.

Much has changed politically since my last visit, the independence argument seems to have been re-energised since the NO vote won, I thought the argument may be laid to rest after September but the YES campaign is picking up steam. I look forward to getting a sense of people's feelings about this sensitive political situation when I am home.