iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 06/10/2026

Many train users in #Scotland are struggling with the "new" #Scotrail app which has numerous issues (for me it resolutely fails at the final purchase). I have been trying out a lot of alternative rail apps for a replacement. Many fail my criteria as they don't […] [Original post on mastodon.scot]

AppStore screen shot of new Scotrail app showing just a 1.3 star rating and a damning review.

Screenshot of East Midlands Rail (EMR) app showing a 4.5 star rating and a good review

000 0

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 04/10/2026

One of life's satisfying pleasures, renewing the seals on an old Primus model 96 & getting it working again. Not sure what I'll now do with it but potentially useful in power cuts. My #camping days are over. #primusstove

010 1

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 06/09/2026

For fans of #standingstonesunday, I have a conundrum. Pictured is a stone that is undeniably standing but I don't think it was erected by human hands, or was it? Your thoughts appreciated. It is located approximately 250m SSW of the campsite at #Achmelvich […] [Original post on mastodon.scot]

Large, roughly 3m high upright "standing" stone in a rocky Highland hillside. Person in red top in the background. On this side the base of the stone seems to resting on other rocks.

Large, roughly 3m high upright "standing" stone in a rocky Highland hillside. Person in red top in the background.

Large, roughly 3m high upright "standing" stone in a rocky Highland hillside. Base of the stone apparently embedded in the soil.

Large, roughly 3m high upright "standing" stone in a rocky Highland hillside. Sea to background, sunny day. Person for scale.

270 7

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 10/08/2026

@JeffC1956 I have been fortunate enough to have visited an erg, albeit just the margin in the UAE. The contrast between the flat, periodically wet inter-dune sabkhas and the dry dunes was striking. Many of the dunes are over 200m high above the sabkhas (see […] [Original post on mastodon.scot]

000 0

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 03/08/2026

Crikey! The ratings and reviews of the new Android #Scotrail app has now dropped to 1.1 stars. That the lowest review you are allowed to give is 1 star means that almost everyone absolutely detests the new app. The new app is the front end to a new booking […] [Original post on mastodon.scot]

Playstore review tab showing 1.1 stars & prominent review reading "They take an app that works and replace it with an app that doesn't. There is an error every time I try to add a railcard and when you do a search for trains, none are found. A few hours later and you can see trains now. You can add a rail card, but it does not give the discount. Looks like I'll be driving from now on. On the old app the price would be £90.40 return, the new app has it as £123.20 return. If you search for trains, it lets you see some trains, but you can't see later or earlier."

000 0

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 02/08/2026

After all the fanfare from #ScotRail heralding the need for downloading their new phone app as the old one would stop working on the 30th July, the replacement is totally flaky. It won't let you login unless you use a #Chrome browser (I don't) & reports of […] [Original post on mastodon.scot]

Ratings & review tab for Scotrail trains app showing 1.3 stars & review reading "They take an app that works and replace it with an app that doesn't. There is an error every time I try to add a railcard and when you do a search for trains, none are found. A few hours later and you can see trains now. You can add a rail card, but it does not give the discount. Looks like I'll be driving from now on. On the old app the price would be £90.40 return, the new app has it as £123.20 return. If you search for trains, it lets you see some trains, but you can't see later or earlier."

202 2

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 01/08/2026

The Moray coast and #Aberdeenshire are not the most visited parts of #Scotland, but I am just back from #cycling Route EV1 from Inverness to Aberdeen. The route was delightful, encompassing moorland and forest from Inverness to Nairn, fishing villages/towns on […] [Original post on mastodon.scot]

Satellite image of NE Scotland showing the EV1 route as a purple track. Main towns enroute shown.

152 5

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 30/07/2026

Cycle friendly #Aberdeenshire! The #EV1 cycle route through the area is really lovely!

Colourful yarn-bombed bicycle beneath road signs pointing to Greeness, Fyvie, New Deer & Ellon as well as blue cycle route sign.

001 1

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 30/07/2026

The much heralded new #Scotrail app has just landed. "Scotrail keeps stopping". Indeed.

011 1

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 28/07/2026

I know that art appreciation is very personal, but IMHO this is possibly the wierdest & most deeply unpleasant bit of sculpture I have seen in my life. Located in the centre of #Elgin #Scotland. Why, I ask myself?

Weird sculpture of a cartoonish lion-headed figure dressed a red coat with top hat, pale blue waist coat, walking cane in hand. Rather than legs, the lower half is a crudely depicted fish tail.

001 1

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 21/07/2026

@gazza-d.bsky.social I put my bike speedo on my back wheel and wow, I can now do 46mph on the flat without trying! An effortless PB! #cycling #biketoot #ebike

293 9

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 11/07/2026

If you forget the code number on your new combination lock and there is no rescue angel around, it's really handy if there is a hardware store nearby. Who knew that a pretty decent bolt cutter only costs £17.39? Lesson learned. #cycling #biketoot

Green bicycle with saddle bag. Leaning against the bicycle is a pair of 18" bolt cutters.

000 0

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 07/07/2026

Cracking headline in The Herald #Scotland sports section. All the Presidents men? Absolutely #Trump #Fifa #football

Front page of newspaper with large photo of Trump & Giannini Infantino shaking hands in front of the "FIFA peace prize" trophy.

Caption read "All the Presidents men?"

001 1

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 30/06/2026

As a final note on our trip to #Ireland & Clare, we had planned to visit the #CliffsOfMoher & the #TheBurren. The Burren was superb in every way, scenery, geology, fauna, walking but especially #flora. The Cliffs of Moher were OK but I hadn't realised just what […] [Original post on mastodon.scot]

Virw of dark massive dark sea cliffs set against a cloudy sky

Fragrant orchid with 2 transparent burnet moths. These have red bars on transparent edged wings

O'Kelly's Spotted-orchid, a white variant of the Common Spotted-orchid

Wet limestone pavement showing the characteristic grykes (vertical cracks, gaps with vegetation) and clints (bare limestone blocks/slabs).

010 1

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 27/06/2026

The matchmaking festival is also celebrated by one of the pubs which calls itself the Matchmaker Bar, with suitable painted decoration. Not at all over the top 😄. #Lisdoonvarna #Ireland

Bar/pub painted in bright multicolours with images of hearts, loving couple, doves, musical instruments etc

120 2

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 27/06/2026

Walking in #TheBurren is like walking in a botanical sweety shop. Everywhere there are flowers, many common (& rarer) species but in their profusion and association with other types are a visual feast. #Orchids are particularly prominent & we saw many species […] [Original post on mastodon.scot]

Mountain avens (cream) & birds foot trefoil

(Not orchids!)

130 3

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 27/06/2026

We are now in County #Claire & have been walking in #TheBurren, an area of extensive #limestone pavement & karstification. I don't have enough superlatives! The scenery, the flora & geology are unique. I have been to many places but few tick even half as many boxes. #Ireland #Geology #Karst

Scenery of exposed limestone with vegetation in places. Cloudy, moody sky.

Exposed limestone bedding in the distance, wood sage growing luxuriously among shattered limestone fragments.

Distant view of Mullach Mor, a hill with little soil or drift cover where the limestone bedding is clearly exposed. Small loch in the mid ground, moorland in foreground.

221 2

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 26/06/2026

As I travel up to County Clare I am seeing lots of flagstone all over the place with these large serpentiform trace fossils. At the Cliffs of Moher they have even adopted the form and embossed into the concrete render. Hi @Cormac_McGinley knowing of your […] [Original post on mastodon.scot]

Flagstone with serpentiform large scale horizontal burrows. Foot for scale.

101 1

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 24/06/2026

I have an #ichnology question. In Tralee Ireland I came across calcareous flagstones with amazing serpitiform trace fossils. I've never seen anything quite so large with such a form. Individual traces are perhaps up to 50cm long by 2-3cm wide. Has anyone a name […] [Original post on mastodon.scot]

Flagstones with curious curved & contorted features on the surface. Feet for scale.

Flagstones with curious curved & contorted features on the surface.

213 3

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 24/06/2026

This #Tralee pub looks promising. I could really do with using their drinking consultation services to improve my technique 😂.

Small pub painted purple by the name Sean Og's. Painted sign above door reading "Drinking Consultants".

101 1

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 24/06/2026

We are arrived in #Tralee #Ireland where we are going to stop for a few days. I am delighted to see that the tradition of smaller town Irish shops being more than one thing continues with vigour 🙂! Jim Caball "himself" - selling bikes & garden machinery […] [Original post on mastodon.scot]

Man (self) standing in front of small shop with the name Jim Caboll himself, and signs saying it sells bikes, lawnmowers, chainsaws, brushcutters & hedgetrimmers

Shop frontage with shop name Tralee Gas Cycle & Nursery Supplies

110 1

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 23/06/2026

Now getting the train #Dublin to #Tralee. I love that when you have a seat reservation, Irish Rail puts your name above the seat. There is no argument. "It's my seat!".

212 2

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 23/06/2026

Our next surprise was to see on my phone GPS that our ferry to #Dublin, the Mannanan was travelling at 61km/hr. So fast! How could this be? Stepping out to the stern revealed all; we are on a massive catarmaran with ginormous engines. Check out the wake!

Photo of early morning over a calm sea with large ship's wake from powerful engines.

110 1

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 23/06/2026

5:15am and bleary-eyed we are heading for the ferry from the #IsleofMan to #Dublin. I love the absolutely bonkers IOM ferry terminal. Classic mid 1960's concrete architecture.

110 1

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 22/06/2026

A nice plant spot on the #IsleofMan is navelwort. It's not a plant I know from #Scotland but it's very common on rock faces & walls here.

Image of moss covered stone wall with numerous flowering spikes of small cream/yellow flowers. Disk shaped leaves with cremulations at the base.

Close up image of moss covered stone wall with multi headed spikes of small cream/yellow flowers. Disk shaped leaves with cremulations at the base.

100 1

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 22/06/2026

We visited the #Laxey Wheel, just the biggest waterwheel in the world! I'm afraid my #bicycle wheelbuilder's brain kicked in & I couldn't help but notice the lateral truing was out a bit. Now that would be a big spoke key #cycling.

Sideview of giant waterwheel, spokes painted red, set in a white painted building. Viaduct to right carrying rod which used to transfer power to operate mining pumps.

Self posing before Isle of Man three legged symbol on waterwheel front.

View looking up at red spoked waterwheel from below

100 1

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 21/06/2026

If you hadn't gathered, we are on the #IsleofMan for a few days. As well as cracking geology (check out the folds in the picture) birdlife (choughs!) and adventures with #kippers we had a brilliant day's cycling. For the evening's entertainment we managed to […] [Original post on mastodon.scot]

Cloudscape of Ordovician #Manx Group turbidites showing lovely folds.

Interior of the Villa Marina Royal Hall showing classic Art Deco geometric form.

The Proclaimers on stage, but at a distance.

101 1

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 21/06/2026

Today I visited the Langness Peninsula on the #IsleofMan to see one of the best displayed angular unconformities in the UK. It separates near vertical muds/turbiditic silts/VF sands of the #Ordovician #Manx Group from gently dipping alluvial fan conglomerates […] [Original post on mastodon.scot]

Photo showing pebbly beach in the right foreground, to the left near vertical reddened shales/silts unconformably overlain by pebbly conglomerates with frequent cobbles.

Photo inside a natural arch showing near vertical reddened shales/silts unconformably overlain by pebbly conglomerates with frequent cobbles.

Photo by a natural arch showing near vertical reddened shales/silts unconformably overlain by pebbly conglomerates with frequent cobbles. Person for scale

Close up of steeply dipping reddened shales abruptly overlain by pebbly conglomerate. Hand for scale.

000 0

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 15/06/2026

I have just looked at the Met Office #UK temperature anomaly maps and they are perturbing. If compared against the 30 year period 1961-90 there is a crazy >1.5°C relative warming in most months and most places, >3.5°C in the S of England for April-May. The […] [Original post on mastodon.scot]

Two rows of temperature anomaly maps for the UK showing the months Jan to May 2026, the top row using a 1961-1990 baseline, the lower against a 1991-2020 baseline

102 2

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 15/06/2026

FWIW I'm a massive fan of knobs in cars. One of the first cars I drove was a Volvo 145 which had every knob a different shape so you could locate it by touch alone. The pinnacle of automobile dashboard design!

Picture of the dashboard of a 1960s car. The key feature is that all the knobs are different shapes.

300 3

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 02/06/2026

The lawn's looking lovely! Buttercups, fox and cubs, white clover, speedwells & daisy's so far. Thistles and sow thistles & others(?) yet to flower. #NoMowMay

Image of long grass showing the flowers mentioned in the main text.

000 0

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 02/06/2026

Just about to try #avocado on #Aberdeen #Buttery roll, aka rowie. A bit of cultural mix-up. Delicious or a disaster? #Scottish #food Edit: Delicious!

Two flat bakery items on a plate topped with slices of green avocado. Plate sitting on a tabletop with flowery print, cup of tea adjacent.

011 1

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 01/06/2026

After years of picking up #sand samples, I've finally gotten around to bottling them. IMHO they look fantastic; colours from white to black, yellow to orange and even green (olivene sand from the Isle of Skye) and purple (garnet sand from Easter Ross). My […] [Original post on mastodon.scot]

Small labelled bottles containing sands of various colours, including purple & green.

Small labelled bottles containing sands of various colours

Bimodal desert sand showing well rounded millet seed coarse grains and more angular VF/VF grains. They segregate on the slighted provocation!

022 2

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 26/05/2026

Hi @PaoloViscardi Today I have one for you! My brother recently came across these vertebrae on the beach near the Heads of Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland. Given that the spinal column was incomplete he thought that the total length of the animal was in excess of 4m. I […] [Original post on mastodon.scot]

Untidy mass of bone & flesh about 3m long resting on sandy beach with scattered pebbles

Large vertebra, concave on top, fluted appearance on the sides. Hand for scale, the vertebra being about 20% longer than the hand width. Cartilaginous (?) process on one side.

Three large vertebrae on a sandy/pebbly beach. Persons foot in the picture suggests vertebrae are about 6" across and 5" long.

101 1

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 26/04/2026

In cities the battlefield is always #parking. Today I came across a local patch of grass where cars perennally park turning it to mud. I found the cars all stickered. While I was taking the picture a woman pushing a pram approached me asking why I was taking […] [Original post on mastodon.scot]

Image of 4 cars parked on muddy ground, all with yellow stickers reading "Dickhead on board"

123 3

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 25/04/2026

Crikey! The east coast haar* has reached Glasgow. I've never seen that before. That could put a dampner on this morning's #cycling #biketoot (*haar = coastal fog)

Satellite image of Scotland showing extensive cloud cover over the eastern coast, a tongue of cloud extending westward to Glasgow

000 0

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 15/04/2026

@ObsidianUrbex This is possibly my weirdest photograph taken through a gap in a fence. You could possibly call it "found art". I love the framing of the figure in the old fire surround.

Picture of a naked female tailor's dummy torso/head on the ground framed by an old brick fire surround, small trees, vegitation & rubbish scattered about.

030 3

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 21/03/2026

We borrowed a thermal imaging camera to check our flat for cold spots. We were delighted to see how effective our newly installed double glazing windows are. In the picture we are the upstairs flat. Our downstairs neighbours still have single glazing. I now […] [Original post on mastodon.scot]

Thermal image of large building. Downstairs windows show as a bright yellow-orange. The upstairs windows are dull orange-red. Sky shows as shades of purple.

000 0

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 16/03/2026

Have you ever wondered why you share your Scottish surname with a #Jamaican? If you have any interest in Scottish history, I highly recommend the book "Bought & Sold, Scotland, Jamaica & Slavery" by Kate Phillips. I knew that Scots/#Scotland had a long history […] [Original post on mastodon.scot]

Book cover showing a painting from about 200 years ago depicting a slaves on a plantation, buildings to the rear, palm trees to the fore. Book title is Bought & Sold, Scotland, Jamaica & Slavery by Kate Phillips

001 1

Bob Downie @geomannie.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · 03/03/2026

@jakob it sounds doable but complex. There is an alternative. I have a new #Murena phone running e/OS, a de-googled Android. It blocks trackers by default. For example last week #Firefox, my main browser, would have passed 823 attempts by 54 trackers if they hadn't been blocked by e/OS.

Screen showing trackers resulting from using Firefox blocked by e/OS

100 1