Welcome to the new look yatesorama!

...and you are very welcome to take a tour around this humble wee blogspot.

The site comprises mainly of family and friends photos, holiday scenes in Holland, France and Isle of Wight, plus an odd assortment of nonsense that makes me smile. There are some cool videos too.

Apart from declaring my strong faith as a Christian, I don't do religion, politics, social affairs or anything controversial on this site. The site is for fun only!

Coming soon: Winter 2011/12, archive Yates photos from the attic.  Also updated links to other Yates sites. Please get in touch if you'd like to link to/from yatesorama.  I hope to update the site at least monthly during the long winter Aberdeenshire nights.

I don't publish my email address! The easiest way to get in touch with me is through Facebook (Stuart Yates, Kemnay), or leave a comment on this page.

Paul took the photos in the montage - he needs the work, you know, so if you like his photos and you'd like to discuss his work or possible commissions, you can contact him on Facebook - Paul Stuart Lewis Yates.

Finally, click the pic to enlarge and see the castle! Where is it?  The clue may be lost east of New York! (easy peasy lemon squeezy!) 

Isle of Wight road trip

Well that was just the best holiday I've had in ages. A road trip to the Isle of Wight, starting with a stopover at Dave and Debbie's in East Kilbride, then two fantastic days in Liverpool at the Albert Dock. A long drive south and I'm on the Island for seven nights at the Hermitage, Totland Bay. Thoroughly recommended, especially the full English breakfast! And then some great days with the family, just fab! Click one of the links below for holiday pics.

New photo albums:
Pictures of Liverpool
Isle of Wight pictures
Family photos on the Isle of Wight
Isleof Wight steam railway
At the Needles
The Wheel of Liverpool

Toot toot - happy Easter

Stu goes into train spotting mode as he relishes the prospect of a Thomas the Tank Engine Easter egg. Perhaps he'll become the fat controller!

Happy Easter all, and thanks for the egg JA.

Three brass monkeys...

Stan, Tony and Stu wander the streets of Edinburgh, which, as we all know, are paved with gold.

Click the pic to enlarge.

Who's the bloke with the white hair?

It was fantastic to catch up with my old mate Snowy after a decade or so. His latest band, the Blues Project, played the Inn at Lathone, by St.Andrews. Great virtuoso blues music played in a very intimate venue, the band really connecting with the audience. I just loved every minute of it!
A walk around the beach and streets of St. Andrews on Saturday gave us the opportunity to remember old friends and swap a few war stories. Leek and tattie soup in a wee side street cafe, and a stroll around the botanic garden, topped off an entirely enjoyable day.
Nice to see you again Snowy, it won't be too long before we do it again.

Well, what a wonderful weekend I had in Leiden. Thanks Gary, Caren and Sam, and Jan and Ge, for making it a truly memorable weekend.

I've uploaded a whole heap of photos, just click >here< to see the new album

Pay attention Debbi :-)

Just jokin'...
Thanks Julie-Ann for making the incredibly fantastic chocolate cake (mmm...), and a big thanks to all my wonderful friends and colleagues at Aker Solutions for making my 60th birthday just the absolute best. You are a truly inspirational bunch!

Life's just a carrot cake...

Well hey ho indeed! The icing on the cake says it all really. D-day was officially 21st April. Thanks for the cake, Julie-Ann, and thanks to all my fantastic colleagues at Aker Solutions for making my day. Every day, that is! What a hoot!

At the Old Man of Hoy. Dorene and I went on one of those "Ranger Guided Walks" that the Highland Council organises. This involved taking the John O'Groats ferry over to Hoy, bus to Rackwick Bay, then a walk over the cliffs to the Old Man. The colours in the steep rocky cliffs - different hues of deep reds and browns. Birds skimming across the sea as we headed back to the mainland on the wee JOG ferry.

Gardoussel 2007

Well, after a two or three year break, I finally picked up a camera again (thanks, Sharon!) and took some piccies when visiting Alex and Sharon and family in the south of France in September. I've put an album on line, so I can bore you with my holiday snaps. Click "Stu's photo albums" to view

Helcyon Order

Ryde Castle Hotel, summer of '68. We were the Saturday resident band, supporting acts like Arthur Brown, PP Arnold and the Nice, Family, Spooky Tooth and more. Paul Athey on drums, Mick Wood and Jack Hallin, guitars and keyboards. My bass guitar is a Hofner Senator, played through a Vox amp. Wendy Clapcott took this pic.

Abducted by aliens?

Creatures of Earth, you have nothing to fear! (Paul insisted I post this pic, in revenge for the "duvet" pic, below) 

February2006 

Kilted! 

Jean visits for the weekend, and we go out in the Moray Firth aboard the Puffin on a sealife cruise from Macduff. We saw puffins, kittiwakes, gannets, and yes, dolphins! 

Still friends! (note the matching shirt and trellis...) 

Captain Pugwash and Sam the cabin boy

...cruising around Leiden with cabin boy Sam.