Ayrshire+ photographs

Moving on!

2008-01-07T18:31:00.000Z

I'm now posting at Ayrshire+ Photos, although that site will continue to undergo updates/changes as I get to understand WordPress a little more.

Can you please update any connections you have to point to the new URL / feeds.

River Doon

2008-01-06T16:40:00.000Z

After the rain we've had, the River Doon is running as high as I've ever seen it.

The building in the centre is the Brig o'Doon House Hotel with the main window of the function suite (I won't shock you with the minimum cost of a wedding there) showing.

The partial building you can see in the top right is the Burns Monument in Alloway.

Visitors

2008-01-05T19:13:00.000Z

We don't get Siskins all that often, but they are welcome visitors when they do come. When I went out to fill the seeds this morning, obviously one was so intent on feeding it didn't notice me until I was within touching distance. The it took off at a high rate of knots shouting furiously!! As you can see from the bottom of the nut feeder, it's still wet!

Icing Sugar

2008-01-04T11:57:00.001Z

Someone was very profligate with the icing sugar last night!!

I'll be moving my blog onto www.anhonestman.net in the near future, so keep your eyes open.

Mooning about

2008-01-03T13:41:00.001Z

This morning as I went down to collect in my rubbish bin, the collection is very early in the morning, I saw the crescent moon through the bare trees and thought it worthy of a photograph.

Christmas Lights

2008-01-02T17:00:00.001Z

Since it stopped raining for a bit, I managed to get the camera out and took a photograph of the Christmas decorations in Ayr High Street. These are repeated up and down the street. Quite restrained.

Happy New Year

2008-01-01T15:48:00.001Z

I had hoped to be posting a photograph from today, but the not so good weather is still with us. Here is one from a cold crisp day in January 2003 which I took from the hills above Straiton to cheer us up.

If you followed the link through to the 1841 census, you'll find that boys as young as 10 were Agricultural Labourers as were women of 65.

Winter - 2

2007-12-31T15:59:00.000Z

Another grey miserable day, so no current photograph again, however here is another taken in 2002. This is of Buachaille Etive More, Glencoe.

Winter

2007-12-30T15:50:00.000Z

Since the weather has been pretty miserable here of late, I resurrected one from 2002. It is of Ben Nevis (or Beinn Nibheis in the Gaelic {unless you can manipulate pdf files you really need to print this link}).

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside - 3

2007-12-29T15:53:00.000Z

This photograph is included because I like Pied Wagtails. They are such perky little birds and never stop moving about.

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside - 2

2007-12-28T19:45:00.000Z

Since Sorlil is happier with birds than dogs, here are three for the price of one. You've got, from left to right, starling, black-headed gull and a herring gull.

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside

2007-12-27T16:07:00.001Z

No matter how cold, dogs just seem to love playing in and around the sea. Rather them than me at present.

Boxing Day Blues

2007-12-26T16:58:00.000Z

Blue becase that was the colour of my hands!

Today has been fairly yukky - overcast, windy, cold and trying to rain. I did brave the climatic conditions on Ayr Esplanade to get a photograph of a black-headed gull. I know it doesn't have black head, but it will when it comes to the breeding season. They are a very elegant small gull - noisy, but elegant.

This shot is of one trying to fly past into the teeth of a gale.

Christmas bird 02

2007-12-25T20:40:00.001Z

and I am talking about the Turkey this time!

Merry Christmas everyone, and a peaceful and healthy New Year to follow.

Christmas bird .....

2007-12-24T16:14:00.000Z

.... and I'm not talking about the Turkey.

This little fellow has decorated our Christmas Tree for a few years now. It wouldn't be the same without him, even if he is a bit the worse for wear now.

To those who are already on Christmas Day and to those (like me) still awaiting its coming, best wishes for a peaceful and healthy year to come.

Christmas Lights

2007-12-23T18:01:00.000Z

Having been less than polite yesterday of someone else's decorations, I thought I'd let you see the only decoration I have - inside the house; nothing outside. That is apart from the Christmas (or should that read Xmas) cards hanging on strips down the wall. I'm saying Xmas since there are virtually no religious cards this year.

Scrooge-like tendencies...

2007-12-22T10:12:00.000Z

Excuse the blurring on these photos, but it was a cold night with a bitter wind; I was sitting in my car with the window down but with the engine running; I was using the big camera with a fairly high magnification!

I don't know if I'm being curmudgeonly or not, but for a private residence I find this 'show' excessive. Although, at least, it is not in glorious technicolour. Possibly the owner thinks Christ was a space traveller and is trying to provide landing lights for the next spacecraft! I don't think this has anything to do with Christmas, only with one-upmanship.

Full many a ..........

2007-12-21T15:52:00.001Z

I'll leave you to complete the quote! It's not completely apposite, since it is in our garden and not a desert, but it's too cold to smell if there is any fragrance being wasted. I actually thought I'd got rid of this plant, but it won't give up so I've let it be.

I love birds too ....

2007-12-20T16:23:00.001Z

..... but in a different way to you!

If you still haven't found me ........

Last birds...

2007-12-19T15:44:00.001Z

....... for now anyway! This is one of the blue tits which also frequent the feeder.

Long-tailed tits

2007-12-18T16:16:00.000Z

Long-tailed Tits are infrequent visitors to our feeders, but when they come, they tend to come mob-handed and block out all the other birds. I don't mind, they are beautiful birds.

Ignore the Chaffinch at the water!

Bird again

2007-12-17T16:03:00.001Z

I don't know if it's true, but the Collared Doves look decidedly stupid.

More birds

2007-12-16T16:37:00.001Z

I left the camera set up at the upstairs window and got some more photographs; in this case of a Greenfinch feeding away. No other bird can dislodge one when it starts feeding.

A bird in the hand ....

2007-12-15T17:25:00.000Z

.... or in this case rather more than two in the bush! This tree is a favourite resting place for the Chaffinches before and after eating from the feeder.

More from Cowal

2007-12-14T11:46:00.000Z

A final set of photos from my trip to Dunoon, taken on the way back home the following day.

The weather was much clearer and sharper over the Cowal Peninsula.

Just in case you thought we were on a big ferry, the Western Ferries over the Clyde are small vessels in comparison to most of the CalMac Ferries and are much smaller than the ferry we took from Hull to Zeebrugge.

A photograph of the town of Dunoon in the sunshine.

Holy Trinity Dunoon

2007-12-13T18:34:00.000Z

Thought I should show you a picture of the inside of Holy T. just after the service was completed.

We were all at the back enjoying Mince Pies and Mulled Wine {The links are for those who may not be conversant with U.K. Traditions}

Winter?

2007-12-12T20:32:00.000Z

Last Sunday we sailed over to Dunoon to join my Sister-in-Law at an advent service in the church she attends. These hills lie to the North and, although they may not be up to the standard of some parts of the world, they are showing the first real signs that winter is upon us - about time to!

Final Birding

2007-12-11T16:52:00.001Z

The last birding photograph is of Barnacle Geese flying over one of the hides at Caerlaverock. Unfortunately I can't pay you the noise they made!

Scottish Borders

2007-12-10T17:22:00.001Z

Still from my birding holiday, today's photograph was taken from a wood in the Scottish Borders looking towards the Eildon Hills.

Footbridge

2007-12-09T10:59:00.000Z

This is the footbridge over the burn leading into Aberlady Bay.

Boat

2007-12-08T18:08:00.001Z

Another photograph from Aberlady Bay, this time over the Firth of Forth looking at a boat sailing up to, I think, Grangemouth Refinery.

Birds

2007-12-07T23:15:00.001Z

Since this was a birding holiday, I thought I'd also post a bird photograph. This is one of the pink-footed geese overflying us at Aberlady Bay as headed towards the Firth of Forth to roost, on the water, for the night.

Edinburgh Castle and Calton Hill

2007-12-06T15:55:00.000Z

Yet another picture from Aberlady Bay. This time looking slightly further north to the outline of Edinburgh Castle in the centre and Calton Hill to the right.

Arthur's Seat

2007-12-05T16:57:00.000Z

Another photograph from Aberlady Bay, this time of Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh.

Aberlady Sunset

2007-12-04T21:24:00.000Z

This photograph was taken on the mainland on the East Coast of Scotland at Aberlady, East Lothian. We were there at sunset waiting for flocks of red-footed geese to come back from their foraging grounds to their roosting area.

Birds

2007-12-03T17:59:00.000Z

This photograph was actually taken before those of yesterday and shows Black Guillemots swimming in the Harbour in Oban before we sailed to Mull.

Please don't ask why Black Guillemots seem to show a lot of white when swimming whilst ordinary Guillemots seem fairly black. I don't know.

Loch Na Keal

2007-12-02T18:34:00.000Z

Today's photo is also from the Isle of Mull, this time looking over Loch Na Keal.

Away Day

2007-12-01T17:13:00.000Z

There actually won't be many bird photographs from my Birding holiday because
1. I was there to look at and identify birds.
2. The birds were generally at some distance.
3. The weather conditions were far from ideal for photography a lot of the time.
4. I was mainly using the large lens hand-held, so there is a fair amount of blurring.

However, as a starter here is a picture of the Oban to Craignure ferry leaving Craignure just after it had dropped us off. We left our hotel that morning at 07.00 and returned just after 20.00 - exhausted, damp and happy.

Just over the headland in the front of this picture we watched a couple of otters playing in the sea.

One of the main species we were there to see was the White-tailed Eagle (Sea Eagle) and see them we did, albeit at a distance and with no movement on their part - not surprising since it was raining - so no photograph I'm afraid.

Rare visitor

2007-11-30T19:11:00.000Z

Hi folks, I'm back from a successful, if somewhat damp, bird-watching trip. I'll post a couple of photographs once they are all downloaded. Meanwhile, we had a visitor to our own bird table at home this morning. Apologies for the slight blurring, but I was taking these with the big lens hand-held and I'm not as steady as I once was. You'll note how different the colour seems depending on the magnification and angle of the shot - it is the same animal each time.

Round again

2007-11-25T09:54:00.001Z

I'll be out of communication for a few days, but before I go I'll leave you with one last picture from the top of Brown Carrick Hills - this time looking eastwards. It might not be immediately obvious, but there is a deep wide valley in the near foreground.

Ayr surroundings

2007-11-24T20:19:00.001Z

Taken from the same spot as the last two photographs, these two serve to show the extent of Ayr Bay and the Firth of Clyde.

The first is a little to the west of Ayr and shows the coast line up through Irvine and beyond up to the Cumbraes.

The second is even further west looking over towards Arran.

Transport modes

2007-11-23T18:44:00.001Z

Taken from the same spot as yesterday, two forms of transport of quite different speeds.

The aircraft is a Ryanair jet, one of the low-cost airlines which have come to the fore recently. How low-cost is a matter of conjecture since everything 'extra' is an added cost. The latest humorous comment on Ryanair is they are about to charge for "emotional baggage" as well.

Fair Ayr...

2007-11-22T16:09:00.001Z

Today's photograph was taken from the top of the Brown Carrick hills overlooking Ayr Bay. The centre of the photograph is Wellington Square and the Sheriff Court just beyond the Low Green in Ayr.

In the background is Prestwick Airport.

Historical -again

2007-11-21T20:25:00.001Z

Whilst I was looking through my older photographs for yesterday's item, I found others I thought might be of interest. I'll post these on an occasional basis.

This one from 2005 was taken at the North-West of Arran, on the hills just above Locharanza, and includes the departure of the Cal-Mac ferry, the Loch Tarbert, from Lochranza to Clonaig. The view is over the junction of the Kilbrannan Sound and the Sound of Bute, looking up Loch Fyne.

Straiton

2007-11-20T22:03:00.001Z

I'm reduced to posting an old photograph today - I've been somewhat busy and haven't quite got round to taking any shots lately.

I thought I'd post a closer one I took of the Straiton Monument several years ago on a wintry day.

Hide?

2007-11-19T22:27:00.001Z

I had thought that an observation hide was meant to
1. hide you from the birds you were observing and
2. hide, at least to some degree, itself from the birds as well.

You'll see from this photograph that it isn't the case here. There are some neatly camouflaged low hides at Caerlaverock, but also a couple of towers like this one.

Birds - continued

2007-11-18T16:44:00.000Z

A larger selection of birds this time. You'll see Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Mallards (male and female), Wigeons and, of course, Feral Pigeons - including 2 in flight!.

More Birds

2007-11-17T20:56:00.001Z

This time they are wigeons.

Birds

2007-11-16T21:49:00.001Z

This photograph was taken at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust at Caerlaverock, Dumfriesshire.

The three swans with the yellow, black-tipped beaks are Whooper Swans and the single swan with the orange beak is a Mute Swan. The goose is a Canada Goose.

Fullarton House

2007-11-15T16:57:00.001Z

Fullarton House, designed in the "Adam" style, was erected by William Fullarton in 1745. Louis Napoleon is said to have stayed there, and Robert Burns, who was an admirer of Colonel Fullarton, possibly visited as a guest.It was purchased by Troon Town Council in 1928, but the house was allowed to fall into a poor state of repair and was demolished in 1966.

All that remains are two pillars, one of which is shown in the photograph.

Bird Watching?

2007-11-14T19:45:00.001Z

All right, I know they aren't birds! We had gone down to Troon Harbour to see what birds were about and found there were at least 5 Grey Seals loafing around in the inner harbour. They seemed to be as interested in us as we were in them.

We did however see quite a few birds as well.

Bogton Loch

2007-11-13T19:33:00.000Z

This view of Bogton Loch was taken from approximately the same position as the view of Craigengillan House, but looking downstream towards Dalmellington.
Before the dam-building activities up at Loch Doon, the area around Bogton Loch and further down the river was very boggy. Now Bogton Loch is a protected site of special scientific interest and supports significant populations of birds.

Craigengillan House

2007-11-12T16:44:00.000Z

Craigengillan House lies betwenn the North end of Loch Doon and Dalmellington.

The Estate has been in existence since 1611, owned by the McAdam family, original family surname MacGregor, although the house was substantially redesigned in 1765 and has been modified several times since.

Possibly one of the most notable members of the family was John {Tar} McAdam, due to his work on road construction.

Wet Lanes

2007-11-11T17:38:00.000Z

I've not come across it anywhere else, but all the streams in the area leading into the south end of Loch Doon are called Lane.

This is a picture of Carrick Lane.

This is a picture of Gala Lane.

Loch Doon

2007-11-10T23:02:00.001Z

This was taken from the South of Loch Doon looking North.

Castle Island

2007-11-09T17:29:00.001Z

Currently Loch Doon is fairly low, so it's possible to see the island where the castle used to be.

The first photograph was taken from South of the loch with the small camera at a reasonable distance and shows the topography of the area.

The second photograph was taken from fairly close to the castle site with the big camera.

Loch Doon Castle

2007-11-08T16:42:00.001Z

Loch Doon (or Balloch Castle) dates from the 13th or 14th centuries and is an eleven-sided curtain-wall construction of beautifully hewn blocks of ashlar.

You may notice that it is in a not particularly defensible position.

This is because the was castle designed to stand on and defend its original island site at the southern end of Loch Doon - thus the peculiar shape which conformed to the shape of the island.

The level of Loch Doon was raised in the 1930's for the Galloway Hydro-electric scheme. Castle Island was submerged but the outer shell of the castle was dismantled and re-erected about 1935 on the shore near Craigmulloch Farm, where it can still be seen today.

Ayrshire Countryside

2007-11-07T16:41:00.000Z

These two photographs were taken at the same time and from the same place as the second photograph yesterday.

Instead to looking South, I looked to the West to the Brown Carrick Hills overlooking Alloway. The peculiar objects are communication masts.

Then, looking to the north over the village of Dalrymple, you can see the viaduct of the Ayr to Dalmellington railway, opened in 1856.

Straiton Monument

2007-11-06T21:33:00.000Z

At the summit of Craigengower (the Hill of Goats in Gaelic), a hill overlooking the village of Straiton, is the obelisk, visible from Blairquhan Castle, which is a monument to Lt Col James Hunter Blair killed at the Battle of Inkerman in 1854.

The above photograph was taken from the same place as the photograph of Blairquhan Castle.

The following photograph, also of the monument, was taken from considerably further north, on the hills between the villages of Kirkmichael and Dalrymple.

Blairquhan Castle

2007-11-05T17:57:00.000Z

Built between 1821 and 1824, the present Blairquhan Castle [pronounced Blairwhan Castle] is just visible from the Kirkmichael to Straiton Road.

Beside Cloncaird Castle

2007-11-04T19:03:00.000Z

Whilst I was photographing Cloncaird Castle, I took a couple of other photographs as well.

This is one of their pedigree highland cows...

and this is the estate woods........

Chummy

2007-11-03T17:53:00.001Z

As we were walking in Culzean today, this little fellow seemed to want our company. He got closer and closer and sat still very near to me.

Cloncaird Castle

2007-11-02T17:21:00.000Z

Cloncaird Castle is easily viewable from the Kirkmichael to Straiton road. As with many of this type of building, it is now selling itself as a wedding venue - with virtually no public transport links.

Autumn or Winter

2007-11-01T17:24:00.001Z

The weather is decidedly dreich today, so I took a photo at the front of the house. Not sure whether we're still in Autumn or have moved to Winter.

Ruin

2007-10-31T22:36:00.000Z

Took this photo when I was out birding in Saltcoats area at Auchenharvie Pond. Haven't yet been able to find out what it was.

If anyone knows, please post.

Calm Doon

2007-10-30T20:34:00.000Z

........... or in this case, anything but.

I took this picture outside the Brig O'Doon House Hotel just after a night of heavy rain. This stretch of the river is just visible in some of the earlier photos of the River Doon taken upstream from the railway bridge.

The river is not as calm and gentle as it was then!

Heron

2007-10-29T16:22:00.001Z

Whilst walking round the Rozelle Pond, I saw a Grey Heron on the other bank.

It was obliging enough to let me change the lens on the camera and then stretch out a bit to give me other views.

Autumn Leaves (not)

2007-10-28T14:01:00.000Z

From a distance it looks like piles of autumn leaves round a tree stump, but no.

No photo

2007-10-27T22:30:00.000+01:00

Sorry, but there isn't a photograph today.

It has been devoted to sharing in a thanksgiving and remembrance service for a good friend who died very recently. The service was uplifting in so many ways.

Autumn Leaves

2007-10-26T11:51:00.000+01:00

Just before the strong winds and heavy rain sets in, we went for a walk passing through Rozelle Estate. The dead leaf colours are brilliant.

Red sky at night......

2007-10-25T17:20:00.001+01:00

I happened to look up from the computer yesterday evening and realised there was a glorious colour in the sky outside. I dashed outside with the camera and this is one of the results.

In this case, the rhyme was true since we had a gorgeous morning today.

Geese

2007-10-24T17:25:00.000+01:00

I visited the East Coast yesterday as promised (it took longer because of traffic problems), but we got a goodly collection of bird sightings in cold clear sunny weather. This picture is from Aberlady Bay where we went, towards sunset, to see the over-wintering geese arriving back from their grazing areas to roost. They mainly consist of Pink-footed geese, but we did spot three Barnacle Geese amongst them. Earlier we had also seen four Brent Geese as well as a couple of Little Gulls.

The one thing that you can't get from photographs is the sheer volume of noise as the geese flock in, skein after skein. As it got progressively darker so more and more arrived and the volume kept going up.

Giant Bonzai

2007-10-23T22:15:00.000+01:00

No, I know it's not, but it's the first thought that came into my mind when I saw it.

Newark Castle

2007-10-22T10:34:00.000+01:00

Today's photo is of Newark Castle, which is still a private residence; thus the distance shot rather than a close-up.

.

Fungus

2007-10-21T16:19:00.001+01:00

Let me immediately confess that I have absolutely no idea what sort of fungus this is - that's one of the many areas of ignorance I have. So if anyone can identify please do.

There were three or four of them at the edge of a park area beside the road, looking for all the world like small white pegs.

Doon River

2007-10-20T16:47:00.001+01:00

A little pun as well as a photograph today. This is taken from the opposite side of the bridge from yesterday's photograph, so we're looking down (colloquially doon)Doon River.

Bridges

2007-10-19T18:26:00.001+01:00

Today's photograph is of the Alloway Old (15th Century) Bridge in the background and New Bridge (1816)in the foreground.

The Old Bridge is immortalised in the poem Tam O'Shanter by Robert Burns; this saved it from demolition at the time the New Bridge was built.

The photograph was taken from the bridge built to carry the Ayr / Turnberry / Girvan Light Railway

Old Fashioned

2007-10-18T15:43:00.001+01:00

A different style of photograph today. I get the chains for my chainsaw here; an old fashioned business in the best sense of the word. Tom Holliday supplies and services chainsaws, grass mowers, strimmers - you can see just a few of them in the photograph - etc..

It looks chaotic, but it is not and you can't beat the friendly and knowledgeable service. It's always at a very reasonable price as well.

River Clyde

2007-10-17T19:58:00.001+01:00

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In order to go on the Waverley sail, we had crossed over the Clyde from Gourock to Dunoon on the Cal-Mac car ferry. The following three photographs were taken from the ferry Jupiter as we sailed back from Dunoon to Gourock in the gathering dusk.

This is a picture of the opposition Western Ferries boat with the Holy Loch in the background.

Looking over the stern of the Jupiter to see the sun setting over Argyll.

A picture in the fading evening light of the tranquil entrance to Loch Long.

Scenery in Loch Long and Loch Goil

2007-10-16T22:32:00.000+01:00

I said in yesterday's posting that I'd publish some photos from the sail on the Waverley up Loch Long and Loch Goil.

The weather was very overcast for most of the sail, but there was no rain and the lighting effects were superb. I think Scotland is at it's most dramatically beautiful when the clouds are low over the hills.

The first photo is over over the stern of the Waverley as we drew away from Blairmore.
Then on to a view of the slopes above Loch Long.

The lighting in this shot looking back down the upper stretch of Loch Long was spectacular.

As was the light on the hills to the west.

This is a view of Carrick Castle on the western shore of Loch Goil. It is believed to have been built in the 12th century, but it is likely that the present Carrick Castle is the second structure to occupy this location. The first may have been a hunting lodge for the kings of Scots. It is recorded that Mary, Queen of Scots visited here in 1563. A Campbell stronghold for over three hundred years, it was captured during the Argyll’s rebellion, by Atholl. The victors pillaged and burned it and completely destroyed it by fire in 1685. It is now owned by Alex Fleming who has undertaken its restoration.
The sun broke through for a short period at the head of Loch Goil.

The is looking down Loch Goil towards Loch Long.

Paddle Steamer Waverley

2007-10-15T17:05:00.000+01:00

On Saturday we went for a sail on the Waverley, the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world, during her 60th anniversary celebrations.

She sails between April and October in different places around the United Kingdom, including her home station on the Firth of Clyde, the Western Isles of Scotland, South Coast of England, the Bristol Channel and the River Thames.

She is powered by a 2,100 horse power triple expansion diagonal steam engine, and has two bars, a restaurant, a tea-bar and carries up to 800 passengers. She does not have passenger berths.

I've included a series of photos of the vessel in this post and I'll post some of the scenic ones tomorrow.

This is her coming down the River Clyde from Kilcreggan towards Blairmore Pier.
Arriving at the pier...
Yet closer.....
Moored.....
A view of the engines...
And of a paddlewheel in motion...
And of the engine again...
And of the effect of the paddle...
And, finally, moored back at Blairmore..

Windsor

2007-10-14T16:44:00.000+01:00

Just before we returned back to Scotland we spent the late morning/early afternoon in Windsor. This photograph is of the Queen's residence, Windsor Castle. The link gives more details as to the antiquity etc. of thisbuilding.

Cliveden

2007-10-13T22:17:00.000+01:00

On the way back from Luxembourg, we stopped off in Slough to go to a wedding. On the Thursday we visited Cliveden, rebuilt for the second time in 1855. It was bought in 1893by William Waldorf Astor, America’s richest citizen who gave it, in 1906, to his son and daughter-in-law, Nancy, Lady Astor, who became the first ever woman MP at Westminster in 1919.

The first photograph is of the main house ....

the second photograph is of the memorial garden dedicated to Canadian soldiers who died during both World Wars or in the hospital in the grounds afterwards. There are other nationalties, including American and British, there as well.

Luxembourg

2007-10-12T15:56:00.000+01:00

One of the reasons for taking the car over to the continent was to pick up some Luxembourg wine. These are the labels from the boxes I brought back, having bought the wine at the winery.

Almost all Luxembourg wine is consumed within Luxembourg or the border areas surrounding it. The Cru designation shown on the label is awarded to that particular production for that year from that vineyard, as opposed to the French system where the Cru is awarded to a vineyard.

We like it.

Luxembourg - again

2007-10-11T16:21:00.000+01:00

Back to Luxembourg to spend a little more time with my sister and to pick up the car.

Koblenz

2007-10-10T20:27:00.000+01:00

The photos today are from a short stop-over we had in Koblenz when changing trains. We took a walk up into the Old Town.

Frankfurt

2007-10-09T21:37:00.000+01:00

Today we have three photos from Frankfurt.

The first is an evening shot from the main town over the river.

The second is a night shot within the main square.

The third is from the river over the 'Mainhatten' skyline which is made up of the offices of Financial Institutions.

Heidelberg - more

2007-10-08T21:49:00.000+01:00

Apologies for the missing days, but I had problems....

I'm back at home, but will post some of the photographs from our travels.

Barge on the river Neckar

Church of the Holy Ghost

Castle

Europe Question

2007-09-28T16:46:00.000+01:00

Today's question; where am I? I've posted two photographs from the place in Europe where I'm staying at the moment. The only clue I'll give is that it is no longer in Luxembourg.

Luxembourg

2007-09-27T18:30:00.001+01:00

Apologies for the delays in posting, but my download connection from my camera to my laptop was playing up.

From Belgium we drove down to Luxembourg {the Country} to visit my sister. The following photographs were taken in Luxembourg City in Luxembourg. {You need to be specific as there is a province of Belgium called Luxembourg which borders the Country - can be very confusing}

From - To

2007-09-25T17:22:00.000+01:00

Where we went from and to.

Aboard - abroad

2007-09-24T22:13:00.000+01:00

Apologies for missing yesterday evening, but we were aboard this vessel and it doesn't have internet access.

Old v New

2007-09-22T18:29:00.000+01:00

Went out for lunch today to the Alloway Inn, which used to be the Ivy House, which used to be the North Park House Hotel. The first photograph shows it from a distance over the allotments. This is the new, since the building was put up about 10 years ago.

At a slightly different angle over the same allotments, we see Bellisle Hotel, which started life as Bellisle House in the early 1800s. This is the old.

I thought I'd give you a slightly closer view of Alloway Inn.

Yes Arran

2007-09-21T22:04:00.001+01:00

It's been another fairly 'yucky' day here again, so I've posted a photo of Arran taken from the cliff-top walk at Culzean a couple of days ago. Once again, the mysterious Isle haunts me!

Culzean once more

2007-09-20T23:18:00.000+01:00

The weather is back to ~~it's~~ its normal dreich way, so here's another couple of photos from Culzean. {Blame the hour of the post for the error}

The first was very close to the fountain, the second is on the cliff-top walk, where the trees tend to be distorted during growth by the wind.

Culzean again

2007-09-19T23:50:00.000+01:00

A far better day today and we yomped around the grounds of Culzean (pronounced Cullaine) Castle which was looking good. The first photograph is from the North and the second of the fountain in full flow.

Another sign of Autumn

2007-09-18T17:36:00.000+01:00

From an upstairs window, the bush at the front shows that Autumn is upon us. If only we were having 'Bristolwood' weather.

Hands across the Sea

2007-09-17T22:26:00.000+01:00

This photo is from inside Ayr's Carnegie Library, one of many which pay tribute to Andrew Carnegie's generosity in funding libraries in Scotland. Scotland gave the USA Andrew Carnegie; He gave us US dollars (amongst other things!)

This is part of the roof in one of the reading rooms which is used for meetings by Central Ayrshire Local Group of the RSPB. It may be an old building,but it's been well maintained and sympathetically adjusted to meet the modern library changing needs. It is nice to see the retention of older buildings for their original purpose is not totally lost.

Dirleton Castle

2007-09-16T22:05:00.000+01:00

Since the weather was exceeding wet last night and today, I haven't been out photographing. Here is a picture I took last year over on the east coast of Scotland at Dirleton Castle which is well worth visit.

Cowardice or sense?

2007-09-15T17:17:00.000+01:00

I've posted a photo of the steeple of Ayr St Andrews Church before, when it didn't have it's 'crown' of scaffolding.

I just thought that there was no way you would have got me up there to erect the scaffolding - even in my younger days when I thought nothing of hanging off rock faces anchored only by my hands. Is this cowardice or sense, you decide?