Robert Burns (5)

A picture of the National Burns Memorial at Mauchline

Robert Burns (4)

Since Burns, like myself, was partial to the odd libation or two, I thought I'd include a picture of one of the places he used.

Poosie Nansie's has obviously undergone some updates since then.

(Just as a side comment, we've just finished the last of our Christmas cake - less concern about calories then!)

Robert Burns (3)

Burns House Museum in Mauchline contains the room in which Robert Burns started married life with Jean Armour in 1788. They stayed there for 4 years.

Robert Burns (2)

The Burns family moved to Lochlie farm, near Tarbolton in 1777 and while at Tarbolton, in 1780, Robert Burns founded the Tarbolton Bachelor's Club to provide diversion "to relieve the weary man worn down with the necessary labours of life."

Tam o'Shanter (6)

Since tonight was dry and I wanted to see how this camera performed at night, I thought I'd take an photograph closely equated to what 'Tam' might have seen.

So here is Kirk Alloway - floodlit and with the sodium street light adding the colour.

Robert Burns (2)

The gravestone of the parents of Robert Burns located in Kirk Alloway graveyard.

Robert Burns

As a slight change, here is Kirkoswald Parish Church which was opened in 1777, having being built from a plan drawn by David, Earl of Cassillis, and completed by Robert Adam while he was working on Culzean Castle.

The church was restored and rededicated in 1997.

Rober Burns would have attended this church in 1776 when he was being educated in Kirkoswald village where his maternal grandparents, the Browns, lived.

Tam o'Shanter (5)

Souter Johnie's cottage in Kirkoswald - now a National Trust for Scotland property.

And at his elbow, Souter Johnie,
His ancient, trusty, drouthy cronie

(John Davidson (1728-1806), a cobbler)

Tam o'Shanter (4)

The bridge in question in Tam o'Shanter.

Now, do thy speedy-utmost, Meg,
And win the key-stone o' the brig

Tam o'Shanter (3)

When, glimmering thro' the groaning trees,
Kirk-Alloway seem'd in a bleeze,

The very church referred to, but during daylight hours! I was taking no chances.

Tam o'Shanter (2)

This is the other planter situated outside the Cottage where Burns was born in Alloway.

Tam o'Shanter

This planter is situated outside the Cottage where Burns was born in Alloway.

My nom de plume

It's January, it's Ayr, ergo it must be Robert Burns [January 25, 1759 – July 21, 1796]

With considerable self-control I've managed so far not to put any 'Burns' photographs up on the site and I've only included (I think) one reference to him, but that now changes.



My nom de plume comes, of course, from the poem "Tam o'Shanter"

(Auld Ayr, wham ne'er a town surpasses,
For honest men and bonie lasses)

and under the circumstances expect more than a few pictures of, and cross-references to, the Bard in the forthcoming days.

The third bird

I'm indebted to my wife for spotting this 'statue' hidden at the edge of the Swan Pond.



It was only when the heron moved we could be absolutely sure it was real!

Bird again

But easier to identify this time. A juvenile mute swan (cygnet) taken at Culzean Swan Pond yesterday using the large lens.

Bird Identification

This was taken at Prestwick on the same afternoon as the previous photographs.

A first sight you, like me, might have thought these were Oyster Catchers, but when you look at the photo below you can easily see they were in fact Turnstones.

Debris

A somewhat closer look at the debris washed up on Prestwick Esplanade.

gurly grew the sea

Taken from the same position as the photograph yesterday with the same lens (camera is a Sony a100). Enlarge the photo and look at the debris lying on the esplanade.

Arran yet once more

Took this shot with the new camera and the 75-300mm lens on a tripod with cable shutter release. Think I'm going to like this camera!

New Year Bells

As we walked home at 02.30 this morning, we were in the midst of a cacophony of burglar alarms, quite a few of them bells, which had been set off by the power variations caused by the weather. Luckily our alarm hadn't been triggered.

May I wish each and every one of my readers a peaceful and prosperous 2007.

Glasgow Humour

Since the weather has been ghastly, I'll post another older photograph in an attempt to cheer us up. Glasgow is renowned for its traffic policeman and obviously someone tried to co-opt this one in. Any time the cone on the head is removed, it mysteriously appears again!

Christmas Cactus

It never ceases to amaze me how, despite our lack of care, this Christmas Cactus always knows when to flower - the buds never appear until second week in December and the flowers start in the week preceding Christmas Day.

According to the information at the link attached, we are doing totally the wrong things in its treatment, but the plant obviously has a strong will to survive.

Greetings

To one and all, may you have a very merry and blessed Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

Ardstinchar Castle

The was taken a little earlier this year at Ballantrae.

Ardstinchar Castle, built in 1421 by Hew Kennedy, was visited by Mary, Queen of Scots in 1563 while she was on a pilgrimage.

Christmas Decoration

3 for the price of 1 today. I've see others picturing their Christmas decorations, so I thought I'd give it a try.

Rozelle

The looooong wall was built when Rozelle was a private estate, labour was cheap, there was no right-to-roam and people were able to make money with virtually no controls. Well at least we have some right-to-roam now!

The Tragic Sacrifice of Christ

Edessa Messiah, one of five sculptures by Ronald Rae exhibited in Rozelle Estate, was influenced by Oceanic Art and shows the monumental head of Christ. The features suggest this could be a black Christ. The idea for the sculpture was also taken from the Turin Shroud that was found at Edessa in Russia.

The set of five, entitled "The Tragic Sacrifice of Christ", was carved in the 1978-80 period after Ronald Rae had a vision to carve a series of granite sculptures which would express his love and concern for humanity.

Fate played its role providing him with four of the five granite blocks that were once part of the Old Harbour in Ayr. Kyle and Carrick District Council kindly sponsored the project.

Using only a hammer and chisel Ronald worked steadily for two years to complete the project. The sculptures were duly installed in the peaceful setting of Rozelle Park.

Photographs of all five sculptures, with notes, can be found at my Flickr account (see sidebar).

Millenium Bridge

Built over the mouth of the River Doon as a pedestrian bridge and as part of the national and Ayr Coastal cycle route. It took a little getting used to, but I think it's a graceful structure.

Arran............ yet again

You'll begin to appreciate that I love Arran! This photo was taken on Sunday - as per the last few.

Flood detritus

And following on from yesterday, you can see the sections of trees which have been washed down the River Doon right to the First of Clyde.

Doon the river

Eeven though I say it myself, I think this is quite a good photograph. It's taken close to the mouth of the River Doon at the site of an old weir, built for a mill which has long since vanished. I think this picture shows the sheer volume and power of the waters pouring down after all the rain we've had.

Occasional visitors

We don't often see long tailed tits at the feeder, but when they come, they come in droves.

Storm damage

It might be getting to the point where there is nothing left which will blow off 'easily'. Mind you with the drenching the ground has had, perhaps its uprooting of trees we need to worry about.

I talk to the plants....

but I wouldn't have thought you needed a telephone to do it!

Tarbolton

This was also taken last Saturday, from the same position as I took Barnweil Tower, but turned through 180 degrees.

Barnweil Tower

Another photograph from Saturday, taken between Tarbolton and Symington. It was taken about 30 minutes before those at Prestwick posted on the previous two days. Changeable weather!

Barnweil Tower is another William Wallace monument. Local legend has it that the name came from Wallace standing at that spot watching English soldiers being burned in the Barns O'Ayr and saying "The barns burn weil". In fact the name was in use long before Wallace's time.

More Stormy weather

Today the weather is so wet even the ducks are taking shelter. So here's a second photograph from the same spot in Prestwick and at the same time of day as yesterday, but looking down the Firth of Clyde towards Ailsa Craig.

Stormy Weather

A view along the esplanade at Prestwick looking towards Ayr; early afternoon on a changeable day.

Avian Airport

Today's photo includes a rather strange effect. I took it through our double-glazed kitchen window (experimenting again!) and caught the reflection of our kitchen door over half of it.

This is a quiet period at the bird table. It's not unusual to have 8+ birds of various species (blue tit, coal tit, chaffinch, green finch, robin, blackbird, starling ....) either on the feeders or trying to get on the feeders. I'm surprised by the lack of collisions.

Gardening

Now this is what I call gardening - now I've got the right tools it is not so difficult, but time consuming. My wife calls it mayhem and won't let me near the roses!

If you want to see a couple of cloudscapes taken with my new camera, as this photo was, head over to Flickr later this evening.

Ayr beach

Just trying out my new toy - a Sony A100 with a DT 18-70 lens.

Ayr County Buildings

The end of the County Buildings overlooking Wellington Square was designed by Robert Wallace and the foundation stone laid in 1818. The courthouse and hall still remain and are used by Ayr Sheriff Court. There has been some recent renovation of the stonework as can be seen in the different colours visible.

Dalrymple

Originally nestling in the Ayrshire hills on the river with two mills, the village of Dalrymple, not far from Ayr, is slowly spreading out. Even on a dreich day like today, it is still nice to look at.

Sore Feet?

Up until the 19th century the measured mile in use in Scotland varied from place to place, but was consistently longer than the standard English mile hence the term the ‘Lang Scots Mile’. An 18th century reference in the Scottish National Dictionary refers to the Scots Mile as measuring the equivalent of 1,984 yards or 5,952 feet (around 1,814 metres) as opposed to the standard mile of 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet (around 1,609 metres).

The route is marked out along the promenade between Miller’s Folly on Cromwell’s Fort and Blackburn Car Park. it is a flat route passing some of the historic landmarks of Ayr and present-day attractions, with sea views across the Firth of Clyde to Arran, Kintyre, and the Cumbraes. It is marked with posts along the way at the quarter mile points 1,488 feet (453.5 metres) apart.