More Culzean flowers

Yet another rhododendron, but of a different colour.

Spring flowers

It may be a dreaded rhododendron (they tend to crowd out every other plant), but the colours are superb at Culzean again.

I love Culzean in the springtime.....

With apologies for the misquote ..........., but I do love Culzean in the springtime (and the summer and the autumn and the winter).

Here are two photographs of views from Culzean which replicate views you have seen before but at a different season.

The first is of Arran and the second Ailsa Craig.

Far Travelled

No, I didn't travel to Russia, and why would they have English speed limit signs anyway!

Moscow is a hamlet (smaller than a village) in East Ayrshire.

Desert Island?

Looks like this should have been found on a desert island, but it is actually at the mouth of the River Doon in Ayr.

Someone spent a fair length of time gathering the material and assembling it.

Incomer

The black swan was not 'originally' native to the United Kingdom, but imported as ornamental birds from Australia. Although this one was on its own and therefore wasn't breeding, I'm told there is a small colony down in Galloway which seems to be maintaining itself.

Failford Gorge

These two photographs were taken from the bottom of the sandstone steps in the side of the river Ayr gorge at Failford.

The right photograph is looking down-river, the left one looking up-river.

Failford Gorge - Peden's Cove

These sandstone steps, in the side of the river Ayr gorge at Failford, are believed to date from the 17th Century when they were cut out to enable Alexander Peden, a famous Conventer to preach to his congregation on the other side of the river Ayr.

Peden was born in the parish of Sorn, Ayrshire in 1626, educated at Glasgow University and, for a time, became a schoolteacher at Tarbolton before becoming the minister of New Luce Church in Galloway in 1660. He was made to leave this post in 1663 due to his refusal to accept the enforced episcopacy and spent the rest of his life preaching to open-air congregations whilst 'on the run' from Government forces.

Even in death he was not left alone, since Government troops exhumed his body from Auchinleck kirkyard and, after intervention by the Earl of Dumfries who was afraid of rioting, buried him, as a mark of disgrace in their eyes, at the foot of the gallows in Cumnock.

Cumnock old graveyard grew up around the spot, rather defeating the object of the soldiers exercise.

Failford Inn

I took the shot of Failford Inn today, but after having to park about half a mile out of Failford.

You'll see there is a beer festival on this weekend (Failford Inn features highly on CAMRA's list of pubs). I can only hope there were a large number of non-drinking drivers there as well.

I'll post a couple of shots from Failford Gorge in the next few days - which is what I went there to see anyway.

Station Hotel, Ayr

This is currently closed, the previous owners having had financial problems. It is built in the grand fashion that many railway hotels were, but has long been in need of some TLC and money spent on it to restore it's faded glory. The station (and presumably the hotel) were built circa 1857.

Later Evenings

This photograph was taken at about 20.30 local time from the road above High Corton Farm looking over the Firth of Clyde towards Arran.

The nights are steadily becoming longer as we move on through spring.

Hyacinths

Back home after our trip in the north and the pot with the hyacinths is looking glorious.

Udale Bay

Pink Footed Geese dominated the numbers and sound when we visited the hide here. Watching the geese trying to land without crashing into one of the others was fascinating.

However there were a good selection of Widgeon, Shelduck, Redshanks, Curlews and Dunlin.

Ben Loyal

Ben Loyal is one of the most recognisable peaks in Sutherland. It is isolated from other mountains and so stands out all on its own from any angle you want to view it.

The countryside around it is bleak and windswept, that is when you can see it for the rain! It is also very exposed to decidely chill winds. Not a gentle outing on a summer day.

Sgurr na Lapaich and Affric Lodge

Went walking in the Glen Affric area yesterday and took one or two quite nice shots which will be posted on Flickr.

Rather liked this one though.

Clava Cairns

I'm not a superstitious man or 'highly sensitive' to aura, but the first time I went to Clava Cairns site in very overcast weather on a dark evening, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I felt most uncomfortable - quite unlike anything I'd felt before or since (until I visited it again). Yesterday was still the same although the site was more developed.

Carbisdale Castle

Carbisdale Castle is a 'modern' structure having been built in the early 20th Century. Please use the link to see its history (saves me typing), but it is very impressive looking as you drive down the road.

Corrieshalloch Gorge

Corrieshalloch Gorge is a place you shouldn't miss if at all possible. I'll post a series of my phots on Flickr when I get a chance, but this place is quite spectacular in a 'homely' sort of way. You can comprehend the scale, but not the forces it took to make it!

Walking over the suspension bridge is something not to be missed. I began to think that perhaps I had started suffering from vertigo until I realised the bridge was going up and down and from side to side at the same time. Out of this world!

Moulin Hotel

Away from Ayrshire, as we passed through Perthshire we stopped at the Moulin Inn for lunch. This place brings back happy memories from the time Marjorie, with a large lump which eventually turned into our daughter Claire, and I sat and drank non-alcoholic cocktails whilst we spent a few nights there.

They still have real log fires in the bar - and the food is excellent and plentiful - and the beer from there own micro-brewery.....!!!!!

To a mouse

I only noticed this in the window of my barber's shop today whilst waiting for a bus. Obviously someone has a macabre sense of humour in there.

I wonder what Robert Burns would have said!

Girvan Harbour

I took this photograph yesterday. Girvan is still a working fishing port, albeit with a massively reduced number of fishing vessels now berthed there. The white you see on the hull of the Silver Viking is not scrapes, but the reflection of the sun off the wavelets in the harbour.

Girvan in the sunshine is a lovely little town - in the rain .........

Ronald Rae - Sculptor

Today's picture from Ronald Rae's Edinburgh exhibition in Holyrood Park is of the Fallen Christ.

The photograph does not do justice to the sculpture. You must go and see it if you get the chance.

This is the last photo I will post of the exhibition, but there are many many more sculptures which are well worthwhile seeing.

Ronald's home page provides details.

GO AND SEE IT

Ronald Rae - Sculptor

Today's picture from Ronald Rae's Edinburgh exhibition in Holyrood Park is of the Mother and Child.

The photograph does not do justice to the sculpture. You must go and see it if you get the chance.

Ronald's home page provides details.

GO AND SEE IT

Ronald Rae - Sculptor

Today's picture from Ronald Rae's Edinburgh exhibition in Holyrood Park is of the Bison.

The photograph does not do justice to the sculpture. You must go and see it if you get the chance.

Ronald's home page provides details.

GO AND SEE IT

Ronald Rae - Sculptor

Today's picture from Ronald Rae's Edinburgh exhibition in Holyrood Park is of the Tiger - entitled Tyger Tyger. I'd class this sculpture as beautiful - as opposed to the Lion which is powerful.

The photograph does not do justice to the sculpture. You must go and see it if you get the chance.

Ronald's home page provides details.

GO AND SEE IT

Ronald Rae - Sculptor

Today's picture from Ronald Rae's Edinburgh exhibition in Holyrood Park is of the 'Lion of Scotland'.

The photograph does not do justice to the sculpture. You must go and see it if you get the chance.

Ronald's home page provides details.

GO AND SEE IT

Ronald Rae - Sculptor

If you looked at my blog of 21st December 2006, you will have seen some of Ronald Rae's work which is on display in Rozelle Park, Ayr.

Well, today I had the great privilege of being shown round the current Edinburgh exhibition in Holyrood Park by Ronald himself - the picture shows him standing beside his Wild Boar.

I'll publish some more of my photographs in the next few days, but they really don't fully do justice to the sculptures. You must go and see them if you get the chance.

Ronald's home page provides details.


GO AND SEE IT

Body Snatchers

This heavy coffin plate is to be found in the entrance porch to Ayr Auld Kirk. It was original used to deter body snatchers from removing bodies from burials.

Missing day

I had intended to take a photograph of an empty stage after the show last night, but by the time we had dismantled and removed everything I was too knackered to remember and then too knackered to post!!

Many tower'd Pavilion

Ayr Pavilion was built in 1910/11 as a Theatre, Dancehall and general all-round entertainment venue. It's come close to collapse on several occasions, but is currently re-incarnated as Pirate Pete's indoor adventure play area.

AmDram 04

This photograph is from Act 3 in which Roy and Norma Hubley try to persuade their daughter Mimsey to come out of the bathroom, in which she has locked herself, to get married. Mimsey is afraid that after she and Borden get married, they might eventually become like Roy and Norma - who actually love each other, but bicker all the time.

In this scene Roy, who has just had his rented suit ripped by Norma, is about to climb out the 7th storey window to edge along to the bathroom window and gain entry that way. Mimsey has locked the window of course and Roy just gets wet. It does end happily.

There is a video of the film "Plaza Suite", made with Walter Matthau starring in all 3 male lead roles, which is worth viewing - not as good as our production, but then what could be!

AmDram 03

This photograph is from Act 2 of Plaza Suite, where Jesse Kiplinger, a famous Hollywood Producer, is hell-bent on seducing his old sweetheart from schooldays, Muriel Tate, a 'happily' married woman.

AmDram 02

A photograph from Act 1 of Plaza Suite - Sam & Karen Nash with Miss McCormack, Sam's Secretary with whom he is having an affair.

The photograph below is of me, taken by me, at the antediluvian lighting board. Not the fault of the hall staff who are very helpful indeed, but of a Council who manage to get large rises in the rates, but never seem to have any money to spend on the Arts!

AmDram 01

This week I'm in Maybole Town Hall, lighting (and doing general electrics for) the Compass Club's production of Neil Simon's "Plaza Suite".

The first photograph is of the most important people, the stage crew, on the set.

Dundonald Castle

Dundonald Castle, built in 1371, is a significant tourist attraction close to Troon.

Old Rails

Well actually not! This replica cast-iron plateway, found on the Laigh Milton Viaduct, show the 3 ft rails pinned together at each end by an iron spike driven into a wooden plug within a stone block support. The curved upstands next to the wheel track act as guides and add strength.

World's Oldest...........

..... surviving public railway viaduct. Laigh Milton Viaduct, formerly called Milton Bridge, was built between 1809 and 1811 and opened in 1812 carrying the Kilmarnock - Troon Railway. This bridge was used until 1846 and the line carried both coal and passengers. Circa 1816, George Stephenson's steam engine, The Duke, owned by the Duke of Portland who was also the Chairman of the railway, hauled coal on the line - predating the Rocket by some years.

The above view is from the North, with the bridge carrying the current Kilmarnock - Troon line visible beyond; the view below is from the South.

The railings and the coping stones are modern, approximated to the correct period style, but have no real basis for existence apart from current Health and Safety rules. The bridge was saved from collapse and preserved in 1995-1996.

Barr Village from Changue Forest

This shot is taken from the top path after coming out of the forest. It shows how tucked into the folds of the hills Barr village is.

Bad feather day?

Any other time I've seen a heron, I've always thought they looked very trim and smart, but this one seems to have got out of bed on the wrong side.

Birds of a feather .....

...... or in the case of this solitary moorhen, like their own company!

Spring Flowers

Apologies for not posting last night - too busy doing other things and I needed to get to bed before midnight or ......

This picture gives an indication of, but doesn't truly convey, the beauty of the carpet of crocus flowers in this park. It is a truly amazing sight.

Changue Forest

Let us have no comments about male obsession please!

I find it interesting how swiftly and easily nature makes use of objects like the stump of a tree to create growth. This example is to be found in the Changue forest beside the village of Barr in Ayrshire.

Mooning about ..........

The moon was totally eclipsed by the Earth last night - I just caught the tail end of it whilst waving goodbye to our guests early this morning.

Ayr - St James's Church

St James's Church was built as a chapel of ease in 1885 to designs by John Murdoch. There is a rose window above the pulpit.

Maybole - Old Church

Maybole Old Church is no longer being used as a church, but building work is taking place, so it will be interesting to see what transpires.

I don't think I've ever seen any other steeple/tower like this one, but you might know different!

The link in the first paragraph gives a brief, but interesting, history of the church.

Irvine - Mure Church

Mure Church; built in 1849 as the Irvine Free Church, it became the Mure United Free Church in 1900.

It always seemed to me that this church was a bit back-to-front! - what you see is actually the back of the church; the entrance is at the other end.