Barney

On guard for the |Hogmany party.

Still Skating

Forth Rail Bridge

Had a great comfortable drive all the way down courtesy of Eddie Ross of the Lochcarron garage. Beautiful sunny and wintry weather of which I took no photographs. This is us travelling across the Forth Road Bridge and looking at the view towards the Rail Bridge. Somewhat foggy.

Breakdown

Well not so much a breakdown as a non start. The ignition switch ceased to function. Mechanic arrived and gamely tried to bypass but the wheel being in locked position wouldn't allow this so piggy back time. Lack of mobile signal and busy RAC meant us going only as far as Lochcarron or facing a carry to Inverness and then half way to Edinburgh and another swop of carrier likely arriving well into tomorrow.  Opted for the night in the village. Happily good friends are currently doing up a house there and put us up. Also well fed and watered (the whisky at least), and Margaret got to see her chum Tristan.

So thanks to Sheila and Jim we had a convivial evening.

Skye from Applecross

Looking over to Skye from Applecross. Not much sunshine, lots of hail showers.

Gone Fishing

Out on the Varuna with Alisdair MacLeod, prawn fishing.  Creels lifted and prawns sorted and stored. Bait for creels. Creel baited and stacked. Once all lifted the creels are laid again.

Torridon from Applecross

Superb weather for Christmas Day.

Applecross Inn

Our team came a creditable 2nd in the Christmas Eve quiz.

Rainbow

In Applecross Bay, Applecross House in the centre. Travelled over to Skye to visit relations in Breakish. Start of the Bealach na Ba which descends over 2000 feet to the loch. This was covered in snow on the way back.

The Shop

Called in for a few essentials, forgot to bring the porridge. Damp and freezing wind but snug accommodation with a wood burning stove.

Skye from Applecross

Looking across to Skye over the houses at Ard Dubh. Driving up it just poured the whole way, everything is saturated but the waterfalls are spectacular. Up here for a week over Christmas.

Fettes Shadows

Carols

 At St Georges in George Street.

Wooden Ties

For the man who has everything, except sense.  The Christmas Market.

Scottish Gas

The new Scottish Gas headquarters on their old production site in Granton. The old gasometer has "preserved" status.

Oil Support Vessel

Fugro Symphony in Leith Docks.

Tenement

Henderson Street in Leith.  Cold, bright, feels like winter.

Princes Street

Sticking to the dark.  Weather wet and dull. Plenty people about though.

German Market

Still time to buy your Christmas tree decorations.

Louis Vuitton

You would think they were selling balloons.

Skating

New rink circling the monument in St Andrew's square.

Millenium Bridge, Newcastle.

Who Hits 50

Daltrey and his much younger self, he is now 70, at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle.

Lack of posts.  In USA with only iPad and proved too difficult with this useless platform.  Back in Blighty now.