Mon banc dominical/My Sunday Bench - Cramond

One from our trip to Scotland - Pauline and I took a walk down memory lane (for her) with a walk along Cramond shorefront looking towards the causeway to Cramond Island and all this just six miles from Edinburgh city centre.

 

Wednesday is for windows...from Ada the architect.

 

Came back to some apples...

 

Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench - in St.Andrews next to Hamish McHamish

 Who was Hamish Mc Hamish - you can find out here.

"The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft agley"...

 

After the disappointment of last Christmas we thought we had it sorted for 2021 but the cartoon from my post on New Year's Eve last year has proven to be somewhat prophetic!

We were heading over earlier than usual, in November, to help Pauline's sister, Eileen, to move into her new house in Ayr. Big enough to house all the immediate family, she had generously invited us all to spend Christmas with her. Unfortunately, due to material shortages (Brexit & pandemic) the entry date has been pushed back a number of times, currently March, which judging from our last look (above) should be achievable. It was also going to give us plenty of time to get around friends and family we missed so much last year.

We have managed to see many friends and family this year which has been great and the quality time with Michael, Rose and Ada cannot be replaced but like last year the pandemic is now making itself felt more severely with this new strain making the Scottish and French governments bring in tighter restrictions. 

Michael and Rose were going to be hosting us all on Christmas Day but with the current advice being only three households this puts them under a little extra pressure. We have also been given a date at our doctor in Le Grand-Pressigny for our booster jab (23rd) this and the fact that we have had to cancel a couple of visits here because some friend's households have been affected by this new virus means we have decided to cut our losses and head home - there will be other Christmases!  

A day out in Glasgow...

 

We had a day out in Glasgow last Friday where we did not, fortunately, have a problem social distancing, on a day that wanted to be Christmassy but struggled in the dampness.

Pauline stepping out for Christmas in the ever beautifully decorated Frazer's department store.

Was I wrong to feel slightly let down that the Duke didn't have his xmas hat on? Time yet I dare say Glasgow.

Wednesday is for windows...over the Tay

Although back in Edinburgh I did promise a review of our visit to Dundee's V&A design museum from our visit last Wednesday.The window image above almost sums it up - that could have been me sitting looking out over he river Tay.

The museum which cost around £80M to build is a bit of a 'Marmite moment' for me, I can understand that many people will be impressed by its architecture and scale but though impressive on first glance a close up inspection followed by the disappointment of the interior detracts much from the initial 'wow' effect.

The inside is hugely disappointing when you begin to realise how little exhibition space there actually is. The whole ground floor is taken up by ticket desks, a 'Visit Scotland' counter, a cafe area and a gift shop. 

Much of the exhibition space upstairs is devoted to function rooms and office space though there is a 'nod' to Scottish designers

For us the highlight was the Charles Rennie Mackintosh "Oak Room" installation which apparently cost £1.3 million to restore and install. We are big fans of CRM but felt that even though we were impressed by the knowledge and enthusiasm of the member of staff who was in charge of looking after visitors that the empty room needed at least one table and chairs set-up to mimic the former tea room experience.

Although entry to the V&A  is free there is currently a paid for 'Night Fever' exhibition - which did not entice us in - although we were impressed by a picture map and film on the evolution of the UK's club scene.

Our visit left us thinking that the city was not taking full advantage of what is a great resource.

The French and Dutch connection...

 

We are back in Edinburgh after a lovely spell in Ayrshire where Pauline's sister Eileen was the consummate host, allowing us to flit in and out to rendezvous with various friends while also getting involved with her own friends.

Last night we met up with friends who have a holiday home near us in France and who have recently returned to a flat that they owned and rented out here in the city while living in the Netherlands for a 19 years. It was great to catch up and a pleasure to think that France continues to nurture new friendships. It was also nice to ba asked yesterday by Ada to read from a 'Jip and Janneke' book that made its way here from France after being given as a birthday present from lovely Dutch friends of Cally, making yesterday truly a day of French and Dutch connections/

Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench - guarded in Dundee

By 'Beryl the Peril'

Vendredi à vélo - that's a 'mori'

Spotted this bike in St.Andrews and thought the finish looked interesting - closer inspection revealed more of the deadly detail - how did they do that?

 

How to entertain yourself in December in St.Andrews...

 

The answer is you don't - we had time to kill during family visits on our trip up to the northeast of Scotland and checked out 'things to do in and around St. Andrews' on the Visit Scotland website. Of the interesting things on offer all were closed for the season, which is understandable as around one third of the population are attending or teaching at the towns university which has finished its current semester and most have departed. It did however mean we could wander through its hallowed grounds.

This being the case we decided to head over to nearby Dundee and visit the V&A design museum, somewhere we had not checked out on our last visit there.

We will save a review of our visit for another time. While we were there we did the riverside walk which gives great views over the river Tay and the 'RRS Discovery'.

We also took a stroll onto the high street to see how the locals might have dressed one of their hero's 'Desperate Dan' for the festive period. As it happens he is untouched...so far. 

Though they have fitted out 'Beryl the Peril' for winter and given a bit of colour to her sling-shot.

St.Andrews

 

In St. Andrews visiting family - looking festive...

Mon banc dominical / My Sunday bench

 

From the rose garden within the grounds of the Glasgow botanic gardens.

Ada takes us to the Kelpies...

Ada took us to Falkirk yesterday see the 'Kelpies' which are 30 metre high horse-head sculptures (the largest equine sculptures in the world) depicting these mythical aquatic beasts from Scottish Folklore. We were impressed! 

There are actually four sculptures,two large and two small but the shot below makes them all look a similar size.

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We could not stay late enough to see them illuminated but maybe we can return one day to experience them.

Image courtesy of Visit Scotland