NatAyr at its best...

Now we are back in France we can reflect back on some of the things we'll miss about Scotland and the town of Ayr in particular. There is the obvious one of not being able to visit Pauline's mum every day but we will miss the walks along the shore front and local parks and natures sky gallery that would delight us in its variety... 

Red alert...

Chateau de Chenonceau is paying homage to its Chinese visitors by acknowledging the Chinese New Year. The New Year this year falls on 19 February and from the 18^th until the 25^th the chateau is decking itself in the colours of China.

A traditional "Lion Dance" will close the festivities Wednesday, February 25 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m..

On our way home...

                         

Plane to sea...

Caught this seaplane flying over the Ayrshire coast the other evening.

Castle in the Ayr...

Richard and Francoise were over from Paris and Pat down from Fife for a few days so we took them down to Ayrshire's premier castle, Culzean. We didn't go up in the air for the shot above - snapped the poster as you enter the grounds.

These are mine...

Group 'selfie'

The castle has beautiful grounds and formal gardens.

The snowdrops were out in force but little else...

Few people about to disturb the wildlife...lovely day

Here it is in black and white...

Recent visitors to Ayr asked us if you see horses on the beach,well here is the answer in black and white...

Red sky at night...

Here is the sun we arrived back to in Ayr after a great afternoon with old friends on Saturday ...rushed down to beach only to find my camera out of battery power...very frustrating!!!

Another winters walk...

 We have had some beautiful winter weather over the last couple of days and we were able to get back out walking ,  here is Friday's walk in pictures...

Housing stock...

As I have been walking around Ayr one thing that strikes me is the diversity of its housing stock...the following photographs were taken within a square mile of Pauline's mum's house.

This is the immediate neighbour and like her mum's it is an ex-mansion house which has been sub-divided into flats.

This is her next but one neighbour...a new build in the grounds of an older house, which is a modern mansion house not converted.

Walking down her road takes you on to the seafront where the blue house sits on your left looking out to sea. The houses above are to your right and although built much later have the same sea views and balconies.

As you head back inshore you are met by rows of town houses in both red and grey sandstone.

Plus Ayr and nearby Prestwick's most prolific style of house the red-sandstone bungalow.

There then follows amix of styles all competing for their position within Ayr's social society...

 ...both old

 ...and newer

Plus a variety of styles.

The house below is a modern house built beween two older houses but in a sympathetic style...which is admirable. The owners are obviously very proud of it and why shouldn't they be?

So much so that they often leave the front rooms lit up with curtains open when not in use...very nice. Sadly they also leave their front door side lights on 24/7...a step too far...maybe their house was built on shares of utility companies!

Planes,trains but no automobiles...

...and an unexpected travel companion 

On Friday night Pauline and I were up in Glasgow to go to a couple of 'gigs' (how cool are we) One. to listen to 'Kid Canaveral' the band Michael has now joined after leaving 'Cancel the Astronauts' as part of the 'Celtic Connections' winter music festival. It was in the 'Arches' under Central station, a great venue where KC gave us their wall of sound.

After they finished their set we headed along Argyle St. to catch another sibling ,Mark,doing his improvisation in the'Avant Guarde'.Another great evening of 'family' entertainment.

Pauline's sister Eileen is up from London flew into Glasgow but too late to join us...although she eventually did - she was on the same train as us back to Ayr. She should have been back in Ayr with her hire car but when she tried to pick it up she discovered that she had actually booked it from Gatwick on Sunday!!! 

You would never catch me doing anything as silly as that.