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Wednesday 28 December 2011

More of Festive Edinburgh

We went with friends into Edinburgh yesterday (27th December) for lunch at the Slug and Lettuce (yes, that IS it's correct name!!) in the Omni Centre before going to see We Will Rock You at Edinburgh Playhouse.  The show was fantastic but I feel that the one we saw in 2009 was slightly better.  We still enjoyed it though and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who is reading this!  If you get the chance, go and see it!! I had wanted to take photos to test out the new camera, but as the announcement at the beginning of the performance said photography and recording was prohibited, I didn't really get a chance to fiddle with the camera.  I did sneak these though!!

Sneaky photo taken at We Will Rock You
Another sneaky photo taken at We Will Rock You


When we came out of the Playhouse, it had been raining but it was still mild and dry when we left.  We had a wander through George Square after drinks at Valvona and Crolla's then we progressed down into Princes Street Gardens and my friend and I went onto the Big Wheel and the Carousel before walking up to George Street with the intention of having dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe but, on getting there, we were told that there was a problem in the kitchen and that they had stopped serving food!  We then walked down into Rose Street where we had a meal in Milnes pub which we discovered was a Taylor Walker pub, the same chain that runs one of our favourite places in the Grassmarket - The Beehive.

After dinner, we made our way back to the train station and home.  All in all, it was a great day out.  Here are some photos taken during the day.

Big Wheel and Scott Monument


Big Wheel

Edinburgh Castle

Princes Street and Edinburgh Castle from the Big Wheel

Princes Street and Carousel from the Big Wheel

Balloons

Human Snow Globe!
Christmas tree at The Dome

Chair o' planes

Friday 16 December 2011

Festive Edinburgh

'Tis the season to go shopping, tra la la la la, la la la la!!  The day started off a bit damp and cold but the sun came out for a little while too and I was able to get onto the big wheel and the carousel, which is a 'must do' on the Christmas shopping day - but it's vital to do this BEFORE you have too many carrier bags full of shopping with you!!  There are loads of food stalls and also the 'German Market' where you can pick up many nice and unusual gifts.  Here is a small selection of photos:

The Big Wheel

Awesome view of Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street from the top of the Big Wheel

The sun came out!!

Carousel horses

Giant penguin
Chair-o-planes

Edinburgh silhouette

Thursday 1 December 2011

The Countdown has Started!!

It's the 1st December already - what a quick year it's been and not a good one for me, so I'm hoping that 2012 will be a bit kinder.

Door No. 1 open!!

Sunday 27 November 2011

Holiday Blog Page

I'm in the middle of constructing a new blog page all about my holiday to Luxor in Egypt in September/October.  It's not quite finished yet, but you're welcome to take a peek and keep an eye on it until I complete it. 

http://myluxorholiday.blogspot.com/

Friday 25 November 2011

Ray of sunshine in dark skies

It's been really cold today and it now looks as if winter is setting in.  It got very very dark this morning but the sun was still out, resulting in a stunning rainbow over the houses.  It's a shame I couldn't find the pot of gold though which would have helped to pay for the Christmas shopping spree yesterday!!

Wednesday 16 November 2011

Tour of The Vaults, Edinburgh

Last weekend we went for a tour of The Vaults in Edinburgh, which was very interesting indeed.  It was quite a short tour but very enjoyable. There is a real witches coven here as well, which is still in use and protected by gargoyles at its entrance.  You are not allowed into it, but you can see through the barred windows and photography is allowed.  It's very dark and damp and photos don't do it justice, but here are a few anyway.  The tour ends in a local pub with whisky and shortbread!!

Dark and damp corridors

Working witches coven

It's hard to believe that people once lived down here
The tour ends here with whisky and shortbread
During the tour you are taken into one of the many caverns down here and the guide turns the lights off - it is pitch black!!  This is how people lived when it was illegal to be homeless in Edinburgh, and many of the homeless at that time used to live in the vaults where it was rife with crime.  Being homeless in those days could actually end up in you being hung!!

Friday 11 November 2011

11:11:11

"We will remember them"

Tuesday 1 November 2011

Alice Whitehead Robertson MBE

September 27th 2011 was a very sad day indeed when my wonderful Aunt Alice passed away suddenly at home.  Although she was 80, she didn't look that age and certainly didn't act that age - she was more like a 16 year old and lived life to the max!!  She would be delighted to think that she was now 'on the internet'!!

Alice Whitehead Robertson MBE 1931 - 2011

Death is nothing at all
I have only slipped away into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other
That we are still
Call me by my old familiar name
Speak to me in the easy way you always used
Put no difference into your tone
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed
At the little jokes we always enjoyed together
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was
Let it be spoken without effort
Without the ghost of a shadow in it
Life means all that it ever meant
It is the same as it ever was
There is absolute unbroken continuity
What is death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind
Because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you for an interval
Somewhere very near
Just around the corner
All is well.
Nothing is past; nothing is lost
One brief moment and all will be as it was before
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!

This is her obituary that appeared in the Berwick Advertiser - many of the words are her own:


The 27th September, 2011 was a truly sad day for Berwickshire, when news filtered round of the sudden death of Alice Robertson. Alice was a dedicated, inspirational, and generous person, in all aspects of her life, with a wealth of local knowledge. She knew everyone, and everyone knew her, so it was testament to her, that came as no surprise, that Foulden Kirk was packed, and many more were standing outside for her Thanksgiving Service on 14th October 2011.

Alice’s tribute was read by the Rev. Norman Whyte and much of what follows is from this.
“I have always thought that it must be difficult for the Minister to have to visit relatives to find out about a person who has died – so always being different (as you all know) I have written this about myself. I was born the second of February 1931 on a very snowy day at Berrington Law. What a wonderful childhood I had, great days walking to Ancroft School, happy carefree days. Bowsden School was next with evacuees from Tyneside, as this was wartime. 1942 found us at Town Farm, Scremerston and school there.”

From there Alice went to St. Mary’s Convent and after gaining her School Certificate and Highers, left school, too young for college.  She carried on, “In September 1948 I began an emergency training at Mount Road School staying there until December when I went to teach full time at Duddo School. My first 3 months were UNPAID, because I was not 18.” Alice then spent 2 years at Alnwick Castle College 1952 – 54, then back to Duddo till 1955. By this time she was engaged to Tommy Robertson of Chirnside and she applied for a job in Berwickshire and was given the choice of Chirnside or Foulden.  Alice says, “and I chose Foulden, thank goodness, and began on 3rd January, 1956”.

Alice and Tommy were married and set up home in Chirnside. In November 1970 she was given the Headship of Foulden Primary School.  Alice goes on to say “and I was proud to be given charge of educating the bairns. The next 18 years were wonderful, I was proud of every child, not one ever let me down. London visits, Blankenburgh with the teenagers, ceilidhs, bothy nights, parties old and young, projects for the N.F.U., the Highland Show, oh what fun we had. Yes kids you were the best.”

One of the highlights of these 18 years was the visit of H.R.H. Princess Margaret in 1971. Of retirement, Alice said, “1988 brought early retirement – what is retirement, I was never so busy.” Her former pupils were never forgotten with landmark birthdays, engagements and weddings remembered. Alice could even turn her hand to composing very clever, even thoughtful poems for all sorts of occasions. Alice Robertson was awarded the M.B.E. at a ceremony at Holyrood Palace in July 1978. After she retired Foulden still featured largely in her life and she lists, “Kirk Elder, Foulden Hall Committee [Chair] – New Hall too, who would believe Little Foulden could do it – but we did.” Sometime Chairman, Chirnside Horticultural Society, President Chirnside Bowling Club 1975, and she wrote, “kept my hand in at Heatherslaw Railway Society”. She was very proud of her stick dressing prowess and the camaraderie of “the men folk [at it].” Alice ended with, “No doubt many of you will have other memories – well we did have some super times. Thank you all for everything, keep smiling, laugh and have fun, but don’t shed a tear for me for I was a very, very lucky person and DIFFERENT.”

Monday 5 September 2011

Fireworks over Edinburgh

It was the last night of the Edinburgh Festival last night so, along with friends, we popped down to the beach where we had a distant view of the castle to watch the fireworks.  It was really quite spectacular, although it was a long way off.  The night was still and calm and wasn't too cold, so we had a bit of a picnic while we watched and generally had a very good time.  Here are one or two photos of the event, although they are a wee bit blurry even though I used a tripod.  Mind you, given the distance between the event and the camera, I'm quite pleased with the results.





Friday 26 August 2011

Fun Photo Competition

I had been entering some photos in a fun 24 hours live photo competition on Facebook - I didn't win anything, but it was fun taking part - I have put some samples below.  The competition was held over 24 hours with a new competition being held on the hour every hour and the challenge was to take a suitable photo for the subject given, and post it to the competition page within the hour - right through the night!!  Mind you, as I need my sleep, I didn't take part overnight, but plenty of people did!

This was for the subject 'coffee time' - coffee time is a time for reflection

This was for the subject 'view from my window' - greenfinch having his breakfast

This was for the subject 'framed' to win Polaroid sunglasses - Polaroid, you've been framed!

Wednesday 24 August 2011

Fisheye Lens Adaptor

My new fisheye lens adaptor arrived this morning so I have been playing with it.  It's not quite what I expected, but with a bit of practice perhaps I'll get more use out of it.  Felix, of course, was one of the first tests - he wasn't too impressed!!




Monday 22 August 2011

Being a tourist for a day!

On Saturday we went into Edinburgh with friends to sample the festival atmosphere and, luckily, hit on a good day for doing so!!  It was lovely just wandering around and stopping for refreshments when we wanted to, and not sticking to any sort of timetable.  Here are some of my favourite photos of the day:

Victoria Street

Looking from Victoria Terrace onto Victoria Street and the Grassmarket

Street lighting

Scott Monument, Princes Street Gardens

Looking up to the Mound

Bike rider with a sense of humour

High Street (Royal Mile)

Friday 19 August 2011

Garden produce

Although the garden in general this year is pretty poor, we have had four peaches on the tree this year, once of which I've eaten and it was so juicy!!!  I can't wait to get my teeth into the others!!

Makes you just want to reach in and pick it!!!     

The tomatoes are also doing well in the greenhouse, although there are so many I have no idea what we're going to do with them all!!

Juicy ripe tomatoes

And the next photo is of the strawberries taken via the mobile phone - needless to say, they have all been eaten already!!


These were VERY tasty!!




Thursday 18 August 2011

Manipulating and Enhancing Photos

I was quite pleased with a photo I took at the beach yesterday, so have been playing around with it today in Paint Shop Pro (cos I have no idea how to use Photoshop!!).  Anyway, I'm fairly happy with the results so thought I'd just post them here for comparison.

Original Photo


Enhanced a little

Enhanced a little and made into greyscale

Wednesday 17 August 2011

Mean and Moody Longniddry Beach

Some photos taken down at the beach today (17th August 2011)