RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

This weekend it was the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch which I took part in for the first time.  I thought it would be quite easy just sitting for an hour counting the birds that came to feed in the garden.  Not so!!  There were so many darting about that I couldn't be sure if I counted the same once twice, or possibly more!!  I also tried to take some photos, some of which were more successful than others - it's not easy taking photos through glass and trying to make sure that the birds don't get a fright and fly off!!  Here are one or two of the better photos that I managed to take.

Coal Tit

Robin

Chaffinch

Goldfinch

Garden Birds

We now have quite a variety of birds coming to feed in the garden and I'm particularly delighted to see goldfinches coming as well.  We've never had these birds before in the garden and we started off with just one a few weeks ago, but I'm sure I counted five this afternoon.  They are very quick and it's difficult to get a good photo, but I was VERY lucky to have captured this one.

Goldfinches

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

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

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!!

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/

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!!