Rocky Robin posing for photos

Wee Rocky Robin is still with us and still bothering the car wing mirrors on occasions, but yesterday and today he posed for a few photos!!  The quality isn't brilliant as they've been taken through glass, and he's really quick on the move, so it's difficult to catch him standing still!!

Pothole!!

We had had a lovely day out with my parents down into Berwick-on-Tweed, driving over the hill road there and back.  However, it wasn't all pleasant on the way home!!  Two miles from Gifford on the B6355 we hit a huge pothole in the road and almost immediately heard a strange noise as we were driving along the road afterwards.  On stopping to investigate, the rear nearside tyre was as flat as a pancake and the front nearside tyre was also on its way to being the same!!  With only one spare wheel on board, we had to call the 'fourth emergency service', the AA.  I've been a member of the organisation for many years and haven't had to use them very much but, on occasions like this, they are a lifesaver!!  Thank goodness too for mobile phones!!  After a quick call to the AA, there was a mechanic with us within 40 minutes, so that was pretty good service.

While we were waiting for him to arrive, we stopped a random car to see if the occupants would drive me a little further back up the road to take photos of the offending pothole, which they did.  They turned out to be a very nice couple from Swinton in the Borders who had actually known my Aunt Alice whose grave we had been visiting that day!!  Imagine that, stopping a random car in the middle of nowhere and finding out that it was someone who had known her!!  I can't help but think that she's watching over me somehow!!

Anyway, I took some photos of this gaping crater in the road

 When I got back to the car the spare wheel was onto the car and this is the damage done to the wheel itself that caused the tyre to deflate

After the AA mechanic arrived and done a temporary repair to the other wheel and inflated the type, we limped home and made it there safely.  The next morning though, we headed back up to the offending pothole armed with tape measures and the camera to take more photos, probably much to the amusement of some passing drivers, once of whom stopped to make sure we were OK and didn't need any help, which was nice.  So, here are more photos

Approx 5' x 3'

All the stones in the foreground should be in that hole!!

From the car, you can't see it!!

The car has now left home to be repaired so fingers crossed there's no other damage apart from the wheels and tyres.  We've got a form to make a claim against East Lothian Council, so it'll be interesting to see what they eventually say about it all.

Alice Whitehead Robertson MBE - one year on

My wonderful Aunt Alice died one year ago on the 27th September 2011 - a very sad day indeed for the family and friends that loved her so very much.

Alice Whitehead Robertson MBE

On Saturday 29th September along with my husband and parents, we visited Foulden Village Hall where she had been Chairperson to see Alice's pub table that we gifted to the hall following her death.  It looks really splendid - they have done a fantastic job of restoration and have placed a photo of Alice here in remembrance of her, which is a lovely gesture.

Restored pub table

After a welcome coffee and scone at the village hall, we then went on to Foulden Parish Church just a short distance along the road to have a look at the newly erected headstone.  We had chosen a headstone that would be fitting for Alice - something to mirror her young at heart attitude to life and her love of teddy bears.  We are very pleased indeed with the choice we made, which I am sure she would have loved - I just wish she could see it!!

Teddy Bear Headstone

The other reclining teddy had sat at her front door for many years and we had used it as a marker for the grave while the headstone was being ordered - we have left it in place as he looks so much at home, still sitting on her doorstep!!

Isle of May - Open Seal Day

As we had been so disappointed not to be able to travel out to the Isle of May on the open lighthouse day, we had re-scheduled to go over for the open seal day on Sunday 23rd September and, as the day approached, we were eagerly watching the weather forecasts as there was a storm heading our way, scheduled to hit on Monday 24th September. 

When Sunday morning arrived, there had been no cancellation phone call so, with back pack packed with essentials like filled rolls and coffee, we headed off to North Berwick for coffee and cake in the Seabird Centre.  The weather was just lovely, so lovely in fact that we sat outside on the cafe deck for our coffee!!  I loved the 'no smoking' signs outside!!

North Berwick beach from the harbour area

 The sea was blue and fairly calm but, when we went to the office to get togged out in our waterproofs, our guide for day Maggie told us that it was almost touch and go as to whether the trip was on or not as the weather front was approaching faster than anticipated!!  However, we were cleared to go and a full boatload took off to the island. 

On arriving at the Isle of May, we were taken round to the part known as Rona as that's where most of the seals were.  It was just fantastic to see them bobbing about in the water and lounging about on the rocks.  This is a map of the Isle of May as supplied for our trip

It was quite difficult getting a photo of the seals in the water what with the movement of the boat and the fact that the seals were popping up out of the water all over the place only for me to just get focused on them before they bobbed under the water again!!  Here are a few photos that I managed to capture from the boat.

We then headed round into Kirkhaven where we all disembarked and were allowed to roam freely on our own.  We had already done the short tour with Maggie on our last visit, so we just wandered about on our own.  It was like a summer's day on the island and really quite warm to start with, although as time passed, there was a distinct change in the weather and the wind started to pick up a little.

As we walked round, I took some photos of this wonderful place.

Not just seals and birds here!!

Then came the highlight of the trip!!  At a superb vantage point, the reserves manager David Pickett was able to give people a wonderful view of a mother seal with her pup which had only been born in the previous 24 hours!!  What a truly wonderful sight.  We had to be careful though because she knew we were there and mothers can abandon their pups if disturbed too much.  I quickly took some photos then had to tear myself away!!

We then headed back to the picnic area, taking some photos along the way, plus we had a look up to the viewpoint at Bishop's Cove.

Bishop's Cove

Bishop's Cove

Looking towards the priory and the foghorn

After a welcome coffee and our rolls, I had another little wander up to the Priory and the foghorn

Priory

Priory steps

Priory

Pilgrim's Haven

Pilgrim's Haven

They were just a bit too far away to take photos, but as I was leaving here it looked like two seals were heading in, probably to give birth to their pups.

All too soon, it was time to leave as the weather was on the change and we were warned to expect a bit of a swell on the way back to North Berwick.  We all got our waterproofs and lifejackets on and headed off - sure enough, the spray was quite bad and some passengers did get pretty wet.  I was very lucky and was in one of the best seats on the boat as I was a bit sheltered  by other passengers!!  One poor girl looked as if she wasn't enjoying the journey back and had found a way of keeping relatively dry, but unfortunately wouldn't have been able to see anything!!

This is the iconic view of the Bass Rock on the way back - the while dots are all gannets!!

So, that was the trip finished, and we were back before the weather got too bad.  The storm hit us quite fiercely the very next day!!

I can't quite believe that I have been on the island twice this year within a matter of weeks, and it was just fantastic.  I sincerely hope that I will also have at least one opportunity to go back again in 2013.  It is really a very special place indeed.

Rocky Robin in Love!!

We had to move the cars to a different position overnight in case of storm damage and, since we done that, a wee robin has taken a great liking to the wing mirror of the car!!  I think he's in love with his reflection and, although it's getting late now, he's still there!!

Here are a few photos with apologies about the quality as I had to use full zoom through the window - a window that is not clean at all after the nasty weather we've just had!!

Hello there!!  My name's Rocky and I think I love you!!

Please be mine!!

Give me a kiss - I love you!!!