Boats

 Fishing boat - Acrylic on canvas

About a mile from our house here is a wonderful harbour. The boats moored here these days are mostly pleasure boats of one sort or another. There are only a few working fishing boats left. It is those which are most fascinating. his was done last year from a photograph I took.

Unfortunately, a lot of the beautiful shellfish caught here is sent to the continent. How we can let that happen? I have had langoustines here which were caught out of the sea that afternoon and they were delicious.

Support your local fishermen..... eat British fish.

Pine Marten

We have had this wonderful house on the West Coast of Scotland for 6 years now. We were told that the pine marten who visited the garden regularly liked jam sandwiches and would appear at dusk usually. Amazingly we did catch a glimpse on the first night we stayed here.

As we are not here all the time we thought that it was asking a lot for us to keep the relationship going and we didn't actually see him for the next five years, although something ate jam sandwiches regularly so we guessed there was one still about.

For the past year , however, we and other visitors have had regular sightings. Yesterday afternoon, there he (or she) was, enjoying the remains of the sandwiches left by the birds. This is not the best photo ever taken of a pine marten. As it was taken through a rainy window in poor light, I think it will do.

Awa' up north - Scotland

We are up in Scotland for a week or so at Whindley. As always, we had to spend the first few days wrestling the garden into submission - strimmer, spade and gardening gloves. It may require the chain saw too this time. The thing about gardening up here is that when you have to stop and straighten your aching back, the view is so amazing that you don't feel you have been working. I also have a theory that the air is better and has more oxygen in it too.

After 3 days of mixed sun and showers, the low out in the Atlantic has taken over and we have high winds and rain now. It will be like this for 3 days they say so, time to get the paints out. 

The picture above was the sunset a couple of nights ago. You can see why we want to live up here can't you.

Capital cities

Continuing the Scottish theme - here's Edinburgh Castle.This was a reference photo for a Wet Canvas forum challenge.

Watercolour and ink 10" x 8"

Although we go to Scotland approximately 6 times a year, I have never been into it's capital city. I guess that, coming from England's capital, the idea of seeing another cityscape does not appeal. I feel the same way about Paris. However, if I was going to break the habit of avoiding built-up areas, this would be the one I would visit first. I'm told it's the friendliest city in Britain.