Cromarty's Allan MacDonald (although he is a Sgiathanach originally I understand) singing a Gaelic air at the Ceilidh to commemorate the Rev Talloch's retirement.
This is the first photo in a new, twelve month project I've just started, to visually record the life and institutions of the town, in a interesting - and pivotal - period of it's 850 year history.
Almost finished - the last few touches in the East Kirk Renovation. Still next spring until its fully complete, but nice to see it looking almost the way it was so to speak.
I guess thats the whole purpose of the restoration though.
All of a sudden winter seems be here, with the hills around the
Cromarty Firth salt and pepper with specks of snow, and the higher
peaks gleaming white in the morning sun.
Walking along the beach this morning was a bracing affair, with a
gusty north wind spreading the smells of the town’s fires far and
wide. Coal, wood and Peat smoke laced with firelighter paraffin all
combine with the odours of sea and chill to produce a smell that can
only be a Highland town at the start of the day.
The new ferry has arrived - almost four months late. Looks rather fine, and at four cars has double the capacity of the old Cromarty Rose. Build in Southhampton, here she is at her berth in Cromarty Harbour.
River Cherwell, Oxford. Just back from a week in deepest middle England, where our Charlie and Sarah now live. We had a wee house just to the south of the Magdalen bridge, and saw these punts every day when walking into the centre of the city.
Looking West from Kessock, as the sun sets in a late summer afternoon.
I had not been down to the old Kessock Ferry Terminal for 10 years or more, but I'd just done a quick radio piece at MFR up at Scorguie and noticed that the light was low and unusual over the Kessock Bridge.
A drive down over the Black Bridge and trip through South Kessock and this shot was the result.
Had a Cary Grant moment in Wednesdays torrential rain in Edinburgh. I was escorted from the front door of my hotel to the taxi by the doorman (in Top Hat and Inverness Cape) sheltering me with a Umbrella.
Ahhh - just once in a lifetime.
