Firth of Forth

My first swim of the new year today. While parts of Europe, England and the south west of Scotland were buffeted today by stormy winds, the North Sea coast in East Lothian was surprisingly calm. As you can see, this little bay, between Gullane and Aberlady, was like a millpond. And there was even sunshine! Happy new year to all our friends on ipernity from Rabbit and his staff xx

It feels at times, this March and April, as if we've been cast Narnia-like into an eternal winter - but here is a rare spell of sunshine. Rabbit enjoyed the wee stretch of the Fife Coastal Path between Aberdour and Burntisland. (and in Burntisland he enjoyed a truly excellent ice cream at Novelli's). HFF!

Tempting as it would be to run through this glorious field of wheat, Rabbit knows to stay on the right side of the fence. Happy wheaty Fence Friday!

Fence, flowers, Rabbit.... HFF and have a great weekend, everyone. What a relief to have ipernity working again - thank you to the maintenance team!

Tanker making its slow way down the Forth and into the north sea, on a chilly but sunny November afternoon. The bridge is the new Queensferry Crossing. I took the photo from the Forth Road Bridge - the original road crossing over the Forth which was replaced last year by the Queensferry Crossing as the main vehicle crossing. The original Forth Road Bridge is still open to pedestrians, cyclists, buses and taxis. It's a lot quieter to walk over now, a real pleasure. This is also a picture for Pam www.ipernity.com/home/pamj - on her slow, steady voyage of recovery into the light. Pictures for Pam group: www.ipernity.com/group/2420454/doc

November sun setting behind the Queensferry Crossing, the new bridge over the Forth. The criss-crossed lines are the cables of this elegant cable-stayed suspension bridge, and the block on the right hand side is a lorry crossing the bridge. The perspex fence has gaps in it so that when you're driving over the bridge, you see glimpses of the water below and of the other two bridges over the Forth - the 50-year old Forth Road Bridge (which this new bridge has replaced), and the original Forth Bridge, which carries the railway. HFF!

A Happy hole-in-the-wall Fence Friday to all! Taken during a gloriously sunny long walk from Cockenzie to Gullane, mostly on the shore. Days like this are a particular treat in November.

It was a grey, damp day today, the winter solstice, but the sun did manage to come out for a few fleeting minutes on our walk from Charlestown to Limekilns. Happy Solstice to all our ipernity friends. From now on the days get longer and brighter. Let's hope they get better, too. love from Rabbit and his Chief of Staff xxx