Dec 31st The last one Barassie gloomy day

Today is the last day of the year and it is the final entry for this blog. The blog began with a weather snap looking out to sea from Barassie with Arran in the background. It only seemed appropriate that the final one should be a similar shot. After all the good weather this afternoon has been a wet, blustery afternoon with some bursts of light. Good bye 2016 and a Happy New Year to all for 2017.

Grey gloomy view from Barassie

Dec 30th Enterkine Viaduct

As I walked under this magnificent viaduct I was struck by the similarity to the Finnieston crane snap published a few weeks ago. They are also similar in that both are relics of Scotland's industrial past. This viaduct, over 150 years old and still in use. Used as a passenger and freight route another great example of Victorian engineering.

Enterkine Viaduct

Dec 29th Green fields of December!

The undoubted memory of this winter has to be how unwintery it has been so I make no apologies for another reminder snap. I walked past this field and was struck by how vibrant green and spring like it looked, we are just after Xmas. It is probably a traditional winter barley crop or suchlike but it did stand out as unusual to me.

Winter greens

Dec 28th Swan Lake

Swans are such elegant and beautiful creatures and mute swans in particular are abundant on our local estuaries and inland waters. They are inquisitive as they are used to being fed in places. But when they are resting or sleeping as this one is they are still a thing of beauty. In Xmas past they would have been the main bird on the table of the upper classes, nothing as common as turkey for them.

Mute Swan

Dec 27th Buzzard

After the Xmas business and too much time indoors it was a short walk up to the woods to clear my head. At this time of year buzzards are looking for ground food including things like worms. They sit patiently on poles and trees, low down, staring at the ground for their prey to move and are relatively relaxed with people around. Common now but still a raptor.

Buzzard

Dec 26th Boxing Day snappers.

This is the day that the family mob arrive at our house. All the cooking has been done. Just required to take great joy out of watching the kids rip open many more presents than they can take in, but they are delighted. The days of a piece of fruit and a selection box are long gone. But this one pleased me with one of them taking a picture of me taking a picture.

Dual snapping

Dec 25th Trifle & Xmas cake

After all the cooking bits and bobs the big day has arrived and finally the sour cherry trifle and the Xmas cake have come together successfully. It was a great Xmas day and my good lady must think my culinary talents are not up there as she gifted me a day at a cooking school. I am delighted and looking forward to it.

Cherry trifle & Xmas cake