Looking Out and Looking In
Or, what I did on my holidays...
Hello, I hope you are well!
This week it’s mainly pictures from a road trip I went on with my other half last weekend. We (he) drove up so we could explore the coast north of Aberdeen, where neither of us had been to before. We were staying in Elgin, and managed a quick look round on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday, when heavy wind and rain were forecast, we went all the way along the coast to Fraserburgh, and back again, visiting almost every town and village on our way. It was beautiful, but freeezing! Miraculously it never rained. I only managed to take a few pictures before the camera battery died, but for the most part the conditions weren’t good for photography anyway.
Despite the weather it was amazing to be away from home for a couple of nights, to discover that things are done differently elsewhere - Elgin (population approx 25,000) seems to have a brilliant range of independent shops and services compared with comparable sized towns down here near Edinburgh. It was also a surprise that almost all shops, cafes and hotels were closed on Sunday, although that might be because it was a freezing day in February and there weren’t too many tourists about, except dafties like us!
Holiday Snaps
First row, left to right:
Sign in a window reads ‘save Cullen library’. I hope they do!
Tarlair open air swimming pool. Being a huge Art Deco fan, I’ve wanted to visit this place for ages. The restoration of the Pavilion is complete and fund raising for the rest of the improvements has begun. Sadly, the cafe wasn’t open yet; with the icy wind howling in from the North Sea I would have given just about anything for a nice a cup of tea! Hard to imagine anyone enjoying an outdoor dip on a day like that but with the popularity of wild swimming I’m sure it’ll be well used. Its surrounding landscape is stunning, as is the building itself. I hope to go back when it’s sunny and dangle my feel in the water while eating a huge icecream cone (with a flake in it).
Out of season picnic table on Pennan beach.
Second row, left to right:
A beautifully maintained red phone box in Pennan. Another Art Deco design, by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. They used to be completely ubiquitous all over the UK that they were taken completely for granted. Although one of these did feature in the film Local Hero, (filmed in Pennan in 1983) it was actually a prop placed at the other end of the beach for artistic licence. This one has been listed since 1989 and is one of the few to still be in working order.
Pennan Beach.
Weather worn lifebuoy at Pennan Harbour.
Third row, left to right:
Window of the Pennan Hotel, with phonebox ornament alluding to the village’s claim to fame of being the filming location for Local Hero. The hotel was still closed for the season, but due to reopen just a few days after our visit.
Blue skies, light rain and so many rainbows seen on the way north to our destination.
Cullen harbour in the golden hour. Cullen was very picturesque. From the top of the hill you look down on rows of cottage rooftops then out to the harbour and the sea. Looking in the other direction is a massive stone built viaduct. Definitely another place I want to spend more time - a week in the sunshine with my paints would be perfect!
Shop News
To mark the tantalisingly close arrival of spring I’ve had an offer running over the weekend for 10% off all original art on my website. The good news is I’ve decided to extend it until noon on Tuesday. To claim your discount simply add the code word THISWEEKEND10 at checkout.
Thanks for reading. I will have new art to show you next time…I’m 82% certain of that! ;-)