HOLIDAY: part 2

We failed to dock at Kirkwall, in Orkney, to my bitter disappoointment, and that of the friends we were meeting. So we battled on through a force 9 gale and very rough seas round the top of Scotland and down to Invergordon, in the Cromarty Firth. We stayed here overnight, which did at least give everyone a nice peaceful sleep!



Invergordon is not the most prepossessing town Scotland can offer! It is all to do with Oil. Oil tanks,Oil rigs, and all the engineering that goes with them.




So we got on a local bus and went to Inverness. It is rather a grey town, being mainly built of granite (I think) but it does its best to look cheerful with loads of flowers everywhere. The River Ness goes right through the middle.




And there are pleasant riverside buildings, with interesting skylines.




We found a nice warm shopping mall (the wind outside was still blowing a gale, and very cold as well)




And at one end of the mall was the original Victorian Market, which had been refurbished and had lots of little shops inside.

Having found our way back to the bus station, and had a bite to eat in the cafe there we got on the bus back to Invergordon. Incidentally, I can recommend the cafe in the Bus Station - I had the best sausage roll I have ever eaten there, and also bought a packet of very interesting crunchy biscuits.





Back in Invergordon, we had to walk along the very windswept pier to get to the Ship. We were very glad to be in the warm, and looking forward to dinner, and crusing on to Honfleur.

Little did we know........



.

Well, that was a funny old holiday.........

We left Liverpool OK, and went up to Oban, but two of the four launches on the ship were out of action, and the queues to get on land too much for me. So we didn't get to Oban, in Scotland.

We then found ourselves in the teeth of a Force 9 gale (and a very uncomfortable, miserable night) and were unable to land at Kirkwall in Orkney.

We couldn't get to Honfleur (France), and went to Zeebrugge (Belgium) instead. But it did mean we could have a trip to Bruges. More of that another time!

We couldn't land at Guernsey, too much swell to get the launch alongside........

We couldn't land at the Scilly Isles. Too much swell etc. etc........

We did get to Cobh, near Cork, in southern Ireland) and found lovely little town. More later!

All in all, three landings instead of seven, and my favourites missed entirely, and high winds and rough seas.

Funny old holiday!

The pic was taken through our cabin window. Those are VERY high waves!!

Flowers

Carmi's Photographic Challenge this week is Flowers. I am very pleased about that, as I was struggling to find some new photos for a blog!

Both were taken in my garden, the white Shasta Daisies have finished now, but I took the Love-in-a-mist this morning, after a rain shower. Lucky I did, as the shower came back and turned into a downpour!

I haven't had a lot of time for blogging this week, though I've been reading all yours! We are going on holiday a week today - a cruise around the British Isles, so its been a question of "What are we going to wear?" and "What is the weather going to be like?", and more importantly, "What are we supposed to wear on formal nights on the cruise???"

Neither Mr. G nor me are great ones for formal "do's" but I have a pair of trusty black trousers in a sort of vaguely slinky material, that hang well, and I've got a variety of tops that I can float around in. Its Mr.G that is causing a problem as he just doesn't possess a suit (told you we were casual, did I?). But my sister, who is a great "Cruiser" says so long as he looks respectable and wears a tie, all will be well.

Well, we can only hope so!

I'm really looking forward to this cruise, and have bored my family rigid by talking about it for the past 6 months! But it is our Golden Wedding Anniversary in November, so this is our celebration!

I'll bring back lots of photos!

A Green Lake

For some reason, the lake in the park has become almost entirely covered with duckweed. It started at the far end, and stayed there for several weeks, but then woomph! it was nearly all over! Looking at the lake now is very much a study in green!




However, I was delighted to see the heron is back! We hadn't seen him for ages, but he was there this morning, when it was quiet. How he managed to see a fish under all that week I don't know, but he did, because I saw him catch one!




The ducks don't seem to mind the weed, and just swim through it. It does make interesting patterns, though. This was taken very much against the light, so its not one of my best!

Blue

Carmi's Challenge this week is BLUE.

I chose this picture I took last Spring of Grape Hycacinths (muscari) as they are one of my favourite flowers. The blue really sings and they cheer up the days of Spring that are a bit wet and dark! I have them in a small bed in a very small wall along the edge of my patio, and they have spread right along. I have planted some in other parts of the garden, but they never do so well as they do in the wall. In fact, some just turned up their toes and died!

I know they make a bit of a mess when they have finished, but by that time the daffodils are out and Spring has got going a bit more!

And if you are thinking I ought to get out more and tell you something interesting, well, I struggled into town a couple of days ago, trying desperately to find some trousers that actually fitted, and after I had got undressed, tried some on, got dressed again, found more, got undressed, tried them on......... well, you get the picture!

Shopping online is a Good Thing.

And yes, I did finally find some trousers!

Thematic Challenge - Orange

OK, here is my contribution to Carmi's Thematic Challenge which this week is Orange.

Terracotta is orange, isn't it?

A sort of blog!

I expect you are all tired of looking at shadowy things! I am still around, but have not had much time to write a blot - partly because I haven't done anything!

But here are two "artistic" pics I have made from my photos!

Love to all my blogger friends!