Muirshiel & Finlaystone

Here are a few photos from two separate Sunday outings.

The first set are from a visit to Muirshiel country park made last Sunday, 14th Sept. Cool and misty, lots of fungi. We took a picnic (hence the random muffin shot).

The second set are from a visit to Finlaystone estate made today. What a gorgeous warm, sunny day it has been - loving this September weather!

Muirshiel:-

Finlaystone:-

Saturday Morning Bike Ride

Lovely Autumn scenes from my bike ride this morning.

I was happy to see that the swallows have not yet left. September here this year has been a beautifully mellow month.

Hawthorn berries are not as plentiful as in previous years. Untimely hedge trimming has robbed the hawthorns of their fruit - there are many berries on the few bushes that have been left uncut.

I always like to see bales, one of these has a buzzard sitting on top.


Thistledown, a favourite view, Autumn colours starting to glow. A horse with colourful breakfast buckets, leaf lined roads take me past ancient church remains. A farm sign silhouette, a tree marks the top of a hill, another watchful cow and calf, a scabious bloom to finish.

Later the sun came out and it has been a gorgeously golden and warm afternoon.

Soooo, the results from the referendum are in. In the end I decided to vote YES. I am at heart an idealist and believe that life for many people can (and should) be better and fairer than it currently is. For every YES voter I spoke to, a YES vote was a way to have more say in our own government which would enable implementation of our own policies leading to greater social justice for our country. For every NO voter I spoke to, a NO vote protected their personal savings and job security. There was immense pressure from banks, businesses, unions and the media to vote NO. The result was 45% YES, 55% NO. The polls had suggested a closer result. Had the YES vote succeeded, it would have been by a small margin. I think the result would have to be far more decisive for independence to be accepted and success to be guaranteed. For that reason I think it was perhaps the wrong time - too soon. Anyway, as you can tell, I'm not really one for writing about politics. We'll just need to see what happens now... 

Saturday Morning Bike Ride.

I managed to get out for a short bike ride this morning - only about 10 miles but better than nothing. I saw some curious cows, runaway sheep and hungry horses as well as the familiar signs of early Autumn. We have been having a run of gorgeous, warm, dry weather. It was a little misty this morning but not at all soggy or cold - the photos are perhaps deceptive.

I am still incredibly busy but think I may manage to stick at the teaching and am even enjoying it at times. I find myself to be rather uptight and worried about things though, but experience should sort that out.

Also, there's a decision to be made for Thursday. On the 18th September Scotland goes to the polls to decide whether to take independence or stay within the UK. Discussion are becoming more animated, issues are being raised now that should have been sorted months ago. The scaremongering is, in my mind, completely unacceptable - this should all have been discussed in a reasoned and timely manner, too much is at stake. I confess to being undecided and seeing value in the arguments of both sides. A vote for YES is a step into the unknown, but a NO vote does not guarantee the status-quo. There is much in the way the UK is governed that I disagree with, but is independence the answer? Making the separation would not be easy, but does that justify staying? There are so many arguments and responses to consider. I'm sure many are fed up hearing about it already and I do not usually share my political opinions on my blog - I just feel I should mention it as it is a major issue here and it would seem strange not to. What shall we wake up to on Friday?