The sun was late

Today’s guest picture comes from our neighbour Liz who popped into our garden and kindly sent me this confirmation that our alliums are doing well.  It is good to have people keeping an eye on things while we are away.

The spell of sunny weather was put on hold today and we woke to a grey and windy day…

…but were we downhearted?

Well, just a little bit but we pulled ourselves together and went for a walk along the beach on our way to a cup of coffee in the town.

Mrs Tootlepedal and I walked home through a walled garden and so much blossom had been blown off a chestnut tree that it almost looked as though it had snowed.

We had an interesting salad for lunch and were pleased as we munched it, to see the wind drop a little and the skies brighten up.

After lunch, Al and Clare took Matilda out to get a distant look at the Bass Rock and Mrs Tootlepedal and I set out to brave the breeze on our bikes.

After yesterday’s small circle to the west of the town, we did a similar sized circle to the east today and found the generous hedges planted by kindly farmers did a good job in keeping us sheltered from the wind.

On one open stretch I was able to take two famous local landmarks, the Bass Rock and Tantallon Castle, in one shot.

We soon got on to quiet back roads and once again were delighted to meet smooth surfaces and few if any potholes.

We passed this impressive lilac display…

…before coming back to the same fine building that we approached from the far side yesterday.  From this side you can see that it is basically an enlarged fortified tower.

While I stopped to take a picture of the tower, Mrs Tootlepedal kept pedalling and the sharp eyed reader will just be able to make her out, as she vanishes into the distance…

…on the last shallow rise before we dropped back into the town.

By this time the sun had come properly out and it was a very pleasant day so it was no surprise to find that Matilda was busy supervising the building of a fine sand castle on the beach when we got back.

With a curtain wall!

Strangely, since it was Matilda’s castle no stamping took place and we were able to raise a pennant on one of the towers.

As Scottish readers will recognise, the pennant celebrates that great Scottish hero, Mr Tunnock of teacake fame.

The sea had calmed down near the shore and a duck bobbed up and down peacefully.

Further out, away from the shelter of the harbour, things were still turbulent.

Later in the afternoon, I walked out to the end of the harbour rocks in pursuit of a flying gull.  Other birds were to be seen out in the sea.

An eider duck floated along in the swell

And further out, two gannets swooped above the sea

It was still breezy but judging by the cloud in the background, we were getting the best of the local weather

I walked back to the cottage past this colourful row of houses.

Although North Berwick is a popular destination  both for holiday makers and day trippers and has plenty of attractive features, nothing has been done to “prettify” the town up and it remains by and large a very normal, though well looked after place.  This adds greatly to its charm in my view.

We went out for our evening meal and when we got home and Matilda had retired for the night, the grown ups played Oh Hell again.  Some people played better than others.  I was one of the others tonight.

A passing gull  provided the flying bird of the day.