Pet Rescue - Carnoustie!

Gwen eventually worked out where the cat noise was coming from that we had heard for the last couple of days. Since she was pregnant I was sent to attempt a rescue from the top of the scaffolding at the back of the old Victoria Wine building.

Clambering onto the top of the wall revealed a large drop to a narrow shelf, which having once been a wash house was complete with a large, rusting, metal basin. The basin's contents were unsavoury to say the least, but jumping down from this ledge landed me in Carnoustie's very own open sewer, looking for all the world like the run-off from a shanty town. No wonder that Queen Street often reeks on hot days. I couldn't see the source of the turgid brown slop, but the stone cover has been lifted from the drain closer to the high street to allow an exit. Just as well, or I could have been literally up to my neck in s***.

I quickly climbed up the less than stable scaffolding, but the cat was reluctant to come. So, a return journey to collect the cat box of our ex-cats. My reputation as an animal lover must have preceded me as the cat was having nothing to do with me despite its obvious distress. Another trip through the open sewer revealed a genuinely incredible display of brown in every shade imaginable and put me in favour of contacting the SSPCA.

At least I had managed to get the owners phone number from the collar. The SSPCA couldn't come out until tomorrow and there was no answer on the owners number. So Gwen decided to try tempting it across the roof with tuna. The owner then phoned and it turned out that 'Biggles' had been missing since the 7th. The combination of tuna and hearing his own name overcame his fear. However, it then became clear why he hadn't come this way before. The nesting seagulls began to dive bomb the poor moggy, but despite constant hary from the air, Biggles (fittingly enough) came through the aerial assault and Gwen completed the rescue with bloodied face.

One happy owner!
One call to environmental health tomorrow!

So busy

Just no time to to do anything. We did manage to stop for coffee last weekend though and the hills are definitely snowy, we could see this tree from Peel Farm.

Gulls dodging the waves

I'm not usually a fan of seagulls but I think I will have to get this printed to see what it looks like larger. The great sunset on Sunday was one of those you only get in January where the water turns a rich golden colour. It looks viscous like waves made in golden syrup. The seagulls were doing their best to avoid the breaking waves which giving up their turgid shoreward journey suddenly burst out sending the birds into the air. The strange thing was having lifted from the sea they perfectly echoed the wave with those that rose first setting down first, with the others following with perfect synchronicity.

Windy weather!

Esmé enjoyed the wind with a little encouragement. If you look above the trees on the golf course picture you can see an iridescent cloud.

Bird count update

These figures represent the highest at any one time today.

4 blackbirds (down from10)

4 Fieldfares (down from 12)

16 Goldfinches (possibly more up from 13)

8 Chaffinches (up from 4)

6 House Sparrows ( up from 4)

4 Blue Tits (no change)

1 Pigeon (no change)

1 Dove (no change)

4 Greenfinches (up from 2

4 Bramblings (First visit)

There has been a significant change over the last week and the thaw today has seen the departure of many of the Fieldfares and blackbirds. However, we spotted some bramblings today a first for our garden. The new small hole feeder with thistle seed is now being heavily used by the goldfinches. While the chaffinches are collecting the fallen seed below. No Waxwings this year.

We just need a feeder nearer the house now to take a decent picture.

Ice on the riverTay

Brrrrrr on riverside just after sunset today. There was no wind and I was frozen within about 10 minutes. I had the gloves that I have worn on plenty of snow capped summits and my fingers were getting numb by the time I got back to the car.

Last Sunday of the holidays :(

I am back at work tomorrow Gwen and Esmé don't go back until Wednesday. I will miss them. It is hard when you get used to life with each other all day and then it comes to an abrupt end.

Great weather though for the last day, blue sky, crisp snow and you could see large breakers out in the estuary. The sea actually looked fairly calm but it was impacting against the coastal defences with a sudden ferocity. It caught me off guard a couple of times and but for a quick jump I would have been soaked.

The seed heads I noticed last week and thought they looked interesting. The sun was in just the right place to provide a silhouette of there structure.

Garden bird count

- 1 cat = lots more birds (Although Oscar is sadly missed)

max at one time.

10 blackbirds (1 black and white)

12 Fieldfares (only1 in previous years)

13 Goldfinches

4 Chaffinches

4 House Sparrows

4 Blue Tits

1 Pigeon

1 Dove

2 Greenfinches

Starlings numerous

Snow fun at Backwater Dam

It always surprises me the amount of folk who have never been for a jont round Backwater Dam. Geographically, it is very interesting and visually it brings something new everytime you visit. James and I have not been up in the snow for a long time, in fact last time I was only a few weeks pregnant with Esmé - so yes, a good long time ago.

We knew that Esmé wouldn't be up for a big walk, given that she has been off colour, so we packed the car with a picnic and the sledge and headed up Glen Isla, stopping to take pictures of some friendly sheep and Highland Moo Coos.

The snow did not disappoint, it was deep(ish) crisp and reasonably even, hardly anyone else had been up. The reservoir was like glass and mirrored the landscape, including Driesh and Mayar beautifully. It was absolutely freezing, too cold for James to take many photos, much to Esmé's delight. We took turns dragging Esmé in her sledge, no-one wanted to drag me :( I can't think why???) [Maybe because after a great deal of effort to move the sledge with you on it the only result was that the sledge suddenly moved forward and you were left on your bottom!]

Happy Birthday Gwen!

It's that special time of year again where we decorate the house, give cards and gifts and do our best to cook and eat a fantastic meal. Yes you guessed it it's Gwen's birthday. Gwen has opened all of her presents now and we had a great time at the Rep. Esmé enjoyed her first theatre performance and despite some scary moments in the seasonal Dicken's favourite there was nothing more frightening than the blue rinsers in the audience. So, how does it feel Gwen?

Sledging

Esmé started the day off being pulled around Carnoustie while we did the shopping and enjoyed Stuart Henderson's hospitality while we dropped off a preasent from Esmé for Zenta.

After lunch we headed for the hills and the further we got from Carnoustie the thinner the snow got :(

Eventually at Esmé's favourite sledging spot, which has a long gentle run, there was around half the cover that we had at home. Initially she was insisting on going with Gwen or I, however that didn't last long. She had a great time.

Hopefully tomorrow will bring fresh snow. It didn't look like it would happen yesterday but at about 2am I looked out of the window and it was falling fast. Of course since it is late and into Christmas Eve my days are all confused now. You know what I mean, hopefully.

Christmas Holidays day1

Esmé is off and the snow is still here! In all the excitement the pictures are in the wrong order.

After weeks of enforced captivity the suns low position in the sky was all the more prominent. Despite it being the first day after the solstice there was no appreciable rise in the suns arc as it travelled from east to west. It gave only watery light during the morning at Barry Mill and the pictures there look very grey, while the brighter afternoon was filled with a drawn out and relaxed lunch at Banana Splits café. After a brief visit to the shops. Esmé and I were left to go adventure.

Esmé thought that the snow on the beach was fantastic and was desperate to see the sea frozen over. No luck yet. Craigmill Den is blocked off at both ends for no apparent reason. What's more climbing over the barriers was very hazardous! I hope Angus Council aren't planning to do anything daft as at the Fairy Steps where there is still no bridge several years on. Again climbing over the barrier and crossing on the remaining girders raises the heart beat a little.

Despite being blocked off, or maybe because of it Craigmill Den was serene just after the sun had dipped below the horizon. Esmé did admit to being a little afraid as the dark crept in and she gripped tightly to my hand.

Tomorrow if the weather remains good will hopefully bring an opportunity to sledge. I would like to be in Glen Isla or Prosen early to take some pictures, however experience tells me getting all three of us out early is unlikely. I need to get some pictures for Peel Farm. A couple of snowy ones would be nice. Hopefully the light will be better than today. Some thin cirrus clouds please.

New photos of Westhaven

I have added a set of pictures from Westhaven to my website, from back in October.

They are under the new additions section and the Carnoustie & Westhaven shore section.

There are also an impressive sun rise from Monifieth and a sunset from Grange of Barry.

Message from Santa for Esmé

Message for Esmé!

Snow on the Tay at Kingoodie and Carnoustie

Snow! It really feels like Christmas and I am off on holiday as well double exclamation marks!! My drive back from Inchture where I work for part of the week passes several areas where the reed beds alongside the Tay are accessible. The frosty conditions make it easier to make your way amongst them. Sitting there still, watching, listening, alongside bales of cut reeds, while the birds and fish go about their business as they have since the ice retreated ten thousand years ago, brings with it a sense of the world as it should be. However, the light has remained a fairly constant grey every time I have had an opportunity to sit there. Hopefully early one morning or one evening the sky will light up and reflect from the river.

Far removed from the reed beds, but at the mouth of the same river, the Carnoustie Golf Hotel and our very own gaudy christmas lights

Sunset at Grange of Barry

A gorgeous sunset yesterday. Both Gwen and I exclaimed "wow!" independently after climbing the bank of the large irrigation pond above the lade. Up until then we had only been able to see the pink tinged tree tops that only gave a slight clue to the drama unfolding between the thin clouds and the fading sun. The newly trimmed hedges add a very strange rectangular silhouette between the tangled oak trees.

Bothy Gollach Photography

Check out the new website

Monifieth one morning last week. It really was a struggle to get back in the car and go to work.

Lunan Bay and Red Castle

Esmé and Dad had a lovely time exploring Red Castle and Lunan Bay on Sunday. Poor Mum was stuck at home doing reading for university :( Esmé especially missed her.

Carnoustie fireworks

Torch light, fireworks and a bonfire.

Esmé's Birthday. Happy 5th Birthday!