Waxing

It was a joy to be out this morning.  Although it was bitterly cold (still well below freezing), the sun was shining and the sky was blue.  Then, to top it all, we discovered a small flock of about twenty Waxwings flitting about in the Hawthorns.

In the sun, the red, wax-like tips to their wings were visible as were the bright yellow ends to their tails.  Combined with the 'foxy-red' face and under-tails, these are spectacular birds and so much better when seen in good light.  If only they would come a little nearer!

A little while later and we were treated to the sight of a skein of just over one hundred Pink-Footed Geese making quite a noise as they headed North-Eastward.

Away in the distance, we could see them as they seemed to be joining up with another skein about the same size.  Probably looking for a field with freshly-cut brassica stalks to feed on.  Looking carefully in the picture above you can also see a plane in the top left-hand corner, which sneaked into the view.  I think it was a Thomas Cook flight from Manchester to Turkey.  It seems everything was flying this morning!

Bitter

It was absolutely bitter this morning as we set out to do a little shopping in town, so no pictures of the parkland today.  Instead, some pics from our walks over the past few days when it has been just as cold.  The icy weather has meant being able to walk paths which would normally be too muddy after all the rain we've had.  It also means that we have to venture forth well wrapped up.

Among the trees which surround Mapperley Reservoir, things look a bit less cold, but the trees are still looking skeletal against the pale blue sky.

Walking around Straw's Bridge a couple of days ago revealed a bright jewel of a bird.  A Kingfisher was perched in one of the lakeside bushes, but wasn't very keen to be photographed, so this was the best I could do unfortunately, before he (identified as a male by the all black bill - females have a reddish lower mandible)  flew off with a single piercing whistle.

Giles

With it's crown spire a major landmark in Edinburgh, St. Giles' Cathedral is situated on the Royal Mile between Holyrood and the Castle.

Saint Giles was a 7th Century hermit who lived in France and hospitals for cripples and lepers were dedicated to him after his accidental death at the hands (or arrows) of a huntsman who was pursuing deer.  A depiction of Giles protecting a deer is to be found above the main door (above).  The interior is well decorated too, somewhat unusually for a Scottish Kirk and the stained glass is well worth a look.

With the bright, winter sun filtering through them, the cathedral's interior was beautifully illuminated...

.. as was the vaulted roof and the Gothic arches.

Quite spectacular!

Arthur's Seat

I have mentioned our incredible good fortune at having such wonderful weather while in Edinburgh.  Nowhere was this more in evidence than when we took a stroll around Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat.  The bright, blue sky and low sun were just perfect.

The high Basalt cliffs looked spectacular in the 'watery' winter sunshine as the bitter temperature nipped our noses.

The Park has many noteworthy features, not least of which is the small Dunsapie Loch at it's eastern side.  Always peaceful and affording fine views, it too was looking perfect on such a day as this. Only the squabbling gulls on the water, broke the stillness.

On the Northern side of the park, as we got back to our starting point near the Palace of Holyrood House, another, smaller loch, known as St. Margaret's Loch is overlooked by the ruins of St. Andrew's Chapel and is home to dozens of swans, ducks and dog-walkers.

Time to head back and get warm again with a glass of mulled wine, before heading out in the evening for the festivities.

Switch On

Thursday, saw Malcolm and I walking round the country park of Arthur's Seat - more of which later.  In the evening, we knew the city was due to celebrate it's festive lights switch-on, so we sallied forth again in the late afternoon and as it got dark we enjoyed the fair and German Market.

A while later, we were passing the area known as 'The Mound' and a gathering crowd there pointed to the fact that something was due to happen, so we waited and before long, a giant Father Christmas came along, frightening the children!

With loud music and a show involving a woman suspended from a crane, doing acrobatics in the freezing temperatures - it was already well below zero - it was quite spectacular.  Then the lights were switched on accompanied by fireworks from the castle.

When it had all died down and the crowds had dispersed, we made our way back to the hotel to thaw out, passing more festivities, markets and a skating rink in the gardens.

All pretty exciting and not a bad way to celebrate Malcolm's 50th..!

Arrival

Malcolm and I arrived in Edinburgh on Wednesday morning and having killed an hour or so at the airport having breakfast and coffee, we caught the bus into the city.  Having sorted ourselves out at the hotel, we went out for a walk around the city, ending up at Calton Hill.  The first thing to catch our eye was the Nelson Monument.  Finished in 1815, it had taken 8 years to complete and has a 'time ball' on the top which drops at 1pm every day as a means for sailors to set their time by.

Close by is the National Monument, based on the Parthenon and designed to be a monument to those killed in the Napoleonic Wars, it was never finished.  But, I think it looks wonderful as it is.

The views from Calton Hill are wide-ranging and well worth the climb - even when the low, Winter sun gets in your eyes and makes taking pictures rather tricky.

Looking into the sun and toward the city, Dugald Stewart's memorial is a fine monument to the Philosopher, Mathematician and prominent figure of the enlightenment.

More to come...

50

Malcolm and I returned yesterday evening, from a short break in the beautiful city of Edinburgh.

We went to Edinburgh to celebrate Malcolm's 50th birthday and were hoping that the weather would be kind to us.  We hadn't dared to believe it would turn out to be such a wonderful few days.  The sun shone, the skies were blue and it was 'champagne' cold.

As always, the views around the city were fantastic and we were doubly fortunate that we had timed our visit just right to coincide with the city's annual Christmas lights switch-on festivities.  More of those as I work through the photos, but for now just one more shot taken from the Castle Esplanade looking North to the snow-capped mountains in the distance.