Christmas and the following days

Several people have asked me what I would be doing on Christmas Day - so here are the details.

On Monday, we will be joined by Heather and Alberto, Alyssa, Charis and Joel. Malcolm will also be here. Alistair has gone home to Suffolk to spend the holiday with Julie and James. Evie  and Andrew, along with Dessi and Indiana have  gone to Wiltshire to spend a week with Andrew's parents.
It will be church in the morning followed by Christmas Dinner and present opening in the afternoon.  Later there will be performances by those who can sing or dance or recite poetry, and some games Tea will be bread and butter and Christmas Cake which Alyssa has been completely responsible for.
Heather and Brian will see to the cooking and Alberto will , hopefully, make the most delicious gravy.
For New Year , the Erulins will be going to France and Brian and I will be going to south London to take Andrew and Evie out somewhere ( children too)
But on Friday 29th we will have both Heather and Evie with their husbands and children, and Malcolm. I will cook potato pie - a favourite of my mother and grandmother and now my children .
In between I intend to pay a visit to a museum or a gallery, a cinema and a certain art shop . . . all that may or may not transpire!

Black and White Photo Challenge

This seemed like an easy enough challenge  - no people, no explanations - so I decided to take part - especially as I was challenged by 2 separate people !

 This first one was taken while I waited for a bus on the Isle of Skye

 I liked the texture of the towels and the rug on the hotel bed !

Over the sea to Skye

 The Forth Road Bridges

 My slippers are not particularly comfortable but I love the shiny blue green colour !

The Cross of Lorraine overlooking Gourock, commemorates the Free French using the Scottish port during World War 2

I was coming down this staircase thinking it was a suitable location for wearing a crinoline when I got a skelf under my finger nail from the bannister. That brought my dreams to a rapid end !

These trees are Pinus Alba, white pines , growing on the Mount Stuart Estate on the Isle of Bute. The sitting room of my childhood home was panelled with white pine from this estate. It had been the priest's house, and there was a strong link between Cumnock and Mount Stuart through the Bute family.

I must say I enjoyed this challenge. The lack of colour makes you look more at the patterns and composition. But I did miss the colours !