Thank you...

Well Happy New Year and thank you to everyone all over the world that has looked at my blog. I enjoy writing it and it is fascinating to see just who looks at what. Currently as the year in the UK ends I have had:

Pageviews by Countries

Entry	Pageviews
United Kingdom	14182
United States	5737
Russia	1221
Ukraine	896
France	652
Germany	616
Brazil	217
Poland	210
China	94
Ireland	90

with this distribution of hits...so here's to being able to continue the trend next year! Happy New Year everyone.

Ireby High Bridge - woodland fungi.

A quick walk out to see what fungi are still around.

Left hand column: inverted form of a bracket fungus; candle snuff; deadman's fingers and puff balls.
Right hand column: candle snuff; 'something else'; young velvet shank and hoof fungus.

Mawbray to Allonby in the sun!

A lovely fresh walk along the beach - cracking chips as always at 'The Codfather' and a good collection of seaglass.

Waves...

Chips ...please!

..and it's mine ....I found it!

The Great Print Exhibition 2016 - Rheged

As it says in the title - a great exhibition!

Long-tailed tits...

So lovely to get these on our bird-feeders ! Hopefully they'll be back tomorrow and the sun will be out...in the meantime here are some pics with the odd tree sparrow and goldfinch thrown in too.

The National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.

What a super museum...we clocked up over  mile walking around!

The Lewis Chessmen

The thunderbird.

Greyfriars Bobby

What an enchanting little kirkyard! We hadn't intended to visit but came across it on the way to the National museum. The text below is taken from: http://www.historic-uk.com.

In 1850 a gardener called John Gray, together with his wife Jess and son John, arrived in Edinburgh. Unable to find work as a gardener he avoided the workhouse by joining the Edinburgh Police Force as a night watchman. To keep him company through the long winter nights John took on a partner, a diminutive Skye Terrier, his ‘watchdog’ called Bobby.  Together John and Bobby became a familiar sight trudging through the old cobbled streets of Edinburgh.  Through thick and thin, winter and summer, they were faithful friends. The years on the streets appear to have taken their toll on John, as he was treated by the Police Surgeon for tuberculosis.

John eventually died of the disease on the 15th February 1858 and was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard. Bobby soon touched the hearts of the local residents when he refused to leave his master's grave, even in the worst weather conditions.

The gardener and keeper of Greyfriars tried on many occasions to evict Bobby from the Kirkyard.  In the end he gave up and provided a shelter for Bobby by placing sacking beneath two tablestones at the side of John Gray’s grave.

Bobby’s fame spread throughout Edinburgh.  It is reported that almost on a daily basis the crowds would gather at the entrance of the Kirkyard waiting for the one o'clock gun that would signal the appearance of Bobby leaving the grave for his midday meal.

Bobby would follow William Dow, a local joiner and cabinet maker to the same Coffee House that he had frequented with his now dead master, where he was given a meal.

In 1867 a new bye-law was passed that required all dogs to be licensed in the city or they would be destroyed.  Sir William Chambers (The Lord Provost of Edinburgh) decided to pay Bobby's licence and presented him with a collar with a brass inscription "Greyfriars Bobby from the Lord Provost 1867 licensed".  This can be seen at the Museum of Edinburgh.

The kind folk of Edinburgh took good care of Bobby, but still he remained loyal to his master.  For fourteen years the dead man's faithful dog kept constant watch and guard over the grave until his own death in 1872.

Edinburgh Castle

We didn't go in - but splendid views of the Castle and Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags - shame there wasn't a good geological interpretation board!

Love this elephant - apparently when the 78th Highlanders marched into Edinburgh Castle in 1838 after a long posting in Sri Lanka, their pet elephant marched in with them. The animal soon developed a taste for beer. Each evening, it reached its trunk through the canteen window to get its drink before walking back to the stables to sleep it off!...and to the right Robert the Bruce. 

Edinburgh at Christmas.

A day trip to Edinburgh. The Park and Ride at Straiton provided very easy access on the number 37/47 buses. Then we visited: the markets; the castle; the Francis Macdonald exhibition at the Scottish gallery; the Castle; Greyfriars Kirk and the National Museum of Scotland. A grand day out!

The Old Crown, Hesket Newmarket.

A remarkably warm walk, for December, from Caldbeck to Hesket along the river. A good crack and warm welcome at the pub making the ideal halfway break!

Bowscale tarn - commission

Lovely to get back into an oil painting ....

Garden birds....

A good selection of  birds on our feeders......

More from Parton....Janet Folland ...Creative glass

A lovely evening at the Ireby Christmas tree lights switch on. The Christmas Fair was well attended and as well as my stall, with Parton sea glass and crockery hearts, my good friend Janet Folland, has used Parton glass to make beautiful tea light holders.

Parton, West Cumbria.

A lovely calm day. Remarkably still and warm for December! Plenty of birds: redshank, turnstone and gulls ....as well as a patch of thrift in full flower!

Oh ...and some beach finds too!

Cat Bells....Maiden Moor....High Spy....Newlands valley.

A fabulous day - with a lovely light. Rocky and Steve enjoyed their round walk with spectacular views over Derwent Water!

Blustery Solway

A quick acrylic this time.

Frankincense and Myrrh.

Bagging up more frankincense and myrrh...taking photos of how to use it with a charcoal tablet if you haven't got a fire ....and thinking about how to display it. Finally a frankincense and myrrh tree, ready for the next craft fair.