A sculptural branch

I was out on one of my usual walks with the dog and I passed this branch on the way back to the car. It was quite striking seeing as it looked so human. The trick, as I have learned, is to pretend that I haven't seen it. This allowed me to reach the car, put Skipper in the back and then go and take a photograph. You see, if I show an interest in something, Skipper does too and then he destroys the scene/object. It doesn't help that I get drawn to things like old boots, seaweed and driftwood which may as well have 'chew me' written on them.

Gypsy Rose

It has been a spectacular summer for wild flowers. This was taken down at West Wemyss on the Fife coast.

Inchcolm Abbey

The island of Inchcolm lies in the Firth of Forth. In the dark ages it was home to a hermit but emerged as a prominent religious sanctuary in the 12th Century when it became a priory for Augustinian canons. It's existence as a religious institution ended with the reformation in 1560 and it was used as a strategic fort during the second world war. Today you can visit by boat from South Queensferry, buy beer and crisps and look out for seals.

Best Day Out In Scotland

Robert Louis Stevenson had a grudge against the Scottish weather, in particular here on the east coast, which he described as having 'one of the vilest climates under heaven'. Here is a shot taken at the end of July looking across to the promenade in Kirkcaldy. RLS got the summer spot on: 'shifty and ungenial'. The cold sea fog is called the haar and it appears out of the east, a spiteful gift from the north sea when the sun shines and dares to warm our faces. I've got it into my head that we must somehow anger the sun god, to whom I am particularly worshipful.