Layers.

After the long mild spell Winter has arrived. A sharp as a knife wind blowing off the sea. I tell Sophie to pick up her pace and get a move on. She has other ideas. Under her three inch thick fur coat she's as warm as toast. Down on the shore the PONette lingers to smell every strand of seaweed. Her companion has five layers on and wishes he was wearing a sixth. Coming back up the track we're met by three village Jack Russells out for an adventure. They bark , oblivious to the fact that only their ears and tips of their tails can be seen above the long grass. The family diva ignores them. The Jack Russells quickly move on - they have great adventures ahead of them.

Yesterday, we put out the bird feeders and filled them with sunflower seeds. As we set off in the car a small band of sparrows and finches are clustered on the wild rose stems by the gate. They watch us go then flit off to the feeders. Give them a couple of days and they'll be joined by their less brave siblings. The fields quieter now. There's a couple of swans by the salt lake but the migrating birds seem to have - sensibly - headed south.

Sophie isn't allowed into the coffee shop. There is however a fresh bowl of water waiting for her outside. Shortbread is provided. The PONette receives this 'enthusiastically '. The only other customers this morning a woman from Oregon and her student daughter. The mother's paying £180, breakfast and dinner included, to stay at the best 5 star hotel in town. The strong dollar and shoulder season rates proved irresistible. 'Cheaper than the Holiday Inn at Portland airport' .

We wander back to the car trying to avoid the worst of the gusts. A large and run down old house by the castle has a  near pristine Victorian era glass porch. It has a 'Hammer House of Horrors' look to it.

The cathedral is fenced off. A piece of masonry has fallen off one of the towers and the whole thing is now being surveyed to see what other problems there might be. This was once one of Europes major shrines. Pilgrims came from all over to visit the tomb of the Saint. Now it's a quaint ruin . It must have been spectacular when Robert the the Bruce rode his horse down the nave to celebrate victory at Bannockburn.

On our return to the wee cottage by the sea we find that 'The Font ' is doubly happy. This mornings Wordle and Nerdle both done in two. Today the designs for the new conservatory and kitchen should be ready. Angus is also expecting the Christmas champagne to be delivered. The supermarket is still doing it's mad 25% off everything campaign which makes buying it in Scotland cheaper than it would have been in France. Go figure.