Down the coast.

 

With the storm over it was a morning for getting out of the house and heading off down the coast in the car. We're in that period between Christmas and Hogmanay when nothing much happens.  Those folks who have a two week break are now at the stir crazy stage of trying to find things to do. 

I'd reckon half of the houses we pass have fir wreaths on their front doors. An old 17th century stone wall plaque has been recycled and placed on the side of a Victorian apartment building.  Passers by can ponder it's Presbyterian sentiments : ' Gods blessing is my land and rent '. I wonder how many people look up and see it ? 

Around the corner the church gates are open. It no longer has a minister. Not so long ago there were a million Presbyterians; now that number has fallen to 250,000.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/dec/27/scotland-losing-churches-morham?ref=upstract.com  . It will be a shame if the old place is shuttered. What would you do with a medieval barn of a building like that ? The heating costs alone would be enormous.

Next door the old stone house has garlands at every window. It's a very festive sight ... in a restrained sort of way.

Back at 'The last wee house before Denmark' the Christmas tree is suffering from central heating induced wilt. I've forgotten to fill up the water tray. Overnight three more glass baubles have fallen off the sagging branches and broken. The lower ones are now touching the floor. This years tree was not a great success being a spindly seven feet tall with lots of height but no substance.

On the radio this morning :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T8DjwLt_c4