the running wave

The last day of December, the last photo in my month of recording each day, and the last day of the year, and I have been trying to think about the best image for today's post.  I decided that a candle would do very nicely. A lit candle shines in the dark.  Its light shines in memory of those left behind during the year and, looking ahead, it is our enduring symbol of hope.  I think that we need hope, going into a new year. Hope that on a global scale the human race starts to behave itself a little better.  The hope that this new year will be a peaceful and happy one for as many people as possible.  I know that there will be millions whose fortunes will not change just because we tip from an old year into a new one, but hope springs eternal and my lit candle is keeping them, especially children, in my thoughts and holding them securely in mind. I hope you will visit the running wave from time to time in 2014.  Please leave your comments if you feel lik...

I got a new camera for Christmas.  It's a wizard bit of kit and my 2014 challenge is to learn how to use it properly.  I am not at all technical.  Working out how to use a new washing machine is a challenge, so, in order to get the most out of my new toy, I have downloaded the instruction manual.  On this horrid wet and dark, late December day, I am going to try and start the learning process.   Tilly shows absolutely no sign of wanting to go for a walk in the driving rain, so I am safe from her bright expectant gaze - for the time being anyway.

In these betwixt and between days of Christmas and New Year daily duties have to carry on! Bed linen washed and hung out in the fresh air .... and some lovely sunshine just about lifting itself high enough in the sky to touch the edges. Meanwhile, indoors, the little lioness is getting some furry comfort from the grand old boy of her household.  Jo has nurtured four kittens in his time, none of them his own.  He is the most glorious cat and I think these two photos show what a tender creature he is.

So, this is not Tilly sleeping off a lovely walk on the beach this afternoon.  She is just allowing the vet administered sedative to wear off. Our Christmas visitors left this morning, the sun was shining and the high winds subsided so of course it was time to head for the beach.  Where else would a girl go with her dawg to enjoy some space and time to breathe.  We climbed to the top of the sand dune and there was the view I love so much.  The beach stretching away to the right as seen below and ahead a couple of fishermen.   We walked down on to the beach and because Tilly can't resist a little scavenge she made a beeline for the fishermen to check out their bait boxes.  I pulled her away once and then turned my attention to the waves which were particularly beautiful.  It takes a while to wait for the seventh wave to start to break.  It's bigger than the preceding six, and while I was waiting Tilly was back, tucking into the fishe...

The little lioness is doing her chocolate-box best to fit in to the household.  She is holding her own nicely with the other cats and the dogs who view her with a mixture of motherly tolerance and total disdain! We have had sunshine over the three days of Christmas but today the weather is behaving in a very unruly fashion.  I've got the Scrabble box out and it's sitting on the table waiting for some players to come out of the woodwork, which they will in due course!

We had a chilly Boxing Day walk up to Hopes Reservoir which is set into the Lammermuir Hills behind Haddington.  The sky was blue and the sun golden on the surrounding hills but in the valley the air was cold and the walk brisk!

A little sunshine on Christmas morning. Merry Christmas everyone.  I hope you have a happy and peaceful day, once the flurry of presents and food has subsided!