An Edinburgh sunset

In December, I clearly caught the sunset bug. And the sunrise bug too. (This was just before I caught the cold bug.)

The weather in Edinburgh was good, so one evening I thought I should climb Salisbury Crags to catch the sunset. I almost missed it. It was gorgeous – although there were no clouds, so it wasn’t particularly spectacular.

An Edinburgh sunset

In December, I clearly caught the sunset bug. And the sunrise bug too. (This was just before I caught the cold bug.)

The weather in Edinburgh was good, so one evening I thought I should climb Salisbury Crags to catch the sunset. I almost missed it. It was gorgeous – although there were no clouds, so it wasn’t particularly spectacular.

An Edinburgh sunrise

Whilst I climbed the crags to watch the sunset, I realised that it was over twenty five years since I had climbed Arthur’s Seat at dawn, too, to watch the sunrise; and even, that day, it had been cloudy, so I hadn’t seen the sunrise. (There was a girl involved. It wasn’t a wasted trip.) Given the glorious winter weather Edinburgh had, and the fact that dawn was relatively late, meaning I didn’t have to get up particularly early, I decided to climb Arthur’s Seat the following morning.

It was fascinating watching the sky change from ink-black through mauve to orange and then blue.

I wasn’t alone on the top of Arthur’s Seat: there were several American teenagers, part of an evangelical prayer group. One of them spoke to others, about saying prayers and then spending some time alone in thought, making sure they remembered the sunrise. It was odd having them turn what I considered a pagan event into a Christian one. Still, they didn’t really disturb me.

An Edinburgh sunrise

Whilst I climbed the crags to watch the sunset, I realised that it was over twenty five years since I had climbed Arthur’s Seat at dawn, too, to watch the sunrise; and even, that day, it had been cloudy, so I hadn’t seen the sunrise. (There was a girl involved. It wasn’t a wasted trip.) Given the glorious winter weather Edinburgh had, and the fact that dawn was relatively late, meaning I didn’t have to get up particularly early, I decided to climb Arthur’s Seat the following morning.

It was fascinating watching the sky change from ink-black through mauve to orange and then blue.

I wasn’t alone on the top of Arthur’s Seat: there were several American teenagers, part of an evangelical prayer group. One of them spoke to others, about saying prayers and then spending some time alone in thought, making sure they remembered the sunrise. It was odd having them turn what I considered a pagan event into a Christian one. Still, they didn’t really disturb me.

The Scottish Parliament - dusk and dawn

Walking to the Crags and Arthur’s Seat, I walked by the Scottish Parliament. I love this building (and I must process pictures I took inside during the summer, too), and it was fascinating to see it in the different lights.

The Scottish Parliament - dusk and dawn

Walking to the Crags and Arthur’s Seat, I walked by the Scottish Parliament. I love this building (and I must process pictures I took inside during the summer, too), and it was fascinating to see it in the different lights.

Inside the Scottish Parliament

The pictures I posted of the Scottish Parliament reminded me that I hadn’t posted pictures I took during a tour of the building in August: life and death had got in the way. I had been meaning to go around the Parliament for a long time; it only took me four years to get around to it!

I have posted other pictures of the outside of the Parliament building; I really like it: I think it is an interesting shape, full of detail.

The inside is no different. Unfortunately, there are only a very few parts of the building that they let one photograph: the public areas and the debating chamber. Other parts of the building were off limits, which is a great pity, because there were some really interesting bits – lots of nooks and crannies and curious, abstract shapes.
( Read more... )

Inside the Scottish Parliament

The pictures I posted of the Scottish Parliament reminded me that I hadn’t posted pictures I took during a tour of the building in August: life and death had got in the way. I had been meaning to go around the Parliament for a long time; it only took me four years to get around to it!

I have posted other pictures of the outside of the Parliament building; I really like it: I think it is an interesting shape, full of detail.

The inside is no different. Unfortunately, there are only a very few parts of the building that they let one photograph: the public areas and the debating chamber. Other parts of the building were off limits, which is a great pity, because there were some really interesting bits – lots of nooks and crannies and curious, abstract shapes.
( Read more... )

New Year! New Cats!

I found these two videos via Arbroath.

The second one really is the cutest kitten...

New Year! New Cats!

I found these two videos via Arbroath.

The second one really is the cutest kitten...

Credit Crunch?

Now we know where all the money has gone: the student with £100bn overdraft....

(via Arbroath).

Credit Crunch?

Now we know where all the money has gone: the student with £100bn overdraft....

(via Arbroath).

Police have powers to hack into your computer

From yesterday's Independent: New powers for police to hack your PC:

"Police have been given the power to hack into personal computers without a court warrant. The Home Office is facing anger and the threat of a legal challenge after granting permission. Ministers are also drawing up plans to allow police across the EU to collect information from computers in Britain."

[Edit] It was also in the Times on Monday.

All very disturbing!

Police have powers to hack into your computer

From yesterday's Independent: New powers for police to hack your PC:

"Police have been given the power to hack into personal computers without a court warrant. The Home Office is facing anger and the threat of a legal challenge after granting permission. Ministers are also drawing up plans to allow police across the EU to collect information from computers in Britain."

[Edit] It was also in the Times on Monday.

All very disturbing!