Emergence....

A trip into Castle Douglas yesterday to do some shopping or to “fetch my messages” as they say here.....

The town feels much busier even though most of the shops still aren’t open....
The sides of the Main Street filled with parked cars....
People wandering on the pavements....
Not rushing, there’s never a rush in Galloway....
This is more people than these pavements have seen for many months...
Shop fronts being painted....
A sense of human life returning ....

I head to Carlingwark Loch which is in the town....
For a wander...
The caravan park should be full now but still it waits...
The park around the loch though is busier....
The sun bringing people together once more...
People wandering.....
Children playing....
The smell of chips drifting from the windows of parked couples.....
A man meditating in the trees....

The swans greedily rushing towards anyone that stops at the side of the loch....
Bickering with each other as they chase the food that may not come....

A lone swan sat on an island away from the crowd...
Preening itself....
A lone couple sat on a bench....
Watching the swan....


Everyone emerging again...
At their own speed....