Stormy

Today was dominated by the weather as the fragrantly-named Storm Floris charged over us on her way north-east. There was a great deal of dramatic thrashing of trees, and in the morning some splashy waves over the East Bay promenade, though in the afternoon the wind had moved into the west and we could see the white horses charging towards the other side of the Firth. #1 son and grandson James were making their way home from Ireland and spent the middle part of the morning marvelling, it seems, at the stability of the ferry (as well as at the people presciently enjoying Irish sausages for their breakfast on board) - I was glad to hear when they made it home to Edinburgh.

I had a rather different morning from my usual, as we attended the funeral of a local businessman whom we've known ever since his daughter babysat while we went to choir practice. The big church across the road was well-filled - we had to stand in a queue in the rain before we got in. It was all very brisk; the minister told us they were hoping to get the ferry before they went off. (All the relevant crematoria are on the Other Side.) I shall try to get to a Pilates class later in the week ...

We dried off over a strong coffee; I did Italian; we went out again. This time we were off up the road to our own church to join our Rector and another member of the Vestry to see A Man about The Driveway. We stood round under the swoosh of the trees and then, as the rain came again, inside the porch, but the Man never appeared and the person fielding calls in his office ("I was just about to phone you") averred he'd been held up on a job. So we all went off again. Very frustrating.

The day went downhill throughout as mood deteriorated as the weather improved. In the late afternoon we sought to escape the gloom by going out, though not for any pleasant rural wanderings. Instead we did a loop along the shore road and back by a more sheltered one and went into Morrison's for such delights as butter, the local paper and some Fisherman's Friends. I thought I wouldn't make it back up the hill - this post-viral hangover is the pits.

And that was that, really. I made a nice dinner (confit duck legs, roast potatoes, broccoli, strawberries) after which I sat down in front of Humans and woke up after the News. And now it's after midnight and I'm still here. The photo was taken along George Street - the road parallel to the coast road - where all these jolly-looking barriers have been strewn around like Lego. I'm not sure what they were guarding, but it looks like serious kit. Electricity? 

Who knows...