The North Sea at Aberdeen Beach

Yesterday, while I was waiting to meet some friends for a movie, I decided to take some pictures of the North Sea at Aberdeen Beach. The North Sea is very cold. Today was no exception. Although I didn't go into the water (duh!), my hands were freezing in the few minutes of shooting these pictures. I had to go warm up in the car.

Usually you can see some sandy beach here.

The Scottish are tough people.
They go swimming in the North Sea during the summer.
It is pretty dang cold!

How would you like to be on an oil rig in the middle of this?

This is nothing though, compared to the weather at the rigs.

Bud has been on oil rigs in the middle of the North Sea.

 

 This is an older picture of Bud on a rig.

He doesn't get out to them any more.

Thank goodness!

  

 Bud said these waves were about 40 feet high.

You can't tell but these rigs are really high.

He was delayed in getting off the rig because of the weather.

 

Here is a picture of the rig he was on.

Unusually calm!

Enlarge it to get a sense of how large it actually is - imagine 40' waves!

Holland

I understand her pain!

Elgin Cathedral

 

Elgin Cathedral is one of my most favorite places to visit.

(Also read more here.)

  

In this picture you can see the round stone columns that were once support for walls in the cathedral. You can only imagine how huge this place was when it was in its completed state.

  

The sunlight was perfect for taking photos.

The day we visited we  had an unusual sunshiny day, although cold.

We had several snow storms leading up to this day.

  

Although the cathedral is in ruins, it is still very impressive.

  

It was built during the 1200's. I think that is amazing when you consider what tools they had to use back then.

  

Of course, there is a graveyard surrounding the cathedral.

You see a lot of skull and crossbones on the markers.

  

I like this picture and the way the sun picked up the different colors in the stones.

  

This marker is a reminder of how hard life was back then. (Click to enlarge.) Four of their children are buried here, dying at very young ages.  Scottish gravestones generally give a great genealogy of the members buried there. There were also several markers where families had lost several of their sons in battle during WWI & WWII.

  

A lot of moss is growing on the markers.  On this one you can actually read what it says.

Here are the players that day!

 

Mel and her best little buddy waving at mama!

  

My tiny little super guy!

  

Here he is standing at the entrance of the cathedral.

  

My daughter Snort!

  

Snort's friend Melanie.

  

The wee munchkin.

  

  

Arrrgh!  A pirates life for me!

(I don't think these were for pirates though!)

In Memory of Wm. Stephen, Jun. who died February 18, 1833

We drove to Elgin to see the cathedral ruins yesterday.

I came across this memorial.

It says -

Perpetuate

The Memory

of Wm. Stephen

Jun.

Who Died Feb. 18th

1833

Aged 25 Years

Erected

By A Few Of His

Friends

Who Held His

Character

In The Highest 

Esteem.

It just seemed fitting that on the 177th anniversary of his death that perhaps I should recognize him for his great character.  His friends held him in such high regard to create this memorial. I hope we all are of such character that our friends would esteem us with this much devotion.  Here's to friends!

Bathing with Siblings

Remember when you were little

and your mom bathed you with your brothers and/or sisters?

Sometimes you hated it, but it was also really fun -

until you got older and someone reminded you 

that you used to bathe with your sibling.

Then you would deny it!

 

 Well I have proof!

  

These two have mischief written all over their faces!

  

Does she look like she could be 

Gene Wilder or Art Garfunkel's love child?

  

Look at those big eyes.

  

 What a sweet picture - he was looking at his mom.

  

 Why are you trying to drown me?

 Check out those eyelashes . . . and that long hair.

  

 Whew, back to our Wilder/Garfunkel look!

 She still has those sexy legs!

Stuck In Scotland!

What is that car doing in the farmer's field?

 

Hmmm?

  

Yeah, its been stuck there since late fall/early winter.

 

I saw it there after the harvest.

Then it was there through the snow.

Then the plowing.

Then the planting.

Looks like a pretty nice car too.

I wonder if they will have to wait until the three days of summer come

to yank it out of its earthly tomb?

How to clean up your plate after pancakes!

There is an art to eating pancakes,

well maybe an art to cleaning your plate after pancakes.

 

 Look at your plate very closely -

what can you do with a sticky, syrupy plate?

 

Hmmm...

Maybe wear it as a hat?

Bite it?

 

Use it to shield your identity?

  

Wear it as a hat!  Of course, what else would you do!

These were taken back in back in September, 

but I thought they were too cute to pass up.

  

Sunrise in Banchory

 Beautiful Sunday morning sunrise.

  

Feels a little Medieval!