Heyday

One a day is great... but couldn't resist sharing a few more for today

Please take a peek in the TEMP Folio (which I'll probably delete in a few days)
Have oulined the other shots below

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I'd only JUST convinced myself to forego the amazing, long awaited sunshine and tackle a backlog of work, plus a ton household chores, when there was a knock on the door.

Some dastardly Picnic planners had arrived in town to lure me out with promises of barefoot dancing, wine, song and other delights (which later transpired to be tomatoes on the vine, blue cheese and um, some pastry things...???!!!)

I suspect that having enthused about it in an earlier phone call, they were really only after the home made Baklava given to me yesterday by culinary genius HERE
(who incidentally has just posted their 300th Blip - Congratulations !)

That treat was only saved from being devoured on the train journey home due to being too deliciously sticky to attempt to eat with any decorum in a crowded sweaty train carriage


These ruthless pranksters weren't taking no for an answer (on the Baklava front at least) and since we came as a package, the Baklava and I headed off into the wild blue yonder not knowing what fate lay in store (but hoping for a sandwich or two)

First we sauntered down the High St and saw a cute (there is no other word!) group who were making a film - or rather had just stopped filming
Tartan clad is an understatement!
A quick CLAD IN PLAID shot was taken

After that, we strolled on through Holyrood Park, stopping briefly at St Margarets Loch where I caught the GULL DOING A BACKFLIP as it reached for a bite of food.
Not the sharpest image but great acrobatics

Continuing on up the winding path to Dunsapie Loch.we turned a corner just in time to see the valiant but failed attempt to get airborne taking place on a hill.
WE DO NOT HAVE LIFT OFF

The sight of it...so much effort in the baking heat
It was one of those moments where you don't want to laugh...and the more you try to suppress it ... ?
A wave of hysterics just crept over all of us, so...we moved swiftly along.
(hope they succeeded later)

Best viewed large to see the chap at bottom of pic - who didn't quite hit the ground running


Finally we arrived at Dunsapie and enjoyed a glorious picnic (sticky fingers and all ) on the bank of the loch.

Ambling further along the loch in the glorious sunshine we came closer to where the swans nest is moored

The nest is positioned in the loch so as not to be easily disturbed.
This makes viewing quite distant - thought I'd caught sight of some cygnets beside the swan but it was hard to tell
Fortunately I had the long lens with me and could see a baby swan snuggled in beside her.

At that moment, the swan got up (in all previous visits I'd only ever seen her sitting on the nest ) and revealed that not only were there three cygnets, there were also eggs in the nest.
After fussing over the eggs for several minutes she entered into the water followed by the three babies.
It was like she was the proud Mama, doing a lap of honour, showing off her offspring.
One of the cygnets didn't seem too enamoured to be in the water and at first tried to clamber up on the swan very funny to see.
Eventually, with plenty encouraging noises from the swan, they seemed to sail along just fine.

At this point I did something idiotic with the camera focus
(the picnic Pimms well known alchoholic summertime drink- may have had something to do with it.
All the shots of them swimming on the loch came out badly.

After their little outing they returned to the nesting bay and I managed some shots of them there.

View large to see the eggs in the nest.
I counted at least four.

Seeing all this, our picnickers plates were now full so to speak and we started to head back to town.

Setting off over the hills and almost out of the park we were suddenly met with loads of bubbles floating towards us!
Set against the clear blue sky and being so unexpected it was simply magical

When we turned round the corner of the hill we saw the source of this wonder - a group of bubble luvvies high up on top of one of the crags

Heres a glimpse of them in BUBBLES OF LURVE
Best viewd large

A brilliant end to our picnic in the park.

(ok, didn't "protest too much" to getting out in the sun. very happy to have gone astray today. Great company, thanks guys)


On a less enthusiastic note regarding creatures... the mouse - who I thought had b****red off - has been running riot while I've been typing
drat and double drat!!!