To the Lighthouse

A thoroughly enjoyable day, into which we packed many activities.  This is the lighthouse at Fraserburgh, now part of the National Scottish Museum of Lighthouses.  The mechanism which makes the light turn is controlled by weights on these chains, which run from top to bottom through the stair well - just like a big clock.  The lighthouse keeper had to be careful that the winding up of the weights every 20 minutes did not clash with the topping up of the paraffin every 15 minutes (or something like that) - otherwise the light would go out, or it wouldn't turn at the right speed for ships to identify which light it was.  A fascinating tour, and all the more poignant as lighthouses are fast all becoming museum pieces.  Who needs a lighthouse, when you have an iPhone and a satellite.  Sigh.

You can see Elsie, and almost Hannah, peering into the abyss.  They did much better with the height than I did.  We got to go right up and onto the outside platform round the top, which I wasn't happy about, but wasn't prepared to wimp out of.  Sigh, again.