HIGHLAND MARY

Wee business trip to Dunoon today - always a bit nostalgic as I did my secondary schooling here. It was a fine, fine day, but a bit hazy for distance shots so although I had lots of fun with lobster boats, redshanks and snow covered hills, this was the image I chose, because her story moves me and mostly cos I like the wistful turn of her head. I don't think I realised until today that she is facing away from her own folks towards Ayrshire, no doubt in reference to her love for that old philanderer Burns, who probably impregnated her - she certainly died 'of a fever' in Greenock, probably puerperal fever, as evidence of a still birth was found in her coffin.

I used to hang around here as Castle Hill was a favourite 'winching' spot after dances, but maybe we should draw a veil over that one.

Got sunburnt on the boat on the way back. That's February in Scotland for you.