A bit of a handful

I have a thing about seafood and shellfish in particular, especially if it is still alive when I'm anywhere near it. This did create a bit of a problem when I asked if I could photograph these lobsters but Peter the lobster man was very accommodating. we even discussed the life and times of a lobster in the Forth Estuary while he stood there with his hands full of emasculated crustaceans.

Apparently this is the European variety which is smaller than its Atlantic relatives but tastes much sweeter – so I'm told. I can't verify that as I've never eaten lobster in my life and I'm unlikely to start now. I did ask how long they would survive out of the water and was surprised to learn that it could be up to a week provided they were kept cool enough. He invited me me to feel just how cold the exoskeleton of the lobster was, and I'm very pleased to say I managed it without fainting. As this catch had to be put on ice soon before they overheated I let Peter get on with it. Apart from anything else he was beginning to look a bit red in the sunshine too.

For some reason I couldn't get this song out of my head as we headed back home from Crail.