And it was raining

Rather insanely, we went out a walk today at 4.30pm. It was raining, the mist was down over the hills, and it actually didn't seem reasonable to be going out at all. Nor, to be honest, would most people think it reasonable to go for a hike through Benmore Gardens ten minutes before closing time, but we were assured it was fine and off we went.

I spent the entire walk taking photos in the rain, as one after another the glory of the trees appeared - below us, around us, above us, magically peeping between the dark of the conifers, illuminating the gloom at every turn. This is actually the last photo of the afternoon; we had once more come on the film crew making "Scottish Mussel" around here, and had held a silent exchange with the guard who was keeping anything untoward - like us - out of shot, and we had taken the long way round specially to see how the pond was looking. The golden tree of our last visit is now completely leafless, but I have discarded the pic of the big red bush to use this one, with its contrast of gold and red with the dark water (see the rain splashes?) and the shiny wet wood of the bridge.

And I can't tell you how much better I feel for having gone out...