ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Saturday 19 January 2013

BELLY UP. (19/01/13)

I left Edinburgh for a town in the borders. Biggar caravan site was shut. I like Biggar, I spent a few years there about twenty years ago and enjoyed my life within it’s community. I was due to meet an old friend and fellow sailor. It has cost us both a small fortune in mobile phone charges organising this reunion. Perhaps it’s fate. People change in twenty years and had we had anything seriously in common then we would have kept in touch. If I recall our alcohol consumption accurately then the change of fortune will have done my liver a favour.

I carried on south and ended up in Moffat. According to the tourist board it is the jewel in the Borders crown. I have no fond memories of it. I have had a quick wander round and will retrace my steps tomorrow. I don’t want to give the impression the place is a dump but like all communities that rely on tourism. The locals are bandits and rely on the fact that folk will get ripped off today and different people will get robbed tomorrow.

The van exhaust is perfectly bodged. I have twice tried to start the engine whilst it was running, the van is running like a watch….a digital watch no less!

I am ashamed of my bigotry so will have a wander tomorrow and try and do the town and it’s road works justice.

It’s snowing a bit but nothing to write about.

IMG_0004_5_6_tonemapped_edited-1 St Andrew’s Church Moffat. There were folk inside so I left them to their rituals. Tomorrow is Sunday. Can’t see me getting inside then!

IMG_0007_8_9_tonemapped_edited-1  It’s not a bad place.

IMG_0001_2_3_tonemapped_edited-1Al Fresco dining is available here three hundred and sixty five days a year, I  couldn’t decide whether they are idle or optimists. I’ll investigate further tomorrow.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

23 comments:

  1. Great photos and read, that last pic looks as if somebody has painted it. Enjoy your weekend.


    peter

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    1. All are HDR Peter. Anything to brighten a dull and dismal day. I used to be able to make the Oly sing. I'll get there with Canon.

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  2. Even with the van in stealth mode the good folk of Moffat must have heard of your imminent arrival Adrian...there's not one to be seen!! I can just imagine the slamming of doors and the closing of blinds when walked down the street!!

    Great images considering the flatness of the light. Good luck with the exploring tomorrow!...[;o)

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    1. Should have been...when you walked down the street....[;o)

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    2. Trevor,, pulling has never been a problem. The dogs do that.
      I'm down your way back end of April and should have on the truck a magical MPEEE! 65mm lens for you to play with..Piss about with, feel free. Be interesting for Hairy on cropped frame.
      PS Even in a bad mood I shouts 'I can see you'. Rids the buggers quick sticks!

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  3. Nice to have a pint and a meal in Moffat. (ps: I crop everything or nearly everything).

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    1. Thanks for that Bob. It makes your pictures what they are. They are the best and cropping crap still means very good in your case. You never crop crap. I will be down Milton Keynes way back end of April so if you fancy a try on a daft lens then give us a shout. I can wander your way to the M6 and thence back to normality as easy as taking the M1. I just love prime lenses.

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  4. Slowly but surely I'm getting addicted to your blog, Mr. A :)

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    1. Cat...be careful madness is just round the corner.

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  5. I hope you find some interest there tomorrow Adrian. Not heard of the place before.
    Mind you, it does look a bit better than Milton Keynes.

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  6. Looks like a neat place to poke around. I'm sure we''ll see some good stuff tomorrow. With tourist traps we just have to say no.
    We have a town called Biggar. Now i know where the name came from.

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    1. Red....I was just out of sorts...roadworks apart it is not a bad town.

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  7. Hi Adrian...Just read your last few post I have not
    gotten to, and realize how I miss your post, I never read one with out oohing over your photos and having a good laugh over your chatter!!
    Sometimes even you replies to comment are a good laugh to ; }
    Take care and be easy on the town folks! ; }
    Grace

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    1. Grace, I'm glad that i keep you amused.
      I will be good.

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  8. If you're in Moffat then you have to hunt out the Moffat Toffee shop, and buy some Moffat Toffee. They are boiled sweets that taste like toffee apples. They really are the one highlight of a trip through Moffat. If I remember correctly the shop is just by the statue of the sheep so shouldn't be too hard to find.

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    1. Mark, I'm not a sweet eater but e-mail your address and I'll post you some.

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  9. A touch of snow does add something to pictures even if it's nothing to write about... :)

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    1. Monica, looking at the forecast there is a lot more to come this week. My next stop was to be in the back of beyond so I'll probably stay here a while.

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  10. They must be upmarket bandits - their hideout is prettier than most. Hope you enjoy it more the second time around.

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    1. Pauline, they are posh vagabonds. They say thank you having robbed one blind.

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  11. If you are into the old jars of loose sweets there is a wonderful sweet shop called the Moffat Toffee Shop on the right going North near the bottom of the main street. They used to have proper dolly mixtures. Wonderful. I don't have a sweet tooth but the nostalgia (second time I've used that word on your blog this evening) overwhelms me.

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    1. I don't eat many sweets Graham. I have offered to post your nephew-in-law some toffees that taste of apple.

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