I don't know about you lovely people, but winter is freezing my buttocks off. Robert Louis Stevenson hit the nail on the head in his Edinburgh: Picturesque Notes: "But Edinburgh pays cruelty for her high seat in one of the vilest climates under heaven. She is liable to be beaten upon by all winds that blow...The weather is raw and boisterous in winter...and a downright meteorological purgatory in the spring".
Quite frankly, I'm tired of walking the streets with eyes forced shut, and living in a place with no central heating, (yes, you read that correctly) the thought of killing, gutting and sleeping inside a horse for warmth is tantalisingly pleasant. However, given the huge amount of public outcry such a heinous act would cause, I will just have to settle for the good old act of reminiscence. More specifically, a nice warm autumnal day I spent in Gullen. Imagine me, if you will, me with a parrot on my head (warmest spot in the entire flat, lucky thing), making grumbling noises while I'm wrapped up in a duvet and fleece with cold fingers tapping away at this keyboard while occasionally taking a sip from a Thermos flask. My heater keeps my room at a just bearable if not fluctuating 10c. Hardcore is the word that comes to mind.
It was the first time I had been there and my good friend Holly had been bashing on about it. We took the bus, which was a fantastic journey. We got the front top right seat on a double decker. Anybody who has an inner child knows what a huge amount of fun this is. So, with headphones shared and the sun shining through the glass, warming our faces, we were on our way. If there is one thing I would emphatically recommend it would be to take the bus, from Edinburgh to Gullen, on a warm autumnal day. You will not regret it. The whole hour we were on the bus, there was never a dull sight. The tree tops (which we were driving though, being up top in a double decker were ablaze with every shade of orange and red you could imagine and being at the front gives you a panoramic view) I couldn't take my eyes of the moving scenery. Even when I was having a conversation.
When we arrived at Gullen, I stepped off the bus and was hit with the silence. No cars, bustling crowds of people or pneumatic drills. I had been transported to another world that didn't offend every one of my senses, but in fact, did the opposite. The silence soothed my ears which are accustomed to the barrage of noisy people, cars and buses and construction. My nose was grateful for the country air, no walking in the wake of smokers and no horrendous bus fumes being blowing in my face. I am of a soft constitution as you can probably tell. The sun was beginning to set and it was making everything look amazingly otherworldly. I have never seen light quite like it. It was the kind of light that caressed and softened everything.
It was quite the walk to the beach, but a very scenic walk. Once we arrived at the beach, it wasn't at all crowded. So the photography commenced and once that was done, we sat and enjoyed the glorious sunset.
The bus journey home was made in the dark.