Framedlight

The afternoon being still wet and dull we decided to have a wander around Rothesay. Alan needed some parts anyway to fit back the fridge in the camper van. This had stopped working a few days previously, which didn't matter too much at present as we were in a holiday home, but would be a concern when we went to Mull. He had read that the way to fix a camping fridge was to take it out and place it upside down for 24hours, which would mix the chemical coolant around and it would work again. This he had done, with much panting and heaving in the limited space, but he still needed some hose. Bute Tools, one of those splendid individual hardware shops which stock everything, was the place to go. Rothesay may have had an illustrious past, but in the 50's it had ossified and faded. The main hotel was in the process of being shored up to stop it becoming a danger and the new out of town Co-Op was the only bright spark in the firmament. Infrared again seemed the way to go. The first pi...

Alan had booked two tickets for a day trip on the Waverley, as it was something he had done when he was a kid and he thought his Mum would enjoy it. All three of us could not go as we had Hettie the dog with us, so I elected to stay behind (thinking I would get in nearly a day's photography). It was supposed to be a stormy day but the sea was mill pond flat and there was no rain until late in the afternoon. I went down to the quay in Rothesay to see them off, and took a few pictures and a couple of videos, particularly so I could record the sound of the paddles which is magical. You can see Alan and Rene crossing the gangplank and then in their positions on the boat. The ship was built around 70 years ago  and is the last ocean going working paddle steamer in existence; you can go below decks and see the engine working, a nostalgic experience of brass and oil.