Chloe Cat!

She was so old and fragile it was only a matter of time before this day would arrive.

Goodbye my little buddy.

Britannia Panopticon

I recently had a great day out with my close friend, Mavis, in Glasgow. After a wander around the galleries within Trongate 103 and a wee cuppa in Cafe Cossachok we ventured out to speak to a man wearing a top hat and monacle. He enticed us into the old playhouse, Britannia Panopticon, with the promise of silent movies and a live band (no admittance charge but donations welcome at the end).

This theatre is the oldest music hall in the UK (possibly the world) and is famous for the debut performances of Stan Laurel and Jack Buchanan.
I'm not sure how often it opens up to the public but I would definitely recommend a visit. It was fantastic, even if you do have to wear more clothes inside to keep warm.

The Britannia Panopticon as it looks today.

Silent movies inside the theatre (with a live band)

You can read more about this marvelous building at the Britannia Panopticon Website and The Theatres Trust.

Whales

Several times I have been caught out by the surfers in the Bay of Skaill masquerading as whales. Hunched over in their black wetsuits making a triangular shape atop their white boards, moving in and out of the water like a sea creature.
Each time I would run for the binoculars, holding my breath with excitement, only to be let down when I look through the lenses.

There has twice been sightings of a pod of Orca whales around the Orkney Islands in the time that I have been working up here. Both times I was actually at work and one of those times the whales were actually in the bay. I had only just left Skara Brae site and entered the visitor centre (where the bay cannot be seen) when I was told about them. I can't believe I had just missed them. Sigh!

Oh well. There's always next year.