A sighting!
I was beginning to think I was the last person in Edinburgh to see one of our new trams. Work colleagues have been cheerfully announcing as they arrive in the morning, "Saw a tram on my way in", my son was nearly run over by one this week, and blogs and Twitter have bristled with tram photos.
But yesterday, there it was, advancing silently towards me at the end of the line in York Place. I was the only person taking a photo, which confirmed my view that everyone else had seen plenty of trams already. Or perhaps it was the weather. Have a look at the photo again - dark, wet, cars with full headlights on. 8.30 am, in April. For the past week we've been shrouded in haar, that chill fog that rolls in from the North Sea on an Easterly wind. Midway through the week it also started to rain. Fog and rain - welcome to Spring! I took a photo of the utter greyness on my walk in to work - Edinburgh Castle is just visible at the left of the shot, and that was in a brighter spell.
You might think this wooden fencing is painted a fresh, leaf green, but it's whatever it is that grows when wood is permanently damp - lichen/moss?
If there is a bright side to all this wet, it's the patterns the rain makes running down tree trunks. I now have a large collection of tree trunk photos from my walk to work. I did get some strange looks as I photographed yet another tree, but thankfully most people were too enclosed in hoods and brollies to notice.
April is the cruellest month indeed. More water images, and T. S. Eliot, in my next post.
Good morning Linda,
ReplyDeleteWow, those trams are bigger than I imagined they would be, and perhaps a little less romantic, but I suppose this is the modern age eh? I like your idea of photographing water on wood, some very interesting images to be had, and I look forward to your next post......and T S Eliot! Have a good weekend.
They are very big, Gary. Compared to trams in some European cities, which negotiate really small medieval streets! It has limited where they can run in Edinburgh - and of course we're built on a series of hills. But then again, I've been on trams in Oslo which have taken hills in their stride.
DeleteI love every one of these photos. Call me weird but this is the best of Britain in my eyes. Imagine living somewhere where none of this happened. Only blue skies, sunny days, relentless heat. I can't think of anything worse. I love our grey days, our foggy days, frosty, rainy, cold, sunny. We get it all here. I lived in the USA for 8 years. Where I was there were only 2 seasons, summer and winter. I missed all of the above, all the changes. I know, I'll shut up now. You would miss it, trust me.
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Actually, after I'd written this post I went and looked out of the window and saw the tiniest glimpse of blue sky. And I thought - I'm glad it's not sunny all the time because then I wouldn't feel such joy at the sight of a patch of blue after days of grey.
DeleteThanks for visiting. I've just popped over to your blog - stunning photos! I'll look forward to spending more time there, but first I have to go out and do the supermarket shop.
I'd swap a day or two of our endless, rainless west winds here in the desert this spring for some of your haar. As for trams, LA finally completed a spanking new line to the university where I worked--just in time for my retirement.
ReplyDeleteSpring is the time that we instinctively long for rain if it's dry, isn't it? Although I can have too much of the rain, if we have a long dry spell in March or April I get a bit worried.
DeleteSorry you missed out on your tram ride to work!
The tram resembles our new subway cars. I always enjoy your pics from your walk to work!
ReplyDeleteNo Canada Goose for me - they are pretty pricey and NEVER go on sale.
I shall tell my daughter to look out for your subway cars - she is making a return visit this summer.
DeleteLast week I saw a child of around 8 bundled up in a Canada Goose coat - think of the price per wear, given how quickly she would grow out of it! It didn't appeal to my Scottish sense of thrift.
It's been snowing here for the past week!!! I actually miss the rain!!! Although is snow is a much better alternative up here!!!
ReplyDeleteRain with snow can be yukky at this time of year. Hope your spring starts soon!
DeleteThat Tram is attractive!
ReplyDeleteYour photos certainly cause my heart to dream of wandering . . . . Thank You!
Wanderlust in the spring - I'm dreaming of the warm south.
DeleteI LOVE SCOTLAND - whatever the weather! 8-)
ReplyDeleteSpoken like a true Scot, Marcheline.
DeleteThe first pic makes me smile. You might know that "trams" in Swedish means something which is laughably stupid.
ReplyDeleteI. didn't know that, Sven. I will ask my husband, who speaks Swedish
DeleteThe tram is quite attractive. Rain here in Kentucky, but likely not as much as you are getting.
ReplyDeleteIt is a good looking tram. The soggy summers in Minnesota meant things were always wet. It is not a good feeling.
ReplyDeleteThey're huge aren't they? You'll have to take a trip on one soon and let us know what it's like. I'm glad I'm not the only one who takes photos of tree trunks - they can be very attractive. Judy.
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