From a rail journey down eastern England. I liked the way the “old” mature tree contrasted with the “new” technology of the power station. Watercolour in a small watercolour Moleskine

A 5 minute drawing to describe two thousand years. Watercolour on a watercolour Moleskine

Trees – Cavendish Square, London. Ink, Watercolour & Inktense Pencils on a Watercolour Moleskine.
I was surprised to see so many leaves still on the trees but I suppose we were a good few hundred miles south of Scotland. The further south we travelled the more magnificent the trees became. Hope this wee drawing has done them justice.

Westminster Bridge and “Big Ben” – Saturday 13th December. Ink/watercolour on a watercolour Moleskine.
This was worked up, later on, from a sketch done in the most amazing rain when we were in London for a family wedding the next day. The drawing does no justice to the wet conditions but it was SO WET that folk were chucking themselves in the River Thames to dry off.

South of Ratho towards the East Pentland Hill – Experimenting with watercolour and acrylics in a watercolour Moleskine

Common Haggis. Ink on a watercolour Moleskine.

This is a drawing of the common haggis. These shy wee creatures are very rarely seen as they have almost been hunted to extinction. The recent cold weather, however, has meant that they are venturing further afield in search for food. They became popular when Robert Burns wrote a famous address to a “Pudding” made from boiled haggis and many fear, as the 250th anniversary of the poet’s birth approaches, on January 25th 2009, that the beasties will be further decimated. To this end, a vegetarian variation is being promoted but “traditionalists” claim that it doesn’t taste the same. Haggis’ are being driven from their natural habitat and many sightings have been made outside Scotland even as far away as parts of the USA where surreptitious agencies seem to have introduced breeding pairs to that country. One National newspaper has even gone so far as to offer prizes for authenticated sightings ( http://haggishunt.scotsman.com/)

Those who are cruel to snowmen should be afraid – VERY, VERY AFRAID!!!

(playing around with mad ideas) Ink/watercolour on a watercolour Moleskine

Woods on the edge of our village – Ink on a small watercolour Moleskine

These woods contain many mature trees but kindly people have planted hundreds of small saplings amongst them, as an investment for the future. Folk after my own heart. Question? “When is the best time to plant a tree?” Answer! “Twenty years ago.”

Is the course open? – Ink on a watercolour Moleskine.

Wandering round the local golf course, the other day, To look at some of the magnificent trees there. I was amazed to hear someone ask if the course was open for play. Aye, some of us Scots are a hardy, if somewhat stupid, race.

Winter Scene, Evening – Ink on a watercolour Moleskine

The temperature is about -4C in this scene which is almost tropical compared with the overnight low of -8C. This group of trees is well known, locally, for many badger sets but the clever wee devils are probably fast asleep, well underground. The doctors say I will probably regain the feeling in my legs in a few weeks when all of this snow will be a distant memory.