Each week the Rampant Scotland Newsletter includes a number of photographs which illustrate the weather and the seasons, plus the flora and fauna of the current week around Scotland. This separate "colour supplement" displays some more pictures, in a larger format. Here is this week's crop of Scottish views!
This picture of Edinburgh Castle was taken on Wednesday evening, as the rain swept over the esplanade (castle forecourt) and the wind threatened to blow away my umbrella which was sheltering me and the camera. In those conditions, a tripod was not feasible. So the picture is testimony to the "anti-shake" technology in cameras these days!
When the large Ferris Wheel was first installed in Prince Street Gardens for the festive season some years ago, the gondolas projecting over the pavement - and passing pedestrians - caused safety issues until a temporary roof over the pavement was built. The monument to Sir Walter Scott rises behind the wheel in this picture.
One of the amusements set up to entertain the visitors to Princes Street Gardens at this time of year is this "Helter Skelter". This "British English" term describes a slide built in a spiral around a high tower. Users climb the tower and then slide down, usually on a mat.
In this picture there is a traditional "merry-go-round" in front of the Ferris wheel. The first Ferris wheel (named after a Pennsylvania bridge-builder, George Ferris) was built for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois in 1893.
One of the regular features in Princes Street Gardens is a "German Market" with many stalls selling ornaments, toys, jewellery, food - and models of Bavarian houses.
This is the general view of East Princes Street Gardens, showing the "Winter Wonderland" ice skating rink as well as the other amusements set up to attract visitors to the city centre at this time of year. Despite the wind and rain, there were quite a number of people at the German Market - but few takers for the skating rink or the Ferris wheel!If you want to look back at earlier editions of this Colour Supplement, there is an Index Page
