It's beginning to look a lot like......

....CHRISTMAS!  Even though the calendar still insists it's autumn, I'm thinking the weather has decided it's time for winter.  All the trees have simultaneously sneezed off their leaves and are looking rather bare :(

Last night was the official Christmas lights switch on in Inverness  - an event and performances to count down to the turning on of all the Christmas lights in the city.  City hall was all lit up and there was even a visit from Bjorn the Polar Bear and of course the man in the red suit.  

 


City Hall looking like a fairytale castle

 



This is his 'official' photo...I'm sure
some of the children were convinced!



Bjorn the Polar Bear...hard to get a good pic of him!





I've never really thought about it, but Christmas lights make sense in winter...it's dark at 4-5pm, and having sparkly lights is a great way to brighten up dull winter days.  Unlike in Aus where the lights get switched on at 9:30 when it's finally dark and off at 11 when it's bedtime...oh well at least we try!  Here are some bits of Inverness pretty-ness:

Such a beautiful city! 

Thank you random couple for holding hands
and making my photo look all romantic!

The Castle being guarded by reindeer :)

Other than looking at pretty lights, things have been surprisingly busy...I actually worked 5 days last week (3 were half days but that still counts I think)!  Tuesday and Wednesday are the days I do admin at the church...it's supposed to be 16 hours but there is never so much to do so I'm home by lunchtime :)  I'm also teaching PE every Thursday at Farr Primary School, a little 2-class school just outside Inverness.  I love doing this, except that they have no inside space so it's freezing! Last week we spent the first hour or so crunching frost and trying to get warm :(   That leaves Monday and Friday which either end up being rest days (like today) or teaching days if I'm called in.  Not a bad routine I think!

That's enough from me...thanks for reading (that is of course if you didn't just skip the text and look at the pics....shame on you!).  God's blessings on your week :)

Autumn-ness

Autumn is such a beautiful time of year!  There is something special about driving through an archway of orange-leaved trees and having all the beautiful leaves rain down on the car.  Last week I took a day to drive around in search of lovely autumn scenery.  This year is such a blessing...I can't think of another time in life where I've had the time or inclination to devote a day to pretty leaves!  I ended up in beautiful Glen Affric National Park.  Here are some favourite snaps:



Loch Ness looking very misty....no chance of spotting Nessie!
 



One day of autumn photography juist wasn't enough, so on the next blue-sky day I went for a walk to the cemetery...a bit morbid, but it's a very pretty cemetery with a lovely hill in the middle and lots of autumn trees!

Aside from autumn leaves, a lot of other exciting things happen this time of year as well.  One of those is halloween!  I can't say I'm a fan of celebrating halloween, but over here it is much bigger than in Aus, and since it originally comes from Scotland, i decided to make an exception this year!  Besides, there were so many pumpkins just waiting to be carved.....



Pumpkin carving is quite gruesome...

My cute pumpkin lantern :)

Bregtje's pumkin, Emma's pumpkin and my pumpkin :)

And finally, to end a rather full blog post, some pics from Guy Fawkes bonfire night!  We just drove down to Bught Park to watch the fireworks and poor Guy go up in flames :(




Poor little Guy....I could almost hear his cries for help...

I'm really enjoying this time of year, not only for it's lovely colours but also because I know my time here is nearly up and I want to make the most of every moment!  I'm doing some supply teaching and admin work at the church but also enjoying the fact that it's ok for now to sleep in, get up go for a walk and just see what comes for the day.  I never want to take this for granted....it's such a time of blessing!