atp's photostream  

I'm guessing that we all have days at work where we feel we're being treated like sheep... herded around, being told what to do...

Today it was the turn of the sheep to have their way. These chops-in-training escaped from their field and blocked the road that I take to get to the motorway. And since the lady in front of me refused to try driving through the flock, I had no option but to turn tail and get to the motorway by another route.

The bridge here is where the Union Canal crosses the road. You can see the white bars on the bridge that indicate a standard vehicle width - what you cannot see is that the height of the bridge at that point is a mere six foot six - I think that's the lowest "low bridge" sign I've seen... I know people who are taller than that!

I could now take up loads of space talking about the symbolism of emerging from somewhere into something else.

But I won't. Because my trousers are covered in mud and leaves, and I need to go and wash 'em!

Every Saturday morning, at 0930, Falkirk Parkrun takes place.

This is 5km timed run, free to enter. It is organised by a core team who put in a huge amount of work to keep it going, helped out by volunteers from the community of runners that take part. Normally over a hundred runners come along and kick-start their weekend by pounding the paths and trails through this beautiful park.

And this activity is repeated across the country - see www.parkrun.org.uk for more information.

Today was no exception. Even the cold didn't stop there from being a great turnout. I was hoping to beat my previous PB of 24:05... I must have been very close to it, and shall be waiting for the results with some interest.

Thank you to everyone involved in running Parkrun, it's great fun!

These trees were photographed at the edge of Loch Ellrig.

You may not have heard of Loch Ellrig. In spite of having lived in the Falkirk area for seventeen years, I certainly hadn't heard of it, but I found it on Google maps. It's a little way due south of Falkirk, it's an 18 hectare loch, and it seems to be totally hidden from the roads that pass it. It's deep inside a farm and you would never be aware of it unless you were looking for it.

This afternoon, I went looking for it. In normal clothes. I should have been wearing hiking gear! I plunged through muddy puddles, gorse and bracken and heaven knows what I stood on to get to the western end of the loch. And by the time I got there, the light was all-but gone.

Then I turned around and saw the sunset through these trees, and knew immediately that this was going to be today's photo. Luckily, I didn't mess up the shot, so here it is! Loch Ellrig trees.

Not the most exciting of titles!

One of the things I love about my car is its huge panoramic sunroof - it really does feel as if you are driving in the open air (except that it's warm and cosy!)

This morning, the sunroof was covered in ice - and I loved the swirly patterns the ice made on the roof!