Original title: Scotland decides
I am sharing this photo to mark the Scottish Independence Referendum today. This is Leith, Edinburgh, on the fine and peaceful evening of Friday 30th May 1997, which also happened to be my birthday. Personally, I hope that a majority of the Scottish electorate will decide to keep the Union and vote "No". I also hope that the outcome - whatever the result - will prove to be a positive one, both for Scotland and for the other three constituents of our present-day United Kingdom.
Tags: Leith Edinburgh Scotland Great Britain UK 1997 quayside evening reflection dock film scan transparency 35mm 19970623_05-102 Explore 19/09/2014 #5
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The photograph shows a detail of a corner of the telephone exchange building at Friar's Lane in Inverness, Scotland.
This imposing stone-faced building on a prominent site in the city centre was constructed in 1949, which was a time during which very few new buildings were erected in Britain, due to post-war material shortages. The message conveyed, to me at least, was that the provision of such a facility was considered important by the state as part of its reconstruction efforts.
Encountering the impressive sight of the Highlands and Islands Telephone Exchange, as it was then called, is one of the clearest memories I have from my brief visit to Inverness in 1976.
Photograph made Friday 23rd July 2021.
Tags: Inverness Highland Scotland Great Britain UK 2021 Telephone Exchange post-war reconstruction architecture Covid-19 pandemic 20210723_4492-101
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Here is a new addition to my occasional series showing record and music shops. This one is at 49 Church Street in Inverness, Scotland.
I have to say that music, both in its recorded and live forms, has provided me with considerable solace over the last few horrible days.
Photograph made on Friday 23rd July 2021.
Tags: The Music Shop Church Street Inverness Scotland Great Britain UK 2021 backpackers Covid-19 pandemic 20210723_4493-101_border
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Looking out across Oban harbour at 21:52 on Monday 17th June 2024.
Tags: Oban Harbour Argyll and Bute Scotland Great Britain UK 2024 20240617_9848-201 Dummy tag
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Down there at the water's edge is the Loch Ossian youth hostel, on Rannoch Moor in the western Highlands of Scotland. This view is from the stony path that leads to Corrour railway station.
I stayed here on the night of 18th June 2024 and, whilst a little out of my usual comfort zone, it proved to be a memorable and life-affirming experience. The last time I had spent a night in a youth hostel had been almost exactly 40 years earlier, when I was technically still a 'youth'.
It's unlikely I'll ever find a more peaceful and contemplative place than this.
Tags: Loch Ossian youth hostel Rannoch Moor Corrour Estate Highland Scotland Great Britain UK 2024 20240619_9959-203_border Dummy tag
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