On the way out from IJmuiden as well as the windsurfers (see previous posts) we passed a fortified island, which is named Fortress Island.

I assume the fortifications were built by the Germans during World War 2 as part of their Atlantic Wall.

Industrial IJmuiden in the background:-

A bit further on. I can’t decide if the rectangular array is a set of solar panels. I think it must be, so obviously a much later addition:-

Are the serrated things in this view tank traps?

More from our trip to The Netherlands last year.

Canalside (former?) warehouse. Roof under repair:-

Closer view. Note circular company information:-

Old building. Looks like 1641!

Modern Fountain:-

Hanging garden. Wisteria:-

Boat in a courtyard:-

In a Dutch town you’re never far from a load of bikes:-

A few buildings in Drachten I missed first time round.

Art Deco style brickwork on this:-

Typical old Dutch style:-

Modern bungalow type house but flat-roofed:-

Another more modern style house:-

I also spotted this neat multi-child trolley being trundlied across the town square:-

Scotland win by 6 runs.

Over England. In a form of cricket, a game which England invented, at which England are at present the best in the world.

(Well, not now. Now Scotland are surely unofficial World Number 1 in One Day International cricket.)

This is a stunning result, as far as I know the first win Scotland has had over England in any form of cricket.

It shouldn’t be a surprise. Cricket is not really alien to Scotland. There are many practitioners of the art throughout the country. (I was one myself once, playing not only for my school but also for Dumbarton Cricket Club way back in the day. Not in any great capacity; I was only really there to make up the numbers. My proud boast though is that I never scored a duck when batting for the club.)

But back in the nineteenth century Scottish cricket matches used to attract crowds in the 10,000s. J M Barrie (of Peter Pan fame) used to be a member of a travelling cricket side known as the Allahakberries. (Possibly not a name you could get away with these days.)

It’ll be a heady day or two until normal service is resumed.

I ended up behind this van while wending my way through south Perth and Kinross, while travelling north on the A 912 in March 2017.

I didn’t know the Pasadena Roof Orchestra was still going.

I see some overprivileged bloke who got married today has been granted the somewhat unlikely title of Earl of Dumbarton, which means his wife will be Countess of Dumbarton.

My first reaction on hearing this was that the local earldom was surely that of Lennox; but it seems they are still going, only elevated to Dukes, so that title wasn’t vacant.

A quick piece of Googling showed that there have in the past been two Earls of Dumbarton (see upper link above) but the last of them died in 1749 so making the title available.

I wonder what the new Earl and Countess will make of the place should they ever deign to visit.

And does his title make the new Baron Kilkeel (not to mention Duke of Sussex) an honorary Son of the Rock? Or his wife, Lady Kilkeel (and Duchess of Sussex,) an honorary daughter thereof?

I look forward to them turning up at the Rock for a game, but I shan’t hold my breath.

Pedant’s corner:- On the (utterly sycophantic) BBC television coverage of said nuptials I heard Huw Edwards refer to “Lord Lieutenants”. Tut, tut, Mr Edwards. Standards at the BBC used to be so much higher. Lieutenant here is an adjective descriptive of the Lord concerned. The plural you were so vainly seeking is “Lords Lieutenant”.

Somebody still hopeful in Doune. Yes and EU flags. They had a Catalan flag too the next time I passed.

Willows Deli, Doune. We’ve had lunch there a few times. They do evening meals as well:-

On the wall of the cafe at The Birks Cinema, Aberfeldy:-

I like the rustling comment.

The other notice is less unusual:-

Pedant’s corner:- I note independant above (independent.)

On the way back fom Skye we took a detour to go to Plockton on Loch Carron. The road took us through the village of Duirinish.

The locals think nothing of letting their livestock roam the (one, very narrow) street.

Both Highland cattle and sheep made driving through it a little precarious. In the link above is a great photograph of the village with cattle in the burn.

After Plockton and on the way back to our hotel we encountered a family of highland cattle more or less blocking the road. They seemed to be going home for the night. The woman in the other car had stopped for a photo opportunity.

I tried to nudge past them but had to stop sharpish as the female cow didn’t take too kindly to me getting near her offspring.

The joys of rural driving!