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The Sun Has Got His Hat On (Hip Hip Hip Hooray)!

What a beautiful morning here in Clydebank.
The sun is out and just behind the church at Three Queen's Square (that's the church and church tower behind the trees) the yachts are on the canal, along with Mr & Mrs Swan proudly showing off their 7 cygnets.

I know it is a day early... but I have even looked out my shorts!!!

Summer is here... for a day at least!

A wee (but important) change.

For those who have been skipping our 'Landing Page' lately please note that there is a subtle change in the wording. To go back to it just click on 'HOME' in the Menu Bar!

And for more go to 'INTIMATIONS THIS WEEK' in the Menu Bar.

GOOD NEWS!

SPRING FAYRE 2014

Well folks, after weeks of planning, our Summer Fayre has come and gone and all we need to do now is clear away the remaining debris from what was an EXCELLENT day of fun and laughter, even if it was slightly dampened at times by the weather.

On the day we collected over £2,000... and money is still coming in.
This is a wonderful sum of money by any standards and certainly needed if we are to meet our ever increasing costs.

Although it must be said that church events are a great way of bringing people together, it also has to be remembered that perhaps those in charge of church finances could enjoy the fayres even more if we hadn't to rely on them to keep ourselves 'afloat'. We all dug deep at yesterday's fayre and our office bearers are very thankful for that. However, if everyone dug that wee bit deeper every Sunday, then the treasurer and the rest of the finance team could get that well earned sleep AND enjoy their roll and sausage on the day of the fayre!

Anyway, (end of sermon!) as you will see from the pics, now added under "Spring Fayre 2014" in the photo Albums below right, everyone enjoyed themselves on the day, so what more can you ask?

WELL DONE ONE AND ALL - AND A VERY BIG 'THANK YOU!' FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS.

 

Remember!!! ...

I to the hills will lift mine eyes...

The Trossachs Church at Loch Achray, with Ben A'an top left...

 Just a short distance along the forest drive from where we think we saw an Osprey.

We are so lucky...

My good lady and I have just returned from a wee overnight stay at the Lake of Menteith.

Yesterday was 'so so' weather wise, but the morning we woke up to, today, was out of this world.

Over one of the best breakfasts that I have ever eaten, we counted out more than 24 small boats, off to see what they could catch in the loch... sorry, lake.

We were then treated to the sight of a lone swan chasing a goose, just because it had drifted into what the swan saw as his domain. Judging by the distance over which the chase took place, the swan obviously thought that the whole lake belonged to him (or her!). However, the goose always seemed to stay one paddle out of harm's way & so lived to fight another day, with one final short flight out of the water and on to dry land.
While out and about we were also priviledged to spot a Red Squirrel. only the third that I have seen in the wild.

However, while taking in the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park "3-Loch Forest Drive" we came across a spot that, bathed in the morning sunshine, was my idea of heaven on earth. As we stopped a while to take in the magificent view I noticed a large bird spiraling on a thermal over the western end of Loch Venacher. It was just a wee bit out of my lense's normal comfort zone, but I did manage to get a few shots. My thought is that it is an Osprey. Can anyone confirm from the wee pic attached?

Anyway, whatever it was it was lovely to watch its effortless flight and I couldn't help but think how lucky we are, here on the doorstep of Scotland's largest city... but with only an hour's drive to some of the most wonderful scenery and wildlife in the world.

We are SO lucky!

 

Why were you not at church???

The "MacDonald Girls" were off on a good cause this morning, taking part in the 5K 'Race for Life' fun run at Glasgow Green. All three finished feeling good and in the process have so far raised about £350.  

WELL DONE!... and we will forgive you for not being at church if you promise to go for 10K next time!

If you would like to donate just go HERE or HERE!