Red bramble

On this glorious autumn day I was feeling a tad sorry for myself - a cold hovering, making me less than energetic - but decided that sitting around in house or even in the garden was going to make things worse. So fairly late in the afternoon we drove out to Ardentinny for a short walk along the shore, a risk as the days get shorter in this north-east facing village. But the sun was still on the beach and on much of the path, and it turned out to be a really good choice for reviving the spirits if not the flagging energy.

I was, however, energised by this amazing solitary bramble branch, its vivid red standing out against the calm waters of Loch Long. In the background is the submarine pen where our nuclear submarines go when they need their MOT, below the hillside with the watchtowers and the missile depots.

Somehow, the redness seemed symbolic...