Peter Holmes

We had a day out in the Borders, starting with another visit to the Great Polish Map Of Scotland, which is in the grounds of the Barony Castle in Eddleston. We have been three times before but wondered whether the 'sea' had been painted blue - as Extra 1 shows, it is not blue but there is a water supply. (I apologise for the seamline where two photos were put together, a wide-angle lens would have been useful). Viewing is free, just follow the signs past the castle. Extra 2 is a large (approx, 20cm) fungus growing beneath a cedar tree by the car park, it and others close by create a bowl-shape which collects debris from the tree.

After coffee in the hotel we drove to Selkirk, where Peter Holmes glassmaking studio is now situated, having moved from near Hawick in November 2019. I have other examples of his work, from there and from previous premises as Selkirk Glass (I should blip them sometime...) and wished to see his latest collection. He was most welcoming, giving us a tour of the workshop, we were shown the early stages of his very fine (and collectable) paperweights and discussed other glassmakers old and new, here and abroad, before he signed our modest purchases. 
Well past retirement age, Peter now works with his son Andrew, who also creates large sculptural pieces with glass, sadly rather too impressive for our small suburban garden.

We then headed into the town centre for a spot of lunch and a browse round the shops - here is one of the original Buttercup Dairy shops with all details intact (see extra 3, the tiled entranceway is not in view) which is so rare, owned by the butcher whose shop is opposite.

As the weather was still so fine we took the pretty way across to Galashiels and home by the main roads to join the by-pass at rush hour - which bothered us not one jot.