Tractor parade

Another day of appalling weather, with higher winds in Tain itself than yesterday. I went to Shandwick with a small number of other people and the wind was so strong, coming directly over the peninsula and blowing offshore, that it was hard to keep one's belongings under control. None the less, five of us braved the North Sea, staying strictly in our depth and enjoying ten minutes of cold water therapy. The swell was not bad at all - much lower than earlier in the week, doubtless because of the westerly winds. I had a burst of energy afterwards, and came home and made an enormous chilli that will do several meals and already did us a tasty Sunday lunch.

We ate at lunchtime, as we were supposed to be going out to the Invershin hotel for a concert, but honestly the weather was too foul, so we stayed home and made mince pies using Mr A's freshly made whisky mincemeat (definitely veggie). But later, A and N came round for drams and said mince pies, and three of us popped down to the bottom of the road to watch the festive tractor parade go past along Academy Street. It went all over the town, and we heard it nearly an hour later coming back along Moss Road above the house. We don't think it has run during the two winters we have been staying in Tain at Christmas and New Year, but it seemed to be quite a success today. Even though it was absolutely pouring down and the wind was still quite blustery, there were lots of vehicles out (although mainly the larger ones where the drivers were sitting in the dry and warm comfort in their cabs and presumably using the computer to drive their vehicles), and doubtless people out all over time waving them past. I felt sorrier for those on the old fashioned tractors who had absolutely no protection from the wind. The Tain Gala association is hoping to make it an annual event. Anyway, individually these photos are rubbish - given the tricky conditions and the fact the vehicles were moving quite fast - but together they give a sense of the parade.