Novembrrrr....

The air temperature was 6C when we left the house for our walk this morning, chilled further by a brisk westerly wind and frequent sharp rain showers, so we didn't envy....

....this creel fisherman at work close inshore. The boat's the Wick-registered WK16, Star Devine, very likely working out of Brora. Most of the other boats, including the remaining two smaller boats based in Golspie, are already out of the water for the winter, so this boat currently shares these waters with only one other, a similarly-sized red-painted boat. Judging by the paucity of strandings along Golspie beach, I can't believe the fishing is that great.

In the face of November's chilly temperatures nature is locking down, the last leaves falling from the trees and the wildflowers dying back - though, as always, there are exceptions, like this campion in full bloom in the woods by Dunrobin Castle - and, as always....

....there are the world's optimists, like this green bud on a shoot growing out of an old sycamore stump.