Haibun: Along the Firth

a black whippet in a winter jacket on the beach at low tide
close up shot of a black whippet in a winter jacket on tidal sands

It has been a worrying weekend for many of us in the Highlands and other tourist destinations. Beauty spots in England, Wales and Scotland were swamped by visitors at a time when everyone has been asked to refrain from non-urgent travel.

This morning the caravan parks have closed and most people are returning home. They have better medical support there than they would have in remote parts of the country.

We can understand that people want to visit their favourite places. If we all work together to flatten the curve, this will soon be possible again.

along the firth
a flow of give and take
in motion

© Xenia Tran

a blue and white whippet in a winter jacket sniffing a large driftwood tree

Update: At 8.30 pm on 23rd March 2020 the UK Government ordered a lockdown in the interest of keeping everyone safe.

We hope you are all safe and well.

Wishing you a peaceful Monday and a beautiful new week,

with love from Eivor, Pearl and Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Camera: Canon Powershot SX60 HS, Settings: f/5.6 – 1/1000 s – ISO 200, f/5 – 1/160 s – ISO 100 and f/5 – 1/1600 s – ISO 200.

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Your Daily Word Prompt: Swamped

Author: whippetwisdom

The stories, poems and photographs on this blog are the original creative work of Xenia Tran. Inspired by life in the Scottish Highlands and in awe of nature she gives voice to the wisdom of her adopted and fostered whippets.

42 thoughts on “Haibun: Along the Firth”

    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Sheree. We are very blessed to live by the sea and have always been happy to have fewer facilities than we would have in a larger community. Some people aren’t thinking clearly at the moment and these are really extraordinary times. We hope you are safe and well 💜 xxx

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  4. Lovely pictures 😍 We had the same problem with an influx over the weekend. Although it’s good to spend time in nature, it has be done sensibly. Wishing you all a peaceful rest of the day 🤗💖🐕xxx

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Cathy and sorry to hear you had an influx too. Hopefully common sense will prevail and people will now realise they have to stay at home. Wishing you a peaceful rest of the day too and much love from our house to yours 🤗💖🐕 xxx

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  6. They closed the beaches and parks here so people had no choice but to leave. Hotels grouped together and decided not to advertise, to help with non-encouragement of tourists. As you say, if we all work together…. Take care and stay safe, Xenia.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Lois and it’s wonderful hotels grouped together. Hopefully we’ll see more of that here soon! You take care and stay safe too and much love from our house to yours 🤗💖🐕 xxx

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  8. Those pictures with the beautiful dogs made my heart soar! As for people crowding to beauty spots…In the U.S., we have saying for that—“Even duct tape can’t cure stupid.” No, it can’t. What. The. Heck.

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    1. Thank you dear Laurie, I’d never heard of that expression before! It seems many visitors don’t know what harm they are doing to themselves and others. Luckily most local people have been following the guidelines and are looking out for one another. Hope you and Clif stay safe and well too 💖 xxx

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  11. It is just gobsmacking. A lot of Brit backpackers and young Aussies have been packing our beaches. There have been quite a few new Covid-19 cases here as a result. Many are probably bored, but this is not the way to behave. Perhaps time to pull out the crosswords, cards etc for some solitary games. Or maybe join in with some of the online gaming communities, if help can’t be offered to charities so desperately in need of (uncontaminated) help.

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    1. Thank you dear Tracy and sorry to hear you have had people crowding the beaches and infecting others. We are likely to have more cases now as a result of all these visitors too and I am very concerned about the impact on the smaller villages with an ageing population. As of 8.30 pm last night the UK has gone into lockdown. It’s the only way to stop the spread and it’s a shame it had to come to this. The roads were full of campervans as if it’s holiday season. At local level everyone is looking out for one another. Hope you and your family continue to stay safe and well 💖 xxx

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  12. Some people are thoughtless because a virus is unseen. We all have to choose one part: be part of the solution or be part of the problem. Greetings from NZ, less than 24 hours from total lockdown.

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    1. Thank you dear Kathleen, we always do our best to be part of the solution and there are sadly many people who don’t realise the consequences this amount of unnecessary travel and dispersion can have on small rural communities. As of 8.30pm last night the UK has gone into lockdown and it seems the best solution. All good wishes and hope you stay safe and well too 💖 xxx

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  14. Thank you Xenia. Your Highland world looks so peaceful and evokes in me a bucket list desire to visit the land of my ancestors. All the best to you and your fellow citizens. We are struggling here as well, and pray that wisdom and prudence overcome greed and denial for us all!

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Shielagh, the land of your ancestors will welcome you with open arms when all this is over. We join you in your prayers, wishing you and your fellow citizens stay safe and well too xxx

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