270. Gateway

I do like fancy gates and stone pillars.  

269. The Old Mill

This is a bit of a sorry sight nowadays, but was once a thriving flax mill providing employment for lots of people.  I believe it was closed in the 1930s.

268. Seal

Since starting this blog I've been desperately hoping to spot a seal on the beach but have so far failed.  However, my friend with a long lens, Mark Smith, managed to get this great shot on the Johnshaven shore on 27th December.  Thanks very much for letting me pinch it Mark!

267. Bark boiler

This unusual looking feature is a rare thing, certainly the last of its kind in the village and probably one of very few remaining in existence.

I'm reliably informed (thanks Richard) that it's a bark boiler.  Organic products, such as cotton nets and sisal ropes would have been dipped into it to protect them.  The bark was a derivative of the acacia tree and was brought in from India.

Fascinating stuff.  I've tried to find out more through the power of Google, but have so far drawn a blank.

266. Rocks

What this photo doesn't show properly is the way the sun was dancing on the water in this peaceful spot.

265. Signpost

This fingerpost is at the harbour.  It took a very long time and a lot of gnashing of teeth by the Community Council to get this sign erected, so I hope people do actually read it.

264. Happy New Year!

This is how we do Hogmanay in Johnshaven.  People gather at the harbour to hear the New Year rung in by the bells on the old chapel.  It normally attracts a large crowd but was a bit quieter than usual last night - possibly because the bell is housed in the tower of the building that was devastated by fire in early 2011 and couldn't actually be rung.

It was a gorgeous, cloudless night with a starry sky.  Someone was sending up paper lanterns from somewhere to the south and they floated over us with a beautiful orange glow.  Fireworks were popping off around the village too.

In the absence of the bell there was a countdown followed by much hugging and kissing and warm wishes for the year ahead.

I hope everyone reading this has a very happy and healthy 2012.