As November wore on, and the Feast o' St. Andra' approached, the fishermen of Loch Aishdle would unstring their carakeels, and settle down to winter tasks such as mending nets and fixing hooks. Their wives and sweethearts would try to hide as much of the 'spirit of life' as they could. Rationing it through the dark winter months made for happier men, and less bears wi' a drought on them. Barley and malt from the neighbouring glens was often home-brewed into a watery beer, or 'distilled' in the frosty month, but old Baron Cuilhain liked to sell his own to the clan, and frowned on any small, private enterprise. Needless to say the wily glensfolk won most of these battles of wit.. STANDFAST'S SPIRITS OF DALRIADA: A HISTORY, Bell n Candle Press, Sheandarroch. After experimenting with a few different atmospheres in the editor, I decided to go with some right out of the box, for this view out over Loch Aishdle. As usual the render was carried out in Eon's VUE 6 Infinite. VUE 7 is already being shipped, but I'll have to downsize this Christmas and will, hopefully, get the economy version. Atmosphere: 'Gray Day' from Robin Kleb's St Joes Creek item, Cornucopia3D site. Terrain MATs: from 'Lonely Places' item by Martin J Frost. also from the Cornucopia3D site Water MAT from Monsoon's 'SeaVue' item available in 3DCommune. Silhouetted foreground weed ecosystem from Robin Klebs item mentioned above. As winter approaches in the northern hemisphere, have faith in the Eternal Flame of Love. Fight the good fight against the SAD syndrome( Seasonal Affective Disorder ), especially after the constant, sunless Spring-Summer-Autumn that many of us have already experienced this year. It will pass.. ;o) Warm regards, John.