After a wee walk through the South Inch to get the kids to sleep we ended up at the Manna House on the old high street in Perth. This is a christain run cafe which is reknowned for it’s good food and fabulous homemade cakes, as well as it’s bookstore that is attached, As it wasn’t too busy we managed to rearrange a couple of tables to make space for us all. Food wise I was a bit limited by my intolerance as most things were breadular (as in made of bread) but they did have baked potatoes and soup available in a selection of Veggie options. Me and A had a baked potato with cheese and pineapples and MS had soup and a sandwich. It was all quite simple with no fancy displays but very tastey with properly oven cooked potatoes. They also do a selection of fruit teas for those non tea and coffee drinkers, like me, who sometimes still want a hot beverage.

MS and A also had a cake each, which both looked lovely and must admit I had a wee taste. The carrot cake topping was divine and the apple pie filling excellent! In general the service was polite and friendly, though a bit slow. The young man on shift was by far the best (sorry didn’t get his name), with a good attitude, friendly and cheerful manner and very good manners (which I value highly, cost you nothing but make all the difference).

Frontage of the manna House, unfortunately was traffic on road so coudn't stand far enough away to get whole front.

Rocks in the fast flowing Braan

Photo wise i decided to keep the ISO low at 100 and use the tripod, choosing the shutter speed, leaving the aperture to be decided by the camera. The River Braan was full and fast so the shutter was kept about 1sec to capture the movement but without whiting all detail out. Main problem was getting a different shot in such a well photographed place. The main falls are so often shot, as is the viewing hall and hermits cave. So settled for some more detail shots of the smaller falls and some of the low cloud snaking through the trees of Craigvinean Forest.

Low cloud in the Craigvinean forest

Although the ground was muddy and there was a dusting of snow we continued over trees, down paths and ignoring fathers idea of direction until we passed through a clearing, where a selection of bouders overlooked a rather Scottish looking, baran, mist filled clearing. Very atmosphereic in the winter weather. Then it was on to Rumbling Bridge, which we could hear well before could see as the river was so full and fast. However didn’t get many shots as the spray from the falls was pretty intense and couldn’t get down to usual vantage points due to high river and very slippery stones. So after a wee trip along the riverside we headed back to the car, taking the main path, which was also strewn with fallen trees and debris. So although cold and covered in mud by the time we got back, it was a good outing and was very glad to be out and about with the camera again.

Boulders overlooking the Misty Clearing

A Small Door But It Goes All The Way Back And Gonna Get Bigger

Anyway when we got there the Red Rooms was already quite busy, but we managed to squeeze in. Their menu isn’t huge but it is well balanced with veggie and meaty choices, and also do fresh soup. To be good and stay wheat/ yeast free I went for the baked potato with cheese – M.S on the other hand went for Cheesy pasta, in a small portion (for the delicate eaters, there is a small portion available on most dishes). Although maybe not our most exciting choices it was lovely, well cooked and well presented. The staff were polite and friendly and beside us were a couple of older ladies which were obviously regulars and the staff treated them like royality. All very enjoyable, in the open, airy surroundings – another good choice!

The main Dinning area of the Red Roms

Ian was shooting at iso 100, f7.1 and shutterspeed was guesswork!

and Sarah was shooting at ISO100 F8ish and putting shutter on and off as I just felt like it! Most of shootng fireworks is luck and trying to stay warm enough! and my God it was getting cold, winter is definately settling in. Oh and was using the wide lenswhich did mean a bit of cropping in so the fireworks didn’t look like tiny dots inthe distance, but well worth it as didn’t loose any high ones from the frame.

The rather scumptious Nacho starter

Although this is a chain of restaurant the one in Perth retains an independant feel, set in an old building at the Smeaton bridge, a building that predates the bridge and still has the old enterance and windows blocked up in the basement part. We shared a starter of Nachos and this was lovely, made with plenty of jack cheese and proper chucks of veg. For my main I broke my wheat free diet, again and had veg quesadillas (though tortillias don’t have yeast and that’s what I really hacve to avoid, can have a wee bit of wheat). Monie had her fave mexican dish chicken fajitas. There was also the option of a buffet for £9.99, but being an intolerant veggie that’s a nightmare as don’t know what is in anything! If I was being good i would have had the tacos which are wheat and yeast free.

Between taking sneaky photos of our food we enjoyed the meal and company. Monie said her fajitias were great and I thought my quesadillas were nice, but could of been spicer as I like a good spice kick in my mexican. The service was fast and polite and the restaurant rather quiet, but it was a Tuesday night. So we could enjoy the rustic tables and mexican hats and drawings withoutu feeling rushed or having to shout to be heard. All in all a good meal and a pleasant night, though not cheap for me as I was paying. was about £50 for us both and we both had 3 courses and Monie had a cocktail while as I was driving I stuck with soft juice.

Rancho Pancho mexican restaurant

So this week we met father and went to the concert hall in Perth. This large airy cafe (called the glass rooms) is in the foyer and looks out on 3 sides to the city centre. It’s vegitarian choices are limited as are the gluten free ones, though they do do fresh soup everyday and do have gluten free cookies. However the food they do have is excellent. I had the hallumi flat-bread (I know I’m not meant to eat bread, but it is well worth the intolerant downer in a couple of days!) and I must say it is one of the nicest things I have ever eaten, simply delicious. The service was friendly and quick and the atmosphere relaxing, though it did get a bit noisey and busy when a conference came out for lunch and took over the cafe! But would def recommned eating there and am glad to say Sconie Quest is off to a good start.

The bar and the glass rooms at Perth Concert Hall