Given in to temptation

I must admit that the end of this year finds me feeling rather like this print of mine, and so I clutch at whatever delights come my way.  Three interests of mine are architecture, Scottish landscape, and ceramics, and when all three coincide, then of course temptation must be fully embraced.
A few weeks ago I was delighted to see that Lochside, a house built for a potter on the shores of Upper Loch Torridon was chosen as RIBA House of the Year 2018.

Photograph by Richard Fraser
There have been innumerable times this year when I wished myself far from the hub of things, and this landscape is a favourite.  It is too long since we last visited.  When curiosity about the ceramics that the owner makes took me to Michele Bianco's website, I was smitten, and fell in love with a particular piece: greys, with the subtleties of greens and other colours in the glaze (image below from Michele Bianco's site).  

I would not normally - indeed have never before bought ceramics online, but this time I leapt.  And today was duly rewarded when it arrived.  It is temporarily on the mantle so that we can enjoy it until I put up the leafy decorations on Monday, then in the new year we will find an appropriate permanent spot.

So perhaps the falling is onto a trampoline, and let's hope that there are more elements of joy to temper the plunge of despair.