Her dreams went up in smoke

Having just arrived in Scotland, my first port of call (after checking up on my dad) was the recently burned down old station building in the heart of our village, Ballater. This is the Old Royal Railway Station (opened in 1866) where Queen Victoria arrived when she came to Balmoral Castle for her summer holidays. It was closed in 1966, and the railway no longer runs to Ballater (the old line is now a great bike track), but the station had been preserved as a museum and tourist information office. On 12th May this historic building was reduced to ashes. It also housed a restaurant and a photography shop. It will be rebuilt, but a lot of irreplaceable items have been permanently lost. My daughter's friend Amy lost her newly established photography shop - her forever dream. I took lots of photographs tonight, but thought this was the most pertinent for my 365 photo post.

[Sarah Munnings]

That is just so, so sad. I hope Amy gets a new place to build her business

[April]

Oh...so sad. Nicely composed image though. I like the striking liveliness of the red against the disarray of broken dreams.

[Helene]

This is sad and terrible.

[Lisa]

Heartbreaking!

[Judith Johnson]

What a sad sign of the times. How can people grow up without respect for other people's property? I guess we'll never know.

[Leigh Anne Sanderson]

Oh how sad!

[Tom]

What a shame, my thoughts go out to Amy, heartbreaking

[Milanie]

Your shot really tells such a sad story - but hopefully, Amy will be able to start again. You feel so badly for people when things like this happen.

[Kathy]

This does tell a tragic story of a business up in smoke. Good luck to Amy as she rebuilds.

[Cathie]

Sad.

[Stephanie Swift]

I feel so sad for Amy. I hope she manages to get started again. It's also sad that a piece of history was lost through this fire,

[Margaret Brown]

What a sad end to a wonderful building and Amy's photographic dreams, I do hope all is not forever lost:( a fitting photo well caught.

[Paula W]

Oh no how sad, hope things turn around for Amy, wishing her all the best.

[Taffy]

So poignant after reading your narrative.

[Graham Thresher]

A super capture.

[Denise (lyndemc)]

What a depressing scene. Your focus on the destroyed sign, the tripod there beside it, the ruined note cards and framed picture — they tell the sad story perfectly.

[Kim]

So sorry for your friend's loss and that of the historical building. You might consider tagging for the six word story because, as Denise said above, your photo does tell a story.

[Louise & Ken]

It's tragic to lose an irreplaceable historic building, and this is such a poignant image. Yes, we can relate well to the desire to own a photography business... Surely Amy's friend will find a new venue, but such a location can't be as charming as this was...