Tuesday 27 April 2010

River Walk




I had a walk by the river today as the wind has changed direction and it wasn't nearly so cold.

The river is high as the snow is slowly melting in the mountains but that's normal at this time of year.

I'd love to get started properly on the garden but I've promised my gardening friend I would wait until the 1 May. All this came about because I said a few weeks ago I was going to dig out plants which I've lost over winter. So far I calculate the number to be 9.

My expert friend told me to wait until the beginning of May just to ensure there was no growth as certain plants could recover. I can't see any signs of life in them but I will wait as I promised.

When I'm taking out the dead ones I may just remove some of the old heathers. They've become very 'woody' and really do need replacing.

Of course, for all this work I will require a willing under-gardener as I don't have the strength to dig out large shrubs, so I suppose I'd better start doing a little spoiling before the first of next month.

Tuesday 6 April 2010

Glenshee Skiing Continues



There is still plenty snow at Glenshee and plenty day visitors. One of my family has just spent a fortune on a skiing holiday to France. When Glenshee was compared with the destination in France, it would found the skiing was actually better!

Too late to cancel the French holiday of course, but there was no guarantee we would have such a long winter.

There's been no more snow here since January. Sometimes I can't believe that, just a 40 minute drive into the hills, is what is pictured above. In fact March was a very dry month and winter is surely over down here at the foot of the Grampians.


Tuesday 23 March 2010

Glamis Castle




I hope the owners of Glamis Castle don't mind me using one of their website photographs to tell you that the Castle is now open for the season.

Regular guests will know that Glamis Castle is one of my favourite places to visit in Perthshire.

It has so much to offer and it's quite easy to spend a whole day there without realising it!

Have a look at their website. It's around a 15 minute drive from here on a reasonably quiet road.



Tuesday 2 February 2010

Still Very Cold


WINTER CONTINUES

The winter weather is not easing. Not too much more snow but temperatures never rise above freezing any day and at night it's well below.

The house is lovely and warm though and the new boiler makes such a difference.

My normal outdoor activities have been curtailed and I am only going out when completely necessary. As I haven't used my car much the battery was flat when I attempted to go to town on Friday! Fortunately the local garage came, took the car and put the battery on a slow charge and returned it to me on Saturday evening.

I hope wherever you are you're keeping warm.

Sunday 3 January 2010

A Happy New Year for 2010




This is the view outside the front door around midday on Hogmanay. It looks lovely but the fresh snow covers hard-packed ice.

We've cancelled our plans to go to a party and are going to keep safe and warm in the house. There's not much point in driving in weather like this if you can avoid it and the council staff are still on holiday so, with the exception of the main roads, walking is treacherous.

I've ordered a pair of pull-on cramptons for my boots as I find it hard to balance on the ice. Maybe once they arrive I'll feel more confident getting out and about.

Happy New Year!