Merry Christmas All

May I wish all my readers a Very Happy Christmas and a Guid New Year.

Please view the following link on YouTube, it's a lovely musical greeting:  

Youtube White Christmas

Mince Pies

Doesn't that mince pie just look delicious?  Mouthwatering and the pastry, looking so crumbly and light, will surely melt in your mouth within seconds.

No, it's not a photo of my home baking - how I wish it was!  I've been struggling to buy a quality mince meat to bake my own, but yesterday I finally decided to make my own.

Emptying the contents of the baking cupboard it was a surprise to find plenty sultanas, raisins and cherries. Complimented by ground almonds and various spices the fruit was put in a pan and warmed thoroughly using generous tots of rum, amaretto, port and anything else to hand.  This was then cooled and put into the fridge in a covered bowl.  I've stirred it today and added more booze and have to admit, my fridge smells rather festive.  Overpoweringly festive, but at least I'm doing my best to get into the spirit of things (excuse the pun).

I'll leave the concoction to 'mince' ( or is it 'meat') until Sunday then do the pies. Hopefully I can manage a comparison photo with the one above, but I don't intend to 'break' more than two just to improve my photography skills as I would like to offer my New Year guests some.  So keep your fingers crossed!  

Christmas Markets

This photo was sent to me as a Christmas card and it took my mind back to my years of working in Europe.

Christmas in Germany, Switzerland and Austria was a wonderful experience.  The superb Christmas markets where you could buy all your food for the festive season, plus of course gifts for everyone.

Traditions were far more marked than they are here and Christmas Eve was the time to put up the tree which would be adorned with real candles.  I can understand why they've been banned I suppose, but seeing a Christmas tree lit by candlelight is a true joy.

We opened our presents on Christmas Eve too and Christmas Day was the day for food, food and more food.  Goose was a favourite rather than turkey and, to this day, I do enjoy goose for my Christmas meal.

The Europeans don't seem to over-hype Christmas or over decorate, it's all rather subtle and gentle.

Such treasured memories. 

Skiing at Glenshee near Blairgowrie

A heavy fall of snow overnight and now a great possibility of Glenshee opening for business.  As usual it's very picturesque here but cold (-3 outside earlier).  The cold is a 'dry' cold and if you're dressed warmly it's lovely outside.

I didn't take the above photo of Glenshee but I've borrowed it.  Such a wonderful landscape and skiing for all levels of skill.

Why have all the hassle of airports when you can access Glenshee easily.  Blairgowrie is at the south side of the Cairngorms and the last town before the slopes, so do stop and stock up with the painkillers and moisturiser!

Online Booking

The past couple of weeks I have been inundated with emails offering me online booking and/or credit card facilities.  I do hope the following explains the reasons why I do not use these services.

I do not accept online bookings as I find them too impersonal so please email me or telephone.  

Also online booking companies charge for the facility (including visitscotland) and this would increase my standard rate.  Why should a guest have to pay more than necessary?

Credit card companies also charge fees which would have to be passed onto my guests and that is the reason I do not accept them.

It is important to me that my guests receive value for money when staying here and I do my best to keep rates as low as possible.