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!

Guest Reviews/Comments Added

Some of my guests have suggested I have a guest comment slot on my website and I have asked my wonderful techy man if this is feasible. He's rather worried it could cause problems with spammers and has suggested I either use google local listing or make a separate blog for comments.

I've decided to try both. My google local listing page link is here and the blog comment section is at the top of the right hand column. To see the comments click on the wee box on the top right of the section. My techy friend says the google review is better as more people will see it but the choice is yours. Easy isn't it.

Also I've designed (if you can call it a design!) a separate blog for comments. It can be found here.

It would be lovely to hear from you and I promise I will reply!

'Castle Bagging'

Hill walkers established Munro bagging as a popular outdoor pursuit. Now, the conquest of Scotland's 284 mountains over 3,000ft, named after the mountaineer Sir Hugh Munro who listed them, faces a challenge from people bagging castles instead.

Historic Scotland, which is responsible for 63 castles in Scotland, has noticed a sharp increase in the number of people who say they are on a quest to visit as many as possible. Many visitors want to bag as many as they can in a day or weekend.

Historic Scotland said one family managed to visit 20 castles in one day, a party of German took in 35 sites in 10 days, while a Spanish couple managed 37 in 14 days. The agency is offering a reward for the family who can bag the most castles in a weekend. The winners will be reimbursed their entry fees.

Of course many of Scotland's castles are not part of Historic Scotland. Here in the east, I can think of 25 castles within an hour's drive and one of my favourites is pictured above - Dunnottar Castle just outside Stonehaven. It reeks of Scottish history and the setting adds to the extraordinary atmosphere.

Whitebells or White Bluebells?

This photograph was taken earlier this week from clumps of whitebells which have surfaced near the stump of the Norwegian spruce which was felled last year.

I'm not sure whether they should be called whitebells but they're definitely white as you can see.  Perhaps the easy description is to say white bluebells, a little like when someone says daffodils we think yellow but some are mainly white.

It's been a week of heavy rain, showers and a very cold wind.  Certainly not a week for the garden and it desperately needs work as the weeds are growing with so much enthusiasm.  My Australian guests, who left for home this week, were delighted with the weather because they see sunshine most of their year.

Just goes to show every cloud has a silver lining.

A Perthshire Winter Sunset

I took this last week from the back garden. The sunset was just stunning and I doubt if I've done it justice with this video but I've tried!

Scotland in Pictures

Burns Night - 250th Birthday Anniversary

On 25 January 1759 Robert Burns was born.  He became known as Robbie, Rabbie or Rab but I believe, when he mixed with Edinburgh society, he introduced himself as Robbie.

He is commonly referred to as Scotland's Bard (poet).  Not only was he a poet he was a lyricist and composer.  One of his many famous songs is "My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose," a lovesong supposedly dedicated to his wife Jean Armour, but he wrote well over 300 songs and many are in regular use today. 

Burns was 'a bit of a lad' and spread his affections generously, mainly around well-heeled society ladies, who delighted in his company.  Not all his relationships were of an intimate nature, some were just sincere friendships.

There is so much excellent information on the internet about Robbie Burns I suggest, if you're interested, have a browse.

I have just returned from my second Burns Supper this week and am still enthralled by the quality of the speakers, the haggis and the music. A Burns Supper is a very special occasion and certainly one worth attending.