That time of year again

Santa at BA Stores

Its that time of year when approx 87% of small people under 4 ft in height go beserk and finalise their lists to be sent to St Nicholas or Santa or whatever you want to call him, that bloody Coca Cola advert appears on TV and the radio starts playing 'Stay Now' by East 17 on continuous loop sparking the seasonal reappearance of white fur trimmed parkas. Admittedly, as I get older, I'm getting more and more bah humbug about it all but thats probably a mix of a) age appropriate bah humbug-ness b) not being a kid anymore and therefore asking for A-Ha's latest album is deemed ridiculous and c) being very aware of the gross commercialisation of the whole bloody thing. I prefer to celebrate the Solstice (today) and then go burn stuff or watch other people burning stuff for Hogmanay.

However, when you are the parent of aforementioned small excitable chap, then you feel a certain warm fuzzy glow watching their little faces light up - mostly likely a sugar high - and so last Sunday I found myself talking to a robotic reindeer at BA Country Stores near Kintore. Now they do put on a fantastic display reminiscent of the German Weihnachtsmarkts. I was in the north west near Bremen just as they started winding up for Christmas last year and it was fabulous. Lots of lights and glitz but theres not the bankruptcy inducing gift giving there seems to be over here. Its all about family, and home made gifts - crafts and food - seem to be much more popular.

Bremen Weihnachtsmarkt

 ' Div ye ken foo tae work 'at thing noo?' the robotic reindeer said to me as I was struggling to take a photo on my iphone with one hand while trying to remain upright on crutches. I whispered if it didn't shut up, I'd turn it into casserole. Up yours Rudolf.

My little street

Don't get me wrong, I'm no Scrooge. I love spending time with my kids and family and I really love Christmas for that reason. This year I'm spending it with my parents, brother & his family and my kids and I'm looking forward to having memories sparked of opening presents in pyjamas when I was a little 'un - my brother and dad playing with the remote control lorries they'd given each other, me listening to A-Ha's latest album and dreaming of my wedding to Morten Harket and mum stood over the aga shoving one of our geese in the oven.

I also love it for the weather. In the seventies and eighties we had winters like winter should be in Scotland. Massive snowfall would start November and last until March or April with few breaks. I remember one year  opening the split 'stable' doors we had on our cottage in rural Morayshire and being faced with a wall of snow. I also remember the school minibus, which was driven my a maniac, getting my brother and I to primary school 6 miles away on roads that would be closed nowadays. If we got stuck he kept a few shovels in the bus and he and the bigger kids would get out and dig us clear. My primary school had 24 pupils. My year totalled 3 of us :)

Shortly after I left home in '86, the proper winters seemed to stop and its been rubbish for the past few years with them being wet as oppose snowy. However, this year and last have been crackers - lots of snow and temps down to -17degC and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a few more before I up sticks and move somewhere even more wintry anyway.

A96 Dual Carriageway - no, really, it is..

This morning was beautiful - lunar eclipse, a massive rising red sun and then a full cloud inversion leaving only the tops of Bennachie showing. I couldn't get outside as more snow has fallen but did my best out the window. Sorry about the tree - I'm planning a midnight massacre with my chainsaw once the snows go.

Bennachie from my window - click on it for best view

Eat, drink and be merry people. Love the ones around you, and be grateful for all you have. Or as a dear friend just threatened to shit in my coffee for being unbearably cheerful, Don't :D

Ho Ho Ho :)

A new resident

This young female roe deer has taken up residence in the garden. This is the third day in a row - at first she appeared to be injured - moving slowly and awkwardly - but after many hours peering at her through the camera, I can't see anything obvious (though I'm no expert) and she is eating well.  But she's hanging around for some reason and never leaves the garden boundary. She has no other company which is unusual too as normally they are fairly social (historically, they've hang around the fields surrounding the house in groups of 3 or 4). I've emailed a local deer group for their thoughts so we'll wait and see.

So far, so cold..

Its been so cold here of late. Temperatures have fallen to minus double figures, the snow started falling 13 days ago and for all but one day, it hasn't stopped. That's unusual here as we're not that far from the coast. Big falls are usually reserved for Ballater, Braemar and Donside but it is laying so deep here the track is impassable to all but high clearance 4x4's (and even then it's a struggle) which means I haven't been able to get out much other than in the landy at weekends for some impromtu photographic trips to Glenshee and up north -  but still, being snowbound has meant that no book has been left unread including the five new ones I've bought in recent weeks, new music has been discovered and I am one hundred percent absolutely caught up with every scrap of paperwork that was behind or due. I've also nearly completed writing one short story.

I won't deny it though. I long to be outside again - in the hills, under an alpine blue sky and whacking my punterish way up some fat ice or torquing up an easy mixed crack. Or y'know a peaceful winter walk would do. God, I'm even missing hot aches....

Anyway, heres some photos I've taken of the last week or two.