Last day of January and a marked contrast to this time last year. Blanket of grey cloud this morning, cold, dry and still as Dog and I walked the woods though the wind`s picking up now.
Noisy skeins of geese all across the sky: are they flying north because they know the worst of this winter is already over, south because it`s going to get worse or just circling round and round for fun? My two remain remarkably disinterested in all the overhead cackling anyway.
Monday 31 January 2011
Saturday 29 January 2011
Saturday 29.01.2011
Dogs are such forgiving creatures - or is it that they simply have `living in the moment` down to a fine art. She spent a boring morning in the car while I completed various errands but immediately leapt out full of unalloyed enthusiasm to walk up Oxen Craig this afternoon, no reproachful looks, no "what took you so long", simply a desire to get going. Which is infectious.
It was cold but not icy except for one or two patches. Curious sight of what looked like hundreds of tiny tadpoles wriggling down the path under the ice but in fact was brown melt water.
And although she`s currently sprawled in her bed fast asleep, if I suggested we go again right now Dog would be up in a flash and out of the door ahead of me. Uncomplicated. That`s the word.
It was cold but not icy except for one or two patches. Curious sight of what looked like hundreds of tiny tadpoles wriggling down the path under the ice but in fact was brown melt water.
And although she`s currently sprawled in her bed fast asleep, if I suggested we go again right now Dog would be up in a flash and out of the door ahead of me. Uncomplicated. That`s the word.
Wednesday 26 January 2011
Wednesday 26.01.2011
Set off in a mad grumph on a much colder, grey and windy day, having used up all my morning, and goodwill, on the vicissitudes of the HMRC website.
Sped across the fields with little time to spare before work having promised to feed my neighbour`s cats or I probably wouldn`t have bothered and just continued shouting at the computer.
However! As I inserted the key into their front door I heard the drumming of a woodpecker coming from the surrounding woodland.
In an instant all the stupid stuff was forgotten and dog and I had a much happier walk back.
The moral of this story: even if you`ve had a frustrating day and don`t think you have time, go anyway. Kicks all the nonsense into touch.
Sped across the fields with little time to spare before work having promised to feed my neighbour`s cats or I probably wouldn`t have bothered and just continued shouting at the computer.
However! As I inserted the key into their front door I heard the drumming of a woodpecker coming from the surrounding woodland.
In an instant all the stupid stuff was forgotten and dog and I had a much happier walk back.
The moral of this story: even if you`ve had a frustrating day and don`t think you have time, go anyway. Kicks all the nonsense into touch.
Saturday 22 January 2011
Saturday 22.01.2011
Best laid plans and all that. Projected walk up Bennachie after work scuppered but time for a quick trot round the woods at home - which were packed with other people - three!
Cloudy skies but mercifully dry and quite calm: so far couldn`t be more different to the dramas of last January.
Cloudy skies but mercifully dry and quite calm: so far couldn`t be more different to the dramas of last January.
Wednesday 19 January 2011
Wednesday 19.01.2011
Grey and cool but no wind and good walking. Went round the woods this morning before tackling a little tidying up in the garden - the only horticultural activity I`m really any good at.
Not having a camera is quite relaxing I`ve realised as you`re not constantly on the look out for that perfect snap. Has also reminded me that Roland Barthes had some interesting things to say about photography and so, I have just discovered, did Susan Sontag.
I will get another camera but meanwhile there`s clearly some interesting reading to be done and for now I`ll keep-walking-quite-fast and simply enjoy the view.
Not having a camera is quite relaxing I`ve realised as you`re not constantly on the look out for that perfect snap. Has also reminded me that Roland Barthes had some interesting things to say about photography and so, I have just discovered, did Susan Sontag.
I will get another camera but meanwhile there`s clearly some interesting reading to be done and for now I`ll keep-walking-quite-fast and simply enjoy the view.
Sunday 16 January 2011
Sunday 16.01.2011
Emerged from a virtual hibernation: deep snow, arctic temperatures,lingering lurgy, Christmas, New Year,house-sitting, trips south.......
Dog and I escaped to the woods this morning - bright blue sky and wintry sun with a bracing wind to wake us up properly, geese overhead and a lot of bird song around. Tiny patches of snow here and there but miles of green and walking on firm ground - what a relief even if it only proves to be a brief respite.
Two walks stand out from the last few weeks: Bennachie on an icy but miraculously sunny New Year`s Day and Arthur`s Seat in Edinburgh - even icier, so much so that we slid most of the way down on our bums, but worth it for the views from the top on another crystal clear day.
No pics because the camera`s broken but memorable even so, or perhaps all the more so.
Dog and I escaped to the woods this morning - bright blue sky and wintry sun with a bracing wind to wake us up properly, geese overhead and a lot of bird song around. Tiny patches of snow here and there but miles of green and walking on firm ground - what a relief even if it only proves to be a brief respite.
Two walks stand out from the last few weeks: Bennachie on an icy but miraculously sunny New Year`s Day and Arthur`s Seat in Edinburgh - even icier, so much so that we slid most of the way down on our bums, but worth it for the views from the top on another crystal clear day.
No pics because the camera`s broken but memorable even so, or perhaps all the more so.
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