Thursday 21.07.2016

Delightful summer evening,a fresh breeze, the sun still warm at half six or so but none of the muggery-thuggery of yesterday`s thunder and lightning - "very,very frightening me" as Freddie sang. Scaramouche indeed though in fact I missed the worst of it being on my way back from a jaunt to Glasgow at the time which had been sweltering.

The walk tonight took on a whole new feel as we`d been catching up with the irresistible Brian Cox the night before who`d waxed lyrical about the movement of the earth through space:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b07kxdr9/forces-of-nature-with-brian-cox-2-somewhere-in-spacetime

Proof if proof were needed that the woods don`t just look different every time we walk round them - they actually are different....mind-blowing stuff.

Sunday 17.07.2016

Still a gentle breeze but much greyer, damper and altogether muggier. Flies and little bitey things a-plenty but cuffs and collar done up with a hat jammed down over the ears and we were good to go.

On the plus side, the grey light draws the eye to what might not be noticed in the glare of bright sun.....



.......and what`s been nibbling so neatly at those mushrooms?

Thursday 14.07.2016

A sun-drenched July evening, warm but not muggy, a fresh breeze seeing off the few flies and bird song weaving in and out and over the trees.

As we turned for home the temperature began to drop and the sky to fill: dark clouds,

wispy clouds

and a pale half-moon hanging overhead.

A night for dancing the polka in the garden (remember A?) and never wanting to go in.........

Sunday 10.07.2016

It`s been a while but glad to report Bennachie still standing.
A post-work walk on a warm Friday evening:
a welcome fresh breeze once above the tree line,

and the view from the top as spectacular as always.

Then a weekend of exhausting sporting action.....Andy won without putting us through it too much but no amount of Coq au Vin, Salade Nicoise and Cotes du Rhone could help France win the football, delicious as it was. :)

Thursday 7.7.2016

Pics can`t really do justice to the walk this evening. There was the warm caressing breeze, an unusual phenomena up here where the wind is usually trying to bite off your ears, an immense sky,

soft light,

and enough unkempt,wild bits left for us to stray into.

All in all the perfect summer evening. And at least France beat Germany. :) Now to agonize over Murray tomorrow. Sport is such hard work.

Wednesday 6.7.2016

Somebody`s cut swathes through the grass in the woods leaving wide green paths for us to trip along although not necessarily always where we want to walk.

However, time was limited before work this morning so we took the path most travelled for once, the grasses displaying at their very best

and the sky keeping up appearances as well.

Loving this lush, damp, warm changeable climate.

And Wales lost. :(

Murray, on the other hand, won. :)

Such is life, which is a famous saying among bushrangers:

Friday 01.07.2016

Set off this evening with the warm sun in our eyes, dark, lowering clouds on the horizon,the noisy cry of at least two pairs of curlews distracting us from their nests and the air thick with the delicious scents of summer.

Within seconds of getting into the woods the feet and legs were soaked from the now nearly waist high vegetation but not until we were halfway round and turning for home did the skies open and soak the top half. Happily soggy we traipsed between the now dripping trees but it was clearing up already by the time we emerged,

the dark cloud now ahead of us

and the evening sky clearing behind.

A shower, a glass of wine, a rich and colourful Caponata with olive bread to mop up the juices....and Wales won!