Wednesday 21.2.2018

A late afternoon in late winter: preternaturally still, the odd whimsical puffy cloud in a clear blue sky.

Nothing stirred in the woods,the proverbial pin would have been heard for miles if it had dropped,and as the sun went down the air grew colder, the light refracted and reflected

and we practically crept down the hill so as not to disturb the serenity.

Friday 16.2.2018

No hat, no gloves, no extra layers: the sun this afternoon was warm and the air still so despite the icy patches that still hung on in places we tramped round the woods with Spring in mind, making an extra loop along a road less-travelled.

New perspectives, different views and the smell of freshly turned earth.

On Monday another stuffy-air-dispelling walk at lunchtime, through the town

and down the road with Bennachie beckoning in the distance.......

....unfortunately so did work.......

Sunday 11.2.2018

White and crisp, treacherously icy on the road on the way up, satisfyingly crunchy underfoot in the woods.

Snow-capped Ben Rinnes in the distance

but as we walked round, sheltered in the woods from the sharp wind, the sun was warm, more spring than winter.By the time we emerged on to the road the ice was melting and we were able to walk rather than skate home.

And all this after a different kind of walk yesterday: an amble round parts of Aberdeen less-travelled with friends, one of our party re-living her youth as she guided us out of Footdee (pronounced `Fittie`), an old fishing village right at the end of the harbour, along the beachfront to the Bridge of Don, then on to the Brig O` Balgownie

along the Don

into Seaton Park,past the splendid St. Machar`s Cathedral,

though with no time to stop (it really was an ambling ramble). Then on through old Aberdeen (where we serendipitously discovered Grub Fresh Food on The Spital - perfect timing for a quick break, good coffee and tea and cakes) back down to the harbour and on to the seafront...by now in the dark. An excellent afternoon, new places and good company.....though we might have to pick up the pace a little if we`re going to do the 26 mile walk planned for June!

Friday 9.2.2018

Morning sun with some warmth in it but a keen little breeze keeping us at a brisk step; cacophony of caws, squawks, coos and chitter-chattering in the woods as the birds made the most of the day with a buzzard wheeling overhead adding to the noise with its distinctive cry and even a lark a-rising as we headed up the road (a different lark to Vaughan William`s, less serenity, more agitation - which might have had something to do with the temperature).

Forgot to mention the musicians we saw right at the start of CC. Kris Drever, John McCusker & Roddy Woomble reprising a ten year old recording they made together at the splendid Old Fruitmarket.
The variety of great venues is one of the attractions of the Festival and so it was the following night when we ended up at Drygate - https://www.drygate.com - imagine good beer, food and a lovely small venue.
There we saw Jupiter & Okwess - high energy Congolese band mixing "myriad...styles and rhythms with funk, soul and rock" and they certainly rocked.
But their support was the big surprise: weird and wacky, fantastic musicians or, as the programme had it "magpie-minded British stringpickers" taking influences from across the globe, Les Triaboliques were riveting, not least because one of their number could have been cast as Raskolnikov.

And all with their political antennae sharpened and their sense of humour to the fore. These kind of discoveries are what going to festivals is all about.

Wednesday 7.2.2018

Forecast was for the day to deteriorate and as we set off around eleven with sun still shining, the air crisp and still, dogs raring to go

it wasn`t long before a grey canopy of cloud began sliding across the sky.

Good fire, bowl of soup and it could snow all it liked after that. Afternoon spent going through pics of Glasgow and checking out some of the musicians @ https://www.celticconnections.com, 25th year and counting, a testament to an imaginative programme and the way it lights up the city in January.

And Glasgow is quite a city: buildings and monuments to the (possibly) great and good,

beautiful parks,

not to mention the extraordinary necropolis, a startling sight on the skyline.

And then there`s the street art....with at least one familiar face.

Not a bad place to spend a few days. And then there was the music.......
Frank Turner, Will Varley, Le Vent du Nord, Peatbog Faeries with Vieux Farka Toure,Lau, and a rousing tribute to Tom Petty in the grand Concert Hall. ANd that was just a tiny part of what was available.
Next year will just have to stay longer.

Sunday 4.2.2018

Bright sunshine, still and cold but we lingered at home, a rest day after lots of walks and yomping about.
Around the woods in all weathers over the last few days - literally all weathers: blizzards, gales, bright sunshine, tupperware box grey and dramatic skies

Before that a day in the gentler Cotswolds - at least it was that day - sunshine and catkins.

And before that? Days of tramping the streets of Glasgow: walking all day and music every night at the wonderful www.celticconnections.com. What could be better? More to follow.