Sunday 21 May 2017

Sunday 21.5.2017

Layer upon layer of smoky grey cloud banked up on the horizon but warm sun and blue sky overhead, on this, another beautiful May evening. A few light showers but the story of the week has been these warm late-spring days and nights, a complete contrast to the week before which was all squalls borne in on freezing winds.

The weather didn`t matter in Glasgow for an intense, soul-stirring Bob Dylan gig - simultaneously powerful and poignant but we were definitely in the presence of a legend.









It might matter a bit more for this next week http://www.knockengorroch.org.uk/ but as they say - no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes.

Friday 5 May 2017

Friday 5.5.2017

Still tranquil. Mellow even. A very gentle north-easter kept the temperature down but the sun was warm, the new grass was shining and a blue sky hung over it all. There are days when it`s hard to imagine living anywhere else and this was one of them.

Wednesday 3 May 2017

Wednesday 3.5.2017

Liked it so much we did it twice today, went for a walk that is.......

Bennachie irresistible this afternoon, on the way home from Inverurie (well only a slight detour). The woods tranquil

with only the sound of the beck, or burn, tumbling down into the Gadie Burn, as in

"O gin I were whaur Gadie rins,
Whaur Gadie rins, whaur Gadie rins,
O gin I were whaur Gadie rins
At the back o’ Bennachie.
Aince mair to hear the wild birds’ sang,
To wander birks an’ braes amang
Wi’ friends and fav’rites left sae lang
At the back o’ Bennachie.
O gin I were whaur Gadie rins,
Whaur Gadie rins, whaur Gadie rins,
O gin I were whaur Gadie rins
At the Back o’ Bennachie.

How mony a day in blithe Springtime,
How mony a day in Summer’s prime
I’ve saunterin’ whiled awa the time
On the heights o’ Bennachie.
But fortune’s flowers wi’ thorns grow rife,
An’ wealth is won wi’ toil an’ strife;
Gie me ae day o’ youthfu’ life
At the back o’ Bennachie.
O gin I were whaur Gadie rins,
Whaur Gadie rins, whaur Gadie rins,
O gin I were whaur Gadie rins
At the Back o’ Bennachie
."


Up above the tree line it was the perfect afternoon, warm sun, a cooling breeze and fantastic views from the top of Oxen Craig.




Not a soul about at the top: sometimes it can feel that Bennachie is there as a personal playground. Without the dogs it was possible to sit there for a little while and survey the scene without being pestered to keep going but then felt duty bound to have a quick trot round the woods with them once home and hey...the coos are `oot!