Sunday 16.5.2021

 For once more blue sky than grey early on, beautiful morning light as we set off just on six.

Cool but no wind, the woods full of happy birds belting out the latest hits, hares scampering about and a couple of deer sitting quietly ruminating (literally and perhaps figuratively) in the sunshine until we disturbed them.

Looking out of the window as I write, the clouds have moved in but they may be only temporary: the weather has been and is forecast to go on being, very changeable but at least this morning it felt like a pitch perfect Spring morning.

Monday 3.5.2021

 On the back field at twenty past five in the morning on a cloudy Mayday on Saturday: the sun may have been already up but it was lurking behind the cloud and the air was absolutely freezing.  A far cry from two years ago: 

http://walking-quite-fast.blogspot.com/2019/05/monday-1052019.html

However, through the wonders of technology, was able to connect with folk luminaries Martin Green, Eliza Carthy and Maddy Prior with dancing courtesy of  Adie Baako and the wonderful Boss Morris:

https://www.facebook.com/events/3800713493381276/?acontext=%7B%22ref%22%3A%2251%22%2C%22source%22%3A%2244%22%2C%22action_history%22%3A%22[%7B%5C%22surface%5C%22%3A%5C%22permalink%5C%22%2C%5C%22mechanism%5C%22%3A%5C%22RHC%5C%22%2C%5C%22extra_data%5C%22%3A[]%7D]%22%7D&privacy_mutation_token=eyJ0eXBlIjowLCJjcmVhdGlvbl90aW1lIjoxNjE5NTQ5ODUxLCJjYWxsc2l0ZV9pZCI6MzU5MDM2MDAxOTY4NDMyfQ%3D%3D

   "Twas a lovely if slightly strange coming together but my dancing obviously wasn`t vigorous enough as halfway through I had to get walking to warm up so we set off up the road at a smart pace, listening and watching the rest of the event as we went.

By the time we were in the woods the last Spring Carol was ringing out and we then continued this very early walk to the accompaniment of birdsong, the sun now well up 

though there were patches of frost where it hadn`t reached.

By the time we were round, the day had become a beautifully clear spring morning, the clouds mostly dispersed, so we took an extra mile round on paths less travelled,

which is always a good thing for a slightly different perspective on the landscape.

Talking of which, two days away down at Lochwinnoch last week provided different perspectives on everything - just a delight to be `on the road`, mixing with folk and taking walks through woods and by the side of lochs.  Simple activities really, never to be taken for granted again. Not to forget the family breakfast BBQ on the way down more or less at the foot of the Campsie Fells. Simple pleasures indeed.

Thursdat 22.04.2021

 A perfect blue-sky-frosty-morning with promise of sun for most of the day...... on the back field early on the birds were in full throat and flitting about looking very busy. 

Similarly yesterday, as we took an early walk round the woods, it sounded like there were birds on the tops of every other tree proclaiming that we were in for another beautiful Spring morning. There is something very special about the early walks - the light 

not to mention the (erroneous) feeling that you`re the only ones up and about.  

Thursday 15.04.2021

 At last, days in a row with actual warm sun and no wind - well, not what is called actual wind around here - just a light chippy little breeze to stop complacency. And of course there are still plenty of frosty mornings and nights.

All of which helped with the air of celebration on Tuesday, the day of the Second Jab.  Aware it doesn`t confer invincibility but it felt a bit like it and obviously called for a quick canter up Mither Tap in the glorious afternoon sunshine (after the obligatory ice cream which is always awarded after vaccinations, for the very brave.)

Started out from the Rowantree car park which affords a slightly gentler slope towards the tops (no good pushing it on this first foray this year) but affords good views of the goal almost as soon as you get above the tree line.

Reassuringly, and not really surprising, the views are still there and especially splendid on such a beautiful day, adding to that feeling of  being, at least, temporarily, bulletproof. Inhaled deeply and counted blessings.

The general euphoria - and continuing sunshine - prompted us to take a different route back  - straight off the tops towards the Bennachie Centre but then taking a longer path back through the wood, 

as always getting that particular pleasure of looking back at a hill climbed.

We are, and so far have been, very lucky to live where we do.

Monday 12.4.2021

 On the back field early this morning: larks a-larking, the bleating of new born lambs, golden gorse.... and absolutely baltic temperatures..........mid-April in northern climes. 😊

Sunday 11.4.2021

 Out early on a beautiful morning though no sign of any warmer temperatures yet: the roads with a pristine thin carpet of snow, blue sky but still plenty of clouds about, promising more showers.

Trees with delicate brush strokes of white, 

some looking poised for those warmer temperatures.

The birds were in full throat, notably a thrush and, further on, a robin, serenading the rising sun at the very tops of the trees. It was necessary to stop and listen for a minute or two and watch the robin whose breast feathers glowed vermilion as the sun caught them.

Back up on the road, the sun, though warmer by the second, hadn`t managed to melt the snow

and our footsteps were still engraved on the surface.   

Friday 9.4.2021

 Barmy times, barmy weather. We`ve walked in warm sun, blizzards, rain - sometimes all in the same hour.

Yesterday in defiance of forecasts and gathering cloud we set off in the afternoon, into the teeth of an ice-cream-headache-inducing wind which was tempered a little in the woods, and came back predictably a little damper than when we`d started out - the forecast correct on this occasion.

Today that same heart attack wind still tried to blow us back down the road as we headed out mid-morning but at least the sky was a cheerful blue and the clouds were scudding overhead too fast to stop and drop anything on us. 

Once in the woods it was peaceful and warm in the sun: yesterday there had been more grass than snow, this morning there was once again a light dusting of the stuff from overnight showers.

And it was shapes that caught the eye this morning: curves, 

more curves............

...............triangles..........

and straightlines. 

Sun still shining as we returned but there have been blizzards this afternoon: all it`s possible to predict at the moment is the unpredictability.