With Decorum

I've been on holiday for a week now and besides our day out hill-walking at Glen Shiel (which was amazing), we've mostly been decorating the Master bedroom. We've gone for an oatmeal type colour for the walls and a dark biscuit type colour for the woodwork. We decided to go for something bold to add a bit of character, so we chose the wallpaper above and ran it around the room. Looks nice! Still waiting until next week before we get the carpet done, then we can look at beds. I suppose it had to be done, although decorating is probably my second worst leisure-time pursuit after gardening.

Don't get me wrong, I love gardens. Looking at them that is. I simply don't have the patience to nurture one. Anyway, we live in Scotland, who needs a garden? We've got amazing scenery all around us. I had plans to visit Beinn Eighe next week for some more walking, but the forecast is for howling gales and snowfall. Might have to look at a smaller target. It's always nice to get out, but I'm averse to risking life and limb.

You might still be wondering why I revived this blog after more than two years without posting. Well, I use to find it quite therapeutic posting here when times were tough. Those times may be returning. I hope not, but there may be trouble ahead!

Love Is In the Air!

Ah, Spring is in the air! Well no, not really, but besides the crocuses and daffodils, I witnessed another tell-tale sign this morning. Something far less appealing to witness than a smattering of flowers. "Pray do tell?" you plead! Well, it was none other than... seagulls humping. Yes, first thing that got my attention was the incessant noise they were making as I nipped to the shop. I looked up to see a pair going at it birdy style, then another pair on the next roof along, then another pair... well, you get the idea! One in... all in!

All that was before I'd even had breakfast. Not the kind of thing you really want to witness at that time of day. It didn't put me off my breakfast though... if I'd been watching it happen while I had my breakfast, well, that would be another matter entirely!

Tomorrow we're heading off for some hill-walking on a hill called "Morven" in Southern Aberdeenshire. At least, that's the plan. While it's been a really nice day here today, I've been told there were 3 or 4 inches of snow out that way. Anyhow, we're going regardless. As long as there isn't a blizzard or anthing, we'll give it a shot. Should make for some decent photos! I'll get back to you!

Nothing But Scrap Metal!

I'm afraid it's lights out for my old car, the one I put off-road on Monday. The intention was to get it repaired and sell it, but it appears that it's too far gone even for that. Seems like I did exactly the right thing, not putting it through it's M.O.T. and buying another car instead. My instincts serve me right again, although I wasn't the one labouring under the delusion that it was repairable. Now everyone's in agreement, it's no good for anything but scrap. It never was a great car, it looked alright, but was dogged by niggling problems, design faults if you ask me. But you won't ask me will you Vauxhall? I won't have another of your cars though, so you've shot yourself in the foot there!

Looks like we're set for snow here again, my fledgling hill-walking career has been severely hampered by the weather, oh wait, this is Scotland isn't it? Regardless of whether it snows again or not, I'm going to bag another Corbett next week. I have my eyes set on the biggest Corbett in the Grampians; "Morven", and if it happens to be covered in snow, then so be it. At least I shpould get some nice photos out of it. Mind you, I also have to squeeze in a day's shopping in Aberdeen, which will be harder on the feet that any hill-walk. I'm sure I've covered some torturous shopping expeditions in this blog before. My wife has a stamina for shopping that beggars belief. I'll find some excuse to duck out of part of it though, perhaps I need to acquire some OS maps, yes, that's right, I won't be able to get those anywhere else.

Going back to the hill-walking, I'm still ill-prepared. I have acquired several necessities such as maps, compass, hiking boots, trekking poles etc. but I still need a decent jacket, gaiters and a rucksack. Crampons too if I'm going to go out in the white stuff. Mind you, I'm not one for extreme cold, or extreme heat either. I think average sort of days are best for hill-walking.

Something For the Weekend!

Well, that's me finished teaching for 3 weeks or so. It's been an experience! On the assessment front, I'll get my results and feedback at Uni, on Monday. Going back to Uni's a bit of a thought to be honest. I've gotten used to being in the school, and the prospect of having to stand waiting at the train station at 6:45 in the morning, at this time of the year, is very unappealing. It's got to be one of the coldest damn places around here, at the best of times.

So, we've had a little snow today, but it looks like tonight is going to see some major snowfalls here for the first time this year. Don't know if I'll be able to get any hill-walking in this weekend, the rest of the family are wavering. They're talking about the cinema, but there's nothing on. They're not even showing Cloverfield here, which is the only film I'm remotely interested in going to see at the moment. Did I mention that the oven in my cooker has packed up? No, I don't think I did. I'm not happy about that at all!

I will try and get some photos this weekend though, rest assured I'll find something photograph-worthy on my travels. Preferably with snow in it, but I can't guarantee it. If you live in another part of the World, you might not really understand how the weather works here in Scotland. We can get the four seasons in one day, any combination of snow, rain, sunshine and wind. The weather can change every 10 minutes. That's what it's like here, always changing, from good to bad and back again in next to no time. That's why you always have to dress for the worst possible weather!