It has been a little while......

It is January 23 and I’m getting used to writing 2010!

It is balmy here today - all of 5C!

After the longest spell of wintry weather in many years, to be able to drive on roads free from snow and ice is such a pleasure. Not to have to watch every step, in case there is bone breaking ice at the next, is such a relief!

Plockton and the far west coast was not badly affected, compared to most other places, where there was a lot of snow, often deposited on layers of ice. My journeys to and from Edinburgh for Christmas – I finally got there on Christmas day and returned three days later, thanks to bad forecasts – were quite nasty, as windscreen washers did not work in the sub 0C temperatures and the motorways were filthy. I was not alone in stopping, cleaning and starting all the way south and north! The trains ran intermittently and just could not be relied upon to get from A to B.

I can imagine that, if you live in Canada, Scandinavia, Russia, etc, you’ll be having a good laugh at all this – child’s play to you!

I was home as usual for New Year, happy to sit in the house when the "bells pealed". At about 9.00pm I heard someone calling hello – did not rise as I knew whoever is was would find me in the sitting room. Well, the calling continued, though it was nearer, so I opened the door and found myself face to face with Catriona and Moira! I had no idea they were coming!
My first thought was that I had 2 frozen meals and one baked potato to eat!! However, I did have plenty shortly after, as Sandra, my niece arrived with provisions and my own deep freeze in the cellar was not empty.

We all went up to "35", the family home, and brought in the New Year, whilst watching the bonfire on the island and wonderful fireworks – there was a big crowd of people, many unknown faces too…… At around 1.30am Catriona and others were wilting, so home we went.

Moira and Catriona had meant to stay only two nights but a third was necessary, as trains were not running on January 2, thanks to the snow in parts.

I had a lovely Christmas and an especially good New Year! I hope you had too….. Ann