This morning we woke up to another 7cm of fresh snow, on top of what we already had, so it was on with the computer to check the road reports. The A93 was open, but there seems to have been a lot of road disruption around the A9. After the absolutely freezing weather we have been having, it was actually a bit warmer today. Here are today's morning pictures from Glenshee.
Another year nearly over, so wishing you all a Merry Christmas. It is very cold in Scotland at the moment and we have had quite a bit of snow, so this year we will have a white Christmas, which I think makes it more magical, especially for the youngsters.
Today I attended a course in Abernethy at a new cookery school called Let's Cook! Scotland. The course was entitled Perthshire Breakfast and was run in conjunction with Perth & Kinross Council's Developing Rural Tourism in Perthshire, Kinross and Angus. There have been 3 of the courses run this week and it was targeted at the B&B/Guest House Sector. There were 8 people on the course, 3 of us from Blairgowrie, 2 from Pitlochry, 1 from Perth and 2 from Forfar. It was fun exchanging B&B stories!!!
This year again as part of the St Andrew's Day Celebrations there was a competition for the 'Best Dressed Premises', so this morning I had a wander and took a few photos. The winner was Doig & Sons. I also had a browse around the Continental market which was being held in the Wellmeadow.
This weekend Historic Scotland are letting you access their properties for free, so I thought it would be an ideal opportunity to have a trip along to Stanley Mills at Stanley (15 minutes drive) It is a huge complex of old mill buildings, part of which have been converted into flats. The mill is right beside the River Tay. The visitor centre has been very well done, interest for all ages and very hands on in places. They have a fantastic water display where you work sluice gates and wheels etc, great fun. Stanley Mills is open all year, so pop along.
Yesterday I was lucky enough to have an Ultimate Drivers Day experience at Knockhill, which is just over an hour away. I'm afraid I do not have many photos, but I have great footage on video.
Today I attended a Remembrance/Re-dedication service at the Community Campus. The war memorial was situated at the old Hill Primary and has just been moved to it's new position at the Blairgowrie Community Campus.
When I went up to clean the bedrooms, this morning, I found that the guests who had been staying in Room 3 had left me a very kind note. Thank you very much.
Another year, another Blair in Bloom Award Ceremony. Attended the awards yesterday evening where I picked up my 2nd place certificate. This year I managed to get you a photo of the cups and shields given out to the winners. The judge this year had made a video of all the gardens he had visited which was very interesting. I think for next year I am going to have to go down the begonia route and drastically improve my hanging baskets. I will be the first to admit that my baskets and tubs were not looking very good this year and I need to get more later flowering perennials in the border.
Today was yet again a gloriously beautiful October day. Early afternoon I took the children on a bike ride. We went along the Dunkeld Road and turned down by Myreside, signposted Ardblair Trail, and continued along the track across the Essendy Road along the track by Ardblair wood and continued straight ahead until we came back onto the Perth Road. We crossed onto Golf Course Road and opposite Woodlands Road there is a small track which takes you along through the Golf Courses. We continued through the woods to the edge of Stormont Loch. The Loch is an important area for over wintering wildfowl. Tufted ducks and great crested grebes also nest here. It is very good cycling terrain and of course walking. We returned the route we came, back to Golf Course Road, but there are various other routes you could take to return.
On Tuesday we had a little trip out down to 'The Fair City' of Perth, so took a few random photos whilst wandering about. I was very impressed by the machines in 'Boots' where you can instantly print out photos from your camera memory card (you can tell I don't get out much!!!) lots of fun. Just did the usual wandering around shops and as it was one of my children's birthday, we went out for a lovely lunch at a place called Cafe Breizh on the High Street.
This afternoon I had the opportunity to nip across to Dunkeld to go on a fungi walk arranged by the Atholl Estates Ranger Service. Anyone wanting to go was to meet at Cally car park, which is just before Dunkeld, and this is a good place to go if you were wanting to go out walking. Quite a few people turned up and the walk was led by two knowledgeable ladies. Unfortunately with the dry spell we have been having the fungi were a bit scarce. I had an enjoyable time and picked up some hints and tips. There are quite a few fungi walks/forays coming up take a look at this link for all the events.
My second postcard this year!! from some lovely guests from France, thank you very much.
A derelict Victorian Greenhouse
Grapes growing in old greenhouse
The River Tay
Fisherman's Boat on River Tay
Old Kinclaven Railway Bridge