Historic Scotland

With the day's getting longer and March just around the corner I was having a look at places that are open or are opening soon for the season. Having a look at the Historic Scotland website I was shocked to see all the places they care for that I had never heard about, it is quite fascinating looking around the different regions on their site. If you purchase an Explorer Pass it can save you a substantial amount of money, something to think about if you are coming to Scotland for a holiday.

The Weather

This time last week we had up to 10cm of snow and then this week I am out in the garden in reasonably warm sunshine. I have become slightly obsessed with the weather forecast and keep checking up on the Glenshee ski reports and I have yet to find one online or tv forecast that agrees with another!

Winter Wonderland

Sunnyside

Lots of grouse in the snow

Woke up this morning to a totally unexpected fall of heavy snow, but as we had arranged to go up to Glenshee again, off we went. That was a journey and a half, took us double the time, because of ice and snow, cars were getting stuck going up the hills and sliding about as they had no grip at all, but they and we got to the slopes. I think they closed the road briefly to clear it after we had got up. What a contrast in the weather to yesterday, but it was still superb fun. It is going to be so absolutely packed up there over the weekend and next week, school mid-term holidays, and I have a busy weekend in the B&B, so no ski-ing for me.

Glorious Glenshee

The pictures say it all, today was the most perfect day at Glenshee. Enjoy, if you are going up. I shall upload some more photos on my Flickr album.

Time to Ponder

I am sitting here waiting patiently for some guests to arrive, and thinking back on the amount of phone calls I had today for people wanting to stay this weekend, well tomorrow night in particular, the ski slopes are calling. It's so disappointing to have to turn people away, but with only 3 bedrooms it happens, especially in the summer. Typically I had people wanting to stay tonight and I was full and then some people cancelled late on, so there you go, what do you do.
I have decided to open my blog for comments as I was unaware that you could check them all first, but now I know you can, helps if you read things properly! The reason I blocked them before was because I was slightly wary of getting bizarre comments!

Royal Navy Rescue

Not long after 1pm when I took the dog out I heard a helicopter flying very low and sounding as if it was trying to land, because of the heavy snow I couldn't see anything, so being curious followed the sound to the field opposite the cemetery just along the road and low and behold a Royal Navy Rescue Helicopter had landed!! Typically I didn't have my camera so I just had to rush home and get it as it is not something you see every day. I was not alone in taking photos! (Note of the day, always go out with my camera as the most unexpected things can happen) Apparently they were waiting for an ambulance to come down the Glen as they could not land because of the adverse weather conditions.

It has been snowing all day here, yesterday the snow from Monday had all melted and it rained all day long. The forecast is dry for tomorrow, so the forecast says.

Grrrrrr..eat Fun

Fun and frolics in the snow, bright and sunny one minute total whiteout the next.

Is this what they call a Ploughman's lunch!!

Ploughing has started in the field at the end of the lane and it is amazing all the seagulls that suddenly appear for a good feed, hence the title of this post. Unfortunately it also means I can't use the field as a walk for some time. There is a small fir hillock across the field (great view of it from upstairs) with some Scot's pine and Oak trees, someone told me it was an ancient burial ground, don't know if that is true or not, something to research.

My guests last night left me a lovely box of chocolates, so thank you!. They were going on to Glasgow to the Royal Concert Hall to the Celtic Connections Homecoming Celebrations. Tonight is the 'Transatlantic Sessions-Bringing it all Back Home' which highlights the music and songs of Scotland that travelled across the Atlantic with the emigrants.