Glenshee Ski Centre

This year has been a superb season for the ski centres, Glenshee has been open for the ski season from about the 22nd December 2009. I was last up on Wednesday and the conditions were amazing, blue skies were an added bonus. There is more snow forecast for the coming week with temperatures remaining low, so hope to get again soon. Of course an added bonus is that we get guests staying over. One of my guests this evening was saying it was real value for money and she has been skiing in Europe many times. There are 3 places en route to Glenshee where you can hire equipment and of course at the centre itself. Let it snow!!

New Arbour and Path

We have recently made a couple of improvements to the front of the house. We had a new path put down to replace the gravel, the gravel was a real nuisance to keep tidy and many guests have suitcases with wheels on, so was a struggle at times. The new path is made from pattern imprinted concrete and I am very pleased with the results. It was laid by a local company called Denwell Driveways and has not been damaged at all by the severe frosts we have had. I also decided to get an arbour, not that many guests have the time to sit outside, but available if wanted for that morning coffee or cigarette! I now have to decide what colour to paint it.

Birthday Lunch

As it is one of my children's birthday next week, we went out for a rather lovely lunch along at Ballathie House Hotel, which sits right on the River Tay. I have a few guests who go along for dinner or guests who are attending a wedding there.

Curling Bonspiel Comrie 1965

With this amazing frozen weather we are having and lots of talk going on about Curling Bonspiels taking place, I thought I'd share a couple of pictures from 1965. My grandfather Mr George Goodwin is in the centre pouring the whisky. The poem coming up soon was prompted as a result of the BBC wishing to film a real 'live' bonspiel on a New Year's Day. It was held at Sir Robert Dundas's Pond, near the Laggan Park Comrie, which had frozen over. A few of Comrie's 'finest' would try a few 'ends' and then finish up with a traditional toast - there was some trepidation associated with the project. Whenever someone set foot on the ice a loud crack or twang was heard and a line of raised, ridged rather thin ice spread away from the point of contact, and to add to the excitement no one knew the actual depth of the pond. Undeterred the party played a few ends. However, because the ice was soon covered in puddles and appeared to have become 'ower thin' it was decided to hurry the closure of the session and the party lined up in front of the camera to record the toast. A bottle of Scotch was produced and a dram poured into a glass which was then hoisted in salutation to the television viewers. Just as the glass was being raised to the lips the ice underneath gave way. The person raising the glass must have realised that his time on earth had come and was filmed swallowing the contents of the glass before following the party into the depths of the pond. Thereafter everyone rescued each other and discovered that the pond was about six inches deep!!

The Meeting of the Waters

Keith Macpherson

(Lednock and Usquebae)

Ta' 'Pherson swore a feud against that Goodwin fellow

Says he, 'My fine big chap I think that you are yellow',

'No this will never do insults I won't be hurling

Come doon to Comrie Hoose, and meet me at the curling'.

Chorus: Come a ree come a ra come a roo

Come a ree come a ra come a rous

Come a ree come a ra come a roo

Tat's a Gaelic Chorus

Says Goodwin, 'My fine chap I do not like your manner

I've heard about your clan and also their green banner,

But bring your clansmen down, my curlers I will muster

I soon will prove to you I do not fear your bluster'

They met down at the pond says Goodwin 'My fine chappie

I think we'll star the game by handing round the drappie',

The camera man was there to photograph the slaughter

When crash the ice went down and left them in the water.

MacPherson's Chief went down I think they were the losers

A puddock in the pond cried 'Donald, where's yer troosers'

Says Donald, 'Haud yer wheesht yer knowledge just be quelling

What's underneath the kilt ye never should be telling'.

However this sad tale it had a happy ending,

'Tis said the night was spent in muckle elbow bending,

And 'tis a well known fact, while round the fire you're sipping

The finest shots are played when Johnnie Dewar is skipping.

And furthermore besides this most unique position

Was shown around the world on BBC television.

But what they did not show a point that's well worth noting

Is what the puddock saw when Donald's kilt was floating!

Pinnocchio at Perth Theatre

That time of year again, and our annual trip to the Theatre in Perth. This year the festive production was Pinocchio and once again all involved did a fantastic job. The streets in Perth were very slippy with snow piled up everywhere and apparently the cold snap is set to continue.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to you all, will take me some time to remember it is 2010!! Had an eventful day. As this is the first year in a while I have closed for New Year I had the opportunity to do something today, in otherwords ski-ing. Was up at the crack of dawn to check the road reports up to Glenshee, they were open, they have been closed first thing for quite a bit of the week. I was wanting to go up to the Lecht as it has great nursery slopes. Made it up past Glenshee okay, then the roads got a bit worse, it was amazing the amount of snow in and around Braemar, so made it to the Tomintoul Road and the sign said it was closed, but there was no way I was going to risk it anyway when I saw the amount of snow on the road!! So, it was about turn and back to Glenshee for a while. Hope you like the picture of stags in the snow. Was slightly disappointed when I got home and saw the roads were open to the Lecht, but safety first, especially having the little ones in the car.

Today at Glenshee

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.

Festive Greetings

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.

Perthshire Breakfast Course

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!!!

Let's Cook! is owned and run by a lovely engaging lady called Sarah, who has had vast cookery experience. Our day started by making Cinnamon and Raisin Bread, then a Raspberry & Strawberry Compote followed by a Basic Granola. We then had a tasting of different sausages and bacon. We sampled some delicious local Boar Sausages. (they are available at Perth Farmers Market) We then made some Potato scones which were fried using Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil, which is made near Crieff at Summer Harvest

After lunch we made 2 different types of muffins, Raspberry & Pecan then Ham and Mushroom. We were all presented with a certificate and were given some Loganberry Jam to take home along with the goodies we had cooked.

Scottish Theme Shop Windows

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.

Stanley Mills

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.

Knockhill Racing Circuit

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.
It was a wet drive down, but cleared up quickly and stayed dry until late afternoon. The first drive of the day was in a SEAT Ibiza, learning how to go around the racing circuit. This was followed by a solo drive in single seater mini racing car, it was great fun. Unfortunately by the time you were getting comfortable with driving it, it was time to finish. It was then time for the go-karting. After a quick lunch break it was time for the rally driving on a specially built rally stage. I have to say the rally driving was my favourite part of the day and at the end the instructor went into the driving seat and took you round the course showing just how it should be done.

The whole day was run very smoothly, hardly any hanging around, and I was surprised at just how many people were at the circuit doing one of the many 'experiences' they have on offer. I received mine as a present, so if you are stuck for present ideas, try Knockhill.

Service at Community Campus

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.

For the Fallen

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them