And when we got back home:
MORE snow:
Looking down on my back garden. Hmm, that was the cooker I was going to 'freecycle'.
Looking down on my back garden. Hmm, that was the cooker I was going to 'freecycle'.
And finally...
Of course Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without Jack - his fourth with me and second in his new home and country.
Christmas Day
On Christmas Day we snuck onto the Balmoral Estate. Well, it wasn't so much snuck as just not-apprehended. There was not a soul around between the camouflage cameras and our footprints in the snow we wouldn't have been hard to track. Balmoral is actually the private property of the Queen and ownership is inherited like other private property (unlike some of her other castles which are actually government-owned). [As an aside, that led to an interesting situation when Edward VII abdicated for Wallis Simpson - he then had to sell Balmoral to George VI in order to enable Balmoral to continue to be used by British monarchs). Anyway, no-one was there - either because it was Christmas Day or because of the 2 foot of snow, or both...or maybe when the Queen is not there, it is simply 'wintered in'.
The Castle is not visible from the road and the gates are closed to the public on that side of the estate. But cross the river to where the estate lodgings are and it turns out that it's perfectly possible to get photographic evidence of a very beautiful Balmoral in the winter.
The Castle is not visible from the road and the gates are closed to the public on that side of the estate. But cross the river to where the estate lodgings are and it turns out that it's perfectly possible to get photographic evidence of a very beautiful Balmoral in the winter.
And the rest of Christmas Eve...
...not being sensible again...
(hey, it wasn't just me ok but as Supreme Editor, I could not find publishable photographs of the others...not that there aren't photos..just not publishable ones. The above is really in the same category but hey, well, I don't mind being good for a laugh).
(hey, it wasn't just me ok but as Supreme Editor, I could not find publishable photographs of the others...not that there aren't photos..just not publishable ones. The above is really in the same category but hey, well, I don't mind being good for a laugh).
Christmas Eve
Well, the day started sensibly enough...
..with a nice walk...
..before the posing begins...
...which soon descends into carnage...
But this is where we were aiming: Prince Albert's cairn - 'who was great and good, by his brokenhearted widow'
A good spot well chosen.
And being sensible again...
..with a nice walk...
..before the posing begins...
...which soon descends into carnage...
But this is where we were aiming: Prince Albert's cairn - 'who was great and good, by his brokenhearted widow'
A good spot well chosen.
And being sensible again...
A break from the snow...
We did actually DO things too... One day we summoned all of our energy to put on all our warmest snow clobber, head out the door, walk half a mile, and then learn all about whisky at the Royal Lochnagar Distillery. The taste-test bribe worked.
Another day we managed the 10 miles to Ballater to visit the Railway Station - where the Royal Family always got off when they came to Balmoral by train. Balmoral was already an existing castle when it was bought by Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's consort, in 1852. He expanded it for their ever expanding family but unfortunately only lived until 1861. Queen Victoria continued to return to Balmoral every year for the rest of her reign, normally for the month of May and for three months in the Autumn.
And another day we baked.
Another day we managed the 10 miles to Ballater to visit the Railway Station - where the Royal Family always got off when they came to Balmoral by train. Balmoral was already an existing castle when it was bought by Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's consort, in 1852. He expanded it for their ever expanding family but unfortunately only lived until 1861. Queen Victoria continued to return to Balmoral every year for the rest of her reign, normally for the month of May and for three months in the Autumn.
And another day we baked.
More Snow
Crathie is one of those blink-and-you-miss-it kind of places, and in the dark and falling snow we would have missed the appropriate turn off if the 'village' had consisted of more than a tourist information hut, a Church, a School (inexplicably), and a turn-off. But it didn't, and we turned onto our first non-cleared road, crunching our tracks up a blanket of whiteness, guided by the wall to one side, and eventually to the most gorgeous holiday cottage ever.
We all arrived safely from our 4 corners of the earth but with continued snow falls, it was clear we wouldn't be going anywhere again for a while with the help of 4 wheels and a diesel engine. So our first outing to Church was on foot through a foot of snow to Crathie Kirk. If you think you've heard of it, then you probably have. It's the regular place of worship for the Royal Family when staying at nearby Balmoral (Princess Anne married her second husband here in 1992 as the Church of England was unwilling to marry a divorcee).
But there's really only one thing to be done when there's snow around:
We all arrived safely from our 4 corners of the earth but with continued snow falls, it was clear we wouldn't be going anywhere again for a while with the help of 4 wheels and a diesel engine. So our first outing to Church was on foot through a foot of snow to Crathie Kirk. If you think you've heard of it, then you probably have. It's the regular place of worship for the Royal Family when staying at nearby Balmoral (Princess Anne married her second husband here in 1992 as the Church of England was unwilling to marry a divorcee).
But there's really only one thing to be done when there's snow around:
Travel in the Snow
Looking back on the week that was it was certainly dominated by s-n-o-w. For once, Kelling travel plans consisted of a maximum journey distance of only 60 miles and boy did we choose the right year to take a cottage just an hour's drive away...or 3 if you start to calculate in SJTs (Snow Journey Times).
Crathie is the south-eastern border of the Cairngorm mountain range, home to Scotland's premier ski resorts - Glenshee, Aviemore and The Lecht. We could take a ma-hoo-sive but black-road detour by hugging the east coast of Scotland almost to Aberdeen and then cutting inwards for the remaining 30 miles or so to Crathie and to enter it from the West. However, we decided instead to travel directly north to Perth..and then to basically keep going north through the pass of Glenshee and then to eventually turn right at Braemar and enter Crathie from the West. Doubt about these arrangements started about 7 miles up the motorway when the first snow blizzard came charging in and within a couple of minutes motorway traffic was moving at around 20 mph, in single file and in only one lane. The first test: the A9 hill rising to Perth was clear and we decided to chance the rising terrain with the changing weather conditions and even the Police warning sign that the pass at Glenshee was shut (we had the internet on my phone giving us true weather conditions on the pass). In the event, we were the only car we saw travelling northwards, and the pass was open long enough to allow us and 8 cars travelling southwards (did they know something we didn't?) to get through...but only just. We kept close to centre lines, shut eyes (except for the driver) when meeting oncoming vehicles and gripped seats/steering wheels at descents. The most treacherous section (12% hill for 2 miles) had been salted within an inch of its life and prevented any backward motion on our part, but we were very happy to reach flatter land, as was the cat who meowed his indignation at changing air pressures as we rose and fell around the highlands of Scotland.
But it was truly worth it, and not just for the photos we picked up on the adventure just getting there (all photos taken from a moving vehicle with very dirty salted windows):
Crathie is the south-eastern border of the Cairngorm mountain range, home to Scotland's premier ski resorts - Glenshee, Aviemore and The Lecht. We could take a ma-hoo-sive but black-road detour by hugging the east coast of Scotland almost to Aberdeen and then cutting inwards for the remaining 30 miles or so to Crathie and to enter it from the West. However, we decided instead to travel directly north to Perth..and then to basically keep going north through the pass of Glenshee and then to eventually turn right at Braemar and enter Crathie from the West. Doubt about these arrangements started about 7 miles up the motorway when the first snow blizzard came charging in and within a couple of minutes motorway traffic was moving at around 20 mph, in single file and in only one lane. The first test: the A9 hill rising to Perth was clear and we decided to chance the rising terrain with the changing weather conditions and even the Police warning sign that the pass at Glenshee was shut (we had the internet on my phone giving us true weather conditions on the pass). In the event, we were the only car we saw travelling northwards, and the pass was open long enough to allow us and 8 cars travelling southwards (did they know something we didn't?) to get through...but only just. We kept close to centre lines, shut eyes (except for the driver) when meeting oncoming vehicles and gripped seats/steering wheels at descents. The most treacherous section (12% hill for 2 miles) had been salted within an inch of its life and prevented any backward motion on our part, but we were very happy to reach flatter land, as was the cat who meowed his indignation at changing air pressures as we rose and fell around the highlands of Scotland.
But it was truly worth it, and not just for the photos we picked up on the adventure just getting there (all photos taken from a moving vehicle with very dirty salted windows):
Merry Christmas!
When did you last go without internet for a whole week? I found that I couldn't remember the last time. And that actually surprised me because I don't think I am bound to technology or that I MUST have internet access at all possible times (although in turthfulness I like being able to check my emails via my phone if the bus is running late or a meeting is super boring). But these days the internet is practically everywhere so I've never HAD to go without internet for a week in a long time. Even when travelling it's been relatively easy (and sometimes important) to pop into an internet café and let everyone know that I am both alive and well.
I suppose the last time was maybe in Japan. And the internet is everywhere there so it wasn't a lack of access to it that was the problem. But I definitely remember there were a few days in a row where I wondered what else was going on in the world while I was speeding along on the bullet train or sitting in the hot baths overlooking Mt Fuji. It didn't make me terribly comfortable being 'cut off' in this way. I think I prefer knowing that people can contact me if they really need to, and that I can contact them (my mobile phone didn't work in Japan). But I think that was really only around 4 days without internet...and I definitely noticed its lack. Not because I need it (I think), but because I like it.
But tomorrow the Big Freeze begins in many ways. We are heading north, where there is snow in abundance. And where there is no internet whatsoever. Well, in the cottage we're in to be precise. But the village is right by the sign to nowhere so I'm not expecting much beyond a village pub and a post office..tops. But then again, I am with a large majority of the people with whom I would want to spend a week without internet and based on experience, some of the brilliantist people I know.
So off I go, through the ice and snow, and wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!
PS I realise it's still almost a week to go so half of you are probably still working, but it's now or never for this year's Christmas Greeting. Enjoy!
xx
I suppose the last time was maybe in Japan. And the internet is everywhere there so it wasn't a lack of access to it that was the problem. But I definitely remember there were a few days in a row where I wondered what else was going on in the world while I was speeding along on the bullet train or sitting in the hot baths overlooking Mt Fuji. It didn't make me terribly comfortable being 'cut off' in this way. I think I prefer knowing that people can contact me if they really need to, and that I can contact them (my mobile phone didn't work in Japan). But I think that was really only around 4 days without internet...and I definitely noticed its lack. Not because I need it (I think), but because I like it.
But tomorrow the Big Freeze begins in many ways. We are heading north, where there is snow in abundance. And where there is no internet whatsoever. Well, in the cottage we're in to be precise. But the village is right by the sign to nowhere so I'm not expecting much beyond a village pub and a post office..tops. But then again, I am with a large majority of the people with whom I would want to spend a week without internet and based on experience, some of the brilliantist people I know.
So off I go, through the ice and snow, and wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!
PS I realise it's still almost a week to go so half of you are probably still working, but it's now or never for this year's Christmas Greeting. Enjoy!
xx
O when the weather outside is frightful...
The car is so icy it's beautiful. It looks like a sparkly spider has spun her web all over it. Deep, thick, opaque with fissures and rivulets and tiny hairline hexagonal cracks.
All this beauty still has a practical side. I had to park the car on the incline where my house is, with the handbrake OFF, in first gear, and with the wheels pointing into the kerb to a) ensure we can drive it tomorrow and b) to make sure it doesn't drive itself first.
I was less beautiful slithering my way to my front door on sheet ice but have lived to tell the tale. Tomorrow could be interesting.
All this beauty still has a practical side. I had to park the car on the incline where my house is, with the handbrake OFF, in first gear, and with the wheels pointing into the kerb to a) ensure we can drive it tomorrow and b) to make sure it doesn't drive itself first.
I was less beautiful slithering my way to my front door on sheet ice but have lived to tell the tale. Tomorrow could be interesting.
Comfort food
Do you remember those University days when things got tough or late? A cup of tea and a slice of toast were the only things I needed to feel a gazillion times better...most frequently after a late night (remember 143 Market St Tea&Toast ritual?).
By the time I got to Brussels, I had graduated to steak and red wine..don't ask me how. I still don't really consider myself a great meat eater (although after a number of years in France there is no doubt that I am actually a meat eater) and my Uni days were almost totally vegetarian. But in Brussels I worked long hours in sometimes stressful (but exhilarating) situations, and a good steak and glass of red wine was of great comfort. In fact, when I first ate out with my boss (strictly business) I had told him I was almost vegetarian. He said he was sure he'd get me eating meat by the end of my time there...and become a Conservative. Well, 50% is still a pass right?
I can't remember what my 'comfort foods' were in London and Cambridge. Either I didn't need much comforting or I found an alternative..I think possibly it was exercise, which I don't recommend. If exercise is your crutch, then it's easy to overdo it. In case anyone needs an excuse...
Paris? Well, Paris I'm not too sure. There's no one thing that is sticking out, but this morning the cravings returned. A very particular craving. Within 5 minutes I found myself with a cup of hot tea, a Burger King cheeseburger (yes, you read that correctly. Not sure if McDonalds would have done or it was particularly BK I needed), and a packet of maltesers. All. At. Once. Granted it's been a hard week - a hard couple of weeks really. And it peaked yesterday so maybe it was delayed calorie-comfort-intake. But I'm kinda hoping I'll stick to tea and toast next time. Them were the days!
By the time I got to Brussels, I had graduated to steak and red wine..don't ask me how. I still don't really consider myself a great meat eater (although after a number of years in France there is no doubt that I am actually a meat eater) and my Uni days were almost totally vegetarian. But in Brussels I worked long hours in sometimes stressful (but exhilarating) situations, and a good steak and glass of red wine was of great comfort. In fact, when I first ate out with my boss (strictly business) I had told him I was almost vegetarian. He said he was sure he'd get me eating meat by the end of my time there...and become a Conservative. Well, 50% is still a pass right?
I can't remember what my 'comfort foods' were in London and Cambridge. Either I didn't need much comforting or I found an alternative..I think possibly it was exercise, which I don't recommend. If exercise is your crutch, then it's easy to overdo it. In case anyone needs an excuse...
Paris? Well, Paris I'm not too sure. There's no one thing that is sticking out, but this morning the cravings returned. A very particular craving. Within 5 minutes I found myself with a cup of hot tea, a Burger King cheeseburger (yes, you read that correctly. Not sure if McDonalds would have done or it was particularly BK I needed), and a packet of maltesers. All. At. Once. Granted it's been a hard week - a hard couple of weeks really. And it peaked yesterday so maybe it was delayed calorie-comfort-intake. But I'm kinda hoping I'll stick to tea and toast next time. Them were the days!
A topsy turvy world...
Could it be the highlands of Scotland? Or somewhere very far north where it's cold and dark?
Actually, it was central Paris earlier this morning, while Stirling looked like this:
Actually, it was central Paris earlier this morning, while Stirling looked like this:
The Kitchen
It was all tidied up by the time the party came round, but here it is, basically finished:
Some festive cheer..
Some festive cheer came in the form of my housewarming party on Saturday night. Absolutely terrible weather here (freezing fog, sheet ice) kept many away, but of those who made it, they were linked in rather bizarre ways..that kind of '2 degrees of separation thing'. At least we found some mulled wine and mince pies to warm the cockles (and everything else by the time we'd finished). We also sampled local bars and even a club...for the first and last time in Stirling. All in all, a great night (and by the time we'd finished..morning) out...and a wonderful incentive to get that living room cleared and cleaned!
Postman Pat...
..hitherto utterly underrated as a chicken pox pick me up. Tessa, Lily and I slouched on the couch completely absorbed in Pat and Jess's antics...but did you know Pat is now married to Sarah and has a son called Julian. How time flies!
Coughs and Sneezles
...looks like I picked up more than just the sustainability bug last Saturday on the march.
Am all curled up in bed with the flu.
:-(
Am all curled up in bed with the flu.
:-(
Planes, trains and automobiles...
Having attended a Stop Climate Chaos march, it was with great irony that I found myself this morning contemplating having to book myself on 2 return flights to Europe, 1 return flight to Asia, and 3 intra-Asia flights...all by 31.01.10.
We do try to keep our costs down where we can, although sometimes with limited success. Malaysia is 8 hours ahead of current UK time which makes calls either unebelievably early at this end or unbelieveably late at theirs (once you take into account the necessary commuting, eating and implicit general life requirements). The connection is sometimes also extremely dodgy. Mostly you can piece the sounds together by replacing the staccato blips with vowels, but it's fairly hopeless for non-Asian speakers (although we seem to have more success on my mac than a University PC - another feather in it's cap). E-mail also works relatively well, until you have to co-ordinate with 14 project partners, 2 supervisors, a project management team and a decidedly grumpy secretary to get anything done.
So I know we try our best to 'do our bit' at this end. But I have just come up with a cunning plan. The first return flight to Europe is something I can't do much about - short of taking the train to Brussels. Which is an option, but I won't look into it yet because it's 50-50 whether the conference goes ahead anyway. The big Asia flight is simply unavoidable. A workshop with 200 people is just not going to work any other way. But, there is a direct train between Bangkok and Laos - so there goes another flight. And the other regional flight we'll have to see about - to be confirmed later. THEN, the coup de grace is to return to Europe but to stop off in Paris on the way back for what would have been the second European return trip. Not very creative you might suggest. But there's a few other changes that had to be made to enable me to do that, and I am most grateful for them.
It's hard work this...but...
We do try to keep our costs down where we can, although sometimes with limited success. Malaysia is 8 hours ahead of current UK time which makes calls either unebelievably early at this end or unbelieveably late at theirs (once you take into account the necessary commuting, eating and implicit general life requirements). The connection is sometimes also extremely dodgy. Mostly you can piece the sounds together by replacing the staccato blips with vowels, but it's fairly hopeless for non-Asian speakers (although we seem to have more success on my mac than a University PC - another feather in it's cap). E-mail also works relatively well, until you have to co-ordinate with 14 project partners, 2 supervisors, a project management team and a decidedly grumpy secretary to get anything done.
So I know we try our best to 'do our bit' at this end. But I have just come up with a cunning plan. The first return flight to Europe is something I can't do much about - short of taking the train to Brussels. Which is an option, but I won't look into it yet because it's 50-50 whether the conference goes ahead anyway. The big Asia flight is simply unavoidable. A workshop with 200 people is just not going to work any other way. But, there is a direct train between Bangkok and Laos - so there goes another flight. And the other regional flight we'll have to see about - to be confirmed later. THEN, the coup de grace is to return to Europe but to stop off in Paris on the way back for what would have been the second European return trip. Not very creative you might suggest. But there's a few other changes that had to be made to enable me to do that, and I am most grateful for them.
It's hard work this...but...
Stop Climate Chaos
Like any self-respecting student, I woke at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning and headed off for a good protest with around 8000 other people in Glasgow city centre.
It dutifully rained and I pulled on my outfit of choice these days: my cracked wellies (indeed it doth rain too much even for wellies in this country), my not fashion-forward but very warm hat, a good thermal scarf, a couple of pairs of gloves just for good measure, tights AND socks, and a good bar of chocolate or 5. I missed out on the ethical-conscious protestor's other clothing of choice: the rainbow coloured cable-knit cardie/hat/gloves/dreadlocks etc.
We wound our way through some of Glasgow's better sights...
And some not so good...
And dare I say it, I was even starting to feel slightly bored (and cold) seeing as everything was passing perfectly peacefully without a petrol bomb, can of spray paint, streaker or burning effigy in sight. Nearest thing to excitement was trying to not slip in the horse poo from the horses carrying the mounted policemen.
But things got decidedly more exciting when I found the Samba band. I spent the second half of the march doing a lot less marching and a lot more stomping, and not just because the wind had picked up, but the 16 drum/percussion players and their sign-language conductor are clearly the discerning protestor's band of choice. We sashayed our way up to the rally and it was only in the post-Samba throng that I actually got chatting to some people around me.
It turned out to be a lot of fun, for a really good cause.
It dutifully rained and I pulled on my outfit of choice these days: my cracked wellies (indeed it doth rain too much even for wellies in this country), my not fashion-forward but very warm hat, a good thermal scarf, a couple of pairs of gloves just for good measure, tights AND socks, and a good bar of chocolate or 5. I missed out on the ethical-conscious protestor's other clothing of choice: the rainbow coloured cable-knit cardie/hat/gloves/dreadlocks etc.
We wound our way through some of Glasgow's better sights...
And some not so good...
And dare I say it, I was even starting to feel slightly bored (and cold) seeing as everything was passing perfectly peacefully without a petrol bomb, can of spray paint, streaker or burning effigy in sight. Nearest thing to excitement was trying to not slip in the horse poo from the horses carrying the mounted policemen.
But things got decidedly more exciting when I found the Samba band. I spent the second half of the march doing a lot less marching and a lot more stomping, and not just because the wind had picked up, but the 16 drum/percussion players and their sign-language conductor are clearly the discerning protestor's band of choice. We sashayed our way up to the rally and it was only in the post-Samba throng that I actually got chatting to some people around me.
It turned out to be a lot of fun, for a really good cause.
That Christmas feeling...
- carol concerts
- snow on the hills
- snow on the hills
- a warm mince pie
- red cheeks
- that extra layer
- too hot inside when you come in from outside and too cold outside when you go out from inside
- hands in pockets
- accessorizing hats to scarves
- gloves on your Christmas list
- planning work activities for January 2010
- turning up the thermostat
- finding the cat doesn't want to go outside
- smiling when realising that running to catch the bus at least gets you warm
- take a break from the computer at 4pm and realising it's dark outside
- making sure the shower is really hot before getting in
- finding the green frog draught excluder
- negotiating rotas for Christmas
- trawling fun websites for quirky gifts
- getting a good overview of other peoples' New Year plans
- wondering if carpets would have been better than wood floors
- accessorizing coats to wellies
- finding outfits that are both fun AND warm
- squeezing in blog writing
The happy skirt
My happy skirt has featured several times on this blog. You know, it's the bright orangey red one that seems to come out to play most often in the tropics, or for big presentations (distraction is key). It's fun and happy and most of all, bright.
With our 6 hours of light which is mostly dishwater grey as the sun does its best to poke through, I've taken to wearing some happier clothes - brightening the lives of those around me, is how I like to think of it. And frankly, my winter wardrobe after years away from Scotland is far too small to not make use of twirly-firly Paris skirts coupled with tights and thick wool cardies.
I know I get looked at - probably as the wierdo bright person, but that's ok and I don't care. There's worse things to have thought of you. And I like being the flash of colour that skips past office doors. Although sometimes it does get even a bit much for me when I've put on my floral print coat and looked at myself in the mirror before going out and winced at the swirls and twirls and colours and print, all clashing with my lime green wellies. But I go out anyway, because so what? Maybe it will make someone smile, or laugh.
Like my office-mate today who couldn't stop laughing for a full 3 minutes when I first entered the office. I wasn't sure why at first. I checked for toilet paper on shoes and skirt caught in tights, and it was only when he caught his breath could he tell me he was laughing at my fabulously bright skirt on such a dreary day. That's the whole point, said I. And he said he knew, and was grateful for it, but most people he knows wear a lot of black in winter. I said I felt happier in my bright orange skirt. He said he felt happier when I was in my bright orange skirt. And the happy skirt went on its way, dispensing smiles and laughter as it twirled and firled through the day.
Sunshine on a rainy day...
...a couple of bright outfits and opening my final 'Malaysia' storage box (holding birthday presents).
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