Hunting Haggis and Watching Snowflakes.......

Outside my window I can see that the latest batch of snow clouds are hovering over Kingussie and every so often a flurry of snow flakes descends. It is now lunch time and it's been doing this since this morning, but nothing much has come of it. The weather has been so mild here recently that I'm not really sure which way it will go. The five-day forecast seems to be a cold weekend, with 'wintery showers', but then by Tuesday the temperature will go up and, if we have a fall of snow, it will thaw very quickly.

I am one of those people who love snow and frost and wrapping up warm against the cold. I love crumpling up the newspaper and laying the kindling and logs in the fireplace, then the flare of the match as it strikes on the box. I love the colours of the flames as first the paper, then the wood, starts to burn. I love it when the whole family can gather together in front of the fire to enjoy its warmth. I love going out for walks along paths where the puddles have frozen, so that you can slide on them or jump on them and hear that wonderful 'crack' resounding through the crispy air! I love the icicles that appear like great big spears. I love it when the waterfalls have amazing icy sculptures where the water has frozen as it has splashed. I've added a couple of photos from a walk I did with two of my friends last winter, out at Glen Feshie, which illustrates that perfectly. In fact I love it all!

However, what I don't love is the slush when it all melts and the miserable greyness of the cold rain that doesn't have the imagination to transform itself into beautiful snow flakes....................

'What's this about hunting haggis?', you may ask. Well, I have to admit I am hooked! Over the festive season the Scotsman newspaper have an on-line haggis hunt. The ultimate prize is a break at the famous, and very expensive, Gleneagles Hotel. I did it last year (without winning a thing!) and once again I am keeping my eyes peeled for the little creatures! Have a look at http://haggishunt.scotsman.com/ to see what all the fuss is about!

I am pleased to report that I have been keeping my fitness regime going this week. I had a fantastic walk with my friend on Wednesday around the beautiful Rothiemurchus Estate (see http://www.rothiemurchus.net/ to see how lovely it is!) which is about 11 miles away from here. Well, all that hard work in the gym has paid off. The walk we usually do takes 2 hours at a brisk pace (my friend is much taller than me with longer legs, so I have to walk fast to keep up!) but this time we cut 25 minutes off it! And then resisted the scrummy cakes at the cafe at the visitor centre where we'd parked! (I am polishing my halo now!) It was so good to be in the fresh air again!

Thursday was Sam's Body Conditioning Class at the Leisure Centre, the last one before the holidays. It was good. Then today I was in the gym again doing treadmill, X-trainer, arm curls on the machine, squats, tricep pulls, lunges, then the abdominal exercises on the ball. I tried that funny thing with the one leg again, and could do it, but by then I was so tired, I couldn't do many (O.K., I was pathetic!). But I am continuing to work at it!

It's a busy weekend again. My two youngest children are in the Pantomime in the next village tonight and tomorrow night. The boys have Mountain biking tomorrow morning (unless it's too icy), then my daughter and eldest son have a swimming lesson tomorrow afternoon. We have also been invited to a friend's house for 'drinks and nibbles' on Sunday afternoon. Phew!

Yahoo! The snow is now falling consistently, and I can see it beginning to lie on the garden. They are very fine flakes though, so I'm not sure if it will get very thick. Keep your fingers crossed for me! And if you hate the snow and cold, indulge me please.........