Walking in the cold

A lot of locals would consider it strange to go hill-walking (tramping) in the winter, particularly on a day that sat mostly at or below 0 deg C. However, while it provides some challenges and hardships to be endured, there are also some rewards!

Steve found a sausage in the car park. Apparently it has paedophile glasses.

Grave of Rob Roy. His epitaph, 'Macgregor Despite Them', refers to a royal edict banning the use of the clan name.

The remains of the chapel beside his grave.

It is also the traditional seat of the Maclarens, and the Boar's Rock (Creag an Tuirc), meeting place of the Maclarens and also their war cry!

Nice view from the Boar's Rock.

Once we got up a few hundred metres, we entered a world of mist and whiteness.

Christmas in the winter

A unique concept: Christmas when it's actually cold, there's a real possibility of snow, mince pies and mulled wine keep you warm and the Christmas lights illuminate your way home. Also, in Edinburgh, Christmas announces the arrival of the German market and ice-skating in Prince's Street Gardens.

I had a moment's reflection at the absolute beauty of the city when I was biking home (in the cold, wet and dark) and an explosion of fireworks began above the castle. It was the most amazing sight and I wish I'd had my camera. The celebration was St Andrew's Day (Scotland's patron saint) and so I went to a celebratory Ceilidh later on that night with Allie (one of my workmates) and Abbie (from NZ). There was blue and white everywhere and Abbie and I collected a little paper Saltire (Scottish flag) each to wave around.