Imbolc or Groundhog Day

It's Groundhog day.... again! Well, we are supposed to be getting an earlier Spring this year up in the Trossachs as the sun was not shining, so neither a groundhog, badger, hedgehog, snake or a hag could have seen their shadow. Punxsatawney Phil, didn't see one either apparently!

These poems worked out right for Scotland last year;

"If February give much snow

A fine summer it doth foreshow"

"If Ash (leaves) comes before Oak, we're in for a soak

If Oak comes before Ash, we're in for a splash!"

Here the loch is finally thawing, but could we get more snow yet? Otherwise if its a mild February stormy weather is to be expected!

The Forestry Commission picnic table at Lemahamish obviously decided to go for a swim during the floods after the great thaw!

Full Moon

How amazing was the full moon this month! January's full moon is the Wolf, Cold or Winter Moon and apparantly, if you want to know how long it will be before you get married, then look at the first full moon of the New Year through a hankerchief. The number of moons showing through it it represents the number of months of single life! Darn it, I read this too late, I'll have to wait until next year now!

Yew are Lovely

Yes yew, look at how gorgeous you are dripping with all those poisonous needles and flaky bark at Porchester Castle... and you seem to live forever. The locals love you, the pagans loved you, the insects and birds love you and so do I!

Family Food

At last, back to see family who we always miss loads, especially around Christmas time. So, here we all are stuffing our faces with amazing food in an Italian restaurant in Fareham to make up for our time away.

Will and I, before Will got that awful virus that stopped us getting to see everyone we wanted to. Sorry, we will see you all next time!

Two cheeky chappies, clearly enjoying their food too much!?

Happy Hogmanay!

Arthur the piper, piped in an early new year for us so we all giggled the night away with mulled wine and a ceilidh - great fun as ever! Best wishes to you all for the New Year!

Merry Christmas

A white Christmas then, although it didn't actually snow today. Daisy enjoys her present opening, sorry Lesley and Graham, she opened the whoopee cushion and destroyed it thinking it was hers when our backs were turned. She must have smelt the plastic and thought it was a squeeky toy! Never mind, I still have Will for sound effects!