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Described as an ‘undemanding journey’ in the book, we chose this hike because our friend Gordon said he was out of practice with walking. The reality of the instruction ‘ascend 400m up heathery slopes’ didn’t dawn on us until we were in it. Admittedly, it was more annoying than demanding, as the heather bushes came up over my knees, which did make the going kinda tough. Also, we thought the snow would’ve melted on the hills by now, but it hasn’t (will be even worse now due to this week’s snowy gale force windy sleety chaos). Wildlife count for the day included rabbits, sheep, cows, toads making love, frogspawn (toadspawn?), buzzards, oystercatchers, lapwings doing a funky sky dance complete with calls, an adder, a few roe deer, mountain hare in its winter coat, male and female grouse, two black grouse.

Of course we had to nab at least one cache on our way out to the hike, so we nabbed the micro at Feugh Falls, and we had a DNF for a funky letterbox hybrid next to an ostrich farm. We had a lovely early dinner at the Potarch on our way home, and then it was time for bed!

Even though it’s gone back to grey and chilly now, we had a burst of spring weather last week. Wes and I had a wee run around the park last weekend, and the crocuses are keen for spring to arrive as well.

We thought it was about time we took Missy the mini out of her winter hibernation. It’s been three weeks since the last snowfall, and tiny buds are just starting to appear on the stick trees. After two jumpstarts (thanks random kind man near the servo!), we were off! We headed west on the south Deeside b roads that Missy likes so much. Unfortunately this was a particularly harsh winter, the snow left the roads with more than a few potholes, so it was dodgems most of the way. We decided not to risk an engine switch off at Glen Tanar to nab a cache there, and kept on westward instead. We had a quick stop (engine running) to check out the art at this quaint gallery with an old petrol bowser and red telephone box. The lady gave us a handy lesson to fine tune our Scottish pronunciation. We already knew Garioch is geerie and Strachan is strawn, but now we also know Finzean is pronounced fingan with a soft g and Feughside is feeookside!

Then it was time to hit the road again to the Finzean Farm Shop and Teahouse for afternoon tea snacks before a quick roadside TB drop cache then home again. Now we are settled onto the couch with our red wine, gorgonzola and Finzean venison chorizo. Yum! Fingers crossed Missy’s battery is charged enough for another spin tomorrow!

A year ago Wes promised he’d give me a foot rub whenever I want – and he does!

Saturday 6 March 2010 marked the one year anniversary of our wedding day. We had an amazing time relaxing at Turnberry for 3 nights. It was romantic and lovely, but of course it was also a time to remember how much fun we had this time last year with our friends and family in Oz. Presents for the first year are traditionally made of paper, so I gave Wes an ordinance survey map of Girvan and surrounding areas, as well as a 1946 photo postcard of the Turnberry lighthouse, complete with loving message and stamp from its original owner. Wes gave me a (mostly empty) book, the best part was the first page. It’s a wedding anniversary memories book, and so of course only the first year’s page has been filled in! To quote Wes in the book, here are some of our memories from our first year as man and wife:

‘Carving up the white stuff at Cairngorm and Glenshee; cycling and eating our way through the Italian Dolomites; bagging munros Lochnagar and Buachaille Etive Mor; yummy hot chocolate at Cafe Chocolat in Schiphol Airport; the coldest campout and world class waves in Thurso; warm sun, fine arts, macaroons and pleasant traffic police in Paris; Aberdeen Christmas with Gerrod and Kristy – two trees, vodka shots, turkey and mountain adventures; hiking fells, The Red Arrows and Herdwick sheep in the Lakes District.’

It was a busy week for me last week. A couple of my workmates and I decided to run an auction at work to raise money for DEC Haiti. We thought our colleagues might pull some random crap out of their spare room to donate. But it became larger than what we imagined. One of the bigwigs found some signed framed prints by a famous artist, a brand new digital scaletrix and an antique crocodile nutcracker and the standard was set. Soon we had hotel nights away, a pair of Prada shoes, football memorabilia and 3 course dinners being donated, along with the expected old exercise bike, pile of books and cd’s. Then the big boss said he’d match whatever we raised, doubling our total!

I forwarded our auction brochure to a few workmates in London hoping they’d buy some of the stuff (they do get paid more down there!). One of them sent the local PR company out to meet us so I had to pose in those crazy high Prada heels! It was the Press and Journal photographer (yes that’s my foot in the pose link!) who came out. It was absolute chaos! In a good way. We raised over £1800 from the auction, plus another £700+ from a cake bake sale. We were completely overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity. I even managed to successfully bid on a pair of tickets to the local football game, so the following day (Saturday 13th Feb) Wes and I headed down to Pittodrie Stadium to watch our local soccer team take on Celtic from Glasgow.

We had an excellent time, despite the midday kick off and the alcohol ban. The supporters were so excited, especially the Celtic fans. Loud and a little bit scary. It was an evenly-matched game too, so good for spectators, even though Celtic were the favourites going in. And as I found out this week at work, the game will be forever known as ‘the game with all the goals’ after a 4-4 draw. Apparently the Dons hardly ever score :|

Notice all the cops in the corner?

Check out the security in between Celtic and Aberdeen fans!