The right kind of everything in Glen Tanar

I was a bit miffed to hear that Gail had gone gallivanting off to London for a couple of days with Flat George (click here if you really want to read about that).

So anyway, to make up, she took me for a long and perfect Sunday walk in Glen Tanar.


We had the right kind of snow (freshly fallen, and just enough to make everything look beautiful but not so much as to impede my customary bounciness)

It was just the right temperature, an invigorating 1 degree C and, for once, no wind.


We went at the right time of day, so the sun was high enough in the sky to peep out from behind the hills every now and then.

Glen Tanar has the right kind of trees (native Caledonian pine forest, not just boring plantation conifers).


We encountered the right amount of traffic on the forest tracks (i.e. none)


There was just the right amount of water for the stream to look its most pretty.

And, best of all, Gail remembered to bring along the right number of bribes so there weren't any rows about her making me do all this ridiculous posing....

My friend Wilf

Every morning, over breakfast (sadly not croissants) Gail turns on the laptop and together we read about what Wilf and his family in SW France have been up to over the past twenty-four hours.  Wilfy, I know you are sick, and I just want to tell you how much pleasure you give us and to send you some love.

A brief sense of humour failure...

Gail, I haven't talked to anyone about this 'cos it's a bit of a sensitive issue, but now that we're alone together, back in Aberdeen, can I have a word with you about, you know, er, girls?

Girls, Bertie?

Well actually, one girl in particular, I mean Izzy.

Izzy the poodle, who lives with my brother and his family?  It was fun meeting them all on Boxing Day wasn't it? 

Oh isn't Izzy just the most adorable creature?  So tall and long-limbed, graceful, soft and gentle....

Well yes Bertie I think she's nice too (although perhaps a surprising choice of dog for a family where the menfolk had previously only been interested in playing rugby...)

I can't see anything surprising at all!  She has such a beautiful, shapely, rear end, it smells lovely, and that pom-pom on her tail is most impressive isn't it? 

Er, yes, Bertie, if you say so...

But Gail, I don't think Izzy even noticed me.  And I'm wondering, could you perhaps fashion my tail into a pom-pom like Izzy's, I think that might catch her eye?

GAIL, DON'T LAUGH, I'M NOT BEING RIDICULOUS! OH IT'S SO NOT FAIR. NO-ONE UNDERSTANDS ME.  AND DON'T JUST SAY I'M AT A DIFFICULT AGE! 

Now Bertie, you come here and have a cuddle.  That's better.  Bertie, I am truly delighted that you like Izzy.  I'm afraid that Hamish didn't have much time for her at all.  But it might be a while before we see her again as she lives in Sheffield, nearly 400 miles away.  So I'll tell you what, how about we go down for a run on the city beach?  Exercise and bracing North Sea air is what you need just now, my dear laddie! 

The beach?  OK. Come on then!  What are we waiting for? 

Well Gail, on reflection, maybe the pom-pom wasn't such a great idea after all.  I guess other dogs in Aberdeen might have laughed at me too ....

Dinner time with the grandparents

There are several things that I hope you have noticed in the picture above:

1. Human Granny and Grandad are very well trained at posing for the camera aren't they? (I am told I would do well to follow their lead, but that's not fair is it? I mean, I am posing nicely here too).
2. Did you spot the festive table decoration? We think it dates back to the Precambrian....
3. Grandad may not be as sharp as he once was (he is in his ninetieth year), but he still knows to guard his glass of wine against prying noses and tongues.....
4. Can you see Granny's home made steak and kidney pie? Gail says it's the tastiest in the WHOLE WORLD. I was allowed a little bit of kidney after the meal and it was HEAVENLY!
5. The dish on the right contains tagliatelle, a heated up left-over from an earlier meal. Never mind that this is an unconventional accompaniment to steak and kidney pie. The generation that experienced rationing does not waste food.
6. Isn't it a pretty Nottingham lace tablecloth, a wedding present from Grandad's friend Keith, back in 1956. Those of you who used to read Hamish's blog might remember the story about him, some scones and jam, and this very same tablecloth.  For some reason I was never allowed up close enough to check out if the stains were still visible....

Happy New Year everyone. I hope we all have a fabulous 2011.