The old oak wood

Current Covid regulations in Scotland state that my walks must begin and end not further than five miles beyond the Aberdeen city limits.

If you are suspecting that, on first learning about this rule, Gail took out her well used Ordnance Survey Sheet 38 map, identified the line denoting the city boundary and then drew on the map a pencil line defining the five mile limit, you would be entirely correct.

So I'm pleased to report that our trip  this week to the grounds of Drum Castle was Covid-compliant and although the Castle itself, and other parts of the estate primarily of interest to humans, were closed, my favourite walk around the old oak woods was still open to visitors.

What's more, at this time of year, with the trees bare of leaves and the branches traced out by a delicate covering of snow, you can see the gnarly shapes of these ancient oaks to their best effect.

On the edge of the wood, we could look across to the snow covered hills of Aberdeenshire, but these are currently out of bounds. Sigh! 

Happy Nature Friday friends! And thank you once again to the LLB Gang for hosting the blog hop. 

Too tight clothing?

Do you remember my brown Fair Isle sweater? It was the first garment Gail knitted for me and I am still fond of it. 

I thought it would be a nice change to wear it to the park yesterday morning. Can you believe what Gail said?

"Bertie, are you quite sure? I fear that jumper is a little tight these days. You are, may I remind you, a wee bit 'sturdier' than back in 2015."

Readers, I contend that I am in NO WAY sturdier (which we all know is a polite way of saying 'fatter') and if the jumper is tighter it is surely 'cos Gail shrank it in the wash...

Gail then went on to make matters worse.

"You wouldn't want to be like one of those undignified human males who insist on wearing the close-fitting clothes of their younger days, despite having acquired a generous layer business-lunch induced insulation, would you? When I worked for a company in Central London one of my colleagues would ask what is the most stressful job in Enterprise Oil, then would answer his own question saying that it's being one of Ian ******'s shirt buttons..."

Really, this was taking things too far. I reminded Gail how since her retirement, and the best part of a year of lockdown, I have had more exercise than ever before, and am now as lithe and well-toned as any nearly eleven year old wire-haired fox terrier. 

The pictures taken during yesterday's walk tell the rest of the story. 

Wisdom acquired

Winter at the Model Boat Pond

Once a gangly tangle, of legs not well controlled,

A skinny frame and fuzzy puppy face,

Eager to explore, not wise, too bold,

With joyful bounce I leapt onto thin ice...

A nasty shock ensued, the ice gave way,

The model boat pond water chilled my core,

I panicked, and my limbs would not obey

My frozen brain, I could not reach the shore.

Gail to the rescue! Her long arms 

Reached out and grabbed me firmly round the trunk

And saved me from more self-inflicted harm,

And hard I learned the dangers of a winter dunk.

So ten years on, and sensibly attired,

My Nordic sweater proof against the chill, 

I calmly pose beside the frozen pond, wisdom acquired.

Of reckless youthful capers, I have had my fill!

 

Camouflage?

It's been cold and grey in Aberdeen this week, and I have spent much of the time snuggled up on the sofa beside Gail, closely monitoring the progress of her latest knitting project.

Hmmm, it seems that Gail has started on a new jumper for herself. The colour reminds me of our Scottish landscape in August, when the hillsides are resplendent with the purple glow of heather.

I wonder if Gail intends this new garment as camouflage? With a fair wind, she should have it ready to wear for when the heather comes into bloom later this year! 

I too would like a purple sweater - perfect attire for a spot of deer stalking, don't you think?

Happy Nature Friday friends! Here are some more old pictures of me out and about in the heather-clad hills.

Thank you once again to the LLB Gang for hosting this our favourite blog hop. Do jump aboard!