The Scottish Highlands
Strathmashie New Year - Dec 2007

  With Mark, Pat and family at home for a change, we headed north for a New Year with some company instead of our usual lonely animal minding vigil.

  Walking the dogs gets us out and amongst the forests which border the A86 as it runs past Strathmashie. At the top of the Gorstean Walk, there are some great views North towards Laggan and the Monadhlaith Mountains as well as South West towards Creag Meagaich and the Nevis range in the far distance. The views also make a great excuse to stop and get your breath back, it's bit of a steep path. Not a lot of snow in sight unfortunately, mostly it was above 2000' although it crept a little lower during the week and we never got close to it.

  The dogs, Hetty (left) and Merlin (right), are pretty patient when they think there's a walk to be had, they're even prepared to sit quite still whilst Dave messes about trying to get a good shot. Whilst the path from Aberader does go over the hills and all the way back to Laggan, it's a long way round and more suited to cycling than walking. The weather looked to be turning nasty as well so we hung around just long enough to justify a largish sort of lunch and then headed for home before the weather actually had time to do anything other than cast a pretty light across Loch Laggan.

  George's birthday was celebrated with balloons, football on the frozen grass and quite a lot of very nice pizza, buns and biscuits. Hetty was largely unimpressed with the football although she seemed to approve of the leftovers in the kitchen.

  The football matches were well supported by both kids and adults. Mark spent lots of time in goal and it was difficult to find a way past him with the ball. George, in goal at the other end was as enthusiastic and nearly as competitive as dad, even if he can't kick the ball quite as hard yet. On the occasions when he advanced out of goal, Mark looked just a little too competitive, quite scary really. Pat was just enjoying challenging anyone who had the ball, especially if they were on the opposing team...

  New Years Eve itself was mostly a quiet affair, a longish game of monopoly, text messages to distant friends and relatives and some Elton John songs around the piano. Oh, and quite a bit of drinking, surprisingly. When Ian and Alex came round, it was obviously time for another game of football, in the main hallway. After that, a walk round the garden and quite a lot more drinking, a pretty typical New Years Eve.

Christmas 2006

Pictures and text are copyright © Dave & Karen Petty- All Rights Reserved, please don't copy anything without our permission. Thanks, D & K.