Temperature fluctuations

The weather can't make its mind up - one minute it's cold, then suddenly it gets ridiculously mild for this time of year. Yesterday (Friday) morning, our car roofs had those swirly patterns on them brought on by a light overnight frost, but by the time we left Keith and Annette Gray's house at midnight (we had dinner there) the temperature was 12 C.

So this morning, Jo and I took a walk along the river to Morrison's and we were astonished to see that the Dee was in spate - it had burst its banks and flooded some of the adjoining fields, apparently brought on by snow melt coming down from the mountains. We would normally have gone down to the lower level of the Platties walkway - a place Luca loves - but it was completely under water, right up to the very top of the handrail:

We also had a visitation this morning from a couple of deer in our back garden:

Usually we only see them when it's cold and snowy and they come down from the forests looking for food, so it was strange to see them today, of all days. Yesterday, we had our first sighting of the winter of our old friend the red squirrel. With all the leaves being down now from the trees out front, he/she's much easier to spot now.

I went out for a cycle again on Wednesday afternoon - and what a struggle it was. I was completely shattered and my pals constantly had to stop and wait for me. I must have either been slightly under the weather, or, it's these new pills - Rivaroxaban. I'm certainly getting more dizzy turns since I started taking them. I can't make up my mind whether to continue with them or not. What's the alternative - back to Warfarin? That means regular monitoring and that's going to be difficult to do when we're away in Australia and USA for long periods. I'll chat this through with the Doctor on 21st December.

I went to the CAMRA committee meeting on Wednesday night, and, on Thursday, I managed to write all my Christmas cards - hooray! Now over to you, Jo!

On Friday afternoon, when Jo went swimming, I jumped on my bike again and went round the Banchory pubs etc, dropping off the latest editions of our quarterly newsletter North Sea Ale and also completing the annual pub surveys as well. Scott Skinner's, Buchanan's, Deeside Brewery, the Legion, Burnett Arms, Douglas Arms & the Golf Club were all visited, so now I've just got to put this information on to CAMRA's national database - then do the same for the other 10 outlets in Deeside.

Winter

(Best viewed on the web at http://ianrstewart.blogspot.co.uk/)

Winter is officially here, so we are told by the various media. It certainly seems like it - there is still some snow and ice on the ground - it was too cold for it to melt overnight. We've also had the first official notification that the snowgates are closed on the Banchory - Fettercairn Cairn o' Mount road. See the webcam here - http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/local/webcams/cairnomount/

The weather has kept me housebound - no chance of any cycling and not even conducive to going for a good walk. I've still got the Deeside pub surveys to do - I suppose I could start with the Banchory ones, but I haven't found the enthusiasm yet. Perhaps after another day or two stuck in the house I might make a start. We've got a CAMRA Committee meeting tomorrow night - at least that'll get me out and about. I never thought I'd be looking forward to that!

I mustn't grumble really - it could be a lot worse - I could be having to drive to Fraserburgh for work. I certainly don't miss that long drive in these icy conditions.

I guess I could start with the Xmas cards - that would be a worthwhile job. Maybe tomorrow.

So, is it "Arise Sir Andy" then after the Davis Cup triumph on Sunday? Even our First Minister suggested re-naming our country's patron saint day yesterday St. Andy's Day. Will he win the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year? It's only 2 years since he won it so that may count against him. I don't think anyone's won it twice. Only 5 Scots have won it in the 61 years it has been going - Ian Black, Jackie Stewart, Liz McColgan, Chris Hoy & Andy Murray. Two of those were knighted - Jackie Stewart & Chris Hoy - let's see if Andy gets the same treatment. I'm not sure if some of the Home Counties diehards have forgiven him for his flippant remark a few years ago when he was asked who he hoped would win the World Cup and he replied ABE - anyone but England!

We've got our Australian Visas now - and it's only just over 6 weeks until we head off.

I've finally finished the last chapter of Renshaw's Chronicles (http://renshawschronicles.blogspot.co.uk/) - it's been a while, but I got there in the end.

Edinburgh weekend

We're back now and we had a nice time in Edinburgh - although the train journeys in both directions were a bit fraught. I can't remember the last time I caught a train that wasn't absolutely mobbed. It was a bun fight getting on - especially at Edinburgh on the return journey. Fortunately, our reserved seats weren't taken so we didn't have to kick anyone out.

We arrived at lunchtime on Friday and stood in a queue in the rain at Waverley waiting for a taxi to take us to the Bow Bar, where we had some nice beer and something to eat. The choice of food was simple - you could have a pie or a bridie. There were some framed old posters hanging round the bar and two of them were of a brand that both my Dad and I worked for back in the day:

We taxi'd to our hotel and checked in. The rain subsided so we thought we would take a stroll round Edinburgh's Christmas Market:

Now time for another taxi - this time taking us down to the Stockbridge Tap for a couple of beers before dinner at the Loon Fung, a favourite restaurant of Anne & Leslie Mason, who were with us.

On Saturday morning, the three couples - the Masons, Kilgours and Stewarts - did their own thing. Jo and I walked back to see a bit more of the Christmas Fair then went for a coffee at Sir Walter Scott's Tearoom, where we had a nice window seat overlooking Princes St. and beyond.

We met up with the others at the Assembly Halls at noon and spent the afternoon at The Wine Gang's Xmas Fair. We did three "masterclasses" which also afforded us the opportunity of taking some weight off our feet for 45 minutes at a time:

Before we knew it, the event was closing down and it was time for us to move on:

 Dinner was arranged at the Guildford Arms - another favourite spot - then it was back to our hotel for a nightcap then bed.

On Sunday morning, Jo went to church at the conveniently-located cathedral. By the time we'd checked out, the rain was lashing down so we hung around for a while before venturing across the road to Valvona & Crolla for a coffee and a bite to eat - and that was just about that.