Madman on the Towpath

With trying to be a proper runner recently I log my mileage, and what should it stand at after my run on the 30th? Just over 1993km. So with nothing better to do this evening I put on the warm running gear and did 7km in the snow, mainly on the canal towpaths which are well trampled down by dog walkers. I did get a few strange looks from the few passers by.

Happy New Year

My dullest New Year since being ill in bed in 1990. A car spring broke as I drove Tracy and Barny to the station to get the train to Edinburgh to rendezvous with visitors, so I was stuck in a very snowy Inverness rather than driving to join them. The road conditions here were bad though so maybe I was lucky... if my rental car can get though tomorrow.

And what do I find as I'm stuck in front of the TV for the first time in 20 years? Well nothing changes on BBC Scotland, some good comedy followed by the obligatory awful Hogmanay show dripping with Scottish kitch. Music's OK though and I'm off to bed after the Bells.

Where is this, the US? part 2

In recent days we've had a spell of cold and snowy weather rather more reminiscent of our time in the northeast US than Scotland. We do get quite a bit of snow and cold here but not normally in December. It has made for a most scenic Xmas, despite the travel chaos that delayed our friends en route to visit us for the holidays. Of course this year much of the US got even more wintry weather in our abscence.

Riveting Sporting TV

I am sitting at home watching the TV while Tracy is out playing volleyball and what should come on the screen but that old "sporting" spectacle that was often televised by the BBC as I grew up: sheep dog trials. It is impressive watching a shepherd and dog herding sheep live when you come upon them while walking, but my idea of TV sport in 2009 it is not!

You Can Never Go Back...

I recently had the chance to reprise my daily commute from my student days in the mid-80s when I attended a dental meeting in Glasgow. Train from Bishopbriggs to Glasgow, then a walk up the hill westwards. And the experience soon reminded me why I moved to a small town all those years ago... a busy station, a crowded train and a dismal walk in the rain and dark. I'll stick with Inverness where I get a nice scenic walk along canal and river.

12 Minutes

A downside of moving back to Scotland, and one we knew would challenge us, is the short winter days. My memories of Glasgow winters include arriving at the Dental Hospital at 9am in the dark and rain, and leaving in more of the same. Well now we've arrived even further north the mornings have been a pleasant surprise, in theory being east of Glasgow we get 12 minutes more light at the beginning of the day, but the much clearer eastern skies mean that it is actually light before I leave the house at 8.15 and my walk to work is generally pleasant. Still dark before 3.30pm though!

Xmas

We seem to have things pretty well sorted for the holiday season: lights up outside the house (I brought over some of the large collection I'd accumulated in the US), tree up inside and plans made to host friends and my parents on the 25th. New Year we'll head to Edinburgh, then I'll travel home to cover the Inverness emergency dental service on the 2nd and 3rd (which should be interesting... how much damage can Scots do to their teeth during a couple of days worth of drinking?).

Back Online

I've had a great excuse for my lack of blog updates (like I need one...), no internet. It took an age for us to get hooked up at the new house but at long last we seem to have a stable and reasonably speedy service. And with the endless dark here right now I have plenty of long dark evenings to get online and post something.