Not quite Inveraray

I spent New Year with my friends over on the west coast; 150 miles by road (and only 84 miles as the crow flies!). The drive over was glorious: from Edinburgh as far as Furnace, I had stunning weather. There was frost on the trees beside the M8; there was ice on the sea loch Fyne. I stopped at Loch Fyne Oyster Bar, but they were too busy to feed me (this was probably a good thing; it isn’t as if I hadn’t eaten or drunk enough over the holiday), so I had a baked potato at the garden shop next door. I am somewhat overdosing on baked potatoes at the moment: they just seem to hit the mark with the cold weather.

I make this trip several times a year, and every time I do, I look at the old bridge at the head of Loch Shira (an inlet of Loch Fyne just outside Inveraray) and think, I really must photograph that one day. I thought it again as I sped past, so I did a u-turn and parked a couple of hundred yards before the bridge. The light was glorious, but actually photographing the bridge was difficult: it was hard to get a suitable view, the shore of the loch being fenced off.

Not quite Inveraray

I spent New Year with my friends over on the west coast; 150 miles by road (and only 84 miles as the crow flies!). The drive over was glorious: from Edinburgh as far as Furnace, I had stunning weather. There was frost on the trees beside the M8; there was ice on the sea loch Fyne. I stopped at Loch Fyne Oyster Bar, but they were too busy to feed me (this was probably a good thing; it isn’t as if I hadn’t eaten or drunk enough over the holiday), so I had a baked potato at the garden shop next door. I am somewhat overdosing on baked potatoes at the moment: they just seem to hit the mark with the cold weather.

I make this trip several times a year, and every time I do, I look at the old bridge at the head of Loch Shira (an inlet of Loch Fyne just outside Inveraray) and think, I really must photograph that one day. I thought it again as I sped past, so I did a u-turn and parked a couple of hundred yards before the bridge. The light was glorious, but actually photographing the bridge was difficult: it was hard to get a suitable view, the shore of the loch being fenced off.

(no subject)

New Year itself was spent in the big house; there were fifteen people around the table (they had 35 for Christmas – it really is the big house!).

My contribution was peeling the potatoes and carrots, which I did with my godson whilst watching what was billed “Jim Henson’s Jack & the Beanstalk”. I thought this would involve muppets and assorted things, and so I was disappointed. Also, it was very, very long – so I don’t know why I watched it to the end…

We later watched the DVD of Prince Caspian which I had couriered from Edinburgh; I thought it was much better – an awful lot better – than the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, so I was disappointed to see they won’t be making any more of the series. (Still, it wasn’t as good as my memories of reading the books thirty five years ago.)

To feed the fifteen, they roasted chicken and duck, and lots of potatoes, parsnips, cabbage, carrots and a variety of stuffings. (All of which tasted excellent, and made a wonderful base for bread sauce, which is what big meals like this are all about. Much better than stuffing!) I excelled myself by being the only person who wanted seconds… And wine, too; there was a lot of wine. The kids worked out how to take out the stoppers from party poppers and put things inside, thereby making a small handheld cannon; the wall was spattered with cranberry sauce.

We toasted the bells with champagne and flaming raisins (soaked in rum or brandy and set alight; a little dangerous, but rather nice).

It wasn’t too late a night – it was so cold that no one chose to go first footing in the village (and, let’s face it, I would probably have avoided that anyway!).

But it was a good way to start the New Year.

(no subject)

New Year itself was spent in the big house; there were fifteen people around the table (they had 35 for Christmas – it really is the big house!).

My contribution was peeling the potatoes and carrots, which I did with my godson whilst watching what was billed “Jim Henson’s Jack & the Beanstalk”. I thought this would involve muppets and assorted things, and so I was disappointed. Also, it was very, very long – so I don’t know why I watched it to the end…

We later watched the DVD of Prince Caspian which I had couriered from Edinburgh; I thought it was much better – an awful lot better – than the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, so I was disappointed to see they won’t be making any more of the series. (Still, it wasn’t as good as my memories of reading the books thirty five years ago.)

To feed the fifteen, they roasted chicken and duck, and lots of potatoes, parsnips, cabbage, carrots and a variety of stuffings. (All of which tasted excellent, and made a wonderful base for bread sauce, which is what big meals like this are all about. Much better than stuffing!) I excelled myself by being the only person who wanted seconds… And wine, too; there was a lot of wine. The kids worked out how to take out the stoppers from party poppers and put things inside, thereby making a small handheld cannon; the wall was spattered with cranberry sauce.

We toasted the bells with champagne and flaming raisins (soaked in rum or brandy and set alight; a little dangerous, but rather nice).

It wasn’t too late a night – it was so cold that no one chose to go first footing in the village (and, let’s face it, I would probably have avoided that anyway!).

But it was a good way to start the New Year.

The first sunset of the year

New Year’s Day was a beautiful day: crystal blue skies. I finally stirred myself and went for a walk in the afternoon, where just after lunch suddenly becomes sunset, the afternoons being short this time of year.

So I saw my first sunset of the year. (But no otters.)

The first sunset of the year

New Year’s Day was a beautiful day: crystal blue skies. I finally stirred myself and went for a walk in the afternoon, where just after lunch suddenly becomes sunset, the afternoons being short this time of year.

So I saw my first sunset of the year. (But no otters.)

Spoiled

After spending ten days down south and five days way out west, it was quite nice to get back to my flat for a bit of hibernation.

The best bit was stopping off at Loch Fyne Oyster Bar on the way back. Again, they were too busy to serve me; again, this wasn’t too much of a problem given the overindulgence I had forced on my system over the last couple of weeks. (Also, someone had said that they thought the restaurant might be on hard times, what with the credit crunch and all; so the fact that it was full seemed like good news.) Whilst lingering in the shop (buying kippers, pickled herring and a smoked salmon roll to make up for not having lunch…), I realised that they had large packets of smoked salmon on sale, so that the good stuff cost the same as the packs of offcuts I buy to cook with. (Smoked salmon pasta, and smoked salmon and scrambled eggs work very well with offcuts!) So I bought a pack, and then realised I could freeze it, so I bought another.

I spent a bit more than I had intended, but at least I shall be eating smoked salmon sandwiches for a month!

Spoiled

After spending ten days down south and five days way out west, it was quite nice to get back to my flat for a bit of hibernation.

The best bit was stopping off at Loch Fyne Oyster Bar on the way back. Again, they were too busy to serve me; again, this wasn’t too much of a problem given the overindulgence I had forced on my system over the last couple of weeks. (Also, someone had said that they thought the restaurant might be on hard times, what with the credit crunch and all; so the fact that it was full seemed like good news.) Whilst lingering in the shop (buying kippers, pickled herring and a smoked salmon roll to make up for not having lunch…), I realised that they had large packets of smoked salmon on sale, so that the good stuff cost the same as the packs of offcuts I buy to cook with. (Smoked salmon pasta, and smoked salmon and scrambled eggs work very well with offcuts!) So I bought a pack, and then realised I could freeze it, so I bought another.

I spent a bit more than I had intended, but at least I shall be eating smoked salmon sandwiches for a month!