Still No Snow

Monday morning spent on the usual Monday chores and grumbling about the fact there was still no snow.  It’s very cold, and the pink sky seemed full of snow, just not falling here.  Photos on the news website show the rest of the world, well Aberdeenshire, is snowy and white, even Aberdeen city itself.  Inverurie is completely blanketed.  Braemar was the coldest place, as usual, -11 degrees last night.  It made me think, must go to Ballater for a wee trip, it’s such a Christmassy town.  Years ago, I was staying with friends after surgery, and wasn’t allowed to drive for four weeks.  The day of the fourth week, I drove into Ballater, in a Narnia of hoar frost-glazed silver birch trees, and thick snow.  It is a magical memory of freedom, beauty and the joy of being alive.  After that, every winter solstice I made the same trip from Aberdeen to Ballater, to buy the Christmas vegetables.  Must make that trip again, now there’s the big new road.

Late Monday afternoon, went for a walk.  Crunching of pavement salt underfoot.  The colours the cold brings are so very beautiful.  Pink, gold-edged clouds in a pale blue sky.  Cheeks and nose were just as rosy and blue.  Could see the white stripes of snow falling out to sea, but it didn’t hit land.  Not at the coast anyway.  Marriage of wind and waves, swirling a good old wedding ceilidh to themselves, casting spray like confetti.  Seabirds floating on the air currents in a sky full of snow.  Exhilarating air.

From the viewpoint at the castle grounds, could see the waves crashing over the top of the pier lighthouse, so walked to the leeward harbour wall instead. 

Heading home in the Gloden hour, bought some birdseed fat balls for midnight robin.

Images for this journal have been posted on Insta @purplehaze_journal

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn4v3012n3xo