Trick photo...

The last post exhibited a photo from the Northern Corries, Sunday's walk...whoops. Rather a difference in altitude.

So, as compensation, here are 2 more from the Craigellechie Nature reserve...

Craigelleche Nature Reserve.

All this hot weather has meant that I have had to make full use of the great outdoors...cycled on tracks to lochindorb but didn't take the camera...walked up the "Hill" and on a club walk to Croidh Lanear Kingussie, paddled down the Spey yesterday for 2 hours, even shooting some gentle rapids and today the second bird watching trip of the week. The weather was cooler today in Aviemore and from the top of Creag nan Gabhar (410m) this is what we could see.

Aviemore is a sprawling resort with houses being build still, stretching the limits way into the hillsides. There is also a new town planned which was given after the area became a National Park. What sort of planning is that?

Also as there are maybe half a dozen jobs, all seasonal ones, advertised each week, just who is going to live in these new developments. We all think that they will be holiday homes, just like most of the ones up for sale now.

The nature reserve is mostly silver birch and there were plenty of chaffinches but no crested tits or peregine falcons which we had hoped for.
"Pleased to meet you" is their call and now I know that, I can at least determine which birds is worth further scrutiny.

More photos...

The winter has been a disaster for the Cairn Gorm Ski Co. and Glen More Lodge. These folk below us on the mountain side had made great efforts to reach a small patch of snow to practise their "Winter Skills". Probably they booked for the course last winter when not only the mountains but the townships of Grantown and Aviemore etc were under feet of snow for 3 - 4 months!

The next photo is of my hill companion on Sunday, Sue and Bracken and Cassie. Moss had decided they needed rounding up while we were on the wide plateau of tundra, so I walked ahead, until she had learnt that they weren't sheep and didn't appreciate her bossiness.

The mountains are only grazed by Reindeer and we did see some near the Ski area carpark but they didn't come as near as they did on the Cromdales (see previous post) and the photos showed the debris of the ski industry...fences, machinery, the train (I objected to this when the proposals were put forward and joined the campaign group to have it stopped), rubbish and desolation.

If you want to see the Cairngorm range, avoid the ski area. Unless it is snowing of course.

On the Hill.

The Hill is Cairn Gorm. The mountain gives the name to the National Park in which Grantown on Spey lies at the north of the Park and Braemar to the south.

People ask if I collect Munroes (climb the Scottish mountains over 3000 feet) and I say "no" but I have climbed Cairn Gorm countlkess times and wouldn't that be taken into consideration.
We didn't climb Cairngorm, only walked over the Northern Corries
in weather that is unseen at this altitude at this latitude in March.
T-shirts! We were at 1176m even so.The photo is from the tomost part of the Corries.
What a beautiful place to be.
As you can see, Moss thought it a little hot so perched by the burns waiting for the order to "swim" or "drink".
More photos?

Last photo of Bertie. (horse related post)

He is definitely going on Saturday.

I went to the phsyio yesterday and she confirmed the pain was the joint and not inflammation. It seems sensible not to make a full time commitment to a horse I may not be able to ride much over his lifetime. I have ridden 3 times this week for just over an hour each time, with a day of rest inbetween and each time, have been in agony.

So, it's back to the bike for me with maybe a last ride on Wednesday...except he is only going up the road back to his owner's field...and she has said I could continue to ride him until he is sold.

We had a lovely ride on Tuesday, up on to Dreggie with 2 long canters. Bertie was willing, going in front and behind with no problems. It was me that ran out of breath first!

Meanwhile, I continue with my exercises and hope that in the future I will be able to ride in comfort again.

Extending our boundries.

I have looked at potential sites for an allotment and considered using some of the Mossie for a polytunnel. I have turned the rockery into a fruit garden and the bit of land which was bought to extend the garden and dad planted up with bulbs and wild flowers (mostly weeds for the last 3 years), is now dug over for vegetables. While keeping the lawn for sitting on in the balmy days of summer and the existing border beds for decorative plants, we have now cleared the land which borders the cul-de-sac, pictured.

It was very over-grown and tangled and as you can see, is now clear and ready for planting!

The snowdrops have gone in and there are also 2 dwarf apple trees.

The neighbours are all delighted that we are taking such pride in our cul-de-sac, little do they know we are actually just stealing land for our own use.

Spring flowers.

This is actually in next door's garden and they are away on their one week a year holiday, ski-ing in Italy.

I love the Helleborus, its lightly tinged petals and modest way of standing with the softness of British wildflowers. Who would swap this for a brightly coloured non-native like a Begonia? Many people I suspect; It's like eating pizzas instead of potatoes...

Yesterday I rode Bertie up on tyhe dreggie track with Sue on Rogan. Both horses behaved immpeccably and we cantered for long stretches and Rogan neither bucked nor kicked.

Bertie was a total star but I had to get off to walk...such is the pain after less than an hour's ride.

I will not be able to keep Bertie and am sorry. In the lovely weather and lengthening days, it is a great temptation but having made horsey mistakes before...not this time,

It's Ralph's birthday. A friend is going to die sooner rather than later of cancer and he will be the 3rd close friend who has died pre-maturely of cncer. One did know the consequences of his smoking and died at 52 but Hilary died at 50 having lead a blameless and healthy life. Other friends and aquaintances have survived cancer, breast cancer (2 of them), bowel cancer and a tumour in their dudeneum.

I hte cancer, because it is a sneaky disease that shows no discrimination.

Think ofthe spring flowers and be thankful for the re-generation of life.

Running Man

He doesn't have an official time yet but certainly did better than his last half in 2004.

There may be some go in him yet but he's asleep at the moment (6pm).

Meanwhile I learnt how to clip a horse using poor patient Bertie as my model. We had to complete the job on the nervous Rogan then went for a brisk ride for an hour. It was a lovely warm day and spring MUST be here. The catkins are out, a daffodil is showing yellow petals and the primulas have flowers on. The birds are frantically making nests so hopefully they will find the soft thick insulating fur off a sweet Fjord to use as there is plenty of it, in the field, in the garden, on my jumper, in my bra...everywhere!

Joints but not venison ones...

I'm just back from the physiotherapist. Here, you can self refer and after 4 weeks I had an appointment with the lovely physio. I have never come across an unenthusiastic and sympathetic physiotherapist and if I am re-born I will train to be one instead of a youth and community worker/adult tutor.

I have to refrain from riding for 3 days and undergo a series of exercises twice a day for 3 days then ride and see if there is any difference.

I have definitely got wear and tear on the hip joint caused by arthritis and my "athletic past" which seems unfaifras I am not old and my athletic past has included just 1 marathon, 1 half marathon and 3 10km, a total of 8 weeks ski-ing and just 30 odd Munroes!

So what do I do? Give up any idea of owning Bertie? Resign myself to becoming a paddler until my shoulders and elbows wear out?

Answers on a post card to; One Very Fed Up Woman.

It is the 3rd anniversary of my mum's burial. International Women's Day. She was always a role model for women, having had 2 careers, marched in the defence of peace, fought for equality for her colleagues through the union and still managed to make us 3 a priority in her life. She had the patience to deal with my dad for nearly 56 years and that is in itself a HUGE acheivement!

Dreary day today with sun then sleet and growing colder. Probably creeping into those horrible joints of mine...

From my kitchen window...

It's spring so the washing is out. Well not quite spring but it s getting there. Snowdrops, crocus in flower (crocuses, crocci?) and a row of carrots and parsnips in the soil, even if it is under fleece. In the greenhouse there are broad beans and garlic in the soil and a dahlia in a pot.

Look what else is in our back garden...well nearly, the lovely Bertie! Even at the farm the animals weren't this close to the house.

The Mossie stretches a fair way, right to the hospital, the caravan site, the railway line which is the Dava Way, a cycle track to Forres of 24 miles. It is grazed land for horses and cattle but has some nice wee burns and silver birch trees on it. I love it.

A feeling of space...