Out and About

We've been enjoying a long weekend here in the UK, getting things done around the house and trying to enjoy the natural beauty of Scotland that is getting better and better the further we get into spring.

We've been getting out into Hazelhead Park more often these days.  We've discovered the gardens and enjoy going back frequently to see what has come into bloom this week.  Recently it has been the azaleas and rhododendrons.  We've also been walking around our neighborhood, through the West End of Aberdeen.  The houses are quite spectacular with gardens to match.  We catch ourselves looking at houses for sale and daydreaming about our own little patch.  Price tags over and above 500,000 GBP manage to snap us out of it.  I think if the centre's contract gets extended at the end of the year, we may look a little more seriously.

Sunday night we managed to squeeze in a night at the movies.  We paid an extra 75p to attend an 18 and over only show - another novel way of separating ourselves from the riff-raff.  We saw Angels & Demons and quite enjoyed it.  Fiona had read the book, but quite some time ago, and I hadn't read it at all.  I think it can be enjoyed either way.  With the exception of some parts, it was well acted and the story moved along at a good pace.  I think the controversy over alleged anti-Catholicism will die out quickly, as, in my opinion, it does not present Catholics or Catholicism in a negative light.

We hopped in the car this morning for what we thought would be a quick hike around some Dee-side sights.  We headed out for Burn o' Vat.  The hike was supposed to be split into two parts - a quick kilometer or so out the Burn o' Vat and then three or four kilometers between Loch Kinord and Loch Davan.  The Burn o'Vat went well and was really cool - the end point being a small waterfall emptying into a large, scoured out gorge.  Accented by the greenery and crystal clear water, it was quite a sight.  The waterfall hides a small cave that liquor smugglers and other people used to hide.  The second part of the hike did not go well.  We got a little turned around and ended up on a much longer hike, about 8 or 9 kilometers.  We went through our meager rations quite quickly.  We settled into a groove and got around the lake in good time - at least until we realised we were one sweater lighter than when we started.  We hiked back a little, but no luck.  So we've donated a Canadian sweater to the Scottish highlands.

The hike did have some small highlights to offer, including an 8th century carved Pictish cross and our first experience with the (slightly creepy) calls of the cuckoo.  That bird is well named....