Siberian Days

Not going out

'March is the month God created to show people who don't drink what a hangover is like.' 
Garrison Keillor

The so-called 'Beast from the East' had brought a second day of Siberian weather with numerous snow showers, a windchill factor of -12°C and a red weather warning from the Met Office. The nearby M80 motorway had been blocked with a thousand vehicles trapped overnight. At first light the deep snow had wiped out all traffic movement on the road outside, it looked like a day for not going out. By mid-morning, it was time to explore. 

The school was closed, the pavement was still ankle deep in snow with few footsteps, the village was bereft of people and vehicles. I walked along the river bank and saw a young couple making a snowman in the empty car park. They were from the Netherlands and asked me to take a photo of them with their exquisite snowman that was complete with hat, scarf, buttons, and sticks for arms. They were on a 10 day holiday to Scotland and had already visited the Cairngorms, the Torridons, and Skye during the cold clear days before the snows arrived. Their final couple of days were to be spent in the Trossachs. Scotland had been a revelation for them, they were smitten with the scenery and vowed to be back. I advised them of a local walk and continued my promenade through the village pleased to hear a group of noisy schoolchildren sledging in the park. There was time to clear the pavement and the drive before retreating to the house to contemplate hibernation.

Where have all the snowdrops gone

Creag Mhor

A walk along the Forth 

Dutch Snowman

Snow covered loch