Hogmanay
12/31/2005
Weather remains stable with high pressure sending us clear frosty days, with a light sprinkling of snow on the tops. Occasionally hill fog drifts in, but overall it is fresh, clear almost Alpine weather. Then, just to remind us of the season, a couple of days with snow down to the floor of Glen Trollaigh, drifting against the Tower.
The young, who have made us so proud and entertained us so well over Christmas, chose this time to head back to the fleshpots to celebrate the New Year with vast crowds of like minded revellers. Some arse naked in Piccadilly, others simply freezing their arses in Princes Gardens, swaying to the timbre of some third rate Scottish folk group. Of course, then, to wonder for a day or two whether the hangover was worthy of the cost, or did they really let that gormless oick podger them in a cold, drafty close. Of such great regrets are New Year’s resolutions born, for it was ever thus dear reader.
During the endless rounds of gatherings in the glens on short winter days, I am constantly amazed at the number of double-barrelled Campbells starting to appear. It now seems fashionable to relate oneself to the bastard clan who shafted everyone from the twelfth century and continue to do so to the present day. Now we have Campbell-Beatons, Campbell-Smiths even Campbell-Oldams. Their main obsession seems to be with rights and titles. I assume that most of these people have drifted back against the tide of diaspora to claim their heritage, however they are becoming a bit of a pest, challenging everything from the Crown Estate’s right to the seabed to “droit de signeur” for all I know. The best thing is to own plenty of ground and one automatically has all the rights one could conjure up, rather than return to Argyll as Campbell-Starfish LLB, and start to throw one’s weight about over one’s right to bother a goat on a quarter of an acre building plot in Dalmally.
Our local snowfall has allowed me to indulge in a favourite pastime, that of tracking animals. It is a joy to walk out on a snowy morn without the dogs and study the tracks that reveal our nocturnal visitors. This morning I easily find Red Deer, Fox, Weasel and Pine Marten as well as a multitude of birds. I am glad to say, not a Rabbit or Hare in sight, although over the years I have spotted Lynx, Blue Ice from a 747’s shite tanks and even an unsoiled condom resting on the snowy surface without any other mark for hundreds of yards in any direction. I have always believed that this episode was a “wind-up”, but one never knows.
Lachie and Mhairi are off to-night in Edinburgh, so that only dearest Dottie and I wander the Tower of Glen Trollaigh, we will be up to greet the coming of 2006 perhaps with a modest bonfire. You are all most welcome to “first-foot” us, over the next 24 hours, after that forget it! Cheers! Yours Aye, Archie, The Baron Trollaigh.