The forecast says that warmer weather is on the way after last weeks deep freeze. So far there's no sign of things heating up here on the coast. A piercing wind greets dog and master as they head out of the front door.
The tide has gone out and the sand is frozen solid. The PONette is not quite sure about this. We walk a mile down the beach and a mile back up it. A few balaclava wearing joggers pass us. Sophie finds an old rubber ball which she 'requisitions'. This is the cause for much happiness. She snorts with delight.
On our return leg along the beach we see an early morning swimmer who sprints from his car into the sea. The rubber ball is forgotten and the swimmer becomes the focus of the PONettes attention. Angus wonders how long anyone could survive in the North Sea in temperatures like this. Sophie, sensibly, maintains a healthy distance between her paws and the water.
We're the first and only customers at the good coffee cafe. The students have largely gone although as I'm ordering a group of half a dozen Singaporean girls arrive to order their Americanos. They ignore me and surround Sophie who is more than willing to be tickled and fawned over. The girls have opted to stay in Scotland over the holidays to get ahead of next semesters course work. From what I can hear they seem to have a busy social calendar over the next few weeks. Forays to London and Paris are planned.
Sophie and Angus stand on the empty pavement and share a pain au raisin. The bowl of water outside the door is fresh so hasn't had a chance to freeze over. Angus is surprised to see a veggan haggis roll on the menu.
This week we're expecting the carpet fitter, the electrician, the plumber and the decorators to show up. It's also the village carol service. The surgeon out walking her dog tells me we should really make an effort to go. 'It's really quite batty '.
12 comments:
Hoping now for a report on the 'batty' village carol service.
No matter the weather, there's alway someone going for a swim in the sea at Aberdeen beach. Batty, one might say...
Yes, the batty carol service sounds as though it's worth a visit and it's not as though you'll have to go every week!
Poor Sophie, her poor paws must be frozen solid after such a long walk on frozen ground.
By the way, the other day I noticed an article about walking dogs on snow, ice, and freezing conditions. Apparently your should always wash your dogs paws afterwards. I didn't read through to the end as it doesn't apply here. Forecast is for 21ºC on Christmas Eve and a daily high of 19-20º for the next week. I just hope it's right!
I am fascinated that the menu distinguishes between "salad" and "leaves". On the other hand, even as a vegetarian, I don't find myself tempted by the Vega Haggis Roll.
As if VEGAN HAGGIS wasn't batty enough!
Vegan Haggis, that rattling sound is ancestors spinning in their urns.
Hari OM
Mine's the tortilla, with leaves, ta! (Linda, leaves would constitute lettuce, beetroot tops, pea shoots, spinach, rocket and such... salad would add to the leaves cucumber and tomato, and just possibly, radish and beetroot...)
I introduced my father to vegetarian haggis (it suits vegans, too), and he was surprised. When I asked if he preferred I get him an individual original, he said, 'no, yours was just grand'... which from a man of few words and for home food is just fuel, was quite the compliment! YAM xx
Angus, I thought you might speak Malay, or Madarin (and you may indeed), but I did learn that English is a favored language among the young in Singapore. A vegan hassis roll reminds me of a vegan/vegetarian tourtiere; the latter seems to make sense; I'm not too sure about the former.
I looked up the water temperature in Aberdeen. 9F!! Swimming is more than batty; it's insane!
YAM, thanks for the clarification of what 'leaves' are. Good luck with all the workers this week! May all appointments be kept!
There was a baked potato/choice of toppings food truck near where I was staying in Burntisland years ago. Opted for the haggis topping. Don’t know if it was real deal haggis or not, but a warm baked potato with that topping certainly was delicious.
Frozen sand! Hope Sophie brought her found ball home.
The menu is interestingly international: Hispanic and Middle East as well as Scottish vegan!
>coughs< I swam on Saturday in Cullen. 9.6°. Between 10 and 15 minutes. It was exhilarating.
Post a Comment