Cry Freedom

Well we are finally in our own Flat (yeah)

The 1st priority was of course a big telly (let the side down here could only get a 28") next of course is internet this will take 10 days so posts (and emails) may be a bit sparse for next two weeks.

Next hurdle to face ........HOGMANAY

Community Service announcement

As a service to most (if not all) the people I know this site may be useful

http://www.rupissed.com/

To everyone who sent us Christmas wishes thank you (especial that man of few words: JD) to the rest well I hope you feel guilty now

Through the Looking Glass

As Dorothy said "Toto I don't think we're in Kansas anymore"

Let me describe how my afternoon/evening went

To start with we arrive at my wives Aunt Alison's home to be greeted at the door by



Next we met the other "Normal" guests


As you can see they take Christmas very seriously up here in the frozen north but I must say in closing the specter that hovered over us during dinner was a bit much

Christmas Morning

The sight we woke up to this morning

Merry Christmas

Just another Morning in Scotland

We start at 10am when we leave the house this is what the road looks like in the morning


One of course dresses for the temp (we finally received our clothing container ..Thank God) if ever there was a place where you needed a survival jacket it is here ! (Thank you Timberland) also note to anyone traveling here Ugg boots are a must !!!!




As you can see the car is a lump of ice firstly you splay de-icier on the windows



As the photo below shows it works rather well




Next you use a lighter to heat up the key so that it melts the ice frozen in the door lock

The most frightening part of all this is that apparently it has been rather mild and next month everyone tells me it will get cold !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Walking the DogsA

As you can see a simple thing like taking the dogs out for a walk here in the frozen north involves a great deal of preperation

Snow !!!

Well today it snowed (Not for long mind you but it did snow)

We are expecting more snow shortly and hopefully this lot wont melt before I can get a photo.

We also finally received our sea freight container yesterday (I cannot begin to describe the joy of having our winter cloths and not having to wear the same thing everyday even better our proper Australian Ugg boots, how people here survive without them I don't know - must say though that a lot of the shops have some rather expensive fake boots in them - I don't think mine will be coming off till summer (if they have one here next year)

Another typical day in Scotland

Woke up to another lovely morning (for Scotland that is) in other words you can see more than two feet in front of your face and the Temp isn't in the sub zero's

Have another active day planned getting the last of the Christmas shopping done must say that for the first time ever Christmas frightens me ! The reason for this is my Scottish family has theme Christmases and this year the theme is Angels and Cherubs now getting into the spirit of things I made two suggestions re my costume one I shave my head and go as a cherub or two go all in black as the Angel of death strangely both ideas have been shot down have no idea what I will be going as but will be sure to publish photos check back later .....

What type of place have I landed in ???

I was watching the DVD "The Day After" yesterday (A movie about global warming causing a new ice age and after went out and made the following observation if a new ice age came none here would notice

At sub zero temperatures (well they felt like it to me) there where little girls (i.e. teenagers) dressed in tank tops mini skirts and sandals this was while "GRITTERS" where going around (gritters are trucks that sprinkle a mixture of salt and sand on the roads to stop cars skidding out of control - what type of country has things like that - am starting to feel afraid.

An interesting link to the WW1 service records of British servicemen (including the Royal Flying Corps, check out Winston Churchill.

Link

Wee Wean

Met my youngest Scott today Daniel (Congrats Vicky and Allan)

Now to other matters to those who know me the next statement will truly shock and amaze
It is amazing the things you miss and don't miss it has been two weeks since I watched any television and I find I don't miss it that much things I do miss are chilli Kettle chips and sunshine (not necessarily in that order)

Not much else happening over here but would be happy to send some of the rain here to alleviate the drought in Oz

Freezing Fog

Had my first case of freezing Fog and as the name implies it is bloody cold as well it refuses to behave like normal fog it is actual tangible and wont go away (well it did disappear for 30 min at midday but then came right back)

On the plus side we now have a car (name yet to be decided) As some would know my last car in Sydney was a ford escort which some referred to as the "matchbox". The injustice of that name becomes apparent when you look at our new beast a Volkswagen polo it has a 1 litre engine but when petrol is 84 pence per litre ($1.90 Aud) I will be happy to settle for economical

Scottish Wombatwear

Sadly this photo was shot at 4pm If it wasnt so dark you would be able to see the fog.
On the clothing front our container arrives Friday....In Antwerp it wont arrive in Glasgow till the 13th so no winter woollies for two more weeks Brrrrr