2021
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year (despite the latest lockdown), and I hope you had a good Christmas.
I don’t think the whole Covid situation affected us as much as it has many others, in that we’re so far from family anyway and had no plans. We generally like a quiet Christmas spent mostly at home and that’s what we got. Food, books, TV, loafing… Yes, it was sad that the non-essential shops had to close on Boxing Day (so no more festive window displays and lights). And it would have been nice to see friends. But, as they say, it is what it is and you have to do the right thing.
I started writing this post last night then somehow slipped and hit the wrong key and everything just disappeared, so I gave up and decided to come back to it this afternoon. Jay went back to work today after a long Christmas break, and Joe and I took a walk out in the heavy frost to explore the ‘nature walk’ which takes you through the woods on the outskirts of Portree. He also showed me how to play Battleships and we read together (The Chronicles of Narnia), then wrote some thank you cards bought from my friend Caroline before I caved and let him have a stint on Sonic the Hedgehog.
The weather over Christmas and Boxing Day was dire; torrential rain which meant we had to stay indoors and repeatedly consult the Radio Times to see what we could watch. Although Joe did receive lots of nice presents to keep him going, and so many people sent us money that we actually went to Inverness the previous week and treated ourselves. I usually hate shoe shopping as my feet are so square, but I bought three pairs. Converse high tops (to replace my old ones - I tend to wear them to death). I’d wanted red ones but there were none in my size, so I opted for black because it was all about instant gratification rather than ordering online.
While I was in Schuh and on a roll I picked up a pair of ankle boots too because I do like to wear dresses sometimes, especially with coloured tights. I’m pretty sure they were a bit cheaper than that in the link so, bargain! I already have a pair of Red or Dead cowboy boots and they last for ever. And then we went and had Joe’s feet measured and bought him some new shoes. While we were in there I spotted some more shoes in the sale. Jay was pretty unimpressed in a non-verbal kind of way (he had that look on his face which said it all) and I wasn’t sure whether I loved them or hated them either, but I decided I loved them and went for it. They may come under the description of ‘brothel creepers’, who knows? But they’re super comfy and even though they were a bit more than the price in the link, were still half price. And I have no regrets whatsoever (I may have spent the long journey back home stroking them adoringly).
Leopard print lace ups with thick rubber soles: totally out of my comfort zone. Maybe that’s what I needed.
It looks quite decadent to be buying all these shoes but to be fair I tend to spend Christmas and birthday money on this kind of thing. A bit frivolous but also a necessity. I just need the weather to pick up a bit so I can have a break from wellies and these*
*I got a pair last winter, again in a sale, so still expensive but not quite so much as this - and I highly recommend them. They’re what I walked for miles around New York in and they’ve covered a lot of terrain here in the Highlands, too.
OK, enough of all the shoe talk. I’ve gone down a rabbit hole, haven’t I?
Moving on…
The snow came a few days after Christmas and we got out there to enjoy it and take pictures. The roads up towards Staffin were pretty deep and really slippery but we took it slowly and there was nobody else about. And Joe got to make snow angels overlooking the water.
Sometimes you just have to do these things.
We’ve had a lot of heavy frost lately, and crisp sunny days. So we took a drive down to Sleat and had a walk around Armadale. The gardens were still open to locals wanting to go in, and it was very pretty (but the signs warning about the icy paths were in no way exaggerating - it was lethal in places). It looks as though we timed it well again, as the gardens are now closed due to the lockdown.
We visited Isleornsay for the first time ever and it was so picturesque, with the views across to the lighthouse and mountains. Again, nobody about. Just little beaches and old boats, and dreamy houses with log piles and smoking chimneys.
On the way back we took a detour to Elgol for more photos and for Joe to play with the ice on Loch Cill Chriosd (Kilchrist) as the sun started to go down.
And yesterday we went to Skeabost, one of my favourite local places. It was magical actually, with the frost and icicles and mists, and we came across hair ice for the first time ever (Joe was pretty wary of it). We went across to St Columba’s Isle and just savoured it all. Then we came home and warmed up and had a quiet winter’s afternoon indoors.
I took the tree down at the weekend. I’ve never been one for keeping the decorations hanging about long into the new year - although admittedly we welcomed Christmas early this year because it’s been such a challenging one, and nothing is more happy-making than Christmas.
I’ve kept some fairy lights up (these are a year-round fixture in our house) and we still burn candles and wrap up in blankets and throws. But I’ve freshened things up a bit with a jar of daffodils and the houseplants have been returned to their rightful places. Green and growing things are so cheering, especially in the darker months and when times are difficult.
We’re dealing with this latest lockdown by getting outdoors as much as we can, by making plans and by enjoying small things.
Stay safe - there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
