Gaaaah! I think I saw the monster!

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So, after waving our cottage goodbye, we headed off on the last leg of our great Scottish roadtrip - up to Inverness to see Loch Ness and hopefully the monster...well...we hoped.

The morning that we left the cottage we got to see our first smattering of snow. Aaron had bought some fake stuff on Christmas eve, and Bridie wandering aimlessly around the garden realised that the white flakes on the ground weren't fake! It was real snow, and it made our day.

Inverness was a few hours drive away, right up the top of the country - well...kind of anyway. It'll do for this purpose. We went to the Loch Ness Monster exhibition, and while Aaron wasn't convinced, Paula and I are sure there's something down there (do do do do, do do do do - think Jaws). We were met by Aaron Gordon, and his Scottish mate Sandy - who was in Australia not so long ago, and after waving Aaron and Paula goodbye (no doubt they'll be in Hawaii right now!), we headed off towards Conon Bridge, where the Camerons (Maralyn and Big Sandy) kindly let us stay. After visiting the local pub (The Duck - Quack!), we had a good nights sleep.

The next day, Sandy (boy- as he is distinguished in the house by Marilyn) took us on a driving tour of the area. We went to Clootie Well, which is a little spring. You take a piece of cloth, tie it up, turn around three times and make a wish. We're not telling what we wished for though - then it won't happen. In the past it was a place that supposedly healed the sick - I still have a cold though.

You may think us crazy, but our next stop was the beach! Yes. The beach. It was so cold the puddles were frozen solid, and off we went to the beach. Mad. Aaron and Sandy picked some mussels (which were delicious), and Jacki and Bridie took some gorgeous photos. Scotland really is a beautiful place.

Having drinks with Sandy and Aarons Scottish friends turned into a fantastic experience, when it started snowing. And I mean snow! About 4 inches of it. Finally the minus 10 degree weather produced something worthwhile other than a refridgerator alternative (seriously, stick a drink outside for 10 minutes and it's right to go). So dressed in our singlets, mini skirts and thongs, we ventured out into the winter wonderland and had a massive snowball fight. Luckily the alcohol had warmed us up a little - although I got bloody cold making a snow angel, I must say. After nearly catching our death we headed back inside to defrost - but we did sneak out at various times during the night (this time with coats).

The next day, outside was absolutely covered in whiteness - and after helping Aaron build a snowman (Reginald - or Reg to his mates) we headed off to the golf course to go sledding. It was seriously fun, and a huge workout - no ski lifts operate on Dingwall Golf Course unfortunately. Snow, unfortunately, melts, and by the end of the couple of hours we were there, Jacki and I were soaking wet and freezing. After another snowball fight, in which I got buried under a pile of snow, I decided that I jeans really aren't suitable snow clothing.

We headed off home to defrost and get ready to leave for New Years Eve in Leeds (Long and expensive story - we'd prefer not to talk about it.).

Until New Year,

Jacki and Loz.

Five Things We learnt in the Highlands

• Snow is cold...and wet. It is advisable not to wear jeans if you don't want to freeze from the outside in. You will freeze your arse off...literally.
  
• Venison sausages are the bomb! Eating Bambi is gooood. Don't judge us until you've tried it.
  
• Black pudding is grain soaked in blood - delicious until you find out what it is, too. (Jacki didn't think so and would prefer to eat dirt)
  
• Snow is an excellent substitute for ice in your drink - just don't pick up the yellow stuff.
  
• Snowballs are fun. Snowball fights are hilarious. Sledding is dangerous. Jacki is a good sledder. Lauren is a determined sledder. Bridie is a slack sledder.
  

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Photos

Its snowwwww!! Real Snow!!
Me & Lauren with our new mate Reg.

The beach
It looks deceivingly warm.. It was minus 8 that day!!

The beach again
Sooo beautiful..

Collecting the mussels
Their hands must have been freezing!

Work it baby
Posing, yet again..

Sunset
And its only 3pm!!

Sunset
About half an hour later.

Clootie Well
You tie your cloth to the trees and turn three times and make a wish

SNOW!!
Lauren performs her snow dance..

SNOW!!
Yes Jacki it is snow.. and watch out lauren for the snowball about to hit you!

Three frozen icicles
So cold...

Frozen golf course
Lots of fun.

Watch out Aaron!!
Is that snow yellow?

Ohh Sandy Boy
PLaying on his practice pipes for us. His real ones were stolen a week earlier and made front page news in Conon Bridge.