The wonders of evolution...or some very scared birds.

Today we witnessed the birth of a whole new exciting facet of the Guinea Fowl character.Not something many people can claim I bet. They are in fact homing birds. A talent previously unsuspected and, now I come to think of it not that useful in a group of birds that appears to have forgotten how to fly. They were re housed a couple of weeks ago from the rabbits and guinea pigs run (it is quite big) into a hut in Mr Pigs field. They have spent the intervening time in a small bewildered huddle that moved as one around to peck at grain when the need arouse. Things got more confused for them today when Mr P apparently moved by their plight decided to release them by barging through their wire wall and incidental to the rescue of course, managed to help himself to their grain. We know that he is the guilty party as he has left a Mr P sized hole perfect for identification purposes. The fowl then hot footed (they don't do flying, remember?) it back to their old run which they circled plaintively calling in their inimitable way. It is not really possible to chase them in through the door, nor, as Ginny found out to herd them with the "run and bark" method. So a retreat was effected (in Ginny's case rapidly onto her bed with tail between legs) after tempting rabbit food had been scattered just inside the hut. They do love their rabbit food....and after 20 minutes of so ......Gotcha!

Okay, what else. no skiing today as planned due to fog, boo hoo and then the second attempt to get exercise also partially failed. I took a cycle down to The Loch Fyne Hotel to swim and hence justify our hugely expensive monthly ticket, we could buy a pool for cheaper.This ended in failure as now as well as shutting 2hrs earlier they also shut for lunch...for two hours. The ensuing mental rant saw me all the way home nicely.

More on the car saga:- Turns out the people mentioned yesterday had read all the blog in it's glorious car dissing detail and decided not to go for it. They went to get their deposit back which was duly returned. The manager then told them that they have found £1,200 worth of work needing to be done....we feel so JUSTIFIED in getting rid. I am just so glad that we found out and will not have to forever wonder. Somewhat belatedly I calculated that it has had £6,000 or thereabouts spent on it since last April, luckily not all by us (see last May!). So, anyone else clever enough to track us down...BUYER BEWARE!

PS I am now on Facebook and need to learn to not waste so much time nosing into other peoples lives and photos...sad.

The Blog bites back...

In the way of all the best feel good, 40 something movies the computer went “beep” at bedtime on Monday night. That is our equivalent of “you have got mail” but I guess that is not such a good name for a film. We are obviously used to getting e mails from strangers so open all that do not hit the junk mail box first or are offering to expand/shrink various body parts for an undisclosed fee. However this one was not B and B connected. Having placed a deposit on our old car (I just knew that we had not heard the last of it) this couple had got our name from the log and did the Google thing ending up with this blog. Guess what, they got a wee bit worried “We are pretty concerned after reading your blog!” when they read my last entry (don’t know if they read further back for The Early Adventures of Car and Fee....there are even photos). Anxious e-mails followed with Garret painting a true, honest picture (honest Guv). They seemed to be paying a fair price though. I am dying to hear if they went for it and really hope they have a happy time with it. Well, if I am honest not too good a time as that would make me really sick! So beware Big Brother, or Sister I think in this case is out there watching you. They covered their tracks well though as when I tried to return the Google compliment, and on Facebook there are far too many matches to eliminate. I am not so patient a detective obviously.

Anyway here is the new one rapidly taking on the unwashed look of the old one.

Busy weekend.

Here is the News "The Corners have finally seen the light and off loaded the heap of junk formerly known as The Car replacing it with Another. This one is going to be perfect in every way, shape and form transporting the Corner family around for the next ten plus years at which time they will trade it in for little less than the purchase price. Later on that day air traffic control at Glasgow International Airport reported several incidences of porcine flight....ah well, it cannot be worse......can it?
Anyway back to Saturday. The girls competed in the Oban Athletics final and did themselves proud. A great event to watch, who says kids are obese and lazy.Not a one in sight here. The evening saw us at The Argyll Inveraray joining in our first Burns Night supper organised by The Inveraray Burns society. An enlightening evening all round, rubbish pictures I know but the best my phone could do and you get the gist.

Lookee at that snow....at Last

Glencoe Web Cam

Rosie and The Windy Day

Why you need a friend to run with....

A short run before a swim turned into an 8 or so miler through the hills at the back of here. The weather was great, perfect in fact and we just kept on going doubling back as paths disappeared into bogs etc and taking a detour (photos) up to the Old Village. We both felt we needed the leg stretch and despite the aches and pains at the end (it is quite hilly...) it was all worth it. Having run Dun Na Cuiche on Thursday with Garret I feel well exercised this week. That one is a real grueller in the middle section and fast on the way down all 220m of it. For any runners out there we were rekkying for an organised run on May 30th as part of Inveraray's Bluebell festival, get in touch for more details...Kate, are you reading this?!

No picture required......

On Sunday I grabbed hold tight of the New Years Resolutions and dragged them kicking, screaming and metaphorically trying to hold onto the kitchen door by their finger tips into the freezing cold hut to attempt to empty my Festive spare tyre into the (static) bike's tyres. The bike is well situated here as after 1/2hr of cycling you should no longer feel cold but be stripping off layer after layer. Head down and legs pounding to the strains of the Kaiser Chiefs (how could I resist? They come from Leeds) you have nothing else to do but peruse the discarded skis, lawn mower, electrical gizmo's and generally the tools of Garret's trade packed into the hut with you. The floor is littered with old leaves but at least at this time of year I do not have to remove the evidence of swallow inhabitation from the bike seat/handles etc. As the mind wanders so the legs slow down and once you start to think about what to make for tea or what tomorrow's jobs are the momentum can be seriously effected and the legs begin to slow inevitably down. Still, managed the 1/2hr and left resolutions still maintained and legs ever so slightly wobbly.

Saturday January 3rd

A new year's walk to chase away two weeks worth of over indulgences and severe lack of sleep. We drove to the bottom of the Rest and Be Thankful Pass and parked up by Butter burn Bridge and took the path to Ben Vane. Having had to wait 1/2hr for (truly excellent food and soup though) take outs from the Tree Shop at LFO we set off at 1.30pm for a 10 mile walk. We got within reach of Ben Vane but decided that as the path had petered out we had better return as the weather was decidedly chilly and the light fading. we yomped and marched back with very large appetites for The George in the evening. A great day.