MUGDOCK

In an effort to overcome jet lag we made the most of a lovely day to walk on Mugdock moor adjacent to where we live in Milngavie (north-east side of Glasgow).

Our house is just out of the picture on the left hand side. This is looking south-west with Milngavie houses below left.

Storm damage was still evident with limbs and branches everywhere and the odd tree uprooted.

Looking south and eastwards that is the city of Glasgow below us. The white marks left of centre are the high flats (high-rise apartment blocks) which are next to the motorway that goes east to Edinburgh (45 minute drive).

JANUARY TURNAROUND TIME

We're back! Unlike most towns and cities which are expanding ever outwards I am here to say that the global village is definitely getting smaller.

We flew back from Vancouver - half way round the world for us - and arrived home delighted with the smoothness of the trip. As there are no direct flights in winter to or from Glasgow we had to go through London Heathrow. Whether it was the British Airways carrier, the new Terminal 5 at Heathrow or the fact that more people are traveling ... or possibly more attention paid to travel logistics e.g. transport connections, check-in and security queues, etc ... we found the whole process over 24 hours very, very efficient and stress-free. Oh yes, computer booking and confirmation as well as seat selection must be a factor too. In total, much time-saving is evident compared to years ago.

Great piles of lovely mail to be opened ... and on a lovely sunny morning! Heaven!! ... well that along with having a sleep in one's own bed and an Only-Tastes-Good-in-Britain cup of tea!

Cards and letters bring talk of travels, health bulletins, births, deaths, achievements, photographs from recent or long ago, as well as talk of meeting up again in near or far locations.

Christmas card season (which we welcome as having moved house and being the age we are some people are sadly coming off our mailing list) is closely followed by Burns Season.

January is never long with us as some Burns Supper or variation of it, is on the go. Maybe it is a proper Supper with Iain playing in the haggis, or maybe a ceilidh or concert ... or maybe dinner with friends with Iain brushing up his Address to the Haggis or his pièce de résistance: Tam O'Shanter.

OUT AND ABOUT IN VANCOUVER

Alastair and Iain drove back from the Okanagan to Vancouver with a load of wood on his Jeep. Nearing Vancouver they stopped to let Nessie, his lovely Australian blue heeler, stretch her legs.

Alastair and Jeep

Being in the movie business Dawn and Alastair got us all to turn out for a photo-shoot in Queen Elizabeth park. There is a viewpoint there with a stunning cityscape for a backdrop. However also there are some sculptures of Tourists. Here is one of them having a close encounter with Dawn.

JANUARY GALES

New Year has come and gone and I am still in Vancouver enjoying get-togethers with family and friends.

Photos are going to have to come later. In the meantime I have been following John's posting on Facebook about the gales in Scotland. This link shows photos sent to the BBC news desk illustrating the damage across the coast and country.

It is here.