Rudolph the Red Nosed Tesla

Gail and I are thinking you might like to see how the Festive Season is shaping up in our neck of the woods. 

Let's go for a wee stroll around the neighbourhood.

Aberdonians are not in general given to ostentatious display. Here, the low key but lovely tradition is to put a Christmas tree in one's bay window, so it can be admired from the street. 

 

Of course, there's always one household that doesn't quite grasp the concept of the modest and tasteful display.

And what did we find right next door to this extravaganza? Oh dear, I fear someone might be feeling rather deflated, having been outshone by the competition...

The local paper shop has made a bit of an effort. Gail says anything to distract from content of the newspapers this year is probably a good idea...

Further along the street, we see a practical illustration of the proposition that in the UK, worship of the Health Service has become the national religion.

Gail and I are both rather fond of this cheerful reindeer fellow, all poised to greet visitors to the house a few doors up from ours. He may not be aware that household mixing is banned right now.

Nearby, another reindeer, rather a pretty one, is shyly prancing behind net curtains in an upstairs window. 

And finally, we are proud to present our new close neighbour, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Tesla, surely the coming thing in environmentally friendly present delivery. 

Sadly, he appears only to have one antler.

But where is all the mud?

I expect you will be looking at the picture above and thinking, "Whoa there Bertie, look at you galloping so carefree through the verdant forest - what a tip top time you're having".

And you would be right. Up to a point.

But something important was missing.

I searched high and low but I could not find it anywhere.


In the end I had to stop and ask.

"But Gail, where is all the mud?"


Normally, at this stage in the walk my paws should be nicely coated in a layer of the squelchy brown stuff and, on a good day I would be jumping into the car with a full set of stylish dark "socks" all the way up to my knees, enhancing my already much admired natural markings.

But no. In Aberdeen we have had almost no rain for weeks. This is most unnatural! One set of American visitors have returned home to the Seattle area under the mistaken impression that Scotland is a country blessed with many dry warm days and cloud-free skies.

Tomorrow we are heading across to Torridon for a short break.

It's always wetter on the West Coast. Surely I'll find some mud there?

Oh. Gail is telling me that wildfires not far from our cottage made the national news a few days ago.

Can this really be true?

I shall be reporting back early next week.

Am I in Australia?