Elephants
Well, there were a lot of elephants under the rug which was making navigation
a little difficult; and if you were carrying hot liquids around the place it
was positively dangerous. Besides the danger, they had a tendency to pop out
unexpectedly which sometimes caused a little awkwardness, but more often just
a knowing silence, gently smile and change of focus. It wasn't that big an
issue, well not really, but we could do with rehousing them; it wasn't fair
on them for a start, what with all the fuzz bunnies running around under there
too.
Location
A sensible place seemed to be a rather nice bothy somewhere
and what better time than Hogmannay.jpg)
.
Well, we might as well relocate these guys right at the start of the year,
right? No point hangning around when everyone thinks it needs to be done. Don't
they? Now it was, by definition, the end/start of the year so the weather in
the Northern latitudes can be a little cool. Perhaps, dare I say it, .jpg)
the
weather can be a little unpredictable at times. The ideal place therefore was
Inshriach. After all it doesn't do to have insulation in the walls or a fire
of any description at that time or year. That would clearly be an extravagance,
and if we are to be true to our national Calvinist roots,
we simply can't be having extravagance. Despite all that, it did actually become
reasonably warm inside, well either that or the wine and whisky was having
an effect.
Whatever the reason, it was a nice place to be. Ruth and Pim were
well and dinner, although late due to our delayed arrival, was rather fine
for the situation. Our cohabitees were quite a self contained bunch really.
In fact they had been becoming increasingly so all evening. Charming chaps
and chapesses nonetheless. One was even wearing a tuxedo, would you believe?
Well, in a manner of speaking anyway.
Action
The radio had, thankfully, been tuned to an English speaking station; we'd
given up on "Norweigan or bust in 90 minutes" though without a fire we couldn't
derive any heat from the tome. Some brave soul, a refugee from Princes Street
or George Square no doubt [and the question is, who cancelled first?] was dutifully
standing outside in "the weather" and counting down to the bells.
Cuddles all round. Oh no, not champagne. Well, if I must then just a little
one.
What's that, your camera has run out and you need another one from the Beast?
Perfect. I'll chum you out. Not a bad night really. Bit dreich, but none of
the screaming hoolies that had afflicted our capitals. That it dear, got your
camera and everything? Hang on, don't lock up quite yet, I need to get an elephant
out of my rucksack. Jolly good dear, you do that, it's not a bad evening is
it? No indeed.
Right then. Give me all that. We'll just put it here for a mo, now it's just
the two of us, couple of tics eh? Squelch, click, deep breath, "DeborahAnnWarrenwillyoumarryme?"
"Ooh, werwrwdy gnurdy foolifolupipop course!" Gnaaaaaaa. Well it wasn't a no.
"It was a 'yes'" "OF COURSE" Gulp. Better stand up again then. I've been proferring
one of these you know, d'you want it then? I know, I know, let's be 'aving
it then!
...
Right. The others. "Hello again." "Ermm. Yes, can I introduce my Fiancee.
Oh, and this rather chilled bottle of champagne. I know, bored of it already,
but we really should on an occasion like this." It was .jpg)
obviously
the right thing to do. The elephants are certainly a lot happier and, well,
I'm pretty sure dp is! And in case you really can't tell from that, then I
think this should be a bit of a
clincher. Just for the record those are actually my cheeks, although quite
what has happened to them I'm not really sure. Someone might know out there,
is it a common side affect of 'yes' that you get cheeks like that? It seems
to have worn off now at least, well most of the time anyway, but I am afflicted
quite often at the moment.
Phew
Just time to write in the bothy book, head south and have dinner with the
Best Man and his wife. For once I'm going to be early. As promised the Missus
will see the place in daylight on the way down and it's even broken out some
of the good weather for the occasion. Problem is, the Beast had other ideas.
Seems it had heard of Layby 119 and really wanted to spend it's own
little holiday there; teenagers they're all attention seekers, take it from
me.
.
Well, we might as well relocate these guys right at the start of the year,
right? No point hangning around when everyone thinks it needs to be done. Don't
they? Now it was, by definition, the end/start of the year so the weather in
the Northern latitudes can be a little cool. Perhaps, dare I say it, 
the
weather can be a little unpredictable at times. The ideal place therefore was
Inshriach. After all it doesn't do to have insulation in the walls or a fire
of any description at that time or year. That would clearly be an extravagance,
and if we are to be true to our national Calvinist roots,
we simply can't be having extravagance. Despite all that, it did actually become
reasonably warm inside, well either that or the wine and whisky was having
an effect.