From Dawn to Dusk

What trickster is at play, with weather such as this, to fool us into having wee springlike glimpses of wellbeing and thankfulness, just by the sight of bonnie landscapes erupting from winter dullness on a warm and sunny day.

Driving from Inverurie to Mintlaw to Aberdeen and back again on the back roads, that were lit up in such a beautiful way that even some mid morning bad news, a relentlessly crammed diary and endless to-do list couldn't dent the feeling of being so thankful for having a job that lets me see Aberdeenshire in blue sky and sunshine. Maybe it's a benefit of getting a wee bit older, being surprised by sudden moments of contentment in amongst the relentless nonstoppedness of multiple anxieties that go hand in hand with the bread winning Scottish ethic that never leaves when your name is on the bills. The moments are great though, like slowly having more and more Father Dougal moments, alongside the usual sprinkling of Father Teds' and Father Jacks'.

And then the jackpot on the hill tonight with Max, with our new BFF, Foxy Mcbibster. He was fairly looking handsome in the last of the evening sun. He dived into some gorse after a time, followed immediately by a deer and then a few moments later by a hare. I think it's either some sort of Disney movie set in there or it's their weekly poker night and the squirrel had arrived before I got there.

Returned home to a very poorly Tess, later joined by a very poorly Dave. I doubt either of them will make it out the door tomorrow.