A 79+1 gathering

There was frost on the inside of the window this morning. It had been -8 in the night and didn’t get above - 2 all day.

We knew there was a lot more snow over the border in Scotland but we were prepared with plenty warm clothes and a shovel in the car. (We were aiming for the holiday house Marion and Ken had taken for her 80th birthday week near Yetholm). The back road from Akeld towards Kirk Yetholm was snowy but Mr C was fine. Just rounding a corner in the narrow road he stopped - an articulated lorry had got stuck trying to come up the hill towards us and a car was in the side. There was no prospect of getting round them she he reversed and found a spot in view of any vehicles coming towards us or behind us to turn round. It took a couple of goes as the snow was deep at the sides and the road almost single track. We had to go back and take a different less direct route. The road was bad till we crossed the border where it had been ploughed and gritted so was clear. We were a bit late but others even later. We had a coffee and set out with Ken and another couple for a 5 mile walk, leaving Marion to wait in the cosy house for the other guests.

The walk was delightful. Ken, being only 63, kept up a cracking pace. We went via the loch and a bird hide. Ken was convinced he saw an osprey but we thought it was a buzzard. Despite the sunshine the frost on the trees didn’t melt all day. We did 5 miles down to the loch, on the road to Yetholm, along by the river Bowmont, past the cemetery where my cousin Florence was buried 10 years ago in a blizzard, out onto the Morebattle road, along that then a narrow overgrown path by-passing Primside, up a hill and back to the house. This was about 4 miles from where I went to primary school. At least with my local knowledge I could direct the people going back to Hexham a better way than google. Normally its single track hilly road suggestion would have been fine, but not in the snow.

We’d all taken a contribution for lunch - Marion had told which people to bring savoury and which sweet - it was all delicious. She’s had a lovely week of seeing many friends and family sharing her 80th birthday celebration. Around 3.30 we waddled out to the car and headed home. The outside temperature was already -9.