Finding the Sunshine

Loch Morlich, Cairngorms National Park - D Ross

We’ve had friends visiting this week. The Highland weather chose the occasion to do its worst: howling winds, torrential rain and temperatures as low as 3 degrees. To be honest, it’s not been ideal for getting outside. We all know the mantra ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing’ credited to Billy Connelly (though plain common sense) but honestly, I think there might be! We’ve been togged up to the hilt in multi-layers and thermals, hats, gloves, scarves and waterproofs and I was still cold!

Thankfully, our friends are of the hardy variety and would rather be outdoors, enjoying the natural world, than be sat indoors; so we’ve braved the cold, wet and wind and got out there.  We’ve appreciated the moody and the wild, the cloudscapes and the power of the ocean.  We’ve done a little more driving and a little less walking than we might have, were the conditions less Arctic, and I confess, we have sought out drier places with the weather forecast. Yesterday we chased the sun down to the Cairngorms National Park. We found snow too, but there was definitely brightness in the sky and we even saw patches of blue - and we have the photographs to prove it.

They have a few days left of their stay and storm Katherine is due to hit later today, though mostly affecting the west coast. So, today, we are hunting a swim spot on the east coast, before the winds kick in.  We haven’t found a lot of sunshine this week, but we have - metaphorically anyway - found a lot of brightness in the dullest of days.  The colours of the hills have stood out in the greyness, the still bare trees have shimmered with rain drops, the beaches have been wild and magnificent.  There may not always BE sunshine, but you can always FIND sunshine somewhere.  Our friends have been rays of light - taking delight in simple pleasures and appreciating the magical, majesty of the Highland landscape, whatever the weather. Thankfully, the hot chocolates, food and friendship have also provided some lovely, sunny interludes.