THE CHRISTMAS CONUNDRUM

As always we had an early walk close to a pub for Christmas. This time we went to Culloden Battlefield and did a walk with a difference. Bob and Sharon decided that it was time that all these people living in Inverness brushed up on their knowledge of Culloden - the site of the last battle fought on British soil. And so they devised a quiz that took the participants all around the battlefield. It was a supposed to be a test of both mind and body, probably the way that all good walks should be. In reality the battlefield is flat so no body was tested and as no-one got all the answers right, it was clearly too much for the minds of the dinosaurs!

And here they are looking confused in the car park of the Culloden Moor Inn trying to come to terms with the fact that they will need to think and walk at the same time. Indeed, Jacque can be seen trying to sneak between the cars to get to the cover of the trees.

So off we set to walk around the battlefield and to admire the architecture of the new visitor centre! It may look like a flat box to you, but to one who knows it was clearly designed to lie in the landscape and be subservient to the landform. This is probably a physical metaphor emphasising that all mankind's efforts are transient and nothing can truly dominate nature - even the ferocity of battle. I could go on, but I can tell that most people have stopped reading already. What it is to be an unrecognised genius!

And so to the quiz. Everybody started off in the same place - which was also the wrong place - looking for one of the clues on the ground, but to no avail. Well, everyone except for Susan, who thought the whole point of a good walk was to look at the scenery.

We soon got onto the battlefield proper and split up to search for the clues which cunningly were not in the order that you would come across them, so the walk was further than everyone thought to begin with. Although Sharon and Bob could have just gone straight to the pub and sat in the warm with a nice drink, they generously decided to help those who needed it most get some of the answers. Even then, some of them failed to hand in their sheet at the end and so got no score.

There now follows a few photos which all look the same - a small grouping of people staring at one of the information panels in complete bewilderment. This was a common sight which you may think illustartes a degree of cameraderie, but in truth the competition was pretty fierce and some disinformation was spread in an attempt to mislead some teams.

Dave was too busy looking at the camera that he didn't see Susan looking over his shoulder to get the answers off his sheet.

"How do you spell fusiliers in Gaelic?" said Jacque. "I don't know, but my fusiliers are really warm under my woolly hat" replied Sandra.

"Tell me again - why are we here? Why are we not in the pub? When can I take this silly hat off?"

I will let you guess who was saying that.

Heel, Toe one, two, three, Mac and Maureen about to go dancing on the roof.

Ann gets in on the act with a bit of Riverdance!

Mac catches A BUS on the roof.

Even at the end they can't resist looking at the ground in a never ending search for an answer. At least all of the work of the engraver was appreciated.

And so to the pub for Christmas Lunch, Secret Santa and lots of fun.

After that Maureen and David were brave enough to invite us back to their house for more drink, nibbles and games. All in all a fun time was had and before you know it we will be off somewhere different next month.

Merry Christmas to all our readers!

THE MONSTER MARCH

The November walk was a two day affair - away from home, but we still had all the comforts. We stayed at the excellent Loch Ness Inn in Lewiston - and very good it was too. They looked after us very well and a great weekend was had by all.

After a very pleasant soup and sandwich lunch it was time for a walk, although a few of us were suggesting a stay in the bar to catch up on the sport that we were all missing in the name of the Great Outdoors! However, the lure of the fresh air was too much so off we went.

We were soon wending our way on a section of the Great Glen Way at Bunloit. Happily we had driven up to the high point before walking back downhill. It was a post-lunch walk after all - nothing too strenuous.

Whilst the photo seems to show a fine day it clearly had been a bit wet before and it was a little bit on the Baltic side in the wind, but nothing would deter us. By the way Mac and I had a comfort break in the bushes a little further on and the sign is nothing to do with that.

The natives had clearly never seen such a fine looking bunch of people.

We had seen a Bentley and a Roller on our trip so far, so we were obviously in the right kind of place. The Bentley was in the car park at the Inn - this is the Roller.

No lunch today as we had already had that. But as always we had to stop for the group photo. Almost everyone was looking at the camera, but obviously Janet is one of those stars who shuns publicity.

Clearly Sharon and Pam are a couple of bums who cannot read!

And so it was all downhill from here on - some would say before that - but we will ignore them. We had been walking at a reasonable pace so it came as a relief to be instructed to slow down.

As with all good walks we soon got to the pub. You will have heard of Ladies who Lunch - well this isn't them! You will also notice that Neil is studiously ignoring them and concentrating on the rugby.

Whilst Jim is looking suitably bemused by everything - but then he often does!

Meanwhile, Robin and Dave are looking suitably rustic with a little rosey glow around the cheeks - and it is only just after 5 o'clock!

And then it was time for dinner - and the Inn certainly did us proud - they had even heard of us and put up a sign - although that may have been to warn off all the other people who had come in for a romantic Saturday evening meal.

As always dinner was a suitably raucous affair. Jim seems to be saying to Hugh that he will poke his eyes out if he touches his wine glass again!

Just for fun, Hugh did touch Jim's glass. What Jim didn't realise was that Hugh had his extra thick specs on so he really hurt his hand!

After a great evening it was time for bed and then the next day dawned bright and clear and we were off on another walk.

And so off we trecked - there was even a hill, at the top of which Dave promised there was a pond. I have no idea who is giving a hand to Ann - but I can promise Neil it was not me! Dave seems to approve, though.

Images of ducks, swans, skeins of geese and flocks of flamingoes filled my mind in anticipation of Dave's pond, but the reality did not quite match the thought......

Perhaps the witch had made the water disappear.

The thought of all that water was too much for Sandra and emergency removal of the trousers was required. I stopped taking photos at this point, but it got much worse, I can tell you.

And so to the group photo at the viewpoint. What do you mean you can't see the view for the people.

Is that better?

Then down from the viewpoint into the village, where happily there were only 17 of us - they don't like a big crowd in Drumnadrochit it would seem.

Then into the woods to go to the bay and hopefully to see the monster. However all we found was the bridge to nowhere.

Well almost all - as you know there is always at least one Pixie in the woods.

And that was the end of that. Thanks are due to Sandra and Dave for a really excellent weekend - great place, good walks and the usual fantastic company.