Exit Stage Left, Grousing

I find it vaguely surprising that looking at the etymology of 'grouse' (as in 'complaining') it appears to have no link to the bird. The name of the bird appears to have appeared in the 16th century, a full 3 centuries before the appearance of the verb. I always assumed the two were linked, given the call of a grouse on someone stepping too near is to have a bit of a hissy fit, before terminating with three or four calls of what sounds remarkably like, "Go back, go back, go back".

But no, best guesses seem to have the English verb linked to a French dialect term of groucer, which comes from old French (apparently) grouchier. Which is altogether less interesting.

Anyway, save for a few buzzards and a couple of kestrels, not much wildlife on show in the hills around Hopes Reservoir today (even climbing up into the hills to try and spot the white coated hares amongst the heather turned out to be fruitless). Good to get out though, and prove that hillwalking really uses different leg muscles to riding the bike - everything in full working order today after the race yesterday (including my back, which was complaining terribly over the finish line).

We toasted Burns in the evening with an Italian twist on his Supper (some haggis, little bit of mash, dollop of smoky whisky, all encased in ravioli (you can tell my computer has an American spellchecker, it wants me to have used whiskey - to be honest I'm sure the bard would have approved of anything as long as it had alcohol in it...).

Bike got cleaned (before / after), ready for a wee ride tomorrow (planning a little urban assault of a few hours, around some wildlife hotspots and a little MTB track by the shore, before heading to George's house to help him with his computer) - I've got a spoke to replace (or actually, looks like the nipple has broken rather than the spoke, so an easier sort), and a couple of bits need some attention after a few particularly muddy CX outings, but I'm still amazed something I put together has held up as well as it has.