Snowy Peaks

For a breath of fresh air we thought we'd walk by Straiton Pond before heading to nearby shops.
'Walk' was not quite the result as the pathway way alternated frozen, packed snow surfaced by ice and short stretches of bare path. Neither of us fell, although a few slips challenged our balance.

I had taken some swan food and offered it to the two parents and both cygnets, who received it without so much as a thank you but appeared to enjoy the change of diet.

Someone has created a feeding station for small birds, set quite low down close to one of the access paths, popular with robin, blue and great tits, and dunnocks.

Despite the sunshine and our warm wrapping of hats and gloves we found the wind chilly indeed, so did not tarry but returned from the end of the pond by the upper path, which, truth to tell, was no easier than the others. 

The café in Dunelm provided  coffee (and teacake for Mr Flum) before a quick trot round the supermarket and a long wait at the till - oh well, we'd nothing spoiling except the Christmas decorations to pack away.

Photo of the snow on the Pentlands across the pond. Can you spot the person hiding in the trees opposite?