Boxing Day and the traditional walk

For a good number of years now, we have developed the tradition of a Boxing Day country walk followed by a buffet and all of the wider family are invited.  This year it’s centred on Catriona and Calum’s house.  All morning, we cook for the buffet, and the house fills with the scents of Indian spices as Usha cooks curry, rice cakes and other delicious items.  I make an apple crumble and rescue the pickled pears I have brought and which have partially spilled in my bag, oozing sticky juice all over the car.  Catriona makes mulled fruit juice, turkey fricassee and chili, Fiona brings lasagne and so the food builds up on the table.  Off we go on the walk, well muffled up in hats and scarves, along the old railway track beside the river.  At the weir we find ice flows, and a small frozen waterfall.  These sights are further evidence of the atypical extremity of this winter.  We make it to Clachan of Campsie and wander around the old graveyard, reading the gravestones, grey and black against the snow.  Then back home. 

More and more people arrive and the house is soon crowded with people eating and making conversation.  The discussion ranges wide - an imminent wedding; a planned house move for my nephew whose neighbour has been tormenting his family; a long, weary and so far unsuccessful job hunt for another who has become a victim of recession and government policy decisions; another two compare notes about recent retirement. 

Then we move off to Newton Mearns for the night.  It’s beginning to thaw and the ice is black and treacherous on the road and pavement.  It’s quiet and peaceful here compared with the busy party at Catriona’s house.  But a last little drama - Bill goes out to the car to get something and as he opens the boot, the rear car window explodes into a thousand pieces.  A result of too much expansion and contraction in the freezing weather.  A lot of rushing about with brush and shovels ensues and a tarpaulin is found to cover the car overnight, then we are welded to the web to locate Autoglass to get it fixed tomorrow.