Who says that sun loungers, garden umbrellas and barbecues should be reserved for summer in the UK or winter in Australia? We put ours to constant good use as per the above picture taken on January 1st 2010 in our garden on Loch Earn in Lochearnhead.
We had a very merry Hogmanay at Briar Cottages. Guests who book Little Briar holiday cottage are given complimentary tickets to the village dance and are invited for drinks in the house before hand. 17 of us including friends and neighbours walked to the hall to be entertained by The Session. The talented trio played music from every decade as well as Scottish tunes and a bit of bluegrass/country. We danced non stop to the bells. Tables were decorated with party poppers and Christmas decorations and the village hall committee worked hard to ensure that everyone had a great time. Everyone was made to feel welcome and New Year kisses were exchanged around the room from young to old and local to visitor. The band played until 1am and the bar continued until 2am. The party in our neighbouring hotel "The Clachan Cottage Hotel" was still in full swing when we left the hall - timetabled to finish at 4am. The moon was full and bright against the snow making the short stroll back home magical.
On the 1st of January we lit a fire in the BBQ chiminee by the loch and roasted chestnuts. The hot gluewein went down well with the last of the Christmas cake. We played boule in the snow and had an entertaining game of charades by the summer house. Our godess statue that marks the stairway to our jetty was transformed into an old goblin courtesy of our artistic guests and a bearded mask. At 5pm it was time to get the steak pie in the oven and settle down in front of the fire.
