The Icy Art of Making Love and Whisky

Collared Doves, how do they do it?  I mean mating in 2 degrees, OK there was a glimpse of sunshine on the 9^th December, a slight breeze, but I ask you!  No wonder they’ve populated our country so rapidly and intensely, having such high sex drive and taking the briefest of opportunities to procreate; there weren’t any known pairs in the UK prior to 1955.
Not that I mind of course, a little jealous perhaps, but do they know something we don’t, maybe a New Year heat wave!  Right now many of us would take that, however, I don’t really expect to see squabs late January or a heat wave, but will tell you if I do.  These birds are just incredibly affectionate and may have tendency to pair bond.  With a lifespan of about 15 years I anticipate the mating frame in my garden, as demonstrated earlier in this blog, will see a lot more action to come, as they tend to enjoy using one area – sounds familiar. Even their family name Columbidae, with imagination and twist of dialect sounds like; “Column! Bed? Aye ;-)”  Sometimes a bird just can’t say no to such a romantic cooing invitation, fancy that!

Collared Doves normally breed between March and October, and while the warmth of the sun normally determines the breeding season. What’s the coldest you’ve seen birds (feathered variety) engage in hide the giblet, or seen early fledglings appear?

When taking photographs in unique hoarfrost conditions, it’s really important to rely on quality of results.  Sadly not for me on Tuesday past, sure this plucky amateur photographer managed to take some good shots, but none revealed the detailed ice crystallisation I witnessed.  Conditions were perfect; several days of extremely hard frost then -6, then -9, with the bluest sky the following morning. So incredibly frustrating!

I so wanted to blame my tools, I do need a better camera, but it was my fault.  “Dear imaginary Claus, please provide me with an income to obtain a new D-SLR, lenses and filters, so that I can improve my hobby for Plucky Fans viewing pleasure”. Now light log fire, send request up chimney, and wait.  Until then, spending £500 - £1500 isn’t sensible.

As the Autumnwatch discussion board was closing down, I started work on a poem.  To set it in context, several mentioned their love of whisky, malts mostly, when two dear friends decided to ridicule those who added water to their dram.  I was goaded into responding as they associated this practice with Sassenachs (Gaelic for Saxon, Lowlander or Englishman).  As a Highlander myself, I resent the fallacy of not adding water, which was probably encouraged by canny Scots brewers, wishing you to drink it as quickly as possible, sooner you drank one dram and bottle, sooner you’d buy another!

I’m no connoisseur or whisky snob but there really is two ways to enjoy this crafted liquor, which to my mind is unlike any other; straight or with something less than fifty percent water to taste.  Those who suggest its sacrilege to add water to malt, akin to adding ice with which I’d concur, surely forget that making it required a substantial amount in the first place, and is even cut to strength by the addition of more.  There can be little genuine support for such puritanical cries, outside the banter and cajoling us Scots so dearly love to participate.  And hope you agree with my poetic response to The Artful Codger & Skylark.

Sky and Art on Water in Whisky; Slange!

The Art of making whisky

And Art of drinking whisky

Quite similar they must be

Both dependent on our Sky

For a' that rain 'n ripened grain

Water stramash, please refrain

Aye consider starring up at Sky

Add more water or none at all?

Grace permit us a drap tae taste

Each to their own unique bouquet

An' raise our toast to one an' all.

Slange var, slainte mhath! 

Tr. Cheers mate, good health!

I touched on the weather regarding my inability to photograph perfectly in it of late.  But I sympathise with those of you caught up in travel chaos.  Despite this brief rest bite, there’s ominously more to come, as this winter continues to rewrite records.  Perhaps I’ll get a better opportunity before winter is out, to capture those stunning twinkling ice-crystal-clear images – TPH

Doric translation: stramash = uproar or disturbance; Aye = Always or Yes