Hogmanay Dinner and New Years Day Walk

The Last of the Summer Wine Walkers meet up again for dinner on Hogmanay in The Douglas Hotel. We had drinks at Ardlui prior to this with Champagne kindly provided by David and then finished up at Birkwood to see in the New Year. It was a most enjoyable evening in excellent company. 

New Years Day and instead of an early start to walk round Potholm and finish along with the runners on the New Years Day Whisky run we started as they finished. As Bowman is getting too old for a long walk Alix started later than us and met us near Jenny Nobles to walk back with us. It was timed perfectly and Bowman was delighted to be back with his walking pals and lead the way. 

At the Round House and notice how Bowman has had a real clipping.

Ready for a treat from Alix

At Broomholmshiels and half way 

John and Elspeth

Happy New Year

We held a Last of the Summer Wine Hogmanay Dinner in The Eskdale Hotel and an enjoyable evening was had by all. We started with Champagne at Birkwood courtesy of David & Alix, who unfortunately due to illness were unable to go to the dinner. The meal was excellent with the exception of a very poor Christmas Pudding that was probably the worst I have ever tasted.  

John and Elizabeth 

Peter and Gaye

Sandria and Tom

In front of Langholm's splendid Christmas Tree 

For many years we have walked round Potholm on New Years morning as part of the Whisky run organised by Mike and Charlie. The runners do the 8 mile Doctors run but we just do the 5 mile walk round Potholm. Everybody sets of at their chosen time to get them into the Market Place by 11.00am so we set off at 9.00am. The weather was glorious and we met this group of Crows having a meeting on our way along the Potholm Road. 

As soon as they heard us coming they were off

The traditional photo on Potholm Bridge 

In the garden of the farmhouse at Potholm were these Snowdrops. I have never seen them as early.

We arrived at the Market Place just before 11.00am with the superb Town Band in good form 

We soon met up with David and the dogs on the second half of the walk as they had gone the opposite way and joined us for a couple of miles. Bowman has had a haircut and is looking very well despite him being 14 this year. We have all walked many miles in his company and he is such a character. 

Hogmanay Safari Dinner and New Years Day Walk

After the success of our VE Day Safari dinner in the summer we decided to do the same for Hogmanay. First port of call was Tom's house for drinks where he was ably assisted by Elizabeth an expert cocktail maker. 

After beautiful starters at Birkwood it was on to Ardlui for the main course and Gaye had excelled herself with a superb meal. 

The sweet course was at Peter and Elizabeth's and this was the excellent sweets on offer. They were quite magnificent and everybody had a bit of everything as they were so good.  

We made it into the Market Place for midnight to discover we were the oldest there by about 40 years. The last time I was in the market place for New Year was in 2000 and there were hundreds more there than this year.  We headed back to Rosevale for a final drink and then agreed to meet at 8.45am for the Whisky Run and our annual walk round Potholm timed to arrive in the Market Place by 11.00am

The gang gathered together at Potholm Bridge with Bowman as usual the star of the show.

At the start of the walk in Buccleuch Square