Ice Hotel

Watching a programme tonight on TV about the building of the Ice Hotel reminded me of a stay there at New Year 2006.

This is the room we stayed in, none of the £600 a night fancy suites for us I'm afraid! Getting a look around the whole hotel was fascinating though.

What an amazing place!

Boxing Day Dip

I got to Arran on Boxing Day just in time to walk along to Lamlash Pier to see the annual Boxing Day Dip.

The RNLI provide safety cover for the swimmers.

It looked cold, but there was a good turn out of both swimmers and spectators.

Many of the swimmers are in fancy dress, mostly dressed as Santa ...

... although there are often other costumes too...

At the end of the swim it's traditional for the swimmers to leap in to the water again from the end of the pier! Rather them than me... 

It can't be often that you see a piper wearing a westuit and wellies, but this particular piper was part of the RNLI crew and moved from one duty to the next. Multi talented, obviously.

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...

Happy New Year everyone! I hope 2012 is a great year for you all.

I spent Christmas 2011 with family, including my young niece and nephew, and had a lovely time. New Year was then spent (unexpectedly, and due to weather conditions) in Arran, roasting chestnuts over an open fire...

All good.