This is my countryside diary which appears each Saturday in the Courier & Advertiser newspaper, published in Dundee.
I am the man with the two dogs, and they must be walked at least twice a day. I write about what I see on my country walks close to home, about the places we visit all over Scotland, about my family and the things we do together.
I grew up in Montrose, one of the principal towns of the north-east coast of Scotland, and have lived and worked all my life in my native county of Angus. A good working knowledge of Scotland gives me a first hand familiarity with the Scottish outdoors, Scotland’s wilderness places, its wildlife, people and culture.
Macbeth is our West Highland terrier, and Inka is a black Labrador retriever. Their companionship enriches the time spent outdoors in all weathers and conditions. I get great satisfaction from writing my weekly diary and have a restless curiosity to know more about the countryside which contributes so much to our lives.
“…………………………….
Upon a bonie day in June,
When wearing thro’ the afternoon,
Twa dogs, that were na thrang* at hame,
Forgathered ance upon a time.”
*thrang – busy
‘The Twa Dogs: A Tale’ – Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet.