Romance in the Forest.

The children have gone to the cinema. This required departing at 3pm (due to Meg's work) and returning at midnight approx. It greatly saddens me that we can't just nip to town to enjoy a cinematic experience. I see no reason why we couldn't have a Cinema Paradiso like Wanaka, apart from the ridiculous rates charged for lease of property. 130mile round trip is a bit of an epic. But not for Spook and I. We have been left at home. I had intended to go to the top of The Ben on my day off today, but awoke to a grey curtain of rain and couldn't quite face it. I filled the day with domesticity - shopping, posting of outstanding items, washing, sorting out drawers etc. Every time the sun shone I looked at the top of the Ben and knew I should have been making my way up there. It got really lovely approaching tea time, and there was still time to go, but I wooed Spook with Salmon (not worth presenting such slimy stuff to the children) and hoped he might opt for a romantic walk around the canal instead of anything too strenuous. But no, having appeared to have turned into a biker chick last weekend, he proposed a cycle through Leanachan Forest. I know I said I was looking for the next adventure, but I didn't really mean it. And the biker chick effect really did come from my inability to get off the bike - the relaxed pose, actually exhaustion. However, as is always the case, and is the good reason for having an enthusiastic cycling companion who wont take no for an answer, we had a great trip up to the high point, which we can see from the house on the other side of the Great Glen. The evening light was terrific, and as we wheeched down the trail, I had the feeling of being 15 years younger. We used to go out in the evenings pre children, but this is the first year since, that we can do things together without arranging care. The only problem now, is staying awake long enough to tuck them in when they come home.