Escape from the Snow

[cessna152towser]

Probably it is a combination of the weather, the time of year and the economic situation but there have been few people wanting driven anywhere these days. This was the scene just after eleven o'clock this morning at Jedburgh bus station, neither a passenger nor a service bus at the stances, and in the absence of any tour coaches the little Citroens were able to occupy a coach bay each.

One would be going off shortly to do some local runs for the Jedburgh Chest Heart and Stroke Group and I would soon be away on my first driving duty in three weeks taking passengers in the other vehicle 35 miles south-west to Langholm and thus escaping for a few hours from the snow which has forced the cancellation of my Housing Association Christmas dinner this evening.

Your chauffeur awaits

The Ewes Water meets the River Esk at Langholm, as viewed from Thomas Telford Bridge. As you can see, this area, which is closer to Scotland's mild south-west Solway Coast has escaped most of the snow which has blanketed much of Scotland for the past three weeks. It was a refreshing change to see the green grass and all the colour of the landscape again.

Plenty of colourful birds by the waterside including Mallards and a Heron.

My registration as Driver/Childcare for driving school minibuses and taxis was processed and paid for by the local bus and taxi operator in Langholm, with whom I am registered as a relief driver for schools work. I decided to call in at the Langholm depot and say hello.

After lunch I climbed to a viewpoint on the lower slopes of Whita Hill.

From here I took this view across Langholm

Sir Pulteney Malcolm GCB GCMG (1768–1838) was a British naval officer. He was born at Douglan, near Langholm, Scotland, on 20 February 1768, the third son of George Malcolm of Burnfoot, Langholm, in Dumfriesshire, and his wife Margaret. (Source - Wikipedia.) The ornate stone door arch to the right of the statue was constructed by Thomas Telford while he was a stonemason's apprentice. He later became famous as a builder of roads and bridges.

Quarter to three in the afternoon, darkness was beginning to fall at the end of the few hours of daylight which we see at this time of year, and it would soon be time to set off on the return trip so I took this final view of Langholm Town Hall.