We have to maintain the track up to Castle Sandison, so it is not quite up to motorway standards, in truth, not at all. Delivery vans generally leave parcels at the Post Office down in the village or at the homes of other members of Clan Sandison who live nearby.
Last winter we were snowed in for nearly six weeks. It was impossible to get anything other than a 4x4 up the hill other than a 4X4 and even then it was often more touch than go.

However, it brought considerable health benefits: such as hiking down the PO for the mail and newspapers (when they got through), and for essential supplies – bevvy and baccy, and cat and dog food – and then back-packing it home; also great fun spending time with neighbours and friends who were in similar circumstances.

This year, I guess, it is going to be similar, so we have tried to plan ahead: spare gas cylinder for de' cookin', petrol for the generator in case of power cuts, and spare heating oil in a bowser by the boiler. We have also made sure that we seriously stocked up with rolling tobacco when on holiday, and family returning from trips abroad have added to our store.

Ebay has supplied rolling papers and filters for the skillfully constructed tabs. The Manager did a bit of bulk-buying on animal food and we have seeds and nuts of the birds. The wine rack is full and the torches strategically placed in case of an emergency. We will leave my car in the village car park, rather than up at the cottage, because our track is generally the last to thaw out when black roads return

So what can go wrong, I ask myself? I don't know, but I have a gut feeling that in due course I will find out.

Whatever, in the meantime, let it snow, let it snow let it snow!