The car temperature gauge read -7 degrees, the inside of the car was a little warmer. The frost laden trees glisten in the pale sunlight of an early dawn. The road was empty winding out in front of me round and round into the mountains of the Cairngorms. I had to stop to take a p
hotograph of the scene. The mountains stern and hard reaching skyward, a bird circling the stream adding its sound to a scene of isolation and beauty.
Oh, the rush of cold air with the lowering of the window, it was indeed -7 degrees or at least very cold. Of course such a scene might not be pleasing to some individuals, who perhaps prefer crowd noise and the rush of a city. Such aspects I can enjoy at times but when the need arises the sights of such days in the mountains can bring joy to the soul and refresh the senses. (Despite getting a slight taste of frostbrite on my mouth, what must it be like in the Artic?). 
The frost became mist and fog, and the temperature increased to -5, the -2 then 0; we were now in Border country. On such a journey one sees the countryside and the changes in the scenery from wild abandonment to urban sprawl and how human beings adapt to the changes in their style of living. Events eslewhere in the world are more dramatic perhaps, yet this adventure is stimulating and gives illustrations of the variation in present day living. The roads around big cities, coming in from everywhere, the sudden stopping, waiting in a traffic jam for up to an hour, the cars moving in and out of lines trying to get somewhere, but having to wait like everyone else. Was there really so many cars built? Was this happening in so many other big cities around the country?
The need for freedom and refreshment exists, places where these feelings can be recognized and given expression need to keep existing. The emotions felt via the sights, sounds of our planet help make us who we are.The frost is an essential part of our climate as is the sunshine, they help to maintain nature and nurture. Lets hope a balance is created by nature and technology to maintain such essentials.
