A belated Happy New Year to you all

Dear All
Am having a wakeful hour or two, courtesy of slight post-menopausal symptoms and my lovely downstairs neighbours. It gives me the chance of playing catch-up with this here platform, so hello from arctic Scotland to you all out there.
Hope everyone is well!
The year 2010 started as 2009 ended: with "the big freeze". Unlike the Scottish Borders and further south, we actually have very little snow on the ground. But the cold is rigid and as there is some snow, the landscape looks absolutely stunning, especially in the clear, calm, sunny weather we've had.
One reason why I've not posted here is that I was house-sitting for a friend in a wee village about a half-hour's drive north of Oban. She does have internet access but I forgot to ask her for her code...
Still, staying there for a week was simply superb!
Hers is an eco house, very low electricity/gas input from the grid/mains as she has triple glazing that traps the heat especially well and supremely well insulated outside walls.
I enjoyed looking after the fire in her superb Stovax multi-fuel stove (I think she has the Stovax Riva F40 Avanti Highline Multi-Fuel Stove, but will have to check with her when she's back from her travels). I don't think I've ever used a stove with such good draught and control -- it would be great to have a cooking stove like that!
On the down side, I've been battling a severe cold with sinusitis, bronchitis, the lot. Very phlegmy, very uncomfortable. Not helped by slightly twisting my knee a few weeks back when I slipped a little on a patch of black ice. I've consulted a fantastic homeopath and am well on the way to recovery, via the resurfacing of old symptoms, which is typical of a good response to homeopathic treatment. Hope to send those b---s on their way out of my body/mind for good. Thanks, Huisha! Anyone in the Oban area: I can warmly recommend her and will be happy to share her number with you (I have her permission to do so). Just leave a comment here and I'll get in touch.
Photos to follow, I need to catch some more sleep as I have a busy day ahead; lots of catching up to do...
For now: May 2010 prove to be a year of happiness, prosperity and good health.
Lots of love and peace!