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Friendship and the Unspectacular

 



I’m just back from a day with my pal Richard on, in his terms, a ‘cheeky wee Corbett’ (a Corbett is  a hill between 2,500-2,999feet) near Crianlarich.  Beinn nan Imirean can’t actually be seen from the road and is surrounded by much higher peaks both close by but also on the wider horizon, as we were to discover.    It was a bit of a slog as the ground was rough and paths were few and sketchy but as we climbed slowly out of the frosty and frozen Glen Dochart with it’s -6 degrees C temperature and low lying cloud this was more than compensated for by the wonderful views that opened up in the clear winter sunshine.  Finally from the top we had a good panoramic view over many miles and could indulge in one of our favourite mountain top past times…identifying all the hills we could see, Richard’s knowledge  being much more extensive than mine, since he has climbed far more of them.

As 2026 opens up I want to share a few take aways from this day out with a pal that may resonate with a few of you.

·        Be spontaneous.  Yesterday I was looking at glorious Ben Cruachan in the winter sunshine and, knowing Richard has climbed it three times in the mist (we jokingly call it Ben Shangri La and doubt it actually exists!) sent him a photo.   In  reply he asked if I wanted to come along today.  Both of us were being spontaneous and wanted to share something with a friend and out of that connection came a great day. It could so easily not have happened due to other commitments, and that’s perfectly fine too but we must take care not to assume everyone else is busy.  And yes, planning ahead is important but so is the occasional ‘are you free tomorrow’, or ‘I was driving past and thought I’d see if you were at home’ etc etc .

 

·        Unspectacular is fine.   The hill was lower than what we usually climb and is fairly non-descript, overshadowed by the far more majestic Munro’s all around, and it’s summit would just be another bump on the horizon when looked at from these higher peaks.  But it was just right for us, we had plenty of time to talk ( and talk and talk and talk….) and actually we were able to see these other mountains in ways we could not if we were in the middle climbing them.     

Sometimes we overthink things and assume that  experiences with friends should be really awesome…eg. planning an amazing dinner, going to a great concert, doing some serious high altitude hiking etc.   And of course these are great but equally doing the ordinary stuff together can take less time, cost less and can happen more often…a breakfast together, a walk in the park, a phone call.   Sometimes we miss out on the good because we want the best.

 

·        Free range conversation is in.    I really love meeting new people and am enjoying  being fresh to  Oban and the west coast.  Most of my conversations are fairly short -after church or other meetings- but now and again I meet someone for coffee or see them in their home.  In these initial stages of a friendship the conversation flows this way and that as we start to make connections and there is a constant sense of discovery…I love it!  

Then there is also a day like today with a pal I have known for longer and seen a bit of life with and where trust is already established.   The many topics we talk about and interests we share become a day long conversation that leaves few stones unturned and range from the ridiculous to the profound, the political to the spiritual, the global to the personal.    This takes time, space and a shared commitment to one another.  

 

Have a great 2026

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