I've not long arrived back from a short holiday on the shores of Loch Lomond where the cottage we stayed in had a little private beach you could walk to through some woods. So one night I decided to take my lamp for a walk... It was quite eerie being down there alone after dark especially after I noticed I was being watched from the woods by an unidentified creature I even caught the creature on camera, well sort of... I've enhanced it as best I can, but you can clearly see the light from the flash reflected back from two eyes.
You needn't have worried - that's just a wild Haggis, Baggus entrailicus which is native to those parts. They're a shy creature, usually, and I'm guessing it was attracted to the light of your lantern. They're good eating and are hunted remorselessly when in season (1st - 25th January) to the extent they've become an endangered species...
Always to be eaten, of course, with chappit neeps and tatties! Had you considered that perhaps SOMETHING might have slithered up out of the Loch? If this creature (let's give it a name - how does Nessie sound to you?) was lying down its eyes would be about the height of the 'thing' in your picture.
David, surely Baggus Entrailicus are a mountain creature, so very unusual to see at lochside level. The creature is perfectly adapted to its mountain-side habitat having two of its four legs shorter than the other two. If it is a Baggus Entrailicus (Clockwisii) it has the two right legs shorter. If it is the Baggus Entrailicus (Anti-clockwisii) then it has the left legs shorter. This maintains perfect level stability on the hillside. I have heard that they go very well when served with a good single-malt whisky.
And lingonberries! No haggis should be enjoyed without them. Unfortunately not common practice in Scotland...
Aye, but they're accomplished swimmers, too - particularly on a platter in a single malt. Their assymetric legs ensure they can go only round and round...
Christer, I just Googled Lingonberry and see what you mean! made my mouth water to think of them with a good haggis, chappit neeps and tatties, and of course the single-malt . I remember having "Cloudberries" as a desert course in Norway, they had a lovely sharp taste, are they similar? Going for a small dram now to contemplate it all. Steve.
Lingonberries are a bit "rounder" in their taste, but it varies how they are prepared. There's always some suger involved, and it's generally in the form of a sweeter lingonberry jam they accomplish most offal similar to haggis, and many other food. And it's absolutely unheard of to eat our blackpudding without it!
I'm pleased to read that the creature was not only harmless but potentially edible as I was more concerned that it might eat me... Actually I suspect it was either a large domestic cat or a fox, but still a little creepy in it's behaviour. The lamp is my favorite among the pressure lamps I own and was used on several nights whilst there, including a BBQ the night before. This was taken on a phone so not great quality..
