Still slow going. Have written a sermon for Sunday, and the final suitcase has arrived from Orkney. We’ve managed to deal with the contents – up to a point. Had mysterious phone call alleging to be from insurer of other car saying he had admitted liability, but I think they’ve got a bit confused. Also call from Orkney garage asking permission to break up the car, which I gave, providing my insurer was in agreement. Apparently he is.
E-mailed holiday insurance, and they have told me to download claim form, which I’ll do tomorrow. Denise seems to have difficulty in scanning details of what she’s spent on sending the parcels.
Dot is having problems with rib pain, but I think we’re both improving – very slowly. I’m about to start on details of the holiday, beginning on…
Friday, August 9, when we left Norwich around 9.30am in quite pleasant weather. Went across Fens to avoid traffic and took two hours to reach Huntingdon. Stopped at 100-mile point for a sandwich, and I took over the driving. Discovered short cut while avoiding traffic on the way into Coventry and spent some time with Andrew: he’s put on weight. Very heavy traffic on the M6, with several delays. Tried alternative route near Knutsford, but it didn’t work at all. Stopped at Lancaster. Lots of heavy rain around and numerous pointless 50mph limits. Arrived Annadale Water around 8.30pm. Raining heavily as we went to bed.
Saturday 10th: left Annadale at 10.37 after good breakfast of croissants. Not a bad night’s sleep. Dot drove – rain to start with, but cleared up by the time we reached Abington, about 25 miles away. Good progress – stopped at Stirling an hour later, then on by usual route with me driving. Eventually got held up by bus and stopped just beyond Spittal of Glenshee to eat scones. Arrived Ballater about 2.30pm after getting a phone call from owner of 18 Golf Road to say we could go in early. Everything good. Went to bakery, then Co-op, then walked round town feeling very tired. Watched Dylan documentary Don’t Look Back, then Match of the Day. Bed around midnight.
Sunday 11th: Woke around 8.20. Marked drop in temperature, which never really recovered, but discovered how to turn on central heating and towel rail. Went to church – ecumenical service. Very good sermon on faith by Canon Vittoria Williams. Had afternoon tea at 1pm with Ella, who we met outside the newsagent’s. She had booked us into Carriages – a new incarnation of the station.Excellent food, tea and attention. Ella came back to house with us to check where we’re going on Orkney. Later drove up to the Lecht and called at log cabin. Weather closed in – very wet and little visibility. Wrote some tanka. Parked again at The Watchers and at Lochnagar View on Balmoral road. No view.Drove down South Deeside and to Birkhall, but road was closed at end. Too wet to get out and check. Drove home and Dot bought sweet and sour and rice. Watched TV documentary on George V’s children, then Poldark, then MOTD 2. To Dot’s dismay, TV in bedroom doesn’t work on BBC1 or 2. Good night’s sleep.
Monday 12th: Brighter, with some blue sky. Uncertainty about when Murrays would arrive. Visited Lark’s Gallery, then drove to Birkhall down Glen Muick road and found the Birkhall bit permanently closed: new path and steps for pedestrians. Then went to Cambus O’May to find fences keeping people even further away from the sorry-looking bridge. All very sad. After lunch we walked round the golf course and on to the riverside path, where we had a phone call from Barbara the other side of Glenshee. Took it slowly home: Dot bought some socks. Roger, Barbara, Rick and Shirley arrived just after 4pm and we walked down to the bridge, then to the Co-op. Bought fish and chips – not as good as usual. Rain, then brighter again.