It’s Wednesday June 5 – the first day after Dave and Julia returned from Scotland to Nottingham – and the weather has turned much chillier. With showers. We had lunch with Ella at the Boat Inn in Aboyne, and she insisted on paying. Very good fish and chips. Ella looked well, and was greeted by several people as we sat there.. After we drove home we managed to get some washing dry by keeping an eye on the weather.
We didn’t do much the rest of the day except read and rest and watch the rain and hail, but we managed to reach our steps goal by walking inside the house! When we went to bed just before 11pm the sky was blue (oh yes) and the rain had stopped.
A week ago, the first full day of Dave and Julia’s visit, there was lots of rain in the evening but it eased up a bit as we walked to the Clachan Grill for another superb meal. Veal chop this time. Started with Cosmopolitans. All very relaxing.
Thursday was dry but very windy and quite cool. Drove to Drum Castle, which was quite a trek, and did the guided tour, much of which I remembered from last year. Then, after lunch, looked round gardens and then drove home via Ella’s house, Tarland etc. Too late for Cheese Company. Had fish and chips for supper, plus battered Mars bar. Watched some cricket on TV, then had discussion which included some politics. Went to bed.
Friday was dry, fairly warm but some wind. Drove down to Loch Muick and parked free because the ticket machine was broken. Walked down to the loch side, taking it fairly slowly. Got as far as the bridge, which was apparently made of the wrong wood, then walked slowly back. Dave had a couple of breaks. Saw deer in the glen bottom. Clear view of tops. Then drove to Cheese Company and had a toastie. Nice place. Drove on via Pass of Ballater to look at Glen Shiel Bridge, then over the tops to Balmoral. By now very misty over Lochnagar, so no great view. Down to Lochnagar Distillery, where Dot bought a couple of glasses and some chocolate. On by back road to Ballater, where we had a long rest. Meal at Green Inn: very nice duck.
Saturday was dry and quite warm. Walked to various shops; Dot got some plasters, and we visited the Wood and Wool shop. Almost had coffee at corner cafe, but didn’t. Drove to chairlift , had lunch after parking at new area (free if you were using chairlift), then all four of us took chairlift up. Dot and I walked to the summit – quite difficult – while Dave and Julia waited for us. Had brief chat with couple of woman climbers and a foreign guy ( I offered to take pic of him and his son). The latter understood what I was saying, and he seemed quite pleased. Afterwards drove down into Braemar (traffic lights where repairing Callater bridge) and we had a look round Fife Arms hotel before sharing a pot of tea (£3.50). Split up and looked round shops. Had call from Fred to say Ivan Lincoln was on last legs and Joyce not too well either. Went to chocolate shop and bought a selection, then we all drove home. Ate in after visit to Co-op. Dot and I had pie with fried-up vegetables. Cheese and chocs to follow.
Sunday – sunny in morning; overcast later. Dry. Went for shortish walk to end of road and back through golf course. Then drove to Cheese Company for coffee and out to the Lecht. On the way back stopped at The Watchers, then at the Log Cabin, where we had lunch. Very pleasant. Then drove back to Ballater, where the Duck Festival was in progress. Split up for walk through. Dot and I saw winning giant duck being escorted by pipe band. Also watched very good R&B group on village green, then Dot and I had ice cream and returned to Bertie’s. Julia and Dave had been there for some time.
Monday was mainly sunny and dry, but with a lively wind. We filled the car up and drove to Balmoral, where we spent most of the day. Lots of construction work on old restaurant site and behind ballroom. Had drinks and later lunch at a temporary cafe in the old mews; temporary loos behind. Visited ballroom, with watercolours by the King – several of them of Norfolk. Later split up to complete tour of grounds and met by the gate at 4pm. Popped into new gallery at car park and bought some cards, then drove home.
Dot spoke to woman opposite who had been laying gravel: she bought the house last September. Discovered that what we thought was a practice by the fire brigade last time had been a real fire, started by the grandson of the previous owner who had been disinherited. He is now in jail, apparently. Later we got Indian takeaway, which was OK.
Yesterday it rained at first, then mostly dry. Cooler. Had quick walk down to the river before leaving. The other three had a drink in the corner cafe, but I wasn’t thirsty. Left about 11.30 and drove to Aberdeen airport, where we dropped off Dave and Julia. We then drove back to Crathes Castle by a somewhat circuitous route and had lunch: soup for Dot and scone for me. We then walked round the grounds and eventually the gardens, which were superb. I got some really good pictures and a video of some oystercatchers. Dot drove from there. Eventually we went to the Co-op, and I bought a pie. Dot bought something Indian to go with leftover rice. After supper we watched a bit of TV, and I did some clearing up. Spoke to David on FaceTime. Message from Evetts revealed they’d got home in six hours door to door.