Thursday, June 6 – Quite cool. Sun and showers. Walked into town to buy stuff from chemist, gift shop and butcher’s. Rained a bit. Drove to Braemar and had warm scone and tea in Gordon’s – very good. Then drove to Linn of Quoich and walked up to the bridge, where we found someone working on the house, and a van parked outside. Remarkable. Rained a bit.
Walked back over the top through the Caledonian pines and down to the car. Realised that shiny white building we could see in the distance was in fact Braemar Castle, dominating the valley. Tried to work out how the van got up to the house. As we were about to drive back, the van appeared – it had obviously come down a track on the other side. As we drove along to the Linn of Dee the van appeared again – and yet again, as it took a short cut through the Mar estate. We stopped for a while above the confluence of the Quoich and the Dee, and again at Braemar, where I went to the loo. Stopped for a read near Balmoral, but we both kept going to sleep.
Had pies for supper. I finished London Rules, a Slow Horses story, which was excellent. Dot is just finishing To Kill a Mockingbird. Feeling very tired. Forgot to mention that at the Log Cabin the other day Dot bought me a book about the Scottish islands, with some great pictures.
Friday – Cold, quite windy with showers. Called at Larks Gallery then drove to Cambus O May and walked across bridge, plus a bit on the other side. Then drove to Log Cabin via Strathdon – lovely road over hills. Had small lunch then drove back to view of Lochnagar and stopped for a while to read. Then back to Ballater and after a while drove to riverside and walked along path next to golf course. Trees being uprooted on opposite bank as river cuts into bank. Sorted our stuff out and in the evening walked to Crannoch Grill for another very good meal. While at Log Cabin Fred rang to say Ivan Lincoln had died, but I had already texted him that news, having been apprised by Joyce. Sent Des & Co pics of us with whisky in street, and they reciprocated.
Saturday – Mainly dry. Becoming a bit warmer as we travelled south. Left Ballater at about 10.10 after chat with cleaner and visit to petrol station and (Dot) to Grocer to buy whisky fudge. She drove to Glen Shee, where we stopped for tea and doughnut, then on to Kinross services, where I bought crisps and took over driving. One slight error while bypassing Edinburgh, but not a big problem. Eventually stopped in lay-by near Berwick for sandwich and then on to the Lindisfarne Inn, where we arrived just after 3pm and checked in. Room very hot, but we got it fixed. Meal at 6pm – trout not bad, but Dot really liked her venison moussaka. I slept for a while afterwards, then we drove over damp causeway to Holy Island and back. Problem with starting car – maybe keys have packed up. Locking still works though. Rather worrying. Dot did some walking to make up steps.
Sunday – Sun, cloud and very windy, but dry. Had a bad night thinking about car key problem. Good breakfast at inn after checking and finding our breakdown coverage was pretty comprehensive. Managed to start car and drove to Holy Island. Paid for three hours’ car parking: four would have been better, but I didn’t realise we were going to walk to the castle and go round it: quite an experience. By the time we got back to town and Dot had eaten a crab sandwich we had only half an hour to spare. Again car was reluctant to start, but we stopped on way to causeway – rather foolhardy in the circumstances – and read for a while. Car did start again and we got back to Inn, then read/slept for rest of afternoon. Had venison pie for evening meal, which was adequate. Both had liqueur to follow.
Monday – Mixed weather. Some rain as we travelled south, and very windy. Again. After another full English we were last out, and the car started. Dot drove down the A1, which was quite pleasant, and we stopped at Wetherby, which was crammed and confusing. Found our way to fuel and filled up. I drove next, following Google Maps recommendation to avoid congestion on A1, but it went slightly wrong, though we were able to stop at Ferrybridge services on M62, which were very good: Costa girls very friendly and helpful. Also bought food at M&S, and on emerging circled roundabout twice without finding the right route, then headed east on M62 until it joined the M18. This added a few miles but avoided the congestion altogether; so it was a Good Mistake.
Continued south amid fairly heavy traffic and ended up at Cambridge Services, which has been made more confusing by fencing off the area we usually stop in. Nevertheless we reached it by ignoring a No Entry sigh. Dot took over again and drove the rest of the way. The Highways agency have excelled themselves on the Newmarket bypass by not only failing to complete work there after several years, but by parking one of their lorries so that it blocked half of the inside lane, leading to a delay of at least 15 minutes. After that we had to wait for Norwich for the next ridiculous delay on Riverside, where poor traffic light sequences led to unnecessary delays for traffic heading for Riverside Road. An ambulance parked for no apparent reason by the lights didn’t help.
We got home just on 6pm. Very tired, unpacked a bit and ate a bit before watching the final episode of Red Eye, which was very good. Also had long chat with Amy, then Oliver and David. Amy is doing well at the Zoo, and Oliver has finished his exams. David is working hard in many areas. Tidied up, shaved off beard and had a bath. It was midnight.
Tuesday – Plenty of rain and chilly. Dot drove me to hospital for 11am appointment to check my flow! Found this quite difficult: you have to have a full bladder but not go too soon. Anyway, after several cups of water I made it, and the nurse seemed to approve. I have another appointment in three months. Got the 26 bus to city centre during a heavy shower: horrible bumpy journey as always. Told woman Dot said it would be fine in July and August…
Got off in Orford Place and went to Apple, where I bought a new screen protector for my phone: £34! Woman had three attempts to fit one. Then to Boots, where I booked an eye appointment for next Monday. Then walked home, feeling extremely tired. Cleared up and wrote some essential e-mails etc; emptied cases; paid a couple of bills. Watched a bit of TV – couple of episodes of Rebus, Scottish river documentary in Sutherland, for instance. Had fish pie we bought in services on way home – M&S, very good. Spoke to Jonathan briefly; intended to take car to garage, but it started OK, and I was very tired. Earlier it had locked us in car for a few moments at hospital.