There was still a black cloud hanging in the sky over towards Aboyne as we headed for Riverside Cottage – me for a repeat of the brownie with ice cream, Dot for mushroom soup followed by flapjack and ice cream. Obtained flyer to leave in the cottage here, then headed for Crathie, where we did a shortish walk out past the cemetery, over the suspension bridge (a first for us) and then back on the South Deeside road by the golf course.

It was warm. We headed up the Crathie-Gairnshiel road, intending to take a short walk down the hill track, but almost as soon as we stopped, another car pulled up beside us and a family of four headed out in the same direction. Not what I had in mind, and there were more threatening clouds building over Lochnagar, so we moved up the road a bit and read. Soon it started raining, and got heavy, with a fierce wind. I could see through the binoculars  the family down in the valley getting a soaking, and was glad I was not them.

Eventually they got back and we left for home, Dot driving (as she had been all day). Back in the house we had a meal of cheese, bread and fruit with a few little extras, and watched Life of Pi on blue-ray. A mysterious film, beautifully made. Then we went out for a walk in the town to lift our mileage to four a day this week in Dot’s case – almost four in mine. While she made for home I bought tea from the co-op.