Back to Snowmass and the Aspen Music Festival & School

Festival and School now in full swing. Concerts, opera, masterclasses. It's all brilliant.

Between times , we fit in a bit of bus driving for me , and gardening for Gracie for Mary and the odd Tom Blake or Ditch trail on mountain bike.

                        Our resident music student Erica , flautist, who was with us 2 years ago
                        when we were on our trans am trip. Erica plays in the American
                        Academy of Conducting ( ACA ) Orchestra at the Benedict Music Tent each Tuesday.
                        We are avid supporters.

                             Mary had done all this on her own before I got back. Note: these steps about to be torn up and smart new entrance made by the residents assn. as part of the upgrading process. Next blog entry may show a different picture!

                                                    Hopefully this will not be disturbed

                                           Outside the Music tent for the Sunday Aspen Symphony concert

                                               Strolling around during the interval

                                           For many, this is preferable to being inside and on many occasions for us
                                                too

                                       not on this one though. The 'reward' for putting up a music student and at every performance at any venue for 8 weeks. A huge thrill . On this occasion Beethoven's Fifth, I think, preceded by a Mozart piano concerto

                                   About to set off on an expedition on the Ditch trail .

Beaver Creek - Susuki camp

Mary had flown back a month before me partly to garden/landscape for Gracie and partly to be in good time to get to her eagerly awaited Susuki camp in Beaver Creek , near Vail. I arrived back in time to bus/bike over there one day later and 2 days before the end of the week long ' camp ' . The word camp doesn't describe it at all accurately. Certainly no camping and Beaver Creek a very smart winter and summer resort. Susuki institute might better meet the bill. Mary was very much the senior citizen being about 50 years older than virtually every other student. She was remarkable. I had the privilege of being her parent, music carrier , note taker and general hand holder. What fun we had.

                              Cycling up the Glenwood canyon with Colorado river as my companion the whole way to Gypsum where Mary rescued me in the car  - uphill and very hot. Braemar seeming a long way away.

                                               Cycle path at this point under I. 70!

                                         Our old friend Amtrak on other side of the Colorado river - on its way to
                                          Nevada ! Hopefully will reach San Francisco on this occasion.

                                         An 8am class with Jenny Shaw - inspirational Mary says!

                                         2nd class of the morning and it's not yet 9 o'clock

                                          The jazz class

                                          Performing to the public beside a favourite lunch spot

                                    One of the few occasions music was allowed.

Tess - another dear friend

Seven years ago , my cousin Margie found gems for us in the form of Alison and Rab who adopted our beloved Tess and Spicey and gave them the most wonderful new homes imaginable in Edzell, Angus. I made an emotional return to see Tess one last time. Spicey died a short time ago. Huge thanks to Alison & Rab.

                                                              Margie with Tess -

                                         an old lady now , but still able to sniff a biscuit in Margie's pocket

                                         A rare occasion that she left Alison's side. Very faint memories might have
                                          been stirring , though I doubt it. A very happy dog.

Installing the new indicator on Allermuir

Thanks to Keith , I managed to organise the timetable to fit in with this special ceremony. My grandfather AWR in 1964 had donated a view indicator on this fine hill , the highest of the Pentland Hills ( about which Robert Louis Stevenson wrote so fondly ) overlooking Edinburgh. It had been replaced at a ceremony organised by my father GSR in June 1991 , but had recently suffered from a fate of vandalism and been found damaged at the foot of the hill. Here it is , courtesy of NTS, being reinstated hopefully for another 60 years - kids please note !

                                            Terry Levinthal of NTS - the mastermind of the new indicator

      It was heavy ! Terry had carried it up fortunately - fog lifted just in time to check the viewpoints

                                        The work party - John Mayhew of ARPS ( and formerly NTS ) in foreground and attendee of the 1991 ceremony

                                The view from Caerketton looking back to summit of Allermuir

                                   Looking north to west Edinburgh and Corstorphine Hill

                                                            Lucky it was dry

                                                              The magnificent result

                                       Keith and Fiona - NTS stalwarts, devotees of the Pentland Hills and dear       
                                           friends

                                      A week later - Keith coming off the top of Beinn Teallach , Glen Roy
                                         assisting me in my Munro completion pursuit

Golf at Muirfield pre Open Championship ( July 2013 )

Played hookie from the family one day for a game of golf with Max Stewart, Sandy Corstorphine and Dave Lamond.

                 Looking back over the 5th green to the 6th tee and the Firth of Forth beyond

                                Dave looking in confident form - and it was a good one!

                                           Max thinking - what's the problem ?

                                                           Clubhouse beckons - happy day.

Swimming in the River Lui

or more accurately, Jane swimming in the River Lui!

and we had snow a couple of days earlier!

moral supporters

                                                       happier on dry, and warm, ground

                                          just up stream of this favourite pool of ours - a place to hold on to hands !

                                              and the picnic spot par excellence

Visitors to Morrone and arrival of the grandchidren

We were honoured to have Vic and Susie Wood ( and Corry ) spend the night with us on their way to Torridon and fit in a joyous evening of chat and music and a hill walk the next morning.

Then the Ryans ( minus Dennis sadly ) arrived followed closely by Jane and what a glorious time we had. Here , Granny fast getting into the mode en route to the duck pond.
(sadly these numbers reduced daily - naughty seagulls!)

 ..........and with the  early morning story time.

 ...giving mum and aunty Jane chance to revisit highest 18 hole golf course in the UK - the beautiful Braemar Golf Club

...and what a swing here on the 7th tee with fine view to Morrone Hill

..speaking of which ,  climbing Morrone for about the thousandth time ( and never tiring of it ), but with the next generation

             Cormac's 1st moutain climb - summit of Creag Choinneach overlooking Braemar.
             Note for our Aussie cousins - Mary holding the Poppy Stick

And here a happy mum and lucky daughter Iona

London for Magic flute

Our trip to London booked months earlier for ROH Magic Flute at Covent Garden with Harry and Diana was one of many highlights. Spent one night with the Colemans in Aberdeen happily to coincide with the weekly recorder lesson Ros gives to my great nephews Jamie and Harry Sayers.

 Here with their mother Kirsten and teacher

The consultant makes it back in time to give us an excellent dinner.

 Walked to Aberdeen Station in time to get the 8am Aberdeen - London train. Hugely enjoyable and extraordinarily inexpensive 1st class jaunt to the metropolis, sitting a few feet ( on other side of the table ) from Dame Judy Dench on the return journey.

 Strolled through St James' Park coincidentally to see the changing of the guard and in time to be

royally entertained in the House of Lords members dining room by old pal Wilf Stevenson ( now Lord Stevenson of Balmacara ). Delightful to catch up. Wilf spent a happy holiday with us in Colorado 34 years ago. In fact climbed Longs Peak with him - one of Colorado's famed 14ers when Mary was 3 months pregnant with Meghan!