St Simons Island, Georgia

We're used to going to Asheville NC to visit Betty. After 19 years in Deerfield Retirement Community there, Betty has moved to Thrive retirement Home in St Simons Island, GA,  where Mary's sister Jane and Tim have a house, so that's where we went on our way back to Snowmass. Flights in and out of Jacksonville just over the GA/FL border made it easy. Janie and Tim were exceedingly generous in allowing us to stay in their lovely house right on the water. And from that base we were able to devote our week to Betty's needs of one sort or another and entertain her as best we could. Jane's dogs , Emma and Margaret are a huge hit with Betty, and they knew exactly what was required of them. Tried bridge , but not so successfully this time. Many lunches out combining with doctor's, dentist's and optician's appointments .  She's a remarkable 97 year old. Well on track to reach the century I'd say.

Recovering from a bad nose bleed

Margaret and Emma

The usual dawn walk with the dogs

Janie and Mary at a good dinner spot

This huge container ship carrying 2000 or more Hyndai cars capsized after its cargo shifted

And a massive salvage operation gets underway

From the pier at St Simons Island.

Another pre-dawn walk on the beach

Margaret on duty

The view east from Janie's house.  Tidal right up to the deck.

Ireland

The flight from Edinburgh to Shannon is usually easy and uneventful.  Not so on this occasion. Because of a " hurricane " apparently about to strike the west coast of Ireland, we were diverted to Cork and lucky I think even to land there. In fact the hurricane was nothing more than some strongish winds and torrential rain. Nothing new there for either Ireland or Scotland !

We had a week staying in the comfortable B&B house - The railway B & B - owned and run by Dennis and Kathleen - virtually across the road from Meghan and Dennis's vet clinic. Perfect in every way.

We were thrown right in at the deep end at Ballygirreen with Meghan and Dennis going off to Galway for the night leaving us in sole charge on night 1. But all went well and kids on A1 behaviour with us. Quite delightful they were, and Granny Moon and Grandad accepted into the fold !

Week went by in a flash and as always, sad to leave. Back in June - Ballygirreen to Ballygriffey with luck.

The new house at Ballygriffey- potential 'granny flat ' material in the background !

Iona showing us her room

The latest is that the windows are now in. Hurray.

Angus, Iona , Cormac

Iona with her new violin

Legoland at Ballygirreen

The obstacle course set for Grandad.  Stuck at this stage I think.

A session in a pub in Ennis. 30 others though

A family hike on Twelve O'clock Hills

Seorsie, Iona and Mary in a session of their own

Taking time out

Cormac, Mary and I all sharing " our' birthday cake

At Lehinch

Brotherly love

Becoming a good little helper

Scotland - Ocober 2019

It was two long flights from Adelaide to Edinburgh. 14 hours to Doha and another 7 to Edinburgh. Particularly in Economy class. But Qatar did well.

After a night at the Ibis, it was off to St Andrews the next day where Harry and Ian Noble entertained me royally for 2 days. 2 good games of golf and off then to meet Jean and Chris in Alnwick for the night in a hotel there and playing on Jean's lovely seaside links course the next day.

Muirfield for the following 3 days to participate in all the events celebrating 275 years of the club. A champagne reception on first evening and black tie dinners in a marquee on each of the next two with golf matches each day. 425 people at the second of those dinners with members from all over the world. Not likely to be around for the 300th, so making the most of it !

Inverness for three days with J, J, A and E, and then off again , this time to Glen Clova to meet up with Yorkshire climbing pals for our annual gathering. Straight from there to meet Mary and Martha at Corrour station to climb a Munro with Martha ( she wants to be at the party ! ).

Back to Inverness with Jane and family till departure to Ireland on the penultimate leg of this mammoth journey.

Harry, a member of the R&A entertaining me on The New course. We're thrilled he's booked in for 10 days skiing with us in Feb

  .. follow that !

My cousin Madeline at her house in Alnwick

my sister Jean at Alnmouth

Jean and Chris before teeing off the following morning

The famous short 13th at Muirfield - scene of my only hole in one about 40 years ago

The private beach beneath Muirfield

Inge at her wonderful B&B who has looked after me so well over the years. This time she even ironed my kilt which had suffered a bit on its travels.

Anna and Jane at her childminder Beaners' house

Meanwhile Mary was on a cycle tour in Brittany with her two sisters Jane and Martha, along with our very good friend - "never say no" Martha.

What a happy- and lucky - baby. Wee Elin

Setting off on an expedition for a picnic up the river Dulnain at Carrbridge

My sister Ros and our kids' old, but not so old, nanny Vicki. The three of us met at a cafe outside Forfar. Note the sunshine - again !

Thence to the top of Glen Clova for 2 lovely days hill walking. and staying in the excellent Glen Clova Hotel. Roger, John, Rod and Simon

Back again to Brittany. Venus herself.

Not sure how this has crept in here. But it's significant for 2 reasons. a) it's a fabulous pic of Cormac and Iona and b) it happens to be the hotel on the coast of SW Ireland where my dear parents, the great grandparents of C & I, spent their honeymoon in 1939

Back to Scotland. Roger Gifford most generously had the four of us to stay the night here at Ayton, outside Perth, to stay after the Glen Clova trip

Again , this has crept in mysteriously. Meghan with Angus, Iona and Cormac, I think at Lehinch, Co Clare

Setting off from Roy Bridge station bound for Corrour, 20 minutes up the track, to meet Mary and "never say no" Martha

This is the Caledonian Sleeper direct from London Euston that they should have been on, but ' best laid plans .... and all that...!

This is what they did arrive on 2 hours later. Long story, but it all worked out. This station is REMOTE  and can only be accessed by train. In the middle of Rannoch moor but offers superb, albeit basic, accommodation in the old signal box, with great little cafe in one of the other old station buildings

Straight on to the mountain to climb the Munro which Martha has to do to qualify for the party in 2021 ! See why she gets her name

The summit of Beinn na Lap

.. and miraculously it started to clear on the way down with stunning views to the west

Back down in the glen and close to the station with Loch Ossian in the back ground

Our accommodation with the 360 degree view from the turret  above our rooms.  Pretty special.

Back with Jane & Johannes in Inverness and Martha wasting no time to get stuck in

We had a good day at the NTS Culloden visitors center and museum

.... while Granny Moon has a double task on the home front

Johannes, Mary, Jane with Elin, and Anna

My job ! And what a place to do it. Win, win !

Stopped off at Hyndland Rd , Glasgow. 3rd floor on left

And now to Ireland !