George and Mary's Travels: Scotland

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