Mary’s 71st birthday

 November 9

I was bus driving that day, but for starters we had a good pancake breakfast. Mix made by Mary the night before I’m ashamed to say, but I did do the rest and had it waiting for her on the breakfast bar the following morning. 

She got a wetsuit and boots to go with it from Meghan Duncan and Jane to enable her to join us swimming in the river Lui next summer, and in the North Sea and Loch Ness thereafter. Watch that space!

In the evening we had our lodger Agustin a locally employed chef with his lovely mom and dad from Argentina for a birthday dinner. We have occasionally commissioned him to cook dinners for us before and he did not disappoint on this occasion. Wonderful feast and some delicious Argentinian Malbec. Horacio and Bibi returned to Argentina the next day, but we look forward to welcoming them back next year. And we hope Agustin will stay forever!

                                        Bibi, the chef Agustin, Mary and Horacio

                                Horacio demonstrating an Argentinian country dance

Ireland

Greenland . On flight Iceland to Denver

The scan of the pin ( see below ) removed from Misha by Meghan and Dennis

Much work by G and M on this shrub bed at the Vet practice. Could only be done on a Sunday.

The pin swallower !

.... and here it is after removal

                                           A big project at The Curragh. All dug, rocks removed and ready to plant.

                                           Just been given painting and spruce up. The Sunday gardening project.

                              Iona, Meghan, Dennis, Cormac , Granny Moon and Angus
 We had 10 glorious days with Meghan and her family at their  new house 10 minute drive out of Ennis, Co Clare.  It is a magnificent house they have built on a spectacular piece of ground south facing and overlooking green pastures for which Ireland is so famous. Result of all that rain!But the sun shone for us for much of the time we were there, and we did not get much rain. This allowed us to do a lot of work creating a part of Meghan’s garden pretty much from scratch and preparing the soil and planting over 200 new plants.

Although the kids were in school for much of the time we were there, we had some great times with them and all sorts of activities chess among them. 

The flight Inverness to London to Shannon - a good routing. Equally so, Dublin - Reykjavic - Denver.

                                       Joined by some very hard workers in Angus and Iona

                                          Future Granny flat on east side of the house?  The old stable yards.

                                    Cormac teaching Grandad on the art of hurling
were able to fly direct to Denver from Dublin via Iceland. 

A memorable visit. The next time we will see them Saturday will not be till we meet and space side for my final Munro party at the end of July 2020. I am expecting all three kids to get to the top and still be on good form for the ceilidh in the evening!

2nd trip to Scotland

An early October evening picnic at Cromarty

Andrew Latchmore, John Heaps and Spencer Patrick at Muirfield

Looking down to Dunbar from Easter Spott

Our architect from Humbie Cottage and Parkley Craigs days at our new house in Inverness

First portage of the day when canoeing up Loch Mullardoch. Penultimate Munro conquered!

Johannes putting up the sail for the return journey

Johannes a wet, wet morning and a long way to go.

Nearing the top of Mullach nan Djericain

Braving the North Sea at Rosemarkie

The kids preferring dry land

Fun with Granny Moon

                                               The start of the Corbett campaign with Rod and John

                                                    Rod on top of the first one.  260 odd to go !

                                      Anna showing skills as a kite flyer

                                           Rod, John with cocker spaniel puppy

 Back we went to Scotland for the 2nd time this summer. Arrived mid September, had 2 weeks in Inverness staying at 5 Balnafettack Place 5 minute bike ride away from Jane and family. Our tenant Margaret was kind enough to allow us to do that since it 's entirely her furniture in the house. 

Some wonderful days with the kids including having them on our own for a night and a couple of days. Finished with a magnificent picnic by the sea shore at Rosemarkie.

 John and Rod came up from Yorkshire for a couple of days climbing and Corbett bagging.

An epic day with Johannes doing my penultimate Munro Mullach nan Djericain at the top of Loch Mullardoch.  A 13 hour day. Canoe 10 miles each way up the loch including 2 portages both times. Back in pitch darkness with help of head torches and GPS. Very wet and windy. Full account in my climbing diary. Hugely skillful performance on Johannes' part not to capsize on homeward journey with a following wind and sail up.

Down to Edinburgh and East Lothian ( golf and friends ) taking in too a quick visit to Jean and Chris in Newcastle and an evening with my niece Nicola and her 2 daughters Natalie and Hannah.

Mary joined me for a day and night ( staying at the delightful B & B owned by Enke in Gullane), dinner with my cousins Christian and Johnny Lindsay and lunch the followng day with Vic and Susie Wood at Easter Spott , Dunbar.

The last few days in Inverness , staying with Mhairi ( airbnb ) almost next door to Jane, and then flew Inverness - London - Shannon to see Meghan

Scotland - 1st of two visits

 

Elin, Anna and Mary on a butterfly hunt

Anna , Elin and Johannes

Chris and Jean

Yoga session in Inverness

                                       Crossing the River Ness on bike on way to get train to Edinburgh

                                    Our new house at 5 Balnafettack Place - the home for our dotage!

                                            Dance time before bed

                                         The early train to Edinburgh to say good bye to Linda

                                         A late evening pint at J & J's local - The Clachnaharry.  Note, sadly, the Scottish Saltire flag - symbol for Scottish independence which hopefully will never come about.

 Having not seen Jane and her family for nearly 2 years, and knowing the dreadfully hard time that she and Johannes have had during these Covid times, we thought we would make a special trip, albeit we would likely be returning again in September.

We made a visit to see Betty in St Simon’s island, GA on the way which proved to be the last time we would see her. But a really lovely visit and we were lucky to have been able to see her one last time. She died peacefully while we were in Inverness.  Memorial service to be held in Braemar, Scotland on Monday August 1 , 2022.

Then on to Scotland via Denver ( yes back to Denver ), Dallas and London! Huge logistical problems with Covid requirements and much wailing and gnashing of teeth. Took us an extra day of travelling.

Then a very successful  trip to Scotland. Lots of precious time with Anna and Elin.  One day going down to Edinburgh to see my old secretary Linda for the last time. She has since died of cancer. Also a good meeting with Jean and Chris, and a separate day with Rosalind and Brodie at Brodie Castle.

 

Our last photo of dear Betty - here being shown a video recording of Oliver playing the (her) piano

                                            Granny Moon and Elin

                                      Jane meeting me off the train in Inverness

                                                " I need help " !