Hi Friends and Family! I had booked a 2.5 hour tour outside of Inverness. We were going on a cruise to Loch Ness! We went with a company called “ Jacobite” which laid on a coach and cruise for the reasonable sum of ₤30.50 for the both of us. We started at 9:15 and arrived at the Loch Ness 30 minutes later. We then took a cruise across the lake looking for Nessie. The water was mysterious, smoky, quiet and a bit dark. It felt like being in the throngs of a classic horror before the monsters came out! Loch Ness is part of the Great Glen, Gleann Mhor in Gaelic, and is a massive steep sided trench carved out by the Ice Age. The loch is 22.6 miles long and about 1 mile wide. The ... read more

'Morning! We're going out of town today. Hurrah! Our breakfast ( the best so far ) was hot porridge and milk, cereal, a Scottish breakfast with the usual stuff plus fried black pudding ( not really my thing! ), toast, ( bowls of prunes and fruit salad if you were so inclined ), pots of tea and hot chocolate, even “The Small young Gentleman” managed a plate of scrambled eggs. He particularly wanted the porridge 'cos I had tried to make it at home but I wasn't very good! Our coach was to leave at 11:35 from the Aberdeen Bus Station. I had decided that we would go to a little town called Banchory. ₤6.70 for me and ₤3.70 for “The Small young Gentleman” Return and we were on our way. We were on the intercity ... read more

This morning I had a wonderful power shower. In a lovely bathroom. Ahhh!!! Breakfast was a full cooked one for me and just cereal for “The Small Young Gentleman”. Unsurprisingly, didn't like the sausages, baked beans or tomatoes! The plan today was to go on a Walking Tour. Yesterday, we popped into the Tourist Information Office who forgot to tell us that Bus 36 ( which we needed ) had been diverted and wasn't actually going to the bus-stop they had directed us to! Anyway, I saw a walking tour called “Saints and Sinners” and it was FREE. Yes please!! We had a great time and as you can see the pictures speak for themselves. The meeting point was at “Ryan's Bar” right at the far end of Princes Street for 11a.m. Our tour guide was ... read more

Good Morning Friends and Family! After a cooked English breakfast for me and half a plate and lots and lots of cereal for “The Small Young Gentleman”, we went to the Glasgow University via the Kelvin Grove Park and the River Kelvin. As I said earlier, we were in the university district area and so the main campus area was a 20 minute walk away. Surprisingly, the weather stayed pretty dry with only short drizzles of rain. We visited the Hunterian Art Gallery and Museum which had exhibitions of weird and wonderful things spanning from abnormality in animals to amazement of new world culture at that time. There was also a floor dedicated to science and medicine which “The Small Young Gentleman” took a distinct shine to! After spending quite a bit of time there, we ... read more

Hi there Ladies and Gentlemen. I'm back! The Small Young Gentleman and I are going to Scotland. Today, we tidied my house after “The Summer Dinner Party” which I hosted on Saturday night. A 3-course affair of Honey Melon and Serrano / Parma Ham with spicy strawberry salsa, Baked Stuffed Salmon Trout with Tomato Zuchini Bake, Herby Rice, a Green Beans and Tomato side dish and boiled potatoes. For dessert, we had ice-cream, blue berries and strawberries. Coupled with prosecco, excellent red wine and shots of vodka well, it went down a storm but I digress! Anyway, by yesterday evening much packing still had to be done and a particular lovely man was helping me update, adjust and generally ensure that my new laptop/notebook was in tip-top condition! “The Small Young Gentleman” and I were going ... read more