Kiwis win!

A perfect holiday day! Lots of walkies for Archie, lots of Autumn scenery for us, shopping for JR, rugbyfor moi - though JR did show an interest this timei, a lovely breakfast and a delicious dinner at today's hotel. With nice weather and lots of Autumn colours. Couldn't have organised it better if I'd tried.

The play last night was excellent. Well, the actors were. Only four of them and they played so many different parts. But I'm afraid I lost the plot part way through. I blame Graham Greene. Not my half bottle of wine beforehand, obviously...

Archie slept all night on the sofa, and woke me for cuddles on the bed at 7.15. Good boy. He was allowed in the dining room for breakfast, and the owner cooked a sausage for him. I think he remembered that treat from last time.

As it was raining in the morning, we headed for the wonderland that is the House of Bruar - every time we go, they have made changes to make it better and better. Archie and I did the Falls of Bruar walk, while JR browsed the shops. And what a fantastic walk it is! Thundering falls under a wee humpback stone bridge. I perched Archie on it for a photo, but I did have a firm hold on his lead...

We passed Blair Castle and popped up the drive to take a photo, the chap at the gate letting us in without paying. From there we went to Killicrankie to walk down to the Soldier's Leap and the site of the battle. It was a 'half hour' walk, supposedly. But to someone with wonky knees, it was much, much longer. At the beginning of walk, you had to walk down and down steps of varying heights to the river. This was bad enough, but the thought of climbing back up again weighed heavily on my mind...

We saw the soldier's leap (18ft across - top photo) where a government soldier jumped across to escape from pursuing Jacobite soldiers - and then walked along to the bridge. The walk was on the level, but went on and on and on (scenic-ly). The 'half hour' proved to be totally fictional. But still the thought of that looooong climb back up preyed on my mind. Not to mention the 4pm kick-off for the RWC final, which was rapidly nearing...

But there was a car park at the Tummel Bridge! So JR - she of working knees and kind heart - went all the way back (in less than half an hour) with Archie, picked up the car, and came and collected this old crock! I was able to watch some daft folk bungee jumping off the Tummel Bridge while I waited. And we had checked into our hotel room just in time for the National Anthems.

We had a wonderful meal this evening. And best of all - no muzak anywhere in the hotel - such a treat!

Well done those Kiwis! My hat is safe.