From t shirt to thermsls

I woke this morning my face wet with tears. I'd had a dream about my daughter. I so much wanted to talk to her again. Sometimes the loss hits like a bolt out the blue and the wretchedness overcomes me even though it is almost 10 years since she died. It was made more difficult because only 2 weeks after she died a close friend had a serious stroke and soon after another had a fall, cracked his ribs and died. So our friendship group had really had a bad time and we soldiered on to support them. At the time it seemed to be what we had to do.

Today we continued north. We stopped for a walk round Dunrobin Castle, not going in, once home of the notorious Duchess of Sutherland who was responsible for the enforced clearances of people from the land.

Further north we walked up to the hill o Many Stanes, a strange formation of lines of stones dating from the Bronze Age and likened to Carnac in Brittany. After that it was more prehistoric remains, a wonderful broch at Nybster. It was situated right on the edge of the cliff and the waves were thundering in. I began to wish I'd thought of seasick tablets for the sail over to Orkney tomorrow.

We did the necessary - visited John o Groats, where an Indian man offered to take the pic of us both, then Duncansby Head where a friend's son completed his run up the watershed of Scotland. (It is the most easterly point). We then went out to Dunnet Head which is actually the most northerly part of mainland Britain. We can see Hoy across the churning sea. We have freedom camped here for the night and will be up with the seabirds to drive to Scrabster for the ferry.

Last night we were sitting out in the sun at 7pm in T shirts. Tonight it is inside in thermals. That's Scotland.