Climb

I was just enjoying a cup of tea in bed and contemplating having a shower when the fire alarm went off…argh! Pulled on my boots and coat over my PJs and collected T and went outside. Just as we got out they said it was ok, just a false alarm! At least I wasn’t already in the shower!
Once we were properly up we enjoyed a very tasty breakfast…I had smoked haddock and poached eggs and T had a full Scottish, plus toast and fruit etc. Gorgeous view out of our rooms and the dining room of the River Dee rushing past in full spate, and after we’d checked out we had a good walk along the banks liking at the evidence of an even higher flood recently. Lots of chat about how to measure the amount of water in a river and how long it would take to dry up completely if it stopped raining/snowing….
We saw a waterfall across the river up one of the tributaries so drove round to see it (Water of Feugh)….very impressive!
Drove up the valley and stopped for a wander in Ballater, looking at the old royal train and station buildings and window shopping the various wee shops,
Went on to Balmoral and had a walk around the castle itself and then set off to see Prince Albert’s pyramid. My goodness quite a trek to get up there but some fabulous views from the top! We were very lucky with the weather…fine and dry with a fair bit of blue sky, some patches of snow on the ground and no rain (although must have been some drizzle in the distance as we saw a couple of rainbows in the distance).
It had been a lot for T to climb up there with his cold, he’s so bunged up and pretty tired, but he enjoyed it too and once again we had lots to talk about as we walked.
Stopped off at Braemar to have a drink/coffee before we headed home. Lots of people desperately trying to make the most of a tiny sliver of snow at Glenshee as we passed, and T had a bit of a sleep then a phone call from his deputy who’s minding the club this weekend. We stopped in Blairgowrie to try and see the cottage my great grandparents lived in but it had been replaced with some low rise blocks of flats, although we did see what we think is the butchers shop my great grandfather worked in since it had one of the family names (Irvine) and seemed very old, Unfortunately it was closed so we couldn’t buy any bacon.
Home and had a sit down and a cuppa before nipping round to Soi 38 for a quick Thai supper. We’re both tired but have had a lovely couple of days.