Lovely Spa Day

I am sitting beside the pool at the Golf View Hotel in Nairn enjoying a spa day with Alison. Yesterday Alison and James climbed Ben MacDui and then walked on to Derry Lodge in Glen Lui, a challenging seven hour walk. Hugh and I drove to Ballater where we had some rather delicious scones, then parked at the Linn of Dee car park and walked in to meet the intrepid twosome at Derry Lodge - which was an 11km round trip. The weather was kind to us and it was a great day which suited everyone.

So we suggested a trip to Nairn today; James and Hugh are somewhere nearby exploring the local area while Alison and I are at our spa. Alison and Hugh said that they haven't visited Nairn in many years and they seem to be quite taken with it.

I'm very fond of Nairn, with which I have a connection going back to babyhood holidays, and in fact even before my birth my Mum and Dad enjoyed holidays here as a young married couple. They used to tell me hilarious tales of a holiday in about 1962 when they made friends with a convivial group of like minded people who were also staying in their hotel. The weather was excellent and much drink was taken. One evening they heard that a "honeymoon couple" would be spending the first night of their marriage there. So, fortified by many refreshments from the bar, the group all went upstairs and, standing outside their bedroom door, serenaded the newlyweds. The next morning as they all straggled down to breakfast somewhat hungover, they were horrified to see a very prim and dour looking young couple - a Church of Scotland minister complete with dog collar, and his new wife, who had hair in old fashioned (even for those days) coils around her head. My parents said that it was most amusing to see the looks of horror on everyone's faces as they came into the dining room and realised who they had been serenading!

More Nairn holidays ensued, and more recently my Mum and I took the three boys for a holiday here when they were wee, and had a fantastic time on the beach and also visiting Cawdor Castle and Culloden Battlefield which the boys loved.

The Golf View Hotel has a small but very nice spa overlooking lawns leading down to the sandy beach and we are having a very relaxing time. The swimming pool has big floor to ceiling glass windows which are open to the gardens, and there is even an outside jacuzzi. We are about to go for lunch in the conservatory - this is the life!