Robert’s Funeral

Wednesday was Robert’s funeral. It was at Linn Crematorium and was very, very busy with family and friends. It was a moving tribute to Robert, and his granddaughter Katie sang Songbird (from Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours) which Robert had asked her to sing at his funeral. She sang beautifully. There were quite a few of my cousins there; a pleasant bunch. 
On Thursday I went to Susan T’s for tea and scones, which we ate in the garden. The weather was sunny and is now gradually heating up. We had a really good chat about all sorts of things. Susan is a great friend, always positive and inspiring. 
This morning I started cat-sitting duties for Skye and Harris, because Davie and Chanel are on holiday. They are going to Liverpool for a few days and then off to Rome to meet Chanel’s new wee brother Liam. So exciting! 
Skye and Harris are delightful. Skye is a bit more reserved and is clearly wondering where her mummy and daddy are, but I think she does recognise me and soon comes over to say hello. Harris is still in full kitten mode, he is endlessly lively and energetic and then will suddenly fall asleep for a nap. 

Horse not Morse!

Heather and I had one of our outings to the theatre last night. First of all we had a tasty dinner at the Pipers Tryst, an old favourite of mine which I haven’t been to for ages, then we went across the road to the Theatre Royal to see Inspector Morse; House of Ghosts. Or so we thought. In fact, I had been mistaken when I booked the tickets, assuming that they were for this year. In fact they are for the 1st of April 2026! This was discovered when I presented the tickets at the door. We were so surprised but did find it very funny. And being the resourceful women that we are, we asked what was on at the theatre. It turned out to be War Horse, the stage play based on the Michael Morpurgo book. I saw the film a long time ago, and hadn’t enjoyed it all that much, so I hadn’t even thought of booking the play. However, we decided to give it a go, purchased tickets at the box office and we were soon in our seats ready for the show to begin. Just as an aside, a very personable and pleasant young man sold me a bottle of water at the ice cream booth, and I impulsively asked him if he was an actor. He said yes as a matter of fact I am. This wasn’t too much of a surprise because young actors often take various jobs in a theatre while they are starting out. Just for future reference, his name is Jacob Abraham and I think he may be destined for great things.
Anyway, back to the play. It was much much better than the film. The horses were made of fine metal and were so realistic; they didn’t try to hide that there were people under them to guide them, but the way they moved was so natural that you really didn’t notice. There were also a few 1st World War era songs, including the hymn Only Remembered for What We Have Done, which is very moving. Heather and I both thoroughly enjoyed it, and we still have Inspector Morse to look forward to next year! 

Hill-walking weekend in Ullapool

On Wed 26th March we headed back to Ullapool with the cats for nearly a week. At first the weather was mixed and then it became quite wild and rainy! In fact I was caught in a shower of actual hailstones while out walking one afternoon! Nothing daunted we lit the fire and were cosy in the cottage. On Friday the hill-walking club arrived; Hilary and Steven, Heidi, Bob, Willie and Gordon. They were staying in the Caledonian Hotel and we joined them for drinks and dinners. Saturday was unfortunately still very rainy but the walkers went out anyway and walked up past Loch Achall. Hilary and I chatted at the cottage then braved the rain to walk round to the Ceilidh Place for lunch. While we were there James, Steven and Heidi arrived back and joined us, we had a really nice chat. Everybody met at the cottage at about 5 pm where we had drinks and chatted in front of the fire, before making our way to the Caley Bistro for a very nice dinner. However, the evening was not without incident. Gordon couldn’t find his car keys or room key in his red jacket. Alarmed, he searched for them, retracing his steps. He finally arrived back at the restaurant where it was discovered that Heidi was wearing his jacket by mistake and his possessions were still safely in the pockets. Gordon was understandably a bit agitated about all this, but Heidi‘s generous gift of a glass of red wine smoothed over any troubled waters. The next day started grey however it brightened up quickly into a really sunny beautiful morning. Hilary and I went to Corrieshalloch Gorge which was absolutely magnificent after yesterday’s rain. There were waterfalls cascading from the edges of the gorge as well as the main waterfall and lots of other smaller torrents of water beside the path. We crossed the bridge and walked to the viewpoint. There was hardly anybody else there and it was all so very stunning. Back in the village we went for a walk around the shops and had a tasty lunch in the Ceilidh Place. My cheese and onion scone with poached eggs was absolutely delicious. Finally, we went to Tea by the Sea and drank coffee while sitting outside in the sunshine and looking at the view up the loch. It was hard to believe that it was so warm and sunny after such a rainy day yesterday, but that’s Scotland for you! In the evening we met the rest of the group for dinner at the Caley Bistro again; they were all very happy because they had all managed to have good and sunny hill walks. On Monday the clubbers set off home and we spent a sunny day around the cottage. James repaired the steps from outside the cottage down to the lane and they look so much better now. We drove home today after Tom came in from his morning adventures. 

James and Davie build raised vegetable beds

It has been an almost Spring like week, with some lovely sunshine although a rather chill wind which reminds us that it’s still March. We went for a very pleasant 8 km walk around Chatelherault Country Park; the usual walk to Green Bridge and then back on the other side of the river past the Cadzow Oaks. One evening we decided to watch The Brutalist, which recently won the Oscar for best picture. Oh dear oh dear, it was very depressing and very long. It had some merits and I realise that it was meant to represent the experience of mid twentieth century immigrants to the US, but it was grim and I don’t really like brutalist architecture anyway so that didn’t help! 
Yesterday we went over to Davie and Chanel’s garden where Davie and James worked very hard to build two raised beds for growing vegetables. They look extremely well made and Davie is going to paint them and line them before filling them with soil. It was another fine but chilly day so I spent some time in the garden and some time in the house playing with gorgeous wee Harris. He is hilarious! He was hunting me when I was sitting on the couch and every time I looked round he would stop still, then resume his prowl towards me when I looked away! Skye kept a low profile; she uses the cat flap now so she can come and go as she pleases (it’s still too soon for Harris to be allowed outside.) At one point when I was sitting on the couch she came into the room and walked past me, then she glanced at me and did the most enormous double take when she realised that I was not Chanel! It was so funny. I got lunch in for the workers and by mid afternoon the boys had finished their work and put the planters in place. 

Spring Babies!

It has been a month of new babies, which is always lovely news. 
On Tuesday 18th March Liam James Asquith was born in Italy. He is James and Floriana’s baby so Chanel is a big sister again; she is delighted and so are we, because Liam definitely counts as family!
Then on Wed 19th March Hughie Birkmyre was born. His gender was a surprise because Hugh and Lucy had been told that they were going to have another girl! His official name is Hugh like his Daddy and Grandpa but he is to be known as Hughie, which I love. Again we are delighted because we think of the Birkmyre clan as family too. 
And to complete the hat trick, Thea Herbert was born on Thursday 20th March. She is Lesley and Chris’ fifth grandchild and we are very pleased for them. Not family, but a grandchild of friends is always welcome. 

Forrest’s 60th Birthday

We set off home yesterday because today, 16th March, is Forrest’s 60th birthday. Our gift to Forrest was the two curling stones which were in Grandpa and Grandma’s garden, restored and polished and with their handles reattached. Forrest already had the handles so James had to ask to borrow them without telling Forrest why. The curling stones belonged to James and Forrest’s grandfather; William Forrest. Forrest was very pleased and touched at James’ thoughtfulness. We went out for a celebratory lunch with Forrest, Marjory, Lynne and Douglas, Jenny, Neil, Lucy and Jenny’s partner James, to the Butchers Shop at Kelvingrove. As might be expected, the menu was very meaty! However there were also some really nice vegetarian options, and it was a very enjoyable occasion. Jenny and James have just bought their first house in Northern Ireland so they were telling us all about it. One of the amusing things was that all the boys were checking the football scores throughout the meal because Rangers were playing Celtic. 

Robert Dickie, also a big Rangers fan, was at home watching the match. Just after Rangers scored the winning goal (3-2) Robert died suddenly of a heart attack. Julie phoned to tell me later, and James and I were very sad to hear it. I have known Robert since I was about 10 years old, and my heart goes out to Janie; they had been married for 50 years. 

James path clearing on Ullapool Hill

We have had a very pleasant week in Ullapool. James mowed the grass and I spruced up the cottage, and we went for walks around the village, which was still very quiet; the tourist season has not started yet. We went for a run to Lochinver one day, strolled along to the harbour and bought some pies (of course!) 

One afternoon James decided to sand and varnish the benches in the porch. After he had varnished the first one, Tom, undeterred by the strong smell of varnish, jumped up and covered it not only with fur but also with bits of earth from the garden! (presumably he must have just buried a poo in the flowerbed!) This all stuck to the varnish. James was absolutely furious with him! Tom was unrepentant, more accurately unaware of his faux pas, and was mildly puzzled as James berated him. 

And one morning James volunteered to do path clearing on Ullapool Hill with the countryside ranger. He and his fellow volunteers were featured in the Ullapool Facebook page. I informed him of this because James does not have, nor has ever had, social media. He was quite pleased and I was very proud.