Hello to everyone who reads this – do trust you are all well and happy!

Yesterday we travelled (much of it in the rain) from Oban in the west across to Aberdeen in the north east.  The weather got better as we travelled and ended up very mild and pleasant. Saw a colourful sunset as we travelled too.

Spent a delightful lunchtime having a picnic with lots of friendly ducks by Loch Earn. Then went to a very cute rural town Crieff, where we sent a little blog from the library. Next travelled on to the city of Perth – the home of the Black Watch. This has special links for Raeline because of her greamother’s (Allan) family. Rae’s great-grandfather Walter Rennie was a member of the Black Watch and a piper. The Black Watch is no longer a regiment in its own right – it is now a battalion in the Royal Scottish Highland regiment. Its history stretches way back and to visit the castle/museum is an experience.

We then battled our way through the oneway system and the no-access streets to find the St John’s Kirk – an old historic church where John Knox preached his radical sermon on idolatry, which played a part in starting the Reformation.

Next we travelled on to Dundee, skirtng the city of the King’s Highway and continued up to Aberdeen. Didn’e spend a lot of time there, but journeyed the main street called Union Street. Even found The Salvation Army’s Balmoral Castle-type building at the top of the street, near the mercat cross (marking the town centre). The SA has a massive building that will obviously cost millions to do the restoration work currently underway. It gave no indication of who to contact or much information for anyone who might be enquiring. It was labelled “In the heart of the city, with a heart for the city”.

After that we tried to find one of the beaches but ended up at the busy port. This granite city is large - about 200,000. It was a nice evening, so we decided to turn back and come back on the highway to get a little closer to Edinburgh etc where we will head today.

We stayed in a little village called Kirriemuir – a tiny and beautiful story-book village set in a valley. Not far from Glamis Castle (5 miles down the road) and is the birthplace of JM Barrie – of Peter Pan etc. Even found a hotel named “Hook’s Hotel”. Stayed in a B & B “Crepto” up a little lane – the name related to their jobs (He a Chief Refrigeration Engineer in the Navy and she a Post and Telegraph Operator.) Just finished a big Scottish breakfast and now we’re off.

Oh – must tell you about our time in the town centre last night – we were looking for something to eat – about 9:30 p.m. – and came across a bunch of young guys – aged 16-17 years probably. They were very jolly, hanging around. Happy to chat – one only answered “Aye” to everything, others very chatty (told us he was a “drunken idiot” at the moment because it was Friday night and that’s what they do on Frday night. Sadly it seemed there was little else to do for them. They told us we were “nice people” so that was good! Saw a security/Police camera following areas around the little town square and two police on foot patrol. Delightful though – completely safe and innocent “fun”. HLittle open to eat, but ordered a pie and a few chips at the local shop. THEY DEEP FRIED THE PIE!!!  Interesting!?

Well – we’ll hit the road.

Love to you all

Peter & Raeline