Menondering; Moving Along

After four wonderful nights/days at the Portgordon park up, it was time to drag myself away. I had been considering heading further north to Alness and visiting the Aunty and Uncle again. However, Aunty remains in hospital, and anyway, I couldn't raise Uncle on the phone. By Monday morning, I had also had a message from Mac1 that she was ready for a visit from me, so The Grey and I turned our noses southward instead.

First, we go to Granton-on-Spey to get a charge and have lunch. Then, we go along the back track to Nethy Bridge and Castle Roy. First, I popped into the Old Abernethy Church, which is now an arts centre and outlet. Lots of lovely things on sale by local artists and crafts folk. I added to my collection of earrings.

Next, I moved Grey into the enclosed parking space beside the castle. This castle has only recently been opened to the public. On private farmland, it was bought by a community charitable effort, set up as Castle Roy Trust, in 1994. The idea was to have it prepared for tourist use. During repairs and stabilisation, archaeological works were undertaken.

The work is ongoing so donations are welcomed. Much has been done to improve access. I got into a conversation with Annabelle, the daughter of the chairman of the Trust and also the animal attendant. There is a resident 'guardian'...

Note the downward cast from the raised brow. Yes, Murdo is a bull Highlander. He was hand-reared, so he is generally well-adjusted to human company and touch. Here, he was having his back rubbed by two young lassies just off-stage left and clearly enjoying the attention.

Annabelle joined me in Grey for a cup of tea and a good old yarn. I learned that the grounds are used for weddings and other community gatherings as part of their fundraising efforts. Also, and this was the key thing for me, they welcome vans and motorhomes staying overnight—by donation. Even better, because she spotted that I use a walker, she gave me permission to park up the hill in the spot reserved for disabled people. What a view!

I had a wander around the ruins. There is not an awful lot to see, in reality, but there are some good info boards and artists' impressions of how the place would have looked, and there is a proper sense of history. Most of all, there is a fantastic panorama of the surrounding countryside.

Around the perimeter of the grounds were swathes of wildflowers. A stunning display. A small notice board revealed that this was yet another community-promoted activity!

To say that I enjoyed my visit to Castle Roy would be slightly understating it. This is now firmly on my revisit list!

From here, I dropped into Strathdon for a lunch and toilet break, then onward to Fife and a couple of nights at Tayport before heading back into Edinburgh to spend a week with Mac1. 

MenoSundays; Life Lived Lovingly

You are all aware of my love of animals and support of two charities. You have had regular updates on the Guide Puppy Training Sponsorship - but less regular have been the updates on Poppy, my sponsor dog for the PDSA. This charity is a veterinarian assistance outfit which provides lowcost/free service to owners who are struggling financially to look after their beloved pets. It is just not practical for me to have a pet of my own these days, so I compensate with providing this support. Here's the latest on Poppy - I love that she has signed with her pawprint! (Sorry, not the sharpest shots I've ever made.)

Wish List

Murphy and Stanley have thrown down the gauntlet... (we have to include the prompt, highlighted.)

Watching the courier haul the thing up the steps, Doodle deliberated on the delivery. This unnerved me. After all, Doodle himself had arrived in my house only yesterday in much the same manner.  Not an order made by me, but a bequest from an aunt I never knew I had.  How did she know I longed for a dog? How did the dog seem to know me already? How in the world was I going to feed the cute canine?  There had been several hours of internal panic as I pondered this and now, another parcel.

I studied the package sitting on my porch. To say I was nervous would not begin to describe my feelings. It was about the same size as the one which brought Doodle, who was sitting watching me watching...that...

The brains were nearly frying; one dog was all good and well, but could this be another?

When I opened the box I was startled to find ... another box. Okay. When I opened that one, yet another.  So it went for 87 unwrappings. FRAGILES.  What fragiles? Then the note.

"For Rita. Always Give It Love. Ever, Sender."

Sender?  Not even a name???  I glanced at Doodle.  The eyes of the dog seemed to pull me in.  If this note was meant to have come with him, it was certainly after the fact.  I was in love the minute I unwrapped him. Then it dawned on me.  The box which held Doodle had not been an animal crate but a standard courier box just like this!  How could that be? When I had unwrapped the thing I had got such a shock I spilled my juice on him...

Something tugged at my memory cells.  Wait up. At first glance I had thought he was real but on reflection he had been a paper model only. So real at first sight, the shock had made me spill...and then he WAS real!

Give it love. Was I meant to hug this final box?  Barely the size of a matchbox, I picked it up and turned it round.  How to open it?  Doodle seemed never to have dropped his gaze. now his tail was tapping at the tip just a tad.  Instinctively, I brought the little box up to my heart area and held it there, staring back into Doodle's big browns. There was a click under my hand.

The box had opened.

Doodle dashed forward in time to catch the chop which shot out of the container.  The lid shut with no effort made on my part.

The dog of my dreams which could feed on the pantry of my heart?  Best not look too closely into that Pandorah...

(c) Yamini Ali MacLean 2014