We had a good journey back from our break on the East coast and even managed a quick stop at Dunnottar Castle near Stonehaven. It was worth the short stop and gave us a chance to stretch our legs even if it was only an hour into our trip…

According to the castle’s website, archaeologists have found evidence of the Picts having a fort, the oldest ever discovered (estimated between 5000BC & 700AD), on a sea stake just north of the current castle and the word “dun” is Pictish for “fort”

It’s also where St Ninian converted the Picts of Dunnottar to Christianity (around 400AD); where in 1297 William Wallace attacked an English garrison taking it back into Scottish control after killing all the English before English forces re-seized it in 1336.

The castle has had many royal visitors over the centuries including Mary Queen of Scots who stayed a few times (1562/1564) and King Charles II during the War of Three Kingdoms (a war between England, Scotland & Ireland – 1651-1652) which prompted and invasion by the Parliamentary Army led by Oliver Cromwell. Kings Charles III, when he was still the Prince of Wales, also visited with Queen Camilla in 2019.

It’s also where the 5th Earl of Marischal, kept a pet lion in 1593 which was, of course, housed in the Lion’s Den. So a lot of history at this one site and certainly somewhere we hope to visit properly sometime in the future!

It looks even better from the air – see the drone pic below taken from the website although there is a sign at the entrance stating drones should not be flown over the castle during opening hours – a definite sign of the times 🤣

After getting home, we spent last weekend enjoying Scotland’s fantastic win over France in the M6Ns; trying to ignore how badly England are playing at the moment (but well done Italy – they out performed us 🙁) and cutting up old carpets / moving furniture around in preparation for the plasterer coming on Monday 9th. It’s amazing how echo-ey a room can get with no furniture or carpet in it… oh, and pretty cold too with no heating and an unlit fire.

Luckily, we have been able to turn a spare bedroom (the one we call “Aedan’s Room” as it’s where the grandson hides when he visits… teenagers huh?! 🤣🤣) into a small lounge (very bijou but nice & cosy!) for the next 3 weeks until the new carpets go in on the 27th! We just gotta work out how to move the moved furniture so we can paint in the spare room too as that’s getting new carpet and now, somewhat unexpectedly, a new bed which was a surprise purchase when we went to get paint & our usual weekly shop yesterday! 🤣 like you do..!

Last week I also had a lovely massage treatment with a local charity called Lavender Touch, whose primary aim is “to provide a supportive service to those living with cancer, and their loved ones…”- a service my GP referred me for… and very nice it was too! I am trying to persuade Pete to have a go as, because he’s the one with cancer, he could have up to 6 treatments (family members get 3 which I am more than happy with!)… I am not sure I will be successful though which will be his loss!

Despite the plaster being slightly delayed starting last Monday due to a broken down van, he managed to catch up with himself and had the whole room boarded and plastered by Thursday lunchtime (or dinner time as they refer to it up here… mad Scots (the plasterers name was Scott – honest! 🤣). We now just need to give it about a week to fully dry out before we can start painting but it’s looking good and much nicer now the decades of old paint and textured wallpaper has been covered over!

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A few days into the plastering…

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This weekend has been crap weather wise with high winds and heavy rain. We still managed to get a few walks in, in between the showers and enjoyed the Super Saturday Men’s 6 Nations finale… It was a shame that Scotland didn’t beat Ireland but it did mean that one of my bets with Mr Ladbroke came good as I had Ireland down to win the Triple Crown (whoop whoop!) – the other bet was England winning the overall competition which obviously wasn’t going to happen although it was a fantastic match with France… if only they had played that well previously, I coulda been a double winner – ho hum! At least it won’t cost me anymore to have a flutter on the Grand National when that comes round in April!

Today is, of course, Mother’s Day and I felt a bit sad this morning as I miss my Mum and the woman she used to be… I miss being able to have a laugh with her, have a drink together, receive text messages or daft cards and presents from her – just about everything really. Dementia is cruel and I am grateful that she is being well looked after and appears happy in her own little world… even if it is a world in which she doesn’t always much remember being married for over 60 years or having 4 children!

As I was missing Mum, I have also been missing my Dad too… last Friday (yeh, the 13th!) was the 3rd anniversary of his passing & it still surprises me how much I miss him… but I guess that’s because he was my Dad! Anyway, I remind myself that there are many things to be not only grateful for but happy about in life and that there are many, many people in this world today that are living in the most dire & frightening situations. So my thoughts this rainy Mother’s Day are with all those living in fear whoever they are and wherever they may be…

Anyway, after a nice, windy walk, Pete took me to the village cafe for tea & cake and I have now perked up! Life is definitely not all bad when there is cake involved… have the best Sunday you can people!

❤️xxx❤️