A week in Braemar
Our holiday is over. All good things must come to an end and now we have lots of wonderful memories to tide us over until the next one. The week … Continue reading A week in Braemar
Category: Journal
Braemar Castle
Today we went on a tour of Braemar Castle, an L-plan tower house built in 1628 by John Erskine. It has a colourful history having been a hunting lodge, an … Continue reading Braemar Castle
High tea at the Fife Arms
We did something special for Elizabeth today to commemorate her finishing primary school and starting high school. She somehow missed both the beginning and the end of primary school and … Continue reading High tea at the Fife Arms
Ballochbuie forest and the Falls of Garbh Allt
The Ballochbuie Forest is a fine remnant of the ancient Caldeonian forest which once covered much of Scotland. It was saved from being felled by Queen Victoria in 1878 and … Continue reading Ballochbuie forest and the Falls of Garbh Allt
Our trout friend, Segways, squirrels, and the River Dee
I haven’t done so much swimming since I was a kid when we’d spend a week or two at the beach over the summer holidays. I’d get sunburnt and dumped … Continue reading Our trout friend, Segways, squirrels, and the River Dee
Swimming at the Linn of Dee and Linn of Quoich
There was more wild swimming for us today. This time we swam in the Linn of Dee and the Linn of Quoich. Linn means a “pool below a waterfall”. The … Continue reading Swimming at the Linn of Dee and Linn of Quoich
Swimming in the Clunie River
Yesterday was another warm day and we swam in the Clunie River in Braemar. It was refreshing, crystal clear, and home to lots of juvenile trout. The trout ranged in … Continue reading Swimming in the Clunie River
A pingdemic and flood warnings
The pandemic has turned into a “pingdemic” in the UK because as new cases soar to over 50,000 a day, so too has the number of people getting pinged as … Continue reading A pingdemic and flood warnings
Cooling off in the Dee
The temperature has reached a top of 26C today. I think this is the hottest temperature I’ve ever felt in Aberdeen. We had no choice but to cool off in … Continue reading Cooling off in the Dee
Crochet swimsuit, redcurrant jam, and an old video of Elizabeth
I crocheted myself a pair of bathers. I’m not sure whether I’ll wear them in public. The colour matches my skin a bit too closely and makes it look like … Continue reading Crochet swimsuit, redcurrant jam, and an old video of Elizabeth
It’s more than just football
I watched some of the football last night. This might seem insignificant but it’s anything but. I’ve never watched a game of football in my entire life and never had … Continue reading It’s more than just football
Second jab side-effects and the ethics of vaccination
I spoke too soon in my last post about not having any side-effects after the second Pfizer jab. A few hours later I developed a fever, headache, aches and pains, … Continue reading Second jab side-effects and the ethics of vaccination
Ripping the bandaid off
I had my second Pfizer jab last night. Aside from a sore arm and feeling slightly tired I haven’t had any other side-effects. I felt a bit tired after the … Continue reading Ripping the bandaid off
Swimming at Potarch Bridge
We went for a swim at Potarch Bridge today. It was smashing and I realised that it’s the first time I’ve been wild swimming in summer in Scotland. Usually I … Continue reading Swimming at Potarch Bridge
Tomintoul
We went to the village of Tomintoul today. Many times we’ve driven through it and I’ve always thought it looked cute and wanted to linger but usually we’re en route … Continue reading Tomintoul
The world needs more Bens
Sometimes I feel sad about the world. I read the things people say online and I feel despair. What hope is there for us? Some people try to do the … Continue reading The world needs more Bens
Covid-busting diet
We had a very healthy meal tonight from the How Not to Diet cookbook by Michael Greger MD. I love Dr Greger’s How Not to Die cookbook and we eat … Continue reading Covid-busting diet
Meatless Farm and Elizabeth’s biology poster
We had Meatless Farm burgers for dinner last night. I’ve become a Meatless Farm convert: they’re UK-based and much cheaper than the Beyond Burger but with similar ingredients. Both are … Continue reading Meatless Farm and Elizabeth’s biology poster
An adventure in Strathdon
There are two mighty rivers in Aberdeen: the Dee and the Don. Both start some 80-90 miles west in the Grampian Mountains and flow into the sea at Aberdeen. The … Continue reading An adventure in Strathdon
Gull dinner party
I baked another dud sourdough loaf which I threw onto the back lawn. A colony of gulls swooped in and demolished it all in less than a minute. Before the … Continue reading Gull dinner party
