Naturally there were sadnesses and losses over the year but I feel the need to focus on things positive – what 2025 gifted us with. We went for trips away - local and further afield. One fairly local destination was the mountain village of Arnaia, remarkable for its stunning stone buildings, singular architecture style and great colours.
A birthday treat was our memorable trip to Trikala – a town remarkable in itself with great food outlets. Nearby in the famed Meteora area, the monasteries cling to their vertiginous sites.
Throughout the year we enjoyed having guests at our home/table and it’s an embarrassment to see the volume of such scenes we recorded, especially eating out! :o I will, however, give a particular mention Jean and Max who came to visit in May. We don’t see them often as they reside in Canada so we really enjoyed their company.
In July we travelled to Sandanski in Bulgaria about one-and- a-half hour driveaway. It’s a lovely town set in an even more beautiful park area with interesting works of art.
August saw us in my hameland. First we stayed in Durham to catch up with family and friends. Z really enjoyed his Marco Pierre White breakfasts at our hotel. Nice ones!!
We travelled by train to Mallaig, crossing the ‘Harry Potter’ Glenfinnan Viaduct. But our main base was Glasgow and we enjoyed what the city had to offer. I was born there which happily gives me the right to be dubbed a ‘Weegie’ though I’ve never lived there. As the song says ‘I belong to Glasgow’- and when we’re there enjoying sunny mild weather, surrounded by homely local accents and humour, then ‘Glasgow belongs to me’!
Z continues to offer his services on the homestead and we happily assist in the consumption of olive oil and rather good Cabernet/Merlot thus produced. 😊😊
Our last trip was my Christmas gift – a trip to Prevesa in the south west, about a five -hour drive, but the Duchess ensured that we had a comfortable ride. Our hotel was in a beautiful location, and we enjoyed fine weather during our stay. We took the opportunity to drive through the under-sea tunnel to visit the nearby island of Kephalonia. Beautiful jasmine and bougainvillea festooned side-streets even mid-winter.
On our last day this shot from our hotel is apposite: the warm early-morning sky shades ease our spirits as we prepare for the dawning of a new year.
