Last Leg of our Brit-Trip.

After our Scots trip, we drove south to Durham and a family reunion and, yes, I’m still celebrating that big birthday! We, of course, met up with our honorary family member, Angeliki, who was then teaching a pre-sessional course at Durham University.  

                       

Not only was she enjoying life there, but she engaged in a mutual admiration relationship with our great-nephew, Guy. Here is Z facing a pancake challenge with said Guy. Z won a kind of Pyrrhic victory – polished off the lot and felt gross for the rest of the day.

                      

Final shots of Durham: a beautiful scene on one of our many long strolls in the city, and sweet memories of our sweet great-niece: Neve made us heart-shaped shortbread!        

                   

Our final stop was in Sheffield, staying with niece, Jen, husband, Mark and their delightful 6-month-old son, Callum Jake.  Brother, Ali, and wife, Jacqui, came along too and we walked our socks off all together. Interestingly, here we are walking by the dam where water, diverted from Peter Brook, powered the Shepherd Wheel. With five fast-flowing rivers, sandstone used as grindstones, and iron ore in the surrounding hills, local natural resources happily combined to make Sheffield a city of world-renown for its steel industry.

                                          

We pool resources and have a lovely meze meal, sitting out on a sunny patio. Callum has a glorious wardrobe: his trouser bottom echoes the image of his new toy from the Highlands. Wonder what name the coo was given?    

                     

  

 Our last day in GB was truly beautiful as we drove south into the Peak District in   Derbyshire, to visit Chatsworth House, the seat of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. The grounds are superb - apparently in the 18^th century the famous landscape architect, Capability Brown, had a hand in the design.

          

 

The lake with its glorious patch of water-lilies reflects the leaves’ autumn tones - stunning!

      

 

 Family group - a final portrait before we head home. Our last shot, however, has to be with our little star, Callum Jake, on the patio, channelling Elton John with starry, starry eye-wear!

                   

Kintyre, Kilberry and Mini-Kelpies!

We had two small excursions from Tarbert – one was down toward the Mull of Kintyre, outside Campbeltown. Here’s Z enjoying brilliant sunshine with the Ayrshire coast as backdrop. The mild, damp climate means hydrangea thrive and grow to a great size.

                               

 

Cousin Marion shows us her family album before offering a delicious lunch of home-made soup and quiche. She delights Z by showing him single-drachma notes which an uncle had brought back from war-time sojourns. Z didn’t even know they had existed in note-form and we are having difficulty researching them, but it does look like such notes were only printed during the years 1940-44.  So, she has a real piece of Greek history there. Now we have to see if they are worth anything!

 

                                                     

Our next trip was to Kilberry, our old home. On the way we see the Callie- MacBrayne ferry heading up the West Loch to Kennacraig from Port Askaig on Islay.

                                                     

 

It’s a family tradition: we never go past Craigenstarsh without testing our skills at landing pebbles on the ledge of the rock face. Story has it that years ago sheep reivers were hanged on a gallows erected on this hill-top. Managing to place a stone on the ledge is said to placate the lingering evil spirits and bring you luck!

And here is what was the Post Office, our last home in Knapdale. Now the Kilberry Inn, run by owners Clare Johnson and David Wilson, it is an award winning establishment. The menu posted outside looks great – I’d definitely have the Loch Fyne langoustines, the rib-eye beef , followed by the berry frangipane tart – dream on!

 

 

We had intended to have a pub lunch there, but sadly the place was closed, as was the Wee Bar! By the time we got to Tarbert it was a gye dreich night so we settled on having a bite to eat there. Coorying in at the local café, we found a jolly atmosphere and huge portions of very good food :) !

                                 

 

We were sad to leave, but as we crossed the bridge over the Crinan Canal in Ardrishaig, what should I see but the most magnificent mini-kelpies.  Scottish Canals run this canal as well as the Caledonian, Monkland, Union, and Forth and Clyde Canals. The latter, in the Falkirk Council area, is the site of the magnificent steel sculpture by Andy Scott. Completed in 2013, the work is a monument to the Scotland’s horse-powered heritage. Incidentally the Kelpies are called Duke and Baron, the Clydesdale horses used as design models.
The sculptor created two sets of 3-meter-high maquettes - scaled models - of a 1:10 ratio and I was lucky enough to find this one, on loan till the turn of the year. The maquettes travel nationally and internationally. I believe its partner is currently on show in New York. They really are superb pieces; finding them was a special parting gift for me!

    

Loch Fyne, Argyll.

Having left Edinburgh with a cold wind blowing, we drove down Loch Fyne-side under a dull, overcast sky – but thankfully without that east wind! During our wee break in Inveraray, Z was delighted to find an open coal fire. Marina and John sat nearby but were initially oblivious to the fact that the plaque behind them proclaimed they were sitting in …. ‘Bullshit Corner’!

                    

 

This Bar–Restaurant in The George Hotel was a real find: originally part of the local police head quarters adjoining the local jail, it was a fine old building with thick stone walls and lots of fascinating nooks and crannies. Next visit we need to leave time for exploration! Importantly then for us it offered delicious home-made bread and a hearty mushroom soup. Incidentally, the jail was in operation from 1820 -1889 and is now a tourist attraction where visitors can learn about past trials and inmates.

                           

We reach our destination: West Loch Tarbert Hotel. A welcoming family concern with a splendid view out onto the golf course across the head of the West Loch Tarbert inlet.

          

 

That evening we celebrated my sister’s birthday there. I had the most delicious venison with white pudding wrapped in a fine filo-type pastry, served with a great, rich gravy and parsnip puree – excellent! If I had one complaint it’s that I was still digesting dinner when breakfast came round, but with sausage, bacon, mushrooms, scrambled eggs, haggis and fried tattie scones – who could resist?

                                   

Tarbert, on the east loch, is an extremely photogenic fishing village. As the clouds disperse and reassemble, the lighting conditions are continually changing.

                                

 

On our second day the sun shone and I was able to take some shots that show the village to good effect: her visiting yachts, boats of the local fishing fleet, - life-blood of the community – solid stone houses built to withstand the elements, the castle aloft, overseeing time go by.

                      

 

As ever, we manage to find another reason to celebrate: the arrival of cousins, Freda and Derek, who had travelled down from Glasgow to join us.  We really enjoyed our supper – most of us downed huge helpings of fish and chips – at The Frigate Inn. As you can see, as dusk fell, we revelled in the views our window-table afforded.

                            

I never, ever tire of admiring Tarbert!