A lot less scary than the trip up when I was slowing down for a roundabout at the end of the motorway and at 200 yards hit a mini lake which covered the windscreen with water, total loss of vision and while braking I was trying to remember how far in front the other car had been. Rain finally cleared around Birnam and as I cleared the top of the Drumochter pass the sun came out to welcome me home
Big Sis and husband, Hairy nephew and Irish Lass arrived on Saturday afternoon (West Country dudes bearing copious quantities of Thatchers cider products) to stay with me in our Mother’s house. Eldest Niece, partner and baby Lewis turned up to stay in their rented house at around the same time.
Hogmanay dinner was roast beef (cooked on the bone - no BSE fearing wussies here) and there were nine of us around the table. I laid the table and then Big Sis announced that we had no napkins, use kitchen roll I said so she artistically twisted them into the glasses.
Starting wine bottles are shown below, everyone enjoyed their meal and we were able to face the New Year in an almost sober state. An early morning finish to the celebrations followed but that was the pattern for the week until we hit everyone else’s last night on Thursday.
All in all a really fun week in the hills tempered only by the thought that it would be the last one spent in that house. The estate agent called us on the 31st asking if she could give someone a second viewing on the 2nd - that got kicked into touch due to the amount of debris we had generated coupled with the non existent mornings that some of us were having.
4 comments:
Welcome back!
Once on a train to Inverness, the snow was so heavy that we had to get off the train and take a bus to another train on the other side of the pass - could that have been Drumochter? Gorgeous place.
Sounds like you all had a grand time and made memories you'll treasure always. Still, it's good to have you back - you were missed.
That sounded like quite a trek. Wow. It looks beautiful, though.
It must a little sad to know you likely won't be having more family gatherings in your mom's house. I'm glad that if it was the last time, there were many of you together to enjoy it.
Glad you made it home safely, from what sounds like a tough drive in both directions.
That roundabout incident must have given you enough adrenalin to complete the trip without fear of dozing of.
Last Christmas with the family at your mum's place - that must have added a bittersweet tinge to the holidays. I'm so glad you were able to join them.
Phlegmmy, Almost certainly Drumochter - some people find it kind of bleak but is a beautiful place to me, gateway to the Highlands.
rt, The sadness was there on my first and last nights when I was alone in the house that my mother had lived in for 17 years after selling the small family hotel she ran for 28 years. Still more than enough happy memories to keep from getting too sad.
Lin, You are right about the adrenalin the last 2 hours flew by. Of course it did not help that I had only got 3 hours sleep in the night before due to me and Honorary Eldest Nephew faffing about on the internet.
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