The birth of "Nugget"

Lindy had today at 1201 a boy they have named for now Nugget, he was 8lb 8oz and he and mother are doing just fine I am assured.....

Dates to remember for April 2012

Birthdays!

8th Danielle is 15
13th Andrew Ayling
21st Lee
27th Sarah Jane

These are the only ones I know of! Perhaps you know more? So why have you not let me know lol?

The Funeral of Georgina Catherine Wray 5th April 2012

Went to Derbyshire and arrived on a very snowy Wednesday 4th in preparation for 

   A beautiful poem was written by Emma Ayling, her Aunty as follows.

You are a promise unfulfilled

Our darling, precious, baby girl

Hearts full of what you might have been

A world full of things you should have seen

You are a puzzle left unsolved

A jigsaw piece to make us whole

Those deep brown eyes, that turned-up nose

Hid mysteries we longed to know

All gathered in your watered room

You lived, you heard, you felt, you moved

Not separate but married in

Intimately, safe within

Knitted into kith and kin

Knotted on and grafted in

Floating in your mother's hug

All you ever knew was love

You'll never know the cold of night

Eyes open now to heaven's light

Nor know our hurt or grief's despair

Singing songs of joy now there

But how we want to have you here

How we'd love to hold you near

Babe with beauty on your brow

Carrying you with us now

Though we see the smallest part

We know God keeps you in His heart

Alive in Him, safe up above

All you'll ever know is love

Georgie was buried in a wonderfully beautiful graveyard behind the church with many graves of other children around her.

  After we gathered at The Boat Inn, Cromford for refreshments.

Visit to Ruth 3rd April 2012 (Day 5)

Well it is going home day!
Up as normal and then breakfast, pack the car said our goodbye's and set off about 0930 for home, very uneventful trip and home about 1245.
Overall it was good for me to reacquaint myself with Ruth and enjoyed almost every minute of our time there. Thank you Ruth and so glad to know you xxx

Visit to Ruth 2nd April 2012 (Day4)

We had a quiet day in today except we went to Asda at Melksham to get the ingredients for a curry that Sue is going to cook for Alan as he has gone to work. So guess what? Ruth and Glyn did a lot more talking and not much else until the evening when after we had enjoyed Sue's curry we played Rummykub, do you know I had forgotten what a good game that was. Alan and Sue went to bed early and Glyn and Ruth stayed up to do some more talking before we go home tomorrow!!!
Forgot the time until Alan came and reminded us at 2330!!!!! so it was off to bed..........

Visit to Ruth 1st April 2012 (Day3)

Up as normal and off to church at St Thomas's in Trowbridge and meet up with Mike and Jane Bullock. It was a lovely service but was more than a little disappointed by the welcome (or lack of it) that we received.
After church it was back to Ruth's to have a lovely roast chicken dinner and to meet Jennie and Mark, well Jennie again, mind you the last time I saw her she was about 11 years old, really the only thing I remembered about her was the very cheeky grin which she still has, the only thing she remembered about me was my voice!!!
We had a lovely afternoon and we played a game called Wildlife after tea until quite late, of course we talked while playing.....Jennie and Mark left around 2300 and then it was off to bed!!!

Visit to Ruth 31st March 2012 (Day2)

Slept well after a latish night and had a lazy breakfast then eventually got dressed as Ruth had to take Daisy the guinnea pig to the vets so we went into town to have a wander around the Shires and a Costa then back for a spot of lunch, a lazy talking afternoon then out for dinner at The Bell on the Common at Broughton Gifford. A lovely meal it was as well then dropped Sue back home and Stephanie to a friends in Trowbridge then into the Cricket Club for a further drink. Never stayed too long though as they had a function which I enjoyed but the young ones found little too crowded and noisy haha, the staying power of the young!!!
When we got back, Alan went to bed and guess what the rest of did, TALKED!! until bedtime........

Visit to Ruth 30th March 2012 (Day 1)

To start off with we left here (home) about 0830 to go to Trowbridge to meet Ruth at the Crowing Cock for lunch at 1200, in fact we arrived about 1115 as we had a faultless trip up so met her early as she did not have a fare!
Well the centre of town had hardly changed at all over the years since we were there last and nor had Ruth. From there we had a walk about and then went to the cafe for lunch and I enjoyed proper faggots and peas for the first time in ages and Sue had fish and chips! Alan (Ruth's hubby) turned up as well.
After lunch we wandered about a bit and then visited the old market and some old friends still had stall there, it was nice to see Margaret and Gordon and Sue got lost on Margarets stall who now does crafting bits and pieces. Sue spent so long there that I had to go and move the car as we were about to overstay the 3 hour limit!!!
About 1600 we made our way to Holt to get to see where Ruth lived and where we were staying. It is a lovely house and a really nice garden, with pool...
Around 1700 Stephanie came home, a very pretty and sassy young lady who is 14 and causes all the problems a normal 14 year old causes...
Ruth finished work at 1800 and Alan went to pick her up and she had finished work for 2 weeks...
Well all we did on Friday evening was talk and talk and talk and then talk some more!!!! well we did have a lot to catch up on and it was lovely seeing Ruth again!!!

Dates for Mach 2012

Family Birthdays

31st Nichola will be 41

Georgina Catherine Wray

It is with great sadness that I have to report that Amy and Michael Wray's daughter Georgina Catherine was still born on Friday 16th March 2012.
Our hearts and prayers go out to Amy, Michael, Dea, Andrew and Emma at this time.

How Ruth found Glyn again!

This is Ruth, trying to get a picture of her by herself is a nightmare!!!

I first met Ruth in either late 1990 or early in 1991 when she was working with my then wife Margaret at Airsprung Beds. We met socially with her and her then husband Scott a couple of times at the Anchor and Hope and got on very well. Shortly after Margaret got the sack from there but we kept in contact with Ruth. Well time went on and Ruth left Airsprung and started driving Taxi's. At this time Ruth had a small child Jennie and her marriage was very shaky, as was mine. We found we could talk very easily and got on very well and became very good friends to each other.
Well as time went on I split up with Margaret  and moved to Chichester at weekends and lodged with Ruth, Scott and Jennie during the week, when I was working as a driver for Airsprung and I was away several nights a week.
It was whilst I was staying with Ruth that her Marriage broke up and I moved out and lodged with Phil (my brother) for a while.
Well from there we kept in touch when we saw each other and still got on great.
When Sue and I took the shop in 2000 we sort of lost touch and when I started on facebook a few years ago now I did try to search for her but the stupid girl had got married again and changed her name haha!!
So imagine my surprise when a couple of weeks ago I got a friend invitation from a Ruth Pepler yay! She had apparently driven past the old homestead in Frome Rd and thought "I wonder what happened to Glyn" did a search on Facebook and the rest is history so they say.
We are very much in contact again now and looking forward to the 4 of us getting together at some point in the near future.

Ruth and Alan with their Daughter Steff. Looks like mum?

Dates to remember for February 2012

Birthdays

25th Mike is 66
25th Tony is 57
25th Andy is 42
26th Rob (Rob who?) is 47

Anniversary

22nd Louisa and Kelvin 9 years

Catching up 1

Have been very busy over the past few weeks with the 2012 directory for LCC. Then getting the new news sheet off the ground, first issue out 29th January, now the next one due to be out this coming weekend, up to my eyeballs in that at the moment but can do no more until I get news from GAAF!

Lets go back to the end of January then, Mike and Jane went back on Monday the 23rd to get ready to move as they had heard they now have a 2 bed flat, still in the same complex but number 30 instead of 41 Douglas Yates Court, even the postcode is the same! Well they moved on the 11/12th February, they have the phone ok but as yet are still waiting on BT for the broadband, no surprise there then!!

On the 26th January I gave up smoking, up to now I have gone nearly 4 weeks and my body seems to be rebelling as I have constantly had the runs for all that time, the Dr says it is due to the changes in my metabolism and will settle down eventually. I am giving it until next week and if still the same I am actually going to go to the doctors!!!

Weather wise it has been a right wierd winter, we did get a cold snap for about 3 days and then it warmed up again with the flowers and even the birds even more convinced that spring has arrived.... We have just under half a tank of heating fuel left this year. By this time last year I had had to put a further 500 ltrs in to see us through to the end of the winter. As I say right wierd! There is still time for it to get colder but they are forecasting temperatures of 16 to 18 degrees tomorrow and Friday.

Laziness

Have been so busy but will catch up over the next couple of days
So much news to add

Dates to remember for January 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE
12th Mark is 42
15th Anna is 2
17th Claire is 36
21st Karis is 3
26th Maggie is 67

Mike & Jane's arrival

Well Mike and Jane have arrived in Devon and guess what, it is raining!!! The weather is expected to get better later if the weather forecast is to be believed?
They had a safe journey and it is good to get to know Jane a little better.
Jane seems good for Mike and they get on so well, laughing alot anyway. Sue and I are quite looking forward to the time they are spending here as Mike is so easy to live with and as yet Jane appears to be the same............

Beautiful Sunrise

 The sunrise this morning was just astounding so just had to take a couple of photo's to record it!
What is it they say, "Red sky in the morning, shepherds warning". Does not bode well for Mike & Jane's visit tomorrow! Still they are coming for a few days so you never know it may brighten up?

Another Challenge

Well now that the 2012 church directory has gone to print I have been set another challenge!!!
Rachel asked me last evening if I could produce a monthly church news sheet. I do not exactly know where to start but will do a bit of research on Microsoft word and see what I come up with?
Any suggestions would be most welcome as there must be a template somewhere for this type of product?
Just as another note here we are on the 13th of January and we have actually got our second air frost of the winter!!!

Christmas Day 2011

Well Sue and my day started at 0500 and Stella's at 0600 expecting Lainie to be up bright and early? I believe it is called murphy's law, Lainie never even stirred until gone 7!!!

This is what Lainie found, the remnants of Santa's meal and a present for her on the plate.

Left is what was in the box, Hermoine Granger's wand from Harry Potter.

We then had a pressy opening time and the results of Lainie's endevours can be seen above.

It was then time for breakfast and then get dressed in her new finery (left) ready for us all to got off to church for the Christmas day service. Sue had already got the turkey in before we went off and finished it upon our return, as usual it was a superb meal.

Then a nap after lunch until the Queen at 3 then tea. It was a lovely day with lovely company.

Chrstmas eve 2011




Lainie with Nannie putting Reindeer Dust on the lawn to help them to find her.

  

Later in the evening Lainie gave us adults a Christmas carol recital which consisted of, Away in a manger, Silent night, Little drummer boy, No room at the inn and  Have you noticed the Christmas tree. Then after putting food and drink out for Santa and the reindeer it was an early night ready for the BIG DAY!!

Credits for Love Came Down

Thanks to all those mentioned for the sterling work put in..

Love Came Down 2

Still Buzzin'

Well I have been up since 0430 and I am still buzzin' from the excitement of last evening, it was a wonderful time that really gave glory to God through the storey of Jesus' birth.

The choir I feel was a resounding success thanks to Becky Bailey and Rachel Bate.

The Nazarene Gossips (see post below) seemed to be well received and was wonderfully performed by Chris & Jayne Biddle.

I gave Testimony (also see post below) as did Dan Blackwell and Suzannah Strong.

Hope to post more Photo's at a later date?

My Testimony

This was a testimony that I gave at Love Came Down last evening, not word for word as this was only in longhand in case I got stuck, which is far from unknown HA HA!

My Testimony 21st Dec 2012

My early life

Where do you start after 63 years of life, 43 of those as a Christian? I also have the problem of fitting this into a maximum of about 5 minutes, well here goes!

I was born in 1948 & Baptised as an infant at Trinity Church, Pontycwmr, Nr Bridgend in S. Wales on the 10th July 1949.

I spent my early life in Southwick, a village near Trowbridge in Wiltshire. I was the 2nd of 5 children. It was a very happy and loving childhood. We were poor but happy.

From a very early age I went to Sunday school, often twice each Sunday at the local Baptist Church. It was only in later life that my mother told me it was the only way they could get any peace at weekends! I enjoyed it anyway, especially the Bible stories.

When I was about 14 my parents became Christians and that was in 1963.

What was I Like

I had my 1st brush with the law on my 11th birthday and continued to be in trouble with the police many times over the next few years. In fact I remember my father remarking that Greenwood our village bobby seemed to spend more times looking for me at our house than he spent in his own home! I had many appearances at juvenile court and although I was often warned that I would be, I was never actually sent to Approved school or Borstal.

I was often in trouble at school for fighting because I hated bullying and would always side with and stick up for someone who was being bullied.

How I found God

At 18 I got married, my eldest child was born 10 months after and my wife fell pregnant again. My second child was born at 26 weeks which was 3 months premature; she weighed just 2lb 4oz. that is just a little more than a kilogramme bag of sugar. Obviously she was not expected to survive. This was back in the dark ages of 1968 when it was very rare for children born this prematurely to survive. When she started to lose weight and got down to 1lb 10oz we were told to expect the worst. What do you do in times of dire need, turn to God and pray for his help? That is what I did and I told him also that if Elizabeth survived I would give my life to Him.

It seemed from that moment Elizabeth started to gain weight.

Well Elizabeth did survive, she was 43 this year and I prayed a prayer giving my life to Jesus!

About 4 months later I was baptised at Southwick Old Baptist Church.

Difference since then

Well I have only been in trouble with the law once since then and there were extenuating circumstances for that which kept my children safe.

I have moved about the country with my job, as well as the church in Southwick I have belonged to churches in Rode in Somerset, London, Hilperton, Trowbridge and Trevethin in Wales.

Romans 8 v 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (NIV)

I have seen over the years how true this is, even when to start out with you cannot see it and think it is really crap! But as they say hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Lets look at the latest thing, how we come to be here?

I first had contact with The Community Church at Egloskerry when we came down to stay in one of Mervyn & Rachel’s barns on holiday about 4 years ago now. I found a very warm welcome and felt very much at home and every time we came on holiday we went there. I felt God was really moving within that fellowship and calling me to be here, but work was a must for me and my job was in Avonmouth. That would be a long commute!

Strange how things work out, about 3 ½ years ago my wife became so ill with arthritis she was forced to give up work.

2 ½ years ago I was found to have stress angina. As an HGV driver they took away my licence and hence my job and the job centre told me I was no good to them so they retired me.

To cut a long storey short we decided as we could move where ever in the country we wanted, so I prayed as to where God wanted us to be. Well He kept coming up with here and found us a lovely bungalow to rent in St Giles-on-the-Heath which has helped my wife no end with her arthritis, no stairs.

We moved to St Giles about 1 month after the church moved from Egloskerry to here at St Josephs.

We have had to be totally reliant on God for our income and He has more than adequately supplied everything we have needed.

When I look back I can see God’s hand in everything that has happened to me over the past 4 years as well as the preceding 39.

Remembering again Romans 8 v 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (NIV)

I still get a real feeling of joy, love, belonging and excitement when I walk through that door on a Sunday.

At Housegroup last week someone said something that I felt fitted my situation and the way I feel now to a Tee.

I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO POOR, YET I HAVE NEVER BEEN OR FELT SO RICH

The Nazarene Gossips

As I said in a previous post now the above has been given an airing I will post it so that it is availiable for anyone wishing to use it.
I am not worried about copyright all I want is to give GLORY TO GOD and if this does that, then I am happy!
The Nazarene Gossips



Written by Glyn Cotterill




Two people nattering by the well in Nazareth, George and Ethel?



George: ‘Ere Ethel have you heard the latest?



Ethel: No, what’s that George?



George: Well I don’t really know that I should repeat what I heard in the pub last night from Eric as it is really only gossip? I am surprised you have not heard as you seem to hear most things before me!!!



Ethel: Are you trying to say I am a gossip George?



George: Who me Eth? Now would I? (Pause) Does that mean you have not heard about that nice Mary getting herself pregnant?



Ethel: (gasps) You are joking!!



George: No I aint, do you know what excuse she is using? The hussy, she says it’s the Holy Spirit that did it! She must think that we are pretty gullible!



Ethel: She is from such a good home as well, and betrothed to that nice Joseph.



George: Oh they got married straight away. Well mind you I would as well, her dad is a pretty mean shot with that 12 bore!

Joseph says that it was all foretold by the prophets about a virgin conceiving. Well he seems to have slipped up there because they said it would happen in Bethlehem, this is Nazareth!



About a month later over the garden wall



Ethel: Hiya George. Do you remember a while ago we were talking about Mary?



George: What and her being pregnant you mean.



Ethel: Yes, well they have even roped her cousin Elizabeth in on it now!



George: Who’s Elizabeth when she’s at home?

Ethel: You know, old Zachariah’s wife Elizabeth, well she is pregnant as well when everyone thought she was past it!

Mind you I think she did as well. She says that what Mary & Joseph are saying must be so because her baby jumped for joy in her womb when Mary called to see her the other day.



George: (sceptically) Well I suppose blood is thicker than water Eth.



Around 9 months later.



George: Hello Eth, people are going to start talking about US soon if we carry on meeting like this!!!



Ethel: Oh George, you are awful, but I like you (as Dick Emery)



George: I may be awful but all this about Mary & Joseph has given me a lot to think about!



Ethel: How do you mean George?



George: All of the things that have been going on up Bethlehem way? It is too many things to be just coincidences!



Ethel: What things? You do infuriate me at times George!



George: You mean I have beaten you to some news again! You are slipping Eth! Ha-ha!



Ethel: (affronted) Well!!



George: Well it’s like this Eth. I bumped into old Daniel the other day who had to go up to Bethlehem for the census. He went up a few days before Mary & Joseph so he got digs ok.

Well that was the first odd thing!



Ethel: What was?



George: Mary was in Bethlehem when her baby was born!

It was a boy and they named Him Jesus, by the way.



Ethel: So?



George: Just as the prophets had foretold.



Ethel: You said the first odd thing, what is the other?



George: Others, plural!



Ethel: OTHERS! How many are there?



George: Oh there are a few which is why I said that it has to be more than a coincidence.

The next one is that they arrived too late to get digs so Joseph managed to find them room in a stable which is where the baby Jesus was born!

Then during the night some shepherds came to worship the baby!



Ethel: What do you mean worship him? He is only a baby.



George: That’s just it, IS HE only a baby?

The shepherds said that a host of angels appeared to them up in the hills and told them “that their Saviour was born this day, in a stable, in the city of David, Christ the Lord” they said.



Ethel: Who said?



George: (exasperated) The Angels! (pause).

Then there were these three old men turned up. Kings they were, they had followed a star all the way from the east. They brought some presents, gold, frankincense and myrrh.

They called in to see King Herod on the way through and told him they were on the way to see a baby who would one day be “King of the Jews”.

I understand they left him “not a happy man”!



Ethel: Is that why all those children were killed? Now that I did hear about! Was Mary & Josephs baby among them?



George: I am beginning to think it is not Mary & Josephs baby at all, just Mary’s and that what we were told all those months ago might just be true about Mary being visited by the Holy Spirit?



Ethel: George, get on with the story!! Was their baby, Jesus among them?



George: No, that is another strange thing. After the three wise men had left, an Angel appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him that Herod wanted to kill the child. So Mary and he fled with the baby Jesus to Egypt.

As you heard, Herod had all the boys two years old and younger killed. Not just in Bethlehem but in all the surrounding area as well.



Ethel: There really seems to be something special about the baby Jesus!



George: We seem to be living in times when prophecies are being fulfilled!



Ethel: I wonder if they will ever be able to come back to Nazareth?

I do hope so as Joseph is a good carpenter and my front door is in a shocking state!



The End

Love Came Down

Love Came Down

Well it is getting ever closer to the Launceston Community Church Gospel Choir's first public performance! Only 6 days to go.

Also on this evening a little sketch I wrote is being performed called "The Nazarene Gossips". This is a comedy (hopefully) and is being performed by Chris & Jayne Biddle who will, I am sure do it justice.

I will post it on here in its entirety after next weeks performance so that anyone may use it if they wish.

The Tree Is UP

It Must Be Getting Near!

Well Christmas must be coming, we have the tree up already as we are getting two lots of visitors this year so Sue put it up earlier than usual, we have Liz and family for a few days before and then Stella & Lainie coming on the 23rd until the 28th so thought we had better make and effort this year ha ha!

Glyn as Father Christmas

My First Time!!!



Well I can tick another one off the list of "always wanted to do" as yesterday evening I played Santa Clause at the Adventurers group (LCC) at Tresmeer Village Hall. I must say that after a few initial nerves I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Thank you Rachel for asking me!!

After that it was back to Splatt Farm to get changed and then had a lovely meal and spent a wonderful evening with them, Mervyn, Rachel and the girls.

Thank you so much for such a pleasant evening!

Dates for December 2011

7th Corben is 10
29th Lindy is the BIG 40
29th Isabella is 12
Just leaves me to wish you all a
VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Choir



Gospel Choir

 Do you know I had forgotten how much I enjoyed singing!
Recently the church started the "Launceston Community Church Gospel Choir" to put on a concert for Christmas called "Love Came Down" to be staged on the 21st Dec 2011.
I apprehensively enrolled and as soon as the first rehersal last week I realised how much I was going to enjoy it. Last night was the second one and it is really coming together. Becky Bailey is really good as Choirmaster (mistress) and with Rachel Bate on keyboard we are made!!!!!
The first week there were about a dozen there, 8 ladies and only 4 men! but last night that grew to 18 or 20 with several more men in attendance.
I am now only hoping that when this performance is over the choir will not finish as I think it has a real future?

GOOD TIMES WOOHOO!!!

Sparrowhawk

A Sparrowhawk visits the garden

Today about 1000 I went into the kitchen and got the surprise of my life, sat on the stump from the tree that was recently cut right back was a Sparrowhawk. He was just sitting there so I quickly called Sue expecting it to fly away at any second and wanted her to see it. It was lashing down with rain and very windy (gusts of approx 30mph)! After a few minutes I decided that he was settled enough for me to attempt to get a photograph of him. Went to get my camera and fully expected him to fly away (sods law they call it), lo and behold he was still there!! I even managed to open the window quietly to get these couple of pictures. It was impossible to take them through the glass as they were so wet with the rain on them. About 10 minutes after these pictures he went, glad to say empty taloned, as every bird he went for in that time he missed but it was a thrilling time for us watching him!! The total time he stayed must have been 25 to 30 minutes woohoo..............

This Crazy November Weather!!!

This is some crazy November weather, I took these photos TODAY!!!

These roses stopped flowering once but were then fooled into thinking it was still summer...

This camelia is thinking spring is here, the rest of the buds are ready to burst in the next few days.

This one usually flowers in April/May

This is a variety of honeysuckle that usually flowers ealy spring, the same time as the camelia

 This one has not stopped flowering at all yet.

This weather is really saving us some money on heating but is making me wonder what these plants are going to do in the spring? Watch this space and I will keep you updated on the camelia, you never know I may get some spectacular photos of a flowering camelia in December, ha ha....

Incidently this date 2010 the max temp was 6.5c and today it is double that at 12.9c and that is about what it has been most days, or more. We had only our second ground frost this autumn this morning and have not had an air frost at all yet!

Where we are?

This is where we live!

A few months ago a stranger knocked on the door and offered me this framed picture of the bungalow we live in for a bargain price of £40!!!

Me being me haggled a bit with him and got him down to £15, I must admit that having worked so hard haggling I did not have the heart to tell him I did not want it as I only rent the bungalow. I thought at the time I could show you all where we live.

A development since that is the owner of the house may buy it off me for £25, when I told him about it he was very interested, I just have to remember to show him it!! I have forgotten the last two times I have seen him, just call it OLD AGE hehe!!

Rusty.

Rusty, My how he grows!

As many of you will know Rusty is a corn snake, when I got him he was all of 10 inches long, he is now 44 inches, that is 112 cm.
He loves being handled as Shannon will tell you..........

Here he is in the middle of his weekly meal.

All 44 inches of him.

Dates to remember for November

Birthdays

1st Emily is 12
12th Glyn is too old to worry about
14th Denise is 56
17 Stella is 38
26th Shannon is 5
27th Brendan is 43

Anniversary

5th Sharon & Peter 7 years wed

Day 25, Sun 23rd Oct 2011

The final leg for us.

Sue and I were up and all ready by 0900 after bacon sarnies for breakfast, thanks again Jane!

Pet and us in car and off we go.

Stopped for Costa coffee at On the Run then stopped to get some milk and home just about 1200.

To sum it all up, we had a wonderful break and apart from one or two hitches all went well.

I forgot to mention that we did a total of 2,527 miles.

BROKE BUT HAPPY...........

Day 24, Sat 22nd Oct 2011

Well the end is here, for Mike anyway.

Sue and I were up and had the car packed before old lazy bones stirred again!
We got away before 0900 and had a relatively uneventful journey, a small hold up around Stafford due to a pile up on the northbound. Stopped at Frankly for lunch and then Mike drove the rest of the way back to his place.

We had a lovely dinner, thank you Jane.

Went to Nathans to get Sue's new pet, thank you Nathan and Libby, then back for an early night. No problems with keys at least lol.

Day 23, Fri 21st Oct 2011

The End is Nigh!!

Well the last full day of our holiday is here so Sue and I are going for a wander around Dumfries as there are a couple of thing we want from town to take home with us. The town has not changed much over the years and we were home by lunch time.

Had the best chinese take away since we have been on holiday.

Then packed ready for departure for Mike's tomorrow.

Day 22, Thurs 20 Oct 2011

Tour of Dumfries & Galloway.

UGH! only 2 days left so decided to show Mike some of our favourite places that we had visited in the area. We set off firstly for New Abbey, to visit Sweetheart Abbey (picture 1, fish-eye lens), had a look around the outside of the fence as they had started charging since we were last here! 90% can be seen anyhow from outside!

The natives are friendly at least (picture 2).
From here we stopped at a pottery that Mike pointed out and then never even came in, mind you it was pokey lol!
We then followed the coast road on round via places like Kirkcudbright, Gatehouse of Fleet and new Galloway until we got to Galloway Forrest Park.



Here we visited the Wild Goat Park, where 50 or 60 goats stay although there are estimated to be several hundred roaming wild in the surrounding mountains.


It is a real education watching the goats climbing this rock face as though they do not have a care in the world, as of course they do not!

We had lunch here before heading for home.

Day 21, Weds 19th Oct 2011

Caerlaverock Castle.

After another morning for coffee at Jan's Sue and I went for a ride towards Annan calling at a few places including Caerlaverock Castle (above). Quite a grey day but at least it is warmer and dry..

Day 20, Tues 18th Oct 2011

Moffat and the Grey Mare's tail.


We took a trip out to Moffat, of the earless ram fame, and had a look around. It was a bitterly cold day and it was even snowing on the mountain tops. We did some shopping there, especially in the Moffat Toffee Shop, rows and rows of sweet jars, our heaven! Had a roll and cake for lunch there.....

From there we went on up the valley (picture 1) to the Grey Mare's Tail water fall (picture 2) which has a drop of over 200 feet or 60 metres in forign currency, this is the highest cascade in Britain.

Too cold to stay out for too long so off back to the cottage for heating on and lovely meal cooked by Sue.

Day 19, Mon 17th Oct 2011

Windy on the Nith.

Spent the morning with the owner Jannette nattering, oh she can do that ok! It was a good time catching up, we have known her for about 15 years now and we are like old friends.

This afternoon was very windy and with the combination of that and a very high tide it was spectacular to watch!

Day 18, Sun 16th Oct 2011

A day of rest!

We just had a relaxing day in today so nothing to report....

Day 17, Sat 15th Oct 2011

From Fearn to Glencaple.

Sue & I were up dressed and had the car packed before Mike had even stirred! When he eventually rose we all had breakfast, finished packing the car and were on the road about 0830. Sat-nav took us on the back roads so as to miss Inverness and we arrive by the side of Loch Ness at Drumnadrochit to pick up the A82, the road we wanted to follow most of the way to Glasgow, via Fort William.

1st picture is Sue overlooking Loch Ness. The rain had stopped just long enough for a photo shoot!

We stopped for coffee about 1100 before continuing to Fort William for lunch. Oh Mike and Sue did get a very definite sighting of a Hooded Crow, we had seen ones that I had spotted but as usual my eyes were a lot quicker than theirs! Makes up a bit for my ears then, I hear you say, perhaps HAHA! Mike also saw Ben Nevis for a short time (also his first time) before it was once again shrouded in cloud. After lunch we continued on down what I consider to be the most picturesque road in all of the British Isles and that is the A82 from Fort William to Glasgow. It takes in Glen Coe and then up over the Trossachs and all along the side of Loch Lomond. When we got near to the bottom of the Loch I thought it was about time Mike had a drive, well we were nearing Glasgow ha ha! The road became quite boring for the most of the rest of the journey and in a services I took the helm again (south of Glasgow of course) as I knew my way through Dumfries to the next venue, via Tesco for supplies.

We arrived in good time for tea at "Martha Shaw Cottage" making ourselves well at home in this far superior, to the last one, accomodation.
These 2 pictures show the cottage and then relaxing in the late afternoon sun!

Day 16, Fri 14th Oct 2011

The last full day at Hill of Fearn

After yesterday it was a fairly quiet day with me popping off to do a bit of birdwatching in the morning at the RSPB reserve at Nigg.

Following lunch we all went into Tain to have a look around and do a bit of shopping. It was noted that Sue spent nearly 25 minutes in 1 shop whilst Mike waited outside, ha ha!

A quiet evening and early bed after packing ready for a reasonable start in the morning, weather forecast is poxy!!!

Day 15, Thurs 13th Oct 2011

A wonderful day in the West Highlands


We set off straight after breakfast on a lovely still day, a little cloudy but lovely and warm. You can see how still it was by the reflections in the Loch. (1st picture)

We had a lovely run up to the highlands with traffic being almost non-existant!!!

The roads were mostly single carriageway with passing places once you got away from the A9. This was the A838, (2nd picture) you can take it from me that the B roads were a lot narrower and twistier than this! We followed the A383 north to Laxford Bridge, the A 894 to Newton and then the B869 along a very scary twisty road to Drumbeg where we stopped for lunch overlooking a bay that was dotted with lots of small islands. Here we actually found a public toilet that was open (tmi).

After lunch we moved on to a viewpoint between Clachtoll and Rhicarn (3rd picture) that was marked on the map. What a stunning view of the peaks in the distance!!!

THEN JOY of JOY's we saw first 1, then 2, and finally 3 GOLDEN EAGLES!!!!! (pictures 4 & 5) They were circling in the distance coming ever closer until we had some really good views of them, unfortunately we did not have time to get the scopes on then as someone was in a hurry (not to miss pointless). Had it been just Sue and I we would no doubt have remained there considerably longer.













Ah well as we moved off (Mike driving) it was time to head for home so we continued to the end of the B869 then the A837 all the way back to Inveran and Invershin, pausing to look at Ardvreck Castle, (15th century home of the McClouds) and home to the cottage hardly pausing for breath!
Sue cooked a lovely meal and we collapsed knackered, but what a great day, I had waited 62 years to see a Golden Eagle in the wild, then to see 3 was fantastic..........

Day 14, Weds 12th Oct 2011

A day shopping in Inverness.

Woke to another lovely day and the sunrise was spectacular!

Off to Inverness on a mission to search for a bottle of Glengoyne single malt, this is a whiskey that can vertually only be bought in Scotland and is on a par with Glenmorangie, if not slightly nicer, in my book! this will save us a 150 mile round trip one day next week to get one!

Had lunch and did a bit of shopping at Tesco while we were there, then back to the cottage for a rest as it is a big day tomorrow going to the west highlands in search of the elusive golden eagle!

Day 13, Tues11th Oct 2011

Visit to Dalmore Distillery.

We got fed up with sitting about and as we had no option but to go to the supermarket as we had run out of ordinary whiskey, we combined the visit to Dalmore with it as it
was next door almost at Allness.

The car was really complaining all the way there but made it, we were early as they did not open until 1100 so went away and got shopping and then went back.

Above is Mike & Glyn around what they know best, Lorries and Whiskey Ha Ha! £5 was a bit steep we felt for the tour but turned out to be good value as it was much more comprehensive than the Glenmorangie visit. Mind you we were a bit peeved you did not get the cost of the tour back against a bottle of malt as you did at the other.

The two raspberries resting after the tour (left)




Dalmore is right by the Dornock Firth and a lot closer to those oil rigs that we went in search of last Friday, the staff at Dalmore were telling us that the positions of these can change from day to day.


Well the car was fixed this afternoon, at last and sounds great after the noise it has been making for the past week or so. WOOHOO