Dalzell's Travels

 We left Aberdeen and headed south, stopping at Braemar for  some photos – we were not able to stop at Balmoral Castle as the Queen was there and we forgot to pack our invitation to afternoon tea!

We continued on through the mountains passing through some spectacular scenery at Glen Shee – the photos just do not do it justice!  Glen Shee is one of the major ski resorts in winter.

Glen Shee

We arrived at Sandy’s cousin’s place at Coupar Angus in the middle of the day.  In the afternoon, we sat and chatted with Thelma and Dennis and Uncle Sandy (Sandy’s uncle – Alexander, shortened to Sandy – a bit confusing sometimes). Uncle Sandy is a true Scotsman, who wears his kilt at all times.

After a fantastic dinner of Beef Steak Pie – our favourite – and pavlova, we spent the evening having a few wee drams, laughing, talking, having a few wee drams, laughing, playing some quizzes, having a few wee drams, until after midnight.

After a leisurely start on Sunday morning, we piled into two cars, collected Uncle Sandy from his home and headed off to Alyth to show Janet and Adrian where Sandy was born, then on to Auchenleisch, where Sandy’s father and mother lived with the family when they were first married.  We then drove into Glen Isla, to see the hotel that they had their reception in and the school that he would have gone to as a boy.

Auchenleisch

We then went to the Backwater Dam and the Reekie Linn falls before heading off to the Glen Isla Golf Club for lunch and then to the Meikleour Beech Hedge, which is the tallest beech hedge in the world – and the house in behind it, is where Sandy’s sister, Maria was born.  Then we drove to Uncle Sandy’s house for a cup of tea and a biscuit.

Scottish Family

When we got back to Dennis and Thelma’s place, they taught us how to play Shuffleboard, which they learnt to play on their annual holidays to Teneriffe.  There was lots of laughter when we weren’t playing well and screams of delight when we got a good score.  Eventually, each of the four of us made it to a score of 100. 

Shuffleboard

After a lovely roast beef dinner and some more pavlova (mmmm mmm), we “had a soft seat” (one of Thelma’s lovely expression) and proceeded to have a few more wee drams (not as many as the night before), some more blether (chatter, talking), and lots more laughs, before heading off to our beds, after spending a wonder 2 days with Thelma and Dennis!!!