Hogwarts?
It wasn't long before we were on the road again with Jonestours. This time we went to deliver a bottle of wine to an old friend who lived somewhere up the coast. naturally, I wasn't paying attention to the exact location. A pity really, as on the way Rob stopped at a magnificent castle, built in the 19th century for, I think, the Duke Of Sutherland. It was pretty impressive I can tell you and owing to the time of year and to the fact the place was closed, we were the only visitors. It looked for all the world as if we were approaching Hogwarts. The gardens out the back were beautiful even in December and the view over the Kyle at the back was stunning.
What a place
Rob finds a friend
We then set off back to Bonar Bridge. Jonestours decided to take the old mountain road in order we could look at a place, especially built for salmon, where the little rascals leap upstream and indeed, uphill every year, a sight, which Rob assured us was just as magnificent as that at the more commercial Shin Falls, a popular visitor attraction in the summer months. Trouble was, the old mountain road, because of its lonesomeness, does not get gritted at times of heavy snowfall. Consequently we slipped and slid our way across the mountains, in the pitch black dark, fortified and emboldened by the occasional swig from Rob's hip flask. Jeremy Clarkson et al, eat out your hearts.
The start of the long road.
It wasn't long before the New Year festivities were under way. This involved visiting every one of Rob and Cara's friends during the evening and drinking and eating at each stop. Now to us southerners, this might not represent too much of a challenge. However in the Highlands of Scotland these friends don't exactly live next door to each other. By the end of the night we had walked up dark, lonely roads with booze and some kind of electronic reindeer for company, across ploughed, snow covered, icy, muddy fields and from one end of the village to the other besides, pausing only to let off fireworks and launch balloons on the bridge and gatecrash another separate New Years Party where Jones was instantly evicted, the worse for wear, for remarking lewdly upon the upholstery of the well endowed lady of the house. Indeed, that was the last we saw of him for a while.
The next time we were to enter his orbit was at about 5am when we returned home from the last port of call, to find a sodden pile of clothes and wellingtons just inside the living room of his abode. It transpired that he had failed to negotiate the considerable length of drive to his house by the loch side and, slipping on the ice, had ended up in a waterfilled ditch from which it took him a great effort extricate himself rom.
Just a pile of clothes!
Trish wins the Singing Star Competition.
The night is yet young, the third stop.
A balloon for The New Year
Needless to say the next day was a wipeout. We got up late and watched TV most of the day, not to mention a not so fine 1-0 win for the Spurs against Fulham. Soon it was time for us to pack our bags and head for the airport but not before all friends had met again on Dornoch beach for the traditional cricket match, complete with egg sandwiches crisps and champagne.
That old familiar action
That old familiar forward defensive
Cara has learned how to field by watching the Aussies
Thanks to Rob and Cara for their wonderful hospitality and to all their friends for contributing to our fab time. It was certainly a New Year to remember.
