A week at the beach.

This was Tuesday on a Puffin Cruise from McDuff. The trip was organised by the Natural History group, puffing round the coast from the little harbour at McDuff round Troophead. Those less seaworthy than us walked on the RSPB reserve at Troop Head and waved to us as we idlly sat looking for puffins.
Yes, we saw puffins, rediculous little birds flapping wildly in amongst the graceful swoops of the gulls, kittiwakes, skuas, fulmars (ugly brutes, cormorants...I may have missed some. They all looked like seagulls when in flight but the nesting habits of the gannets and kittiwakes made them easy to spot. The walkers also saw a peregrine!
Ralph and I sat on the beach at Cullen which is lovely little town further west while I ate my sandwiches and we watched children SWIMMING in the NORTH SEA! They are hardier than me, although the air temperature was hot, the sea is never ever warm. Little wet suits help though and are a great idea. I love to swim outdoors and have been in the Spey in March, so maybe I could aclimatize.
We were on the beach on Sunday after a visit to Nairn Allotments Open Day and the sun combined with the wind to make it a day of contrasts...wild waves and sky blue sky (!)
I was in Nairn again yesterday on the beach eating ice cream with my "grrrls", mum, Frances and her 3 nearly teenage twins and eldest 15 year old. We walked to the tower at Culbin Forest with Moss, one happy dog. What does she love more than the company of 3 adoring girls.
(Maybe the bone from the last piece of our road kill venison...)

The search for land.

Scotland is different from England in many ways. There is a definite cultural difference with costume, language, music and food tastes (no, not deep fried Mars Bars but lots of oats in national dishes). I have three kilts, I like porridge and haggis and know how to Strip the Willow.
But what I find the most difficult about my move up here is losing our land and animals. With all this space around us I thought it would be easy to find a field or two or some woodland, like Dale Wood or Sandal farm. There is always land coming up for sale in England.
Here is is different. The estate own most of the land which is around Grantown and although pieces of land do come on the market, they generally have planning permission attached so are out of our price range.
There is rented land but that too is highly sought after, like the Mossie, where Sue keeps Basil and Utrillo (and previously Bertie, sniff).
I have placed adverts, e-mailed the estates and looked at all the adverts in estate agents, papers etc.
We are now missing our main occupation that filled all the hours outside of work and after Bertie I am keen to have my own pony again, on my own land so I can look after it (not bothered, him or her) the way I want to.
I have even found a local - ish horse rescue that has a nice 18 year old who may well suit me, but I'm not going down that road until the land issue is sorted.
Meanwhile, we are still aiming to get an allotment on the proposed site in Grantown...that too is waiting for the estate to sort out their objections. A lovely visit to Nairn yesterday filled us with envy as their council had given the land for allotments to the society and fenced each plot and a security fence all round plus toilets...luxury.
But I've got lettuce and curly kale and eggs...better than nothing.

On the train situation, the driver was supended, Ralph is back on the plate next week and has been renovating a bullion carriage ... what bliss! He is also working on his Lambretta again.

The view from Carn Mor...a 2000ft hill on the Glenlivit estate. The people are from the walking group that I have joined and this is my 3rd walk with them.
As you can see, we did have some sun so consequently some views and the people are very normal and friendly, even if the walks are a tad sedentary compared to the Rucksack Club.
I had an active week; a paddle down the swollen river Spey incorporating the rapids between Alvie and Knockando (more on this later), a visit to an interesting garden centre in Dyke on Thursday where I bought 14 shrubs (for £50) and had a lengthy and interesting talk with the knowledgable owner, two garden visits with the Horticultural group on Friday, and riding Juniper around Grantown on Monday then Nethybridge on Sunday...phew!
This week seems sedentary in comparison. An appointment at the opticians,2 talks at the Grant Arms, a few hours getting the shrubs in and making them hen-proof which is no small undertaking and when the weather seemed too gloomy, painting the bedroom walls.
Ralph has an injury so he is taking it easy from physical activity but has wall-papered the hall and now painting it. He is also devouring library books, on book number 3 in 4 days.
It seems amazing to me that Grantown has so much when it is such a small place, but then the nearest city is 34 miles away and the next city is 90 (?) miles (is Perth a city?) or Aberdeen which is 108 miles. We are really quite isolated here. So, the dentist, the hospital, the optician, the entertainment, the shows and concerts, work even; here on the doorstep. We take the car out for outdoor pursuits more than any other reason.
There is also the river, the hills, the mountains, the tracks and crags, the beaches and the woods.
On Wednesday, after 2 days of heavy showers, which obviously were heavier in the mountains, the Spey was in full spate and we, the Speyside paddlers did a 2 hour river run. The rapids were smoothed over by the quantity of water but where the Avon met the Spey, the waves were like a surfing beach and it was the most fantatsic paddling I've yet done. I don't know why everyone wasn't on the river that day.
Many more to come...

Horses and boats.

This is Juniper. She is a 17 year old Highland that came for the weekend while her owner is on holiday. I miss Bertie, his lovely blonde rump which was often near my back garden fence and his thick, unruly two tone mane. Most of all I miss riding him, so willing and happy.
Sadly, his owner sold him as she didn't much like him and that's the way it is. You need to bond with your horse for it to work and their partnership was never going to work.
I just couldn't ride him for long because of his extremely broad back and my now wearing out hip joints. Our last ride was just an hour and a half and I had to get off and walk...mind you, it was a shorter ride if we could have cantered a bit but horse owner doesn't want to push her horse, Basil, as she fears he is suffering from fatigue.
However, Juniper came and I've ridden her once before on home ground and despite being in a strange place, she was forward and unflappable. Only the golfers unnerved her a bit and we did a 90 minute ride with very little pain for me, so despite her being very fat...she isn't as broad backed and my riding career isn't over.
Sorry for all this detail...it means a lot to me!
On Wednesday, I ventured through the rapids of the Spey with members of the Spey Valley Paddlers Group. The water was high and fast and therefore the rocky bits were easier but the converging waters of the Spey and Avon, created waves like a surf beach.
I enjoyed every last minute of our 90 minute paddle and feel confident in my boat and my river. I wish I could have taken photos but it was a trifle wet, not rain as it was a dry and clear day, but because of the waves and the speed we careered down river. Yipee!!
Ralph pulled/tore a calf muscle today on the usual dog walk and had to hobble home. He is now sitting with his leg up, pondering a summer of inactivity.

Updates.

It is a month since my last post...better bring you up to date and record for all time the months of May and June in Speyside and beyond.

First; trips away have included, Gairloch, Newton Stewart again and Braemar. Next one; West Highland Way.
Second; the house is still being decorated inside and out and the vegetables are making slow progress in the garden.
Third; Horse...Bertie went yesterday. I had one last ride of this lovely boy and then he was off to a riding place near Aviemore. I will have to pay to ride him now but at least I will get to have a nice canter on him and he won't be so lonely as he has been. I was heartbroken though as to me he is the perfect horse...just too wide and not having my own land presented difficulties.
Fourth; Land. Getting nowhere except for some allotments which are underway in Grantown. I am now on the official allotment group and we will hopefully be getting one sooner or later.
Fifth; Railway. Ralph is still training to be a fireman but was severly compromised yesterday when the train was started and moved while he was between the carriages....I was nearly a widow. Not good.
Canoe; I bought a lightweight canoe then found out it was kneeling only...whoops. It will have to go back down to Leeds for re-sale, totally unused! What a twit, I had no idea kneeling ones existed. (I've got bad knees) Finally got some bars and Ralph invented a device so I can load my own kyack (but that was only yesterday so still have no trips to report).
Sixth; Visitors, brother and mum in law. 2 others that were expected are ill. Very very sad situation.

Lastly; Dad. He continues to be frail and ill much of the time with glimpses of health every few days. He's not happy and it is hard to be a carer.

Oh...weather! Well, we still haven't had the extremes that others have had. Mostly just dull and showers while England drowned. 3 hot days this week so a bit of gardening...then rain today, hence the catch up.

Happy summer!