You know you're in the Highlands when the big story in the local newspaper is the winner of the local agricultural show. This year 'Girl Power' dominated the field with the very lovely Cadran 4th taking 1st prize.
The hotel considers itself to be very grand. We are less convinced. It used to be stellar but now 'good' might be a better description. The corridors are long and have a hint of 'The Haunting' about them. The staff , with one or two exceptions, seem to think smiling might devalue the experience. This is what happens when private equity companies take over old and distinguished family concerns. Prices soar, maintenance is gently deferred and corners are quietly and imperceptibly cut. There's an equally grand hotel in La Jolla that's gone the same way. 'I remember when' opinions like this may be par for the course when you reach a certain age.
After an enjoyable breakfast we're on our way early. We spot three eagles on the walk down to the car park.
An hour and a bit in the car and we're back here on the coast . On a good day you could do it in 45 minutes but high summer is the time when the utility companies think it a good idea to dig up the roads to lay new pipes. The contraflow system on the M90 is particularly dire - it adds twenty minutes to the journey.
The bees are out en masse. I thought that this was an ok, at best, year for bees but this morning there are thousands of them busily at work. One has a bright white band on his back. On the evidence of this morning I'd upgrade 2025 to being a bumper year for bees. The sound of thousands of bees happily enjoying themselves is one of lifes most basic pleasures.
China loves hotels with the word Vienna in the name :https://towardsdatascience.com/i-analysed-25000-hotel-names-and-found-something-unexpected/
Dogs :https://www.sciencenorway.no/can-animals-also-get-sunburned/2533345
Spiders:https://news.arizona.edu/news/tiny-fossil-suggests-spiders-and-their-relatives-originated-sea
11 comments:
I'm glad the meal (and wine) were fitting for the approaching 'big' birthday. I hope you enjoy the wildflowers book you posted about yesterday. The artist is a friend of ours, and a lovely person as well as a gifted artist.
I was hoping for a little more detail on the food and wine!
Hari OM
Good that the food met approval (Strathearn or Fairlie?)... I recall a conversation some twenty years back where someone I knew was already describing that hotel as "fading"... I suppose like anything, there will be 'waves' according to management and staff. YAM xx
Glad your dinner was a success, even if the hotel was less so - that hallway still looks rather grand. Your photo with both a bumblebee and a grasshopper (?) on the same flower is quite something. As to dogs and sun, we notice that the insides of Charlie's ears become quite tan in the summer. (He likes to wear them turned inside out.)
Good to know that your birthday dinner was enjoyable. The hallway looks reather dreary and doesn't look particularly welcoming.
The last two photos of the bees are beautiful and it's a relief to know that they are still thriving.
It looks like a good summer for bees, and honey production.
Belated Happy Birthday, Angus! How fast time is passing at this stage of life. May you enjoy many more. There is a front page story in the New York Times today about how most people in Scotland are less than thrilled with Donald Trump’s upcoming visit.
Sounds like a lovely birthday celebration...again, happy birthday! I love your busy bee photos.
Well spotted , Lisa! I had to take a second look! Dogs, especially dark colored dogs, can get terrible sunburns, but that usually means that the dog has been tied up in the sun. Most dogs are smart enough to move to shade if they are able. I'm glad birthday dinner was a success!!
Beautiful nature photos Angus. The animals and sun damage article was quite relevant here. Kippy just had surgery for cysts and one was skin cancer(surgery removed it). Last night’s internet search was for dog sunscreen and sun suits. She’s a white standard poodle and apparently light haired dogs can be more prone to skin cancer.
I’m happy for your birthday dinner. Is Les Pres d’Eugenie the place you had the gorgeous lodge in the sand dunes?
Post a Comment