Na rathaidean fada, lùbach tro Chuimrigh agus Alba

Today’s trivia is on Aberdeen, our staging post for countless murder mysteries:

• Aberdeen is over 8,000 years old, with settlements dating back that far.
• Originally, Old Aberdeen (near the university) and New Aberdeen (fishing/trade) were separate, merging over time.
• The Motto “Bon Accord” was a secret password used by Robert the Bruce during a 1308 siege, now famously used as the city’s motto.
• The Brig O’Balgownie in Aberdeen dates back to the Wars of Scottish Independence.
• Marischal College is the second largest granite building in the world, after Spain’s Escorial Palace.
• The Winter Gardens at Duthie Park is one of Europe’s largest indoor gardens, featuring a notable cactus.

At checkout, I queried about or bill, but just got a blank stare!

First stop was at Rait Castle, an A Grade historical site.

Then it was off to Brodie Castle, arriving at 10:25. Parking was free, entry was free and the guided tour starting at 10:30 was free. HGiT for timing?

Great tour of the castle, which was really just a house with a few rooms, nothing over the top. We just finished as a trip-a-deal tour was coming at 11:30 and full of Germans this time.

Mr and Mrs Brodie eloped as her were parents against the marriage. Mr B was the one in red shoes who became the acciendatal heir as his older brother drowned.

The heir to be is in red, looking straight ahead and highest, others don’t look ahead, but 2nd in-line has red shoes.

Books, it is always about books . . .

The last in line of ownership . . .

Nimian liked acting and pursued it throughout his life. Ian, his dad was a great gardiner and instrumental in daffodil prorogation. He is credited to over 400 prorogation. The qalledngarden which we didn’t gonto has 10,000s of daffodils.

The bathroom was put in around 1924 for the guests.

It was a bit like The Tenement House in Glasgow, given to the National Trust, as-is for prosperity. HGiT?

Driving through Elgin Annette spotted a ruined church, so thought a good time to add a bit of juice to the car while sight seeing. Fail, chargers not working. So we drove to the church. They wanted £12 to visit a ruin, so we just walked around the outside.

On the river Loosie some dogs were jumping in after a stick . . .

I was wanting to go to Slains Castle and not risking state of charge stopped in Keith for a quick top up. Charger was working, HGiT?

We walked to a Bakery, I had a wagon wheel, not as good as the one at Port Issac (Dr Martin) that I still remember from 2014 trip, I might be short, but I’ve got a long memory! Annette had a coffee which she said wasn’t too bad. On the way back to the car a Scotsman asked if wee needed a wee little help. Said all good and he promptly said Australian. Yes, and have you been there? No, wee too far for me. He asked were wee may be heading. Said Aberdeen. He said don’t, its morbid with the granit buildings. I said what about the sandstone buildings here, they look grey? He just said, they’re old and went on his wee way.

Back at car, charging had stopped and charger was in Error 39. Least I got to 70% charge.

Then it was off to Balquhain Stone Circle. Annette said, there’s nothing here, so I went off into the distance risking life and limb climbing over electric fences and a lonely bull to come to . . .

Arriving at our accommodation they said we’ve upgraded you to a Junior Suite as you’re such a lovely couple! Oh thanks. The mini bar is stocked to the hilt and so is the desk tub. But alas, everything is pay-as-you-go, nothing is free. On top of that, there’s no face washers😱. The bathroom fan was running noisily. Take note of this.

I found a charging station directly opposite a laundromat. The laundromat was, for first time users, please call. Well that wasn’t going to happen so we left and went to Speedy wash. Great place and staff apart from a prominate national flag! Had a long chat with Keri, the owner.

Half way through the drying cycle we checked the clothes and bits of paper came out. It was the map and receipt from Brodie Castle that went throught the washer and drier! But the payments for washing and drying didn’t. Keri took a big financial risk and said come back tomorrow and pay me. Anyway, I found approval was stuck in no-mans land on Wise’s App and got it fixed later that night

When we came back to hang out our washing for a final dry, the bathroom fan was still running😱😱.

To make life easy, we had dinner at the hotel. We were shown in by A, who said B will come and look after us. B came and took our order and C delivered our order. Finally, D brought our bill!

Back at the room, the bathroom fan was still running😱😱😱. I called reception to find out how to turn fan off as it is annoying. If I could see them, I suspect they would have had that blank look on their face, as most people seem to do when I ask something. They made some helpfull suggestios, trying turning all switches off and on, take the master key out (so no light or power, don’t think so), close bathroom door, read the ‘sleep tips’ on welcome screen . . .

and finally they just said good night. It eventually stopped at midnight, but . . .

Today’s travels . . .