Timely Tattoos

 You may remember that some time ago I mentioned that I intended to get a "Product Of Canada - 1937" tattoo.  Haven't got around to it yet, but Kathryn decided that she would like to get patriotic too and couldn't wait for me to get off my butt.

So, she contacted Maureen's granddaughter, Chynna, and this is the result, a bit more subtle than I had in mind, but nice, especially the flag pole effect.

And here is the culprit, posing with Kathryn.

Nice work Chynna!  I'll be contacting you soon, because..........

Mardi and I have decided to hell with it - we're not going to let the current political gong show stop us from enjoying our Florida property.

So, we will be in a two bedroom condo at Orange Lake for the first few days of January.  My travel partner (not Mardi, she's flying down) will have a place to stay after we pick Mardi up at the Orlando airport.

Then, since we seldom get January visitors, we will downsize into a one bedroom condo for the rest of the month.

Back into a two bedroom, beside the Lazy River for February.

And, this morning, we booked a two bedroom trailer rental in Port Richey, near cousin Jill and Ron, for the month of March.

In February we'll try to book a couple of last minute free Holiday Inn Club days in Myrtle Beach for April 1 and 2.

So, if any of you would like to be our guests in February or March let us know.  First come, first served.

Meantime, stay well.

The Eyes Have It

 Mardi had her right eye cataract operation today.  Her operation went well, so now we each have one good eye.  What a team!

One of the recovery rules is that she can't drink alcohol for 24 hours.  So now my moral dilemma was, do I avoid the devil drink in support of her, or do I sneak one when she's not looking 😖.  Did the latter, but she followed the rules.  Smart lady.

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Between the operation and the follow-up visit, hat was basically our whole day.  No other news except that the Blue Jays continue to impress.

In case I don't report tomorrow, I'll wish Mardi's brother Greg and Diane a happy anniversary now.

Stay well.

Giggles With The Girls

 Two birthday celebrants today - Al Knapp and Grant Maclean.  Best wishes to both!

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My back has returned to its normal "just sore" status and the leg is better too.  So I headed to the greenhouse to cut some grass.  Spent two hours on the mower with no issues.  I will finish the job tomorrow.

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Tonight Mardi and I headed to The Innsville to meet Jo-Ann and Kathryn for dinner.  Had a very relaxed evening bringing each other up-to-date on what's been happening.

They presented me with a T-shirt that they brought back from Alaska.

I'll be sure to wear it when I go fishing with Steve.  Hope that the Pickerel won't be offended by the Bass shirt.

It was a lovely evening, only marred by the news that Jo-Ann received while they were away that her former husband, Ernie David, had died.  Ernie was a great guy, a friendly bear, who amicably split with Jo-Ann years ago and they had remained in touch.

Ernie joined the Trompers for a bicycle adventure way back when, and he created a cartoon depicting an event on that trip.  I couldn't find it tonight.  Perhaps Doc or Gary can resurrect it and we can share it with you all.

Stay well.  

On Pause

 Yesterday, Monica and Jim celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary.  Congratulations!

Just one less than Bonnie and Steve.  Boy, I do know a lot of old people! 

Now that I've ticked them all off, I'll shut up.

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Speaking of old, this tired old body is complaining these days.  I don't know whether it was the hills and stairs of Scotland, lifting the suitcase when we got home (the kids looked after that job while we were away), or lifting bags of mulch off the top of a skid pile, but my back and left leg are not happy campers right now.  

I have bailed on my Optimist duties scheduled for tomorrow at the Peach Festival.  Mardi, bless her heart, plans to work all three days of the festival.

The greenhouse lawns were last cut on August 2.  Fortunately, the grass hasn't grown much.  Unfortunately, the weeds didn't get the message!

My current plan is to cut the grass on Sunday.  Then, Mardi and I will celebrate with Jo-Ann and Kathryn at the Innsville - they just returned from their cruise and Vancouver Island stay.

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In the meantime, Mardi and I took in "Pinkerton Comes To Prospect" at the Roselawn Theatre in Port Colborne tonight.  A bit of slapstick comedy to brighten the day.

I don't expect to report tomorrow.  Sunday will have more news.

Stay well.

55 Years!

 Yesterday was the 55th wedding anniversary of Bonnie and Steve.

Mardi and I were invited to share in their large family celebration.

The younger folk enjoyed the Lake Erie playground.

Well, there was one older person who played in the water too.  Bonnie's brother Bob, in his seventies, managed to get up on water skis.  I didn't get a picture - his voyage only lasted about 100 yards.

Ethan and Greg made the trip down from Petawawa.

This coming week, Ethan will get a promotion and will then outrank his dad.  I wish we were there to watch the first time Dad salutes Son!

Games, food and drinks.  A fine day, celebrating a fine couple.

Best wishes for many more years.

Home Again

 First of all, apologies to Yancy and Kayt for neglecting to recognize their anniversary on the 12th.  We were a bit messed up that day!

Yesterday all went well.  The Westjet flight crew were all apologetic for the cancellation the previous day and we got a complimentary glass of wine (as well as a 15 pound voucher for food in the airport).  Forgiven.

And the B&B that hadn't been cleaned didn't charge for that day and left two bottles of wine as well.  Forgiven there too!

All of the accommodations were fabulous.  Three in very old buildings, but all had the very latest in kitchen and bathroom technology.

To make the most of our extra day we did a pub crawl.  First off we found "The Grapes", founded in 1855.  We found seats in a small side room where five old Scots were having their evening drunk.  Chatted us up they did!

Then I headed back to the apartment, but some of the rest headed to a fringe bar (and maybe a couple of others as well).

On the way to the airport yesterday we paid our last respects to Salisbury Crag.

I loved the hair and beard on this security guy at the airport.

Wish that I could do that.

And so it ended.  Mardi and I got home in time to watch the Blue Jays game, but fell asleep before it finished, in our 19th hour without sleep.

Today we're in recovery.  Stay well.

Scotland - Last Day

 This morning we headed to Sterling Castle.

An opening ceremony in the gardens.

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Whoever controls the bridge on the river below controls Scotland.

In 1297, William Wallace defeated the British.  In 1746 the British defeated the Scots.  In between the control changed hands several times.

This is the Great Hall.  No nails in the Oak roof.  

Apparently, some important people have died here.

All in all, I enjoyed this castle more than Edinburgh Castle.  Although smaller, it was more open and impressive.  It had outer walls for extra protection. 

A couple of unsavoury characcters on scene.

We stopped for a bite before leaving the castle.

And then we headed for the William Wallace Monument.  

That's it on top of the hill behind my head.  A long walk up the hill and then 246 steps in the monument.  I decided to forego that pleasure.

We drove back to our unit which had been cleaned.  It looks much better now!

Most of the folks headed out to a local bar.  I stayed home with my Pinot Noir and worked on the blog.

Heading home in the morning.

Stay well.

Scotland - Day 8

 We left our posh abode in Inverness this morning.

Five bedrooms, each with a modern bathroom and the latest technology.  The dining room had slate placemats and coasters!  Felt like royalty.

Then we headed to Loch Ness for an hour cruise on the Jacobite Rebel.

And here I am, in my summer garb, ready to board.

We saw Loch Ness.

And we saw the Loch Ness monster!!!

Then it was on to Neptune's Staircase, an eight lock system built in the early 1800's.

Time for a Team Trillium picture.......

.......beside the "cooz".

We had lunch at a restaurant on salt water....

........and Mardi and I enjoyed the Langoustine (small, but tasty lobsters).

And finally, we headed to Stirling, a long drive complicated by a head on accident on a one lane road which caused us a half hour delay, followed by road construction.  They only allowed traffic to move once an hour and we had a 40 minute wait, but that was faster than any detour route.

So we arrived at our destination very late, only to discover that it hadn't been cleaned, the beds weren't made, and supplies were scarce.

Sue called the manager and got the code to the supply room and the ladies made the beds.  

Hopefully, this is the only disaster on our trip.

Stay well.  Talk tomorrow.

Scotland - Day Seven

 

Internet issues last night so I'm a day late again.

Along the way the day before we went through some bleak scenery which included a ski hill (and thousands of sheep).  Snow in the winter and cold, wet and windy for most of the summer.  Maybe that's why our ancestors left!

Our first stop today was at the Clara Cairns, dating from the Bronze Age.  The stone mound below has an open circle in the middle.

Other mounds were used as burial sites for the leaders.

It is believed that these structures would have had a roof originally.

Lots of upright stones along the way that must have had some special meaning in the day.

Our next stop was Culloden, the site of the final battle between the Jacobites and the British Army.

We took a tour of the battlefield and our guide explained the flow of the Jacobite wars which were intended to bring Bonnie Prince Charlie to the throne.  They might have won, but for a strategic error in 1746, which led to their defeat here.

This cottage was used as an infirmary by the British.

A memorial cairn to honour the 1,500 Jacobites who were cut down within an hour of the start of the battle.

And what follows is the likely reason for the exodus of our ancestors.

We stopped for a meal in the medieval town of Forres, then back to our very modern digs in Inverness.

Stay well.

Scotland - Yesterday

 First off, I got an answer to my question about whether David would build me a "head gardener cottage" at Trillium Hill.  My boss, Sean, advised that I could live in the garden shed down front.  Awesome!  What a guy!  Love working with him!

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Getting back to the trip, David rented a nine passenger van yesterday and we headed to Inverness.

What I didn't know was that he planned a secret stop along the way.

The Home of Golf!

We parked beside the closing hole.

And the statue to their hero, Tom Morris, the father of golf.

I used to get accused of trying to pack too much into a vacation.  I always thought that you may not get back so don't miss anything. Apparently that fault is genetic.  On to the next destination, Braemar Castle.

I love the ceremonial shovel and wheelbarrow.

And the baby crib.

And a gift from an Indigenous visitor.

A labyrinth outside the window.

Then it was on to Inverness.  A late dinner and we got home at 11 p.m.  Thus the delayed blog.

Another busy day today which I will report on later.  

Stay well.