Stuck

The trusty steed isn't happy.  The Nighthawk's in Casualty/ER/A&E waiting for a diagnosis.  It's like so many things that happen to us as we get a bit older - bits keep getting tired and failing.  Mind you she's still a youngster.  Actually this problem has been partially showing itself for a while but every time a doc looks at her she's pronounced fit or undiagnosable.  The problem?  The tailgate (for the Nighthawk is a tourer/estate/station wagon) opens and closes by using a button on the key.  Yesterday when CJ and I arrived back from our day out I opened the tailgate but when I closed it it failed to lock which in turn prevented her from being secured.

This morning I took her to the Wirral's only Honda Hospital.  Given that the Wirral peninsula has a population somewhere approaching 500,000 people I was surprised there was only one hospital dedicated to Hondas.  I was less surprised to learn that they were unlikely to be able to look at her this week. It seems that car hospitals have the same problem as the ones we humans use.

I managed to find another general hospital who kindly offered to look at her but the latest news is that the problem needs a specialist.  Fortunately one will be visiting the hospital today.  It sounds as if she needs a rear lock motor transplant.  Oh dear.

In the meantime CJ and I are grounded!

Journeying - Day 2

On Friday morning I woke at 0430 as a Blackbird's beautiful and exceptionally penetrating song came in through the open bedroom window.  I love that sound.  But not at that time of the morning, thank you very much.  Fortunately I managed to get another couple of hours of shuteye.  Then David and I went for a walk with Molly along the shore at West Wemyss for an hour or so before breakfast and my journey down to Durham.  There I became a tourist for a while before meeting up with friends for  the evening.

Mornings on the Firth of Forth don't come much calmer than this.

However they do come stormier and the shore was littered with broken trees from a recent very severe gale which left much of Scotland paralysed for several hours

Many remained, however, as did this beautiful bank of lupins

David even managed to tire Molly with all the ball throwing

The pigeons had colonised the cliff face.  I would like to know how all the holes appeared in the sandstone: many where perfectly and unnaturally cylindrical

But don't try and get in because it's always locked

I hit the jackpot with my room at the Radison Blu in Durham: exceptional comfort and service with every facility I could have needed

Journeying

As I start this post it is nearly 100 hours since I drove onto the ferry to leave Lewis.  The ferry leaves at 0700 which means getting up at 0500.  0530 on an ordinary day is not too unpalatable unless, and it's a big unless, I actually have to get up.  I wonder why that is.  The journey through the Highlands of Scotland is always wonderful and as I was in absolutely no hurry I had the opportunity to take my time and enjoy the journey.  

The road between Ullapool where the ferry lands on the Western side of the Scottish Mainland and Inverness which is on the East side is about 60 miles (about 100 ks) through some stunning and spectacular landscape until I arrived in West Wemyss at about 1730.

Loch Glascarnoch in the Highlands on the road between Ullapool and Inverness.

The road between Ullapool and Inverness above the Aulthuish Inn

Ruthven Barracks by Kingussie (on the A9 Inverness to Perth Road)

The Watermill Café at Blair Atholl

The back of Falkland Palace in Fife

Just what the Doctor ordered on a hot afternoon in Falkland

All the places I visited were worthy of a post on their own and hopefully I will eventually do one for each of them.  The Falkland Palace is part of the Scottish National Trust and so photography is not allowed.  I must get back onto that bandwagon!

Thankful Thursday

I had a nightmare. No a night stallion.  Far too horrible to be downgraded to nightmare.   I'm fairly used to nightmares but this was a particularly horrible and seemingly prolonged one.  I was confined to a room in a house.  I was free to leave but couldn't.  If that sounds odd it's because it was odd.  And horrible.  There was a lot more to it, of course, but I can't remember all the details now.

So today I am thankful, very thankful, for the fact that I am free.  I am free to go where I wish.  I am free to do as I wish.  I am free to speak as I wish.  

CJ and I were fortunate in that we were brought up with a remarkable freedom.  There were no barriers other than our own understanding that we had freedom so long as we didn't abuse it.  I often wish that society could work on that basis.