A letter to Gail's friend Sally and a suggestion

Aberdeen,

22 June 2014.

Dear Sally,

Re: Aviemore weekend

I gather you are coming to Scotland with a friend next weekend, and Gail and I shall be driving over to Aviemore on Friday evening to meet up with you both for a couple of days of hillwalking.

Oh you can't imagine how much I am looking forward to this. I am fairly bouncing with excitement already.

I hope you don't think this presumptuous of me, as I realise you may already have planned the weekend activities, but I was wondering if I might make a suggestion?

You see, I have a blogging pal in Australia, he is very young laddie, a wee Scottie pup, and his name is Dui, after the mountain Ben Macdui. Now I have been looking on the map, and I see that a walk from the Cairngorm Ski Centre up to the summit of Ben Macdui might be an option for Saturday, provided your friend is the energetic sort. (Gail has told me how you, Sally, cycled all the way across the USA last year, carrying a tent and stuff, so I have no worries on your account).

Oh it would be so special if we could walk up there together, and you could take loads of photos of me at the summit and I could post them on my blog to show Dui what 'his' mountain looks like.

Gail says she thinks it is a good idea, provided the weather is OK, but that we should probably tackle the 'straight up and down' route rather than longer alternatives which, although appealing, might be too tough on my paws.

So how about it anyway?

You know, if you want to do something else, that's fine by me too, so long as I am included.

'Til Friday,

Toodle pip!
Bertie.

My super weekend at the Hilton

Humans can be quite a puzzle can't they?

I've just been away for the weekend with Gail and some of her friends. We all stayed at the Hilton Hotel in Coylumbridge, near Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands, for reasons far too boring to explain here.

Gail kept saying "you know Bertie this hotel isn't at all my sort of a place really, too big and busy, and lacking in character."

Extraordinary!

I thought it was simply fabulous.

The staff on the reception desk were so friendly.


They even gave me special 'doggy welcome pack' containing treats, poo bags and other good stuff.

There was a nice big TV in my bedroom so I could watch the rugby in comfort.

I can't think why Gail groaned when she heard that a 'hen party' from Glasgow were also staying at the hotel that weekend. Well I will admit to some disappointment on learning that a hen party does not involve real live chickens, but when I met chief hen/bride-to-be Kelly (from Dunbeath, not Glasgow, as it happens) I thought she was just lovely and couldn't at all understand Gail's concerns.

Plus there were loads and loads of little humans charging around the hotel, screaming and waving their arms in a most stimulating fashion. Sadly, Gail didn't share in my excitement. In fact, to be frank, she looked a little tense, and kept rushing me outside, exhorting me to enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of the surrounding forests.

Which is where we went for a walk and Gail took this 'team photo' (age range two to very nearly ninety).

In ascending height: Bertie, Gisèle, Françoise, Hilary, John

And of course, as is only right, she took lots more photos featuring just me.

So, yes, I'll concede the walks were fun too, and to be honest I'm glad I did not stop indoors to watch the Scotland rugby team lose to Italy, but oh I do so hope I can persuade Gail to take me for another stay at this wonderful hotel.

Taking centre stage

My South African golden retriever friend Toby has been very busy recently, rehearsing for the part of Sandy in a school performance of 'Annie'.

Now, not wishing to blow my own trumpet, but I believe I can teach young Toby a thing or two about holding centre stage...

Alert readers will have spotted that I am not in my normal living room. No indeed, we have upgraded for the weekend. Do you like my new residence?

There is another dog staying here too, called Max, and we have what are apparently known as 'dominance issues'.

I shall tell you more about this most interesting little holiday* at Inshriach House (near Aviemore) when I return to Aberdeen next week. 

Meanwhile, Gail is saying "You've got to learn, Bertie, that it's not all about you."

But she's wrong about that, isn't she....?

*I have, of course, been continuing to work on my climate paper, in between other stuff..