Technologically challenged

The typical hotel TV experience...

(We are staying overnight in Moffat, en route to Nottingham to see Human Granny.)

Home is where the heart is

So on the way back from Nottingham to Aberdeen we stayed overnight in 'The White House' - no not THAT one, rather, a modest guest house just outside Penrith. I'm sorry to report that the proprietor failed to recognise my status and so did not upgrade us from their  'too small to swing a cat' single bedroom this time.

There were signs aplenty of recent floods all round Cumbria and SW Scotland, but at least my favourite walk in the lovely little border town of Moffat was dry(ish).

I had been hoping for a nice hill walk in Aberdeenshire today, but for once will concede that Gail was right in decreeing a short stroll around the park to be sufficient, given the weather.

So instead, Gail and I are snuggled up together on the recliner, reading some old letters found in Human Granny's now empty house.

I want to show you a couple of snippets. Gail warns me they won't be as interesting to our readers as they are to us, but I'm going to post them anyway. If your eyes are good, and you click on the images to enlarge, you may even be able to read them.

Both letters, for different reasons, might bring a tear to your eye.

Here's one from Gail's maternal grandfather, to her mother (aka Human Granny, then aged 15), written when he was on active service for the RAF in Egypt at the end of WW2, but describing a trip to Palestine:

And here is one written by Human Grandad to Human Granny in 1955, just a couple of weeks before they became formally engaged. He is away at a work-related conference in Eastbourne, and missing her very much:

Bertie's motoring fantasy

It is a long drive from Aberdeen to Nottingham and back.

Yes, we did go by car this time. For some reason Gail decided to give the train a break...

Much as I like the Mini, and approve of the arrangement whereby the rear seats are folded down and all the space in the back is devoted to my comfort, I have to say that in warmer weather the lack of air conditioning is a drawback.

One can only stand with one's nose sticking out the front window for so long.

I have been looking out for a new car for us for quite some time now.

On the way home yesterday, we stopped for a break in the cute wee town of Moffat and I spotted the perfect vehicle in a hotel car park.

A vintage Bugatti.

I checked it over quite carefully.

Stylish, full of character, beautifully engineered and designed for staying cool.

Oh yes, I can imagine myself being driven all over the Scottish Highlands, wind in my furs, drawing gasps of admiration from envious bystanders (even more so than usual).

Gail, where can we buy one in Aberdeen?

Oh I am going to put my paws over my flappy little ears if you start on with your boring objections. And it doesn't rain here that much. Does it......?

PS I have been told to mention that my sore paw is quite better now. To tell you the truth, I had forgotten all about it.