What a difference a friend makes...

.... Especially one bearing an apple core.

Yes finally we are allowed to meet up for walk and picnics with our friends again. Hooray! Here I am on Friday just past, enjoying warm sunshine in Durris Forest with our lovely neighbours Neil and Yvonne.

Since Gail was far too busy nattering with her dear pals, she neglected to take any more photos of this most agreeable six mile walk around the edges of an irregular patchwork of ancient woodland and conifer plantations. Well anyway, the phone camera would have failed to capture the calm green tranquility of the views across the Lower Deeside hills, the slight buzz of excitement felt at the sight of remnant patches of snow on the distant Cairngorm plateau, the heady coconut smell of gorse mingled with the sweet pine scents nearby, the fresh colours of wildflower abundant meadows, and the lively birdsong soundtrack still relatively undisturbed by road and air traffic...

Life feels better!

Hide the evidence...

You know, I am beginning to appreciate that new technology, although it enables me to write a blog and share my thoughts and opinions with the world, does have its drawbacks too.

So I was all ready to greet Gail with the sad face, the droopy tail and the tales of hardship when she returned from her holiday in all those unpronounceable places. The sort of looks which, one hopes, will make her think I had suffered greatly in her absence and thus guarantee extra treats and cuddles until the guilt wears off.

Imagine my horror then when Gail bounced in last night waving her smartphone and saying "Hey Bertie, looks like you had a fine old time with Yvonne and Neil while I was away on my bicycle tour. Wasn't it nice of Yvonne to text me pictures of you enjoying a family get-together last Saturday night?"

And then Gail not only had the temerity to show me some pictures of her holiday, but also to claim there was no room in her panniers to bring home a doggy bag.

Post ride refreshment near Bileca, Bosnia-Herzegovina

Meal at Hotel Diamant, Bileca

Mountain track impassable on bicycles, Montenegro

Ice creams at Danilovgrad, Montenegro

Hotel Kosta's, Podgorica, Montenegro (aka Fawlty Towers)

Power cut in Shkodër, Albania

Coastal landscape, Montenegro

Waiting for dinner at Hotel Splendido, Kotor, Montenegro

Traditional Bosnian meat feast! (In Dubrovnik)

And I'm now wondering, did they ever actually get onto their bicycles?

Friends, I shall be catching up with you all when Gail has finished washing all her smelly clothes etc...

So where are you going this time then?

Gail, I have noticed there have a been a lot of 'training rides' lately, and also much fiddling around with your touring bicycle. I surmise you are off again on a trip shortly. Is that so?

Indeed it is Bertie, I'm leaving tomorrow in fact.

And where are you headed this time?

[Bertie looks puzzled at the response].

Are you OK Gail? It sounded like you were being sick? Perhaps you had better stay home with me.

Silly Bertie, I was just listing the places where we'll be staying. Let me try again, more slowly this time. Dubrovnik and Molunat, Croatia; Bilica, Bosnia-Herzogovina; Niksic, Podgorica and Kotor, Montenegro; Shkoder, Albania. Got it?

Er, yes, OK, fine. But what about me?

Well Bertie, you will be just across the road with our neighbours Yvonne and Neil. Won't that be nice?

That's Neil who likes long walks and Yvonne who does lots of cooking and often gives me treats? Oh yes, that would be most acceptable. A big improvement on so-called "camp" for sure. In fact, YIPPEE! No need to hurry back Gail…

See you all in about two weeks.