A quick trip west

So last week at short notice* Gail and I made an overnight trip to the Torridon cottage to check on the how the renovation work is going. 

Let's see how things are looking inside.

In what Gail says is the year's least surprising news, progress is, well it is progressing, but somewhat slower than she'd hoped...

What can I say? My sofa is still stacked against the wall in the downstairs bedroom, and there is dust and rubble everywhere...

I'm pleased to report that at least the view from the front garden is unchanged.

On the way back to Aberdeen we stopped off at the grand but also dog-friendly Coul House Hotel for a bite to eat.

The nice man on reception saw Gail taking my photo...

... and decided she too needed to practice her 'pose nicely please' stance.

 

*Gail says: A new set of Covid-related restrictions for Aberdeen, banning non-essential travel outside of our local area, was announced on Tuesday and came into effect on Friday. So I made haste over to the Torridon cottage for a quick visit, not knowing when our ever changing rules will allow me (and Bertie) across to the west coast again. So hard to plan anything at the moment. Sigh...

Confusion and dismay in Torridon

So we went across to the Torridon cottage earlier this week, for what Gail said would be a "flying visit" to "see how things were going".

I can't remember if I've mentioned this before but, after eighteen years of dithering, Gail has finally initiated a major renovation/remodelling of the cottage. The builder started work on schedule in October and I was warned to expect a few changes...

A few changes? Talk about British Understatement! 

Where is the kitchen?

Where is the bathroom?

Most importantly, where is my sofa? Gail, please make it reappear!

Oh and why does our lovely cottage garden look like some Appalachian hillbillies have just moved in....

Well at least we still had a bed  - albeit a rather dusty one - for our overnight stay.

If you think I am looking upset in the picture above, that's because I am.

However, I am pleased to say that Gail, recognising the extent of my trauma, took me out for a nice walk before we returned to Aberdeen. It might be all mayhem in the cottage but, thank heavens, the landscape around us is unchanged and as lovely as ever, resplendent in its late autumn clothing.