Friday 15th July 2011 – Banchory

Catherine went to work about 7am after making the children’s lunch etc so that they could spend the morning at Holiday Club (children are on school holidays here).  Gregor got the children up, breakfasted, dressed add left about “half eight” to drop off the children and go to work.

We all had a slow start – Skyped Sarah and baby Christopher (Damian was at work and Bradley & Katrina were not online).  Eventually, about 11 we headed off, first to the woollen factory to buy a few bits and pieces and then downtown for a cup of coffee.

Back to the house for lunch and then Jennie, Richard and I, with Callum as our guide set off to Crathes Castle.  A bit of a mishap with the chain on one of the bikes saw us back to the house to swap bikes and then we were off again. 

Jill, Cath with Emily and James on scooters took the 'broken' bike down town to be fixed and then drove to Crathes to meet us.  By the time we got there, we discovered that the castle had closed for the day but found there was to be a performance of Fantastic Mister Fox in the grounds that evening.  We ended up taking the children to the show which was fantastic (to go with Mr Fox) with something like 600 people there.  

Catherine (who had to see a client at 7 o’clock missed the show but came back to pick up Jill, Emily and James and the rest of us rode home at 9pm.  You can do that here – still plenty of light.  Back home and Gregor had prepared a delicious meal of haggis, taties & neeps (entrée) followed by barbecued lamb and vegies.  To bed around midnight again.  Not sure how they keep it up.