03 May 2010 - Crathes Castle

I thought Crathes Castle was built in a very similar style to Craigievar. Both castles were built within a few years of each other. This one isn't however bright pink!



There are beautiful gardens next to it to which we loved exploring.



One section of the garden was called the camel garden. I swear we hunted high and low for any sign of a camel. We were then told it's because that section of the garden undulates a bit; like 2 humps on a camel! Well that would explain.



And now for a spooky story from the castle. On the top floor there is a room which has a mirror hanging above the fireplace. If you move close to it on the left hand side, and stare across it side aways, there is the face of a woman in it. Not everyone experiences it. They were all synical about it and I admit so was I until I stood and looked and there it was the face of a woman!! Blimey!

There was also the strange story of the smell of pipe tobacco whafting around the house. One of the guides smelt it and went in to the room where it was coming from, ready to give the person a row for smoking in the castle. Nothing! Other staff have experienced it too.



i thought these hedges were nicely trimmed and looking like aliens from another planet! And guess what? They wobbled too when you punched them! Can't take that child anywhere!



A little bird takes a leisurely stroll round the garden.



A last look back at the castle before resuming our trip.

03 May 2010 - Duthie Park

A trip to Aberdeen isn't complete without a wander round Duthie Park. It is also home to a very special bench/seat that's inside the glasshouses, in commemoration of Andrew's dad. This is the entrance to the glasshouse areas.



Amber has a facination for cactus so we headed to that glasshouse first of all. Makes for a great game of hide and seek.



And I so hate this big ugly plastic frog but every time we have to go take a look at it and throw pennies in his pond. There's a mechanical movement in the frog which makes it rise and fall out of the water at set intervals. Great for kids to see for the first time but totally so predictable and boring for us adults!



It's a bit early in the season but in the summer you can hire a rowing boat in the small lake in the park. We did that last year with Andrew and Amber getting soaked.

01 May 2010 - Aberdeen

The one thing I like about Aberdeen is the mass of granite buildings in the city when you drive into it. Each time we visit we seem to spot a building we hadn't noticed before. This art deco building was quite special.... well if you like deco.



And I wish more towns and cities would adopt the street signs they use in Aberdeen.



I suggested this picture be taken since it demonstrates Andrew's parking skills. If a bollard gets in your way when you find a peach of a parking space....... just drive into it!!!! Only kidding, it was like that before we arrived. It still looked funny.



After munching our way through a curry at Nazma's we headed up the coast in Aberdeen to do some ship spotting.







A ship entering the harbour at sunset time!



The harbour that never sleeps. Is it just me or do harbours at night fascinate anyone else?



And look at this beast of a ship complete with full helicopter pad.

02 August 2009 - Aberdeen

Woke up sharp on Sunday with a full day planned before we made the trip back south and home. This is the view from our room, across the rooftops of Aberdeen.

When Andrew was a young lad he often went to Albury Outdoor Sports Centre for a game of putting with his dad. He wanted to see if he still had that winning Tiger Woods touch! Here he is lining up for another terrific shot as Amber casually poses watching his technique.

I have to mention in the blog that Andrew won the game of putting. He's only mentioned it about a dozen times since we've been back home. (Won? I absolutely smooshed them. I am the King of Putting).

Then on to Duthie Park where there is a commemorative chair for Andrew's dad in the winter gardens. As we parked up there was a surprise ... kayaking in the park!! Andrew remembered years ago they had rowing boats but they stopped it, no doubt due to health and safety concerns. It didn't take much to persuade Andrew and Amber that a quick jaunt in a kayak would be a good idea. That's them in the red boat.

Andrew became the first casualty of the day. No he didn't fall out the boat! He got stung by a wasp on his finger. It was only a wasp sting but Andrew would have you believe it was the largest bee he'd ever seen in Scotland! Have a look at the sting and judge for yourself.....

Amber's favourite pond inside the greenhouses is the pool where the big plastic frog surfaces at regular intervals.

And I see they have added a new Loch Ness monster lookalike in another pond. oooooooo feel scared.............!!!!!!!

Time was marching on and we had a long drive back home. But we had time to take a few photos of Stonehaven. Ahhh..... memories of our first family caravan holiday there!!

St Cyrus is always worth stopping for. Again, miles and miles of sandy beach to stroll along.

Absolutely stunning eh? The only negative is to get to the beach you have to walk through the Nature Reserve area. Now that sounds pleasant enough...... but wow the smell of dog poo is horrendous. Obviously a popular area for dog walkers. Once you hit the beach the sea air takes over though, thankfully.

Amber is a keen collector of branches. She excelled this time though after spotting half a tree on the beach.

Back to the car to complete our journey home but not before we say hello to the highland cows!

01 August 2009 - Aberdeen

There are many National Trust properties around Aberdeen and it was tricky chosing one but we settled for Fyvie Castle and Gardens. We were heading north to Banff and it was on our way.

As you'd expect the gardens were beautifully manicured offering some delicious looking fruit and veggies.



No idea what the significance was of the stone statue of the lady slap bang in the middle. Perhaps it was to provide some amusement for the gardeners as they worked away.

As with many gardens we visit, you are never far away from a sign reminding you of those little furry creatures that would gladly help you devour all the fruit and vegetables you have grown.

And what is it about weddings? Lo and behold another one was taking place at Fyvie Castle. Well the National Trust has to look for many ways to put extra pennies in the bank. Seeemed like quite a grand affair too.

Gardeners tip coming up now. If you want your carrots to be free from carrot fly then plant a row of marigolds in between. I think that was what my late father in law told me!!!

Then we drove north and soon arrived at the beach in Banff. What a great stretch of sand ideal for a long, lazy stroll. Seemed like we walked for miles.

No matter which way you turned just miles and miles of sandy beach.

And yes, another possible coastal development opportunity!!! However, this one had a bit of the public toilet look about it!!

Back down the road to Aberdeen, for a nice meal in the Olive Tree Brasserie. I went for the rabbit on the menu whereas Andrew opted for liver and Amber went for her favourite sea bass. The restaurant is on the Queens Road, Aberdeen beside some fabulous and enormous granite houses.

The evening wouldn't be complete without another stroll along the seafront.

31 July 2009 - Aberdeen

Friday night we headed up north for a weekend in Aberdeen. After checking into our apartment at Craibstone Suites and munching our way through a delicious curry at Nazma we headed down to the beach for a stroll just as night was descending on the granite city.



Two graffitied stones on a pathway down to the coast.

We've always fancied a coastal retreat and this old Water Treatment Plant looked like the ideal development opportunity. It comes complete with a sturdy flood defence wall! Bonus!!



And for those severe stormy nights when the water may just get too close the the house for comfort we could always wander up to the lighthouse and ask for a room for the night!!!