On Mom's first weekend in town we all three went to Aviemore, in the Cairngorm Mountains. While we were there we went Quad Biking, better known as 4-wheelin' in the US. It was so much fun riding those bikes through the fields and down the river banks. I definitely aimed for every mud puddle in my path and by the looks of Ian's clothes so did he! Mom came off the bike trail fairly clean in comparison to the rest of it. While we were on the bikes we saw some Highland Cows, which we named "mammy woolith's" (long story there, but I thank my nephew, Caleb, for the idea). They are the most interesting cows with all of the extra fur, which is really needed because it gets pretty cold in the Highland's region of Scotland. Here is a picture of the Highland Cow AKA Mammy Woolith.
After our trip in the mountains we took Mom to see Nessie at Loch Ness. Unfortunately no spotting's of the Loch Ness Monster for us again but the Loch itself is definitely worth seeing. We drove along the waters edge and even got out to touch the water. It was very cold and very dark water!
In the week following our outdoor adventures, Mom and I visited Edinburgh while Ian went on a business trip (poor Ian . . .). We went to see the castle in Edinburgh and Mom had a similar reaction to mine the first time I visited. She was amazed that it was so big, had so many different buildings, and was basically completely still in tact. We walked the Royal Mile plus lots more in Edinburgh. While we were there, we did a little shopping of course, and I found my new favorite store called White Stuff. And I found out that there is one in Aberdeen so I am super pumped that I have found "my store". Sorry, I know shopping may not be that important to all of you, but the ladies will understand.
Anyhow, after walking all through the city of Edinburgh, we took a few days off from traveling and enjoyed the sites, shopping, and artwork of Aberdeenshire. Then we were off again, this time to London, and again Ian had to work. In London, Mom and I did some of the tourist things like the London Eye, Big Ben, and the Tower Bridge just to name a few. We also visited the Tate Modern Art Museum, which was quite interesting. Since my mom is an artist she was totally in her element. For me, being a bit more square, some "pieces of art" I just didn't get. But it was fun all the same to get to experience it with her. I think my favorite part of our trip was going to see Wicked. Wow, was it a fabulous show! The entire experience of going to see a big show in London is wonderful, but this show is just so good!!!! I just love the city of London and can never see enough of it while I am there.
Mom ended her visit to Scotland with a few calmer days in Aberdeen. I did make her go to the grocery store with me a few times and that was an event in itself. She was totally amazed by the differences in the grocery stores in the US and here. I had a good laugh seeing her amazement and making her push the incredibly awkward carts in the store.
It was a great trip and I really miss having her here. I love you Mom!
Since Mom's departure, I have been getting back into the routine of working again! I am doing some consultant work for my previous employer in the US via internet. It is a good gig for all parties involved and I am happy with it so far. I am also still looking for a more permanent job in Aberdeen that will allow me to get out of the house more. But for now, this is a great job for me and it gives me the flexibility that I like.
My final thoughts to share with you all, as I know it is the burning question in everyone's mind . . . how are my dogs doing??? Well Oscar will be arriving in Aberdeen on Friday October 16th!!!!!!!! I cannot wait to have the first of my babies join us in Scotland. Grace's quarantine period in the US is not up yet so she is still getting loved in the US for the time being. See will be with us soon though.
Well better get to that job now . . .
Dear Amber And Ian,we are so pleased your mum's visit was a success,my goodness you certainly got to do a lot of things, I think your favoufite is shopping,I am pleased you enjoyed London, I went to see My Fair Lady at Drury Lane a lot of years ago, a trip from where I worked,I was good, but have been to L ondon many times, I wish we had seen more of Scotland though.I have never seen one of those bikes you went on, that is one bike I could have rode, I could never balance on a two wheeler bike.you seem to be settling down to well over there, I hope you don't plan on staying for good,did i tell you that Wayne and Brenetta have gone up to Kansas City.he was transfered and at the last minute Brenetta put in for a transfere and got it so she went aswell,so we have lost everyone, he has sent anemailand they sent there phone no.so I called them up.Brenetta isn't liking it very much they have put her on nights Nd he is on days so they are like ships passing in the night,but they at least have a job. we had six years of that in england, It wasn't very nice, I hated it,we had a few days cooler and it has come hot again, at least it is for me,we are hoping to go to florida the end of the month, but we are still messed up in the sunroom, they took all the rest of the tiles up and then couldn't match the tthree rows they had repaced, so we had to go up to coolsprings to the show room to pick some more out, they were supposed to be here this morning at 9oclock and its9.40 already and they are nowhere in site.we had an awful mess, dust everywhere now they are to take the others up so more dust. I wonder if we will ever get it done.goodness where has this year gone, almost halloween,then thanksgiving,then its Christmas again,who's going to let our New Year in?no Ian, poor Ian he missed out on your London trip, did he mind very much?I must thankyou for taking the time to send us news of all your adventures, they are very interesting, and it brightens our dull life up,I think we have got ourselves into a bit of a rut,if you know what that means,we wanted to go back to Florida, but on the news yesterday they said that they are going toput rates up and insurances are going to cut there coverage, the ins. they mentioned is the one we are in,so we don't know what to do. anyway we will be looking at homes while we are there,and see what the area is like,and ask if there is a lot of crime etc.we may have to stay up here, but it would be better for the family to come to see us.and we would be able to go to the beach now and then, and to Disney.so we have a lot to think about.so with that in mind I will say bye bye for now, Oh do you have a main line phone number you can send me?Have a nice day as they say here. still miss you both.love betty
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