A polite thank you note to friends

Torridon, 23rd July 2024

Dear Tess and Richard,

Just a quick note to thank you both for accompanying Gail and me on such a stunning hike around Beinn na h-Eaglaise earlier today.

Didn't the weather turn out lovely?

And I even enjoyed the 'off-piste' section of the walk that Gail said might be rather rough and boggy. But Tess, it didn't take me long to work out that you are the best person to follow across uneven terrain.  

I hope everyone appreciated me leading the way when it came to the dangerous stream crossings. 

You might have noticed that I strayed out of earshot when the conversation turned to the forthcoming UK General Election. Who could possibly want to hear more about Labour's so-called 'Ming vase strategy'? And anyway, I get it that you'll all be happy to see the back of the current government. 

But here in the NW Highlands, we're (thankfully) a long, long way from Westminster...

Oh, and finally, I want you to know that Gail checked me thoroughly for ticks when we got home and didn't find any. Phew!

So Tess and Richard, I do hope you have as much fun in the rest of your week in Torridon as we had today. 

Toodle-oo!

Nobby.

A good decision

Every once in a while, I have to give my owner credit for making the right decision.

Wednesday was a case in point.

Initially the plan was to go for a hike up and around Scolty, a favourite hill which long time readers might remember from past posts. Our regular route is about four miles, give or take. 

But gosh it was such a lovely bright, fresh and sunny day that Gail decided to put in an extra loop, northwards down to the river, almost doubling the length of the walk. 

Excellent decision! 

On the way up the hill I posed nicely for a 'fox terrier with foxgloves' shot. 

Then as we approached the summit monument I waited patiently for Gail to catch up. 

I'll admit my patience wore thin at the top. Gail was spending far too long gawping at the fine panorama of Aberdeenshire hills, and so I went in search of new friends, human or canine.

On the way down the hill I yet again had to pause for Gail. 

By the time we'd reached the river, after covering nearly seven miles in the sweltering heat of a Scottish midsummer*, I was more than ready for a refreshing dip in the Dee. 

*Gail says: Nobby exaggerates (not for the first time). It was in fact about 17ºC, with a fresh breeze.

Once again I'm delighted to join  this blog hop, hosted by the LLB Gang. I hope all my Nature Friday friends have been out and about enjoying some splendid weather too! 

Watching the Euro 2024 football tournament

So I was happily stationed at my favourite back of the sofa vantage point when Gail rudely told me I was blocking her view of the football on telly, and would I please get out of the way. 

I refrained from pointing out that if she ever thought to acquire a TV with a screen bigger than a postage stamp, it really wouldn't be a problem.

Instead, I turned around to watch the France versus Austria action for a minute or two but, you know what, football (soccer to my readers in the USA) really isn't my thing. 

Soon I retreated onto the other sofa, and stayed there for the remainder of the match, deploying my full range of 'Nobby at Rest' poses.

PS To preserve the peace in this household, I am refraining from any discussion of games in this tournament involving my team (Scotland) or Gail's team (England)...

Not barbecue weather...

Gosh I was disappointed.

How I was looking forward to Deeside Dog Agility Club's 'Fun Show BBQ' on Sunday. 

Can you imagine a better day out? Just imagine all those juicy sausages...

But the signs were ominous on Sunday's early morning walk...

And yes you've guessed it. The message came through shortly afterwards. "BBQ cancelled due to heavy rain".

Sigh. 

At least we had enjoyed a nice ramble around the Drum Castle estate with friends M,J and K the day before. 

The sun even shone for a short while. And best of all, after the walk through the woods I made a new friend in the castle courtyard café. She's called Diva. Isn't she splendid? 

Buttercups versus Puffins

Well I thought readers would like to see a nice photo of me standing amid the buttercups for today's Nature Friday post. 

But, for the second week in a row, it seems Gail wants to shoehorn in some pictures of her own, taken on outings when I was not present.

Last week it was Slovenia, this week it was her Thursday bicycle ride, when she and four pals pedalled down from Aberdeen to the RSPB's Fowlsheugh Nature Reserve for a spot of puffin spotting.

It seems they were successful, and although I am not convinced that even Gail's best puffin photo passes my usual stringent quality threshold, I understand it was probably better that my owner did not attempt to scramble down the cliffs in search of the perfect shot...

Thank you once again to our LLB Gang friends for hosting Nature Friday, always our favourite blog hop. 

Soaking up the love

Readers, you were entirely correct in guessing that the reason for our recent trip down to Edinburgh was not, in fact, to attend one of Taylor Swift's three weekend gigs at Murrayfield Stadium. 

It turns out that Caryl, a lovely American lady Gail met 18 months ago on her Cuba bike tour, was in town for a couple of days and Gail had promised to take her for a hike up that well known Edinburgh landmark, Arthur's Seat, on Monday morning, 

We were super-lucky that some other lovely friends, John and Françoise, were in residence at their top floor flat in a beautiful Victorian house near the Edinburgh University King's Buildings, and they kindly allowed us to stay there overnight. 

I made myself quite at home, of course. 

 

On Monday morning we found Caryl, finishing her breakfast in a congenial and dog-friendly café in the Canonmills area of Edinburgh.

This intrepid Florida-based lady had just completed a cycling tour around northwest Scotland. She'd been doing battle with gale force winds (not uncommon in this part of the world) and was undaunted by the prospect of ascending Edinburgh's famous extinct volcano.

The weather was fine, and how wrong Gail was in thinking it might be quiet up there on a Monday morning. A good proportion of the plus 200,000 fans who'd attended Taylor Swift's concerts at the weekend appeared to have stayed on and were also clambering around the craggy summit of Arthur's Seat, enjoying the spectacular view of the city. 

On the way down we ran into these delightfully attired young ladies from London.

I do believe that meeting me was the highlight of their trip to Scotland's capital city, although Gail is cautioning me against entering into a popularity contest with a certain Miss 'Tay-Tay'! She says I wouldn't want to inspire the megastar to write a song about my shortcomings...

Anyway, all in all it was a splendid couple of days. 

Is Gail a Swiftie...?

Shortly after yesterday's morning romp around Duthie Park (so good to be back there) Gail hastily bundled me into the car and announced we were heading to Edinburgh for a couple of days.

No-one living in Scotland, not even a WFT with little interest in global superstar pop phenomena, can fail to have been aware that a certain Taylor Swift was performing three sell-out concerts at 73,000 capacity Murrayfield Stadium in our capital city this weekend. 

Could it be that Gail is secretly a Swiftie? 

You'll have to come back on Wednesday to find out what we've been up to.

Meanwhile, after a brief immersion in the refreshing water of the River Dee, I just need a moment to 'shake it off'...

Nature Friday bonanza: wildflowers and waterfalls

So I'm handing over to Gail today, as ever since she returned from Slovenia earlier this week, she's been going on and on (and on) about all the beautiful wildflowers and pristine mountain streams.

Gail here: I'll let the photos do most of the talking for this Nature Friday post. Wildflower ID was aided in some cases by the wonderful PlantNet app. 

Round-leaved saxifrage

Meadow sage

Spreading bellflower

Dark rampion

Nettle-leaved speedwell

Bird's nest orchid

Lesser butterfly orchid

Scabious (unsure which species)

Bastard balm

Ragged robin

Balm-leaved archangel

Eastern bathaani

Wild thyme

And finally, some pictures of the most beautifully clean and sparkling waters you'll see anywhere in Europe.

Wishing Rosy and Sunny and all our other friends a happy Nature Friday!