Having Moved

When we moved out of our old place we got to stay at this great hotel...much grander than we are used to!

We sat by the fire and ordered afternoon tea...

TH had to take a few calls so i got started on the cake

We had a quick look into the bar at supper time, but seeing as Daisy Dog was allowed in the drawing room we had supper there too.  I'd been looking forward to that steak for ages!

The next day I had a walk through the walled garden and found some chestnuts.

It was such a perfect way to start our new adventure.

Tea Perhaps?

I've had some very good luck recently.  While working through our laundry pile I found some old unused, long forgotten vouchers for our favourite hotel in Aberdeen.

We went there for Valentines weekend last year and had so much fun.

We hung out in the drawing room reading papers and drinking tea.  We walked around the grounds, came back again and sat down to drink yet more tea.

We sat in the lounge and spoke to the First Minister (only for a short while mind).

We spent so much time just chatting to each other.

We ate nice meals and rested...away from any stress...

and when we came home we felt better and planned for our next trip, we told everyone how much fun we had and that Christmas we got some vouchers to go back....that is until they got lost in the move...

UNTIL NOW....!

Some tea and cake perhaps?

Valentines Escape

What a busy and most exciting weekend!

Upon finishing work on Friday I was picked up by TH and taken away to a lovely five star luxury hotel. The Marcliffe at Pitfodels is such a real treat to go to, and I’ve never, ever been to anywhere like it. We had such a spacious suite and a beautiful view out over the hills, fields and river Dee. We had fizz on arrival, fruit and chocolates from The Highland Chocolatier.

I spent the first hour wondering around and sitting down every so often to try and take it in, knowing fine well the weekend would pass in a flash-as it has done.  Spying the First Minister, taking tea in the drawing room and looking at the art work and floral displays took up much more time than I ever thought it would!

We went out after unpacking (i was much too concerned for my new silk dress and its scrunched up arrival in my over night bag), and headed straight into town to get some nice food and catch a movie.  When we came back we lounged around for a while and then headed for bed as i was constantly going on about making the most of our time there!

The next day we got up and had brekkers in the conservatory, and then took tea in the drawing room before going out to one of our favourite antique shops on Royal Deeside.  We headed back again for High Tea and then i nipped upstairs for a little nap before we had supper in the big conservatory.

It was the loveliest trip i have ever been on.  I have never been to anywhere so fancy and loved every single minute of it.  Unfortunately the trade off was that TH took me there to celebrate Valentines day, but also to keep me reminded of our trip while he heads away for a little while with work.  It was, however, a wonderful weekend and will never, ever, ever be forgotten!

A trip West

A teeny wee while ago i posted about a trip my Uncle, Aunt and myself took westward for an event.  They were very kind in asking me if i'd like to go with them as i was a teeny bit lonely what with The Husband being away from home and working on the other side of the world!

My uncle was doing something or other and my Aunt and i decided to head to the church and then over to the Lonach hall.  You may have heard of this tiny place as its where Billy Connolly lives.
Its such a beautiful part of the world.  I love it as its really hilly which is something we don't have here.

We met up with such lovely people and the church service had three of my favourite hymns in it-What a Friend we have in Jesus, Glory, Glory Hallelujah and Then Sings my Soul.  I really love the louder and faster hymns!

We met up with my Uncle after a lovely afternoon tea and tumbola-in which i won a can of cola and a tub of hand cream-and we all had a little walk with Daisy Dog.

It was a lovely day and i was so happy for the company and chance to meet up with some old friends and meet lots of new ones.

Tea

This counts for excitement when you're married.

Jolly Holidays

Mr HH, a.k.a. The Husband, and I are on our holidays at the moment and are therefore spending copious amounts of time lazing around, visiting the beach, and eating things that are generally not very good for us. We have visited Peterhead on a number of occasions as this is now our nearest town and the place to head for food etc. However, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how many lovely shops there are hiding away there. I was a bit worried about the move to the country side at first as I didn’t want to be totally isolated and not have any nice food/independent shops around me. I shouldn’t have worried at all, I feel like I should have plundered these shops much earlier!

Another very exciting find is the amount of tearooms I have seen while wondering around the pedestrianised streets-a very welcome change to the busy roads in Aberdeen City! It does make me want to spend longer shopping when it’s not as cramped up on the pavements. I can’t wait to properly visit any one of these lovely tea rooms and keep a little note of my visit there!! They look so quaint and beautiful; I was defiantly born an old lady!

 

Meanwhile, at home, the boxes are as bad as ever and I am still in the process of unpacking them. We are slowly making progress and we are getting more and more proud of our home the more we put our own things around it. This is honestly the first ‘sit-down’ I’ve had today. Poor Hubby has crashed on the sofa after working in the garden all day long…I'm proud of you honey!

Sheila

x

Time for tea?

As Winter slowly rolls into Spring-do I have to remind you it snowed here last week?- I find myself hurrying about like a caged animal. All I want to do is go out and walk. Hills, paths, roads, patrols, routes and old railway lines beware, I will wear you out! I feel like a big snuggley bear that has spent much too long wrapped up warm in a cave. I am done with hibernating, I want to get out and DO things.

The husband, how might I say this politely, is not like me…not at all, what-so-ever. He is much too fond of comfort. Now I agree with him to a point, and we do have our fair share of expeditions, but I inherited the walking gene and there is nothing I can do but pray our children will do the same. The husband, bless his heart, quite rightly asserts that walking should only be done ‘to’ and ‘from’ places. These places can be sights, scenes, gardens or venues, but certainly not “Oh, what do you think is down this path?”

I can think of nothing better than setting off down a lovely looking path...just wonder where its leading to?

We sat and the husband watched bikers go by...he would have rather been there with them!

As you can tell, there needs to be a compromise, and luckily I have a husband who not only indulges my fancies for cake and tea, but positively encourages it. Thus we find ourselves travelling over the Cairngorms for “a nice wee cuppy” (this is purely me, anyone who knows the husband would be without socks due to laughing at the thought of him saying this!). So, this is one of the first tea room ventures of the year…may there be plenty more.

It looked a bit like Spring for a little while at least!