News & Updates from Mary MacBean
Last week I went for a lovely wee holiday in Pitlochry in Perthshire with my daughter, granddaughter and 2 great-granddaughters.
In 4 days we visited the Highland Folk Museum, Falkland Palace in Fife, Blair Castle, Active Kids Adventure Park in Stanley, Perthshire, the V&A in Dundee and the Enchanted Forest just outside Pitlochry.
We had the obligatory trips to McDonalds and the fish and chip shop, and afternoon tea in Hettys Tearoom in Pitlochry which was lovely.
The Enchanted Forest was magical, as the name suggests. The skill and imagination in putting the show together is phenomenal.
The only downside was that my granddaughter informed me on the third morning that she had seen a big spider crawl under my bed.
I never found it.
This week my older great-granddaughter, Niamh started primary school and her little sister, Amelia started pre-school nursery. It seems like no time since they were babies and now theyve both started their journey into the big wide world.
The house is very quiet without them, but now Im hoping to have time for some of my retirement plans which have been on hold for the last 5 years.
Designing cards in daytime hours? What luxury.
Last weekend, my daughter and I took my 2 little great-granddaughters away for the weekend. We stayed in a waterfront lodge at Loch Lomond Holiday Park. The location was stunning with views across the loch to the mountains. Although the weather was mixed, we found lots to do.
We had lunch one day with my sister and her husband who live in Glasgow. They hadnt seen the girls since they were babies. We had a boat trip on the loch which was wonderful. We visited Charles Rennie Mackintoshs Hill House at Helensburgh, built in the early 20th century and full of wonderful Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau furniture and features.
As usual on our weekends away, we also took the girls to lots of play parks and soft play and visited several farm shop cafes for coffee and cake.
The whole weekend was wonderful and I cant wait for the next time.
Last week was my birthday, so my daughter treated me to afternoon tea on the Strathspey Steam Railway. The train travels from Aviemore to Broomhill which is also known as Glenbogle, the fictional name for the station in the TV series, Monarch of the Glen.
My daughter, granddaughter, 4 year old great-granddaughter Niamh and myself enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea in a first-class compartment. The Highland scenery was at best with the sun shining through the autumn-coloured trees and fabulous views across the glen.
I love steam trains, so this was very special. As birthday treats go, this one would be difficult to beat.
Almost 2 years ago, I took a photo of my great-granddaughter, Niamh, on her first birthday wearing the same dress that her mother had worn for her first birthday.
This week, it was the turn of my younger great-granddaughter, Amelia, to wear it on her first birthday.
Little did I know when I packed the dress away over 20 years ago, that it would become part of a family tradition.
I wonder if any other little girls will be added to the photo in the future.