28th June Aberdeen

Again tried to contact anyone on Skype. No luck. No emails. Nothing. Either no one loves us or you have all been wiped off the map. I've told everyone who's asked that out new prime minister would be no good. Put my glasses in for fixing and had a walk around the city centre. Annette found another church. The grave stones here look like tables.

Glasses fixed and off to visit a couple of more old castles. The first one was Crathes Castle near Banchory. A late 16th century castle with round turrets. The land was gifted to the Burnett family by Robert the Bruce and that will mean something if you know your Scottish history. If not, lets just say they got it for a song. It was decked out as a family home and had a pretty large walled garden.

A really good border garden.

Trev, MATE!!!!!!!!!!

Plenty of nooks and crannies in there, just like a lot of the Scottish females.

Next was Drum Castle near Peterculter. It consisted of a late 13 century tower and adjoining Jacobean mansion. Again decked out as a family home. After looking at the house Annette discovered that you could climb up into and on top of the original tower. Great. A real old castle.

This was the inside of the small chapel in the garden.

Annette on the roof of the original tower. Keep, castle or whatever. The best bit. The bit where you would have shot off arrows at the English.

It was a real treat as you were above the library in the house and the room was just as it had been when it was just a tower minus the upper floor. Looked great. Got to walk up on the roof and pretend to shoot off a few arrows at Robin Hood or who ever. Down and visited the walled garden which had been revamped. What you can do if you don't have to worry about water.  Back to Aberdeen through a very pretty part of town. Dinner at Burger Bar for free WiFi to try to work out where to go. Decided to try to get to Stirling tomorrow if we can manage it. Annette went off to see about bus tickets and came back chuffed caused she said she only had to stand holding the map and had gents falling over themselves to help her. (She just has to give them skulls back.) Actually people have stopped all the time to see if we need help, it's been great. Annette said I had to put that I was asked if I was a senior for a bus fare. That is over 60!!!!!! She can be so cruel at times.