10.18.11

Second to the last night, and we are firmly ensconced on a leather couch in front of a fire in a lovely hotel in Portree, Isle of Skye. This is a beautiful little town, nestled off the Minch, a fishing village surrounded by towering mountains. So glad we had a chance to come up here; it's simply gorgeous. And we hit the Talisker distillery today. Talisker is the very first Scotch I ever tasted that I liked. So it was awesome to see it firsthand. 

Happy and tired and full of salmon and wine, and it's time to snug down and read for a bit. I have been honored with the chance to read a manuscript for a very talented friend, and honestly, I'm cutting this short so if can get back into the story. It is fantastic, and when it gets published I will let you know so you can rush out and buy it.

As I was told this afternoon, slàinte!!  

10.17.13

Sunset in Inverness, another day gone. We're in the last parts of the trip now, only three nights left, so each sunset, while glorious, is met with sadness. Right now, DH and I are sitting in a lovely little bar off the Glenmoriston Hotel, on the River Ness. This is a popular walking spot, so I'm having a finger of Ardbeg whilst watching the couples and prams and dogs as the gloaming encroaches, turning the river slate and making the autumn leaves flash; orange and red and yellow and green as vibrant as any in the States. But they look different here, more intense, more colorful, just... more somehow. I think it's the green, the moss and evergreens, that make contrast of the rest so vivid.

Went to both Clava Cairns and Culloden today. From a Bronze Age burial ground to the last real war between the English and the Scots. Though I've seen both before, they never cease to take my breath away. I left a small remembrance at the Well of the Dead, and marched across the marshy moor, angry all over again at Prince Charles. What hubris drove him to sacrifice his men, and his country, at Drumossie Moor?

Sigh. We will never know. But I wear my tartan proudly, glad that my history is somewhat restored.

Slàinte!

10.16.13

Six days in, and I had to take the morning off. I read, I thought. Enjoyed some quiet me time whilst poor DH dealt with getting the  new lights on the car. Sadly, it needs a brake job, so we will be spending the last few days of the trip in a new car. The i800 has done right by us for the most part; I'm slightly sorry to see him go. 

Loch Ness today. It was blustery and cloudy, perfect for a mysterious sail. We broke out the new camera, took some lovely shots (Guess what?  The new DSLR cameras are rather easy to manage. I didn't need any lessons!) bought tons of goodies at the gift shop, then took the family to the ancestral home, Tulloch Castle. The McBeans married it out to the Davidsons after the second Jacobite uprising, so it's more Davidson oriented, of course, but we were able to see much more than last time. Namely because I was prepared. Because Tulloch, you see, is very haunted.

Last time, we saw ghosts in the windows and heard the walls screaming. Today there was only a strange sense of things, and one minor sighting--we were walking through the lobby, and I saw a man sitting by the fire. When I glanced back at him, there was no one there. Soooooooooo....... But we ate a yummy bangers and mash and steak and ale pie dinner in the Green Lady bar, and on our way home, I had one of those awesome blinding light epiphanies about the new book. So I'm off to write. Cheers!

10.15.13

I can only tell you part of what I did today, to preserve the sanctity of my next book plot. But the morning, glories, was rather spectacular. There were falcons, you see, and owls, and eagles, and hawks. And a massive castle by the sea, a vertable princedom by the sea. 

I'm speaking of course of Dunrobin Castle. The land of Memphis and falcons and manicured gardens. I will post some pictures when we return (photo uploads being a small issue with the wireless speeds) but I'll shoot some onto Facebook.

i will tell you the afternoon's adventure involved 90 miles on single lane road. DH is a champion driver and deserves medals and whatnot for his heroics today especially driving us home with literally one headlight, that being the high beam, which was scary but doable. We'll be getting a new car tomorrow. 

So a brief wardrobe update. Thank all that's holy for Barbour and their waxed jacket. And the last-minute never-been-worn Merrells? All I can say is BUY THEM NOW! 

Cheers, chickens!  

10.14.13

Today was a day of happenstance and serendipity in the form of a visit to Roslyn Chapel. Roslyn's been on my bucket list for years, ever since THE DAVINCI CODE. In three previous trips to Edinburgh, I haveb't made it to the Chapel, so I was beside myself with excitment. We arrived in time for noon prayers, Roslyn being an active Episcopal Church. So there I was, saying the Lord's Prayers in Roslyn Chapel, feeling more than a little verklempt. I was able to light a candle as well, which made me very happy, and we also timed it perfectly to hear a twenty minute lecture on some of the fascination of the chapel. It. Was. Awesome. 

Then the long, beautiful haul up to the Highlands. We had all sorts of weather, stopped at Blair Castle (many of you remember I based Memphis Highsmythe's ancestral home, which features prominently in WHERE ALL THE DEAD LIE, on an amalgamation of Blair Castle, and Dunrobin, which I've never actually seen, but I'm visiting tomorrow!) and instead of the massive chickens -- I'm talking come up to your knee chickens -- there was a mated pair of peacocks stalking the car park. Just wandering along, doing their peacocky thing.   

Now we're at our very favorite Highlands hotel, Lochardil House, managed by our very fine friend (also distantly related) Robert McBean, where we've been warmly greeted, fed and watered, and are now going down for the night. I'm developing a taste for a finger of Laphroaig just before bed. This is one habit I can definitely get behind.

Slàinte, and sweet dreams!