By yon bonnie banks .......

 



Granny's ensuite four-poster bed-room complete with jacuzzi bath (we are not sharing the photo of her posing in the bubbles!) was  perfect for a gathering to open Morna's birthday gifts.

   


Morna's 21st birthday in October 2005 was held at Drymen, Loch Lomond and we were lucky to be the first occupants of a five-star chalet at Foxglove Cottages.   Granny was delighted to travel down from Skye with us and be joined by various members of the family in the course of the week,  including Morna as she commuted back and fore to Glasgow University for her classes.

         The highlight of the day was an outing at her insistence, (for Granny, her daughter, her granddaughter and not forgetting granddog Sorcha) which included a sail on the Sir Walter Scott on Loch Katrine followed by lunch.   She was in her element as she loved being the person giving the treat and even ordered a Cointreau and lemonade in honour of the birthday celebrations!   The day ended with a family birthday meal in the chalet with the only complaint being from Sorcha who, totally unimpressed by the noise of the party poppers, escaped and on being found wandering had to be coaxed back inside, minus her tartan bow which was retrieved in the grounds on the following morning!

          Granny's shopping purchases at Lomond Shores included a pair of Ara shoes which became a legend because of their constant companionship to her feet for the following two years!    Her continuing to wear them long after they needed replacing became both amusing and exasperating for us.  Our quest to trace an exact pair once again proved  fruitless and despite purchaing alternative comfort shoes for her, Granny was long afterwards discovered  to be still wearing her Ara shoes, despite their sorry state!   She often  talked about her expedition to Lomond shores, her outing on Loch Katerine and Morna's 21st birthday.

     

It was indeed a memorable occasion. 

         

  " Oh ye'll tak' the high road
and I'll tak' the low road,
An' I'll be in greeting before ye',

But wae is my heart until we meet again   
On the Bonnie, bonnie banks
O' Loch Lomond "

  



 

  







Does ring recovery mean another celebratory lunch at Kinloch Lodge?

 John and Morna, accompanied by a Dalmally policeman, visited the car accident scene last Saturday morning taking John's newly-purchased metal detetctor with them. They recovered Morna's watch, one ear-ring and......................... her ENGAGEMENT RING.    So everyone is delighted, not least the bride who feels that she is newly-engaged.  It was rumoured that a bottle of champagne was being opened last Saturday evening to celebrate this fact!

           Morna reports she has discovered that peat, tree roots and broken glass are good for cleaning jewellery.  Mother-of-bride reports that she is now back in full wedding-prepartion mode. 

          This incident must give the ring added value and will surely make a good story for Morna to tell future generations!