Mairi set off early for the 9 o’clock train from Pitlochry to Glasgow, as she had various university and dentist appointments and shopping to do. She then arrived at the flat just before 6pm and Ali followed after work at about 8. We had a light tea and then headed to Ross and Fiona’s new house with a bottle of champagne and chutney from Applecross. After catching-up, we knuckled-down for an hour and a half and helped strip wallpaper, stroke Stan, give colour advice (on paint) and carry old wardrobes out to the bin. On the way home we popped in to get wrapping paper and supplies in Asda, then went to bed shattered, at 1am.

We got up late, ate toast and tidied the flat before heading to West Kilbride at 12pm. On the way, we stopped to buy golf prizes for the Aberfeldy Club annual outing and to get a card for Ali’s mum. We had lunch and arrived in Headrigg Road at 2.30pm but no-one was in (again!) so we continued on to Bapa’s instead. There, we had a chat and a coffee with George, and Dorothy’s cousin, before trying Douglas and Dorothy’s again at 4pm. They were there, and after exchanging holiday gifts and talking about our travels, the rain came on and Winnie arrived. Then Anna appeared so we gave Dorothy her 60th birthday gifts and looked at her cards. She liked them (whew!) so we got changed and ready for dinner. We left around 6pm and Ali and Anna drove to Troon for a meal at the Piersland.

Donald was also present and we all had lovely meals, followed by a chocolate fudge cake slice, “60� candles and a ‘birthday girl’ rosette for Dorothy. We left and had drinks and a chat at Bapa’s, then headed back to Ali’s parents’. Anna left about 11.30pm and Mairi and Ali also then popped into Craig and Clare’s. There, we met up with Ally and Lorna and Neil and Nicki and had a chat until 12.30am. Then we decided it was definitely time to return to Glasgow (!) so we followed some of the others and made it to bed, again whacked, around 2am!

On Sunday we rose late-ish again, and after tea/coffee and toast, we hit the road about 12.15pm. We stopped on the way in Perth for Mairi to pick up her new car! She checked it out and stayed for a coffee, while Ali headed up the road to meet Tommy for golf. Mairi popped in on Grandma Campbell on the way home, but didn’t find her in, so got back to Rannoch at 3.15pm. Then she unpacked and did some washing and tidying. After a mediocre game of golf and their tea, Ali and Tommy returned to Rannoch, then promptly headed for bed before a hectic week in the office! Sadly it was the end of another great holiday… At least, until next year!