Okay, here's a sweetener, Louise. Sorry for dragging my heels.


Next is day 6 with more Mona Lisa hills and more snow, and a descent into the lap of luxury with a non-challenging challenger and her non-challenging non-challenger husband.
...and then day 7 when I went up the Feshie and it all got social.

...and then day 8 when I aimed for White Bridge, found it, realised how bleak it was (given the weather, though) and landed in the second lap of luxury at Mar Lodge and slept among the degloved heads of myriad beasts.

...and then day 9, (and a half) spent loafing the streets of Braemar, not spending anything in the gear shop, spending lots in the Fife, and more in the Moorfield.

...and then day 10, the most wonderful of all, Loch Callater - and thoughts that ******* my eyes with emotion.

...and day 11, when I bounced up the sagairt mor (almost) and down to Muick via the dubh loch with good ol' Andrew (on and off - good times, pal), around to Sheilin of Mark in fine form, still socialising.

...day 12, Tarfside and the Masons through the delicious Glen Lee and EAGLES but no Adders and friends, sufficient to fill a lifetime.

...day 13 more friends, and a walk along a river that seemed like no other. No beer for me until NWB and many, many, many friends including to Super Beers and then....

...day 14 when I felt like I had been posted back to Suffolk to find myself among rolling fields with new faces, and those who seemed now like old friends. Final steps ending with the eye-bursting emotions of hitting the coast in such a wonderful site as St Cyrus.

And the Dinner at the Park, which was delicious, and the largest gathering of new friends so far. Thanks to the Poolers for encouraging me to attend. I loved it. "Walk on, with HOPE in your heart" - Hope being my daughter's name - how I blubbed.

Am I dreaming? No this all happened, what lovely memories I had nearly forgotten. I will get back to writing up my report soon, really I will.

Hmmph. I s'pose.