J. D. and Dr Anne meet up again

J. D. and Dr Anne went on a walk on a bright but very frost day.  

The frost @ Hazelhead.

They walked up through Johnston Gardens, the first time for many years.  They headed up Springfield Road and cut off on the path round Walker Dam.  It was up to Hazelhead Park with its rose garden and azalea garden.  They saw their first crocuses of the year. 

Crocuses @ Hazelhead.

Spring is just around the corner.  They then walked down Springfield Road to the shops on Seafield Road. All in all a brilliant walk.

Heavenly Gingerlily

Dr Anne loves Molton and Brown products, their handwash, their bath and shower gel and in particular their relaxing mists.  Many a night the spray has relaxed Dr Anne and aided sleep.  Her favourite is yuan zhi mist.  Tonight she indulged in heavenly gingerlily.  Amazing.                                     

When God was a Rabbit

Winman, S. (2011). When God was a Rabbit. Great Britain: Headline Publishing Group.

Dr Anne's reading has fallen behind schedule this Christmas. 

When God was a Rabbit was a nice gentle lead back into some focused reading.  One could pick it up and lay it down easily.  As the author says it is about family relationships and friendships set in Dr Anne's era.  Events mentioned all had an impact on Dr Anne's life and she can appreciate the significance in the story.  All in all this was a nice read.  The title lacked real significance for Dr Anne.  She awards 7/10

The Scrabble Story

This story has to be told...

J. D. informed Dr Anne that she played games, not a favourite occupation of Dr Anne.  On Christmas Day, she had a quiz and Call my Bluff, on Boxing Day, bagatelle and stacking chairs, at New Year,  Domino 12.  All was good fun.  The test was to come.

Dr Anne volunteered J. D. to play scrabble with the intrepid ladies of Macrae Court.  Her appearance was anxiously awaited and J. D. was guided to the playing venue.  J. D. was informed that she was sitting in the scoring seat and that she was also in charge of the dictionary.  She sat in the appropriate seat with her back to the fire.  A. C. was on her left, B opposite and M. R. on her right.  J. D. started scoring to be told that wasn't the way they scored.  She was also told that the group used the old rules.

The group was ready to go.  J. D. laid down her word and totted up her score, A. C. had her word down and scored, B had her word down and was scoring, M. R. was setting down her word.  They finished and were looking formidably at J. D. who had not yet chosen her letters or even looked at the board.  The pace was that of a Formula 1 race.

And so it went on for four games... J. D. was last in every game.  J. D. was red in the face and exhausted when Dr Anne received a telephone call to come and collect her. The intrepid ladies were afraid she would get lost on the way back to East Neuk - i.e. across the road.

Brave J. D. spent the next few days studying the dictionary.  She went back well prepared for a second round of Scrabble:

• it was more relaxed;
• there was chat;
• it was at a slower pace;
• J. D. had an early tea and a rest before she set out;
• J. D. knew the rules;
• J. D. wore a blouse rather than her outdoor sweater;
• J. D. was no longer the competition.  

J. D. had been drawn into the bosom of the Macrae Scrabblers.

The Grand Finale - Portsoy - Cullen along the Coast

 After a short walk around the Durn Road on Hogmanay and out the East Braes to the wishing gate on New Year's day, it was the grand finale.  J. D. wanted a gentle stroll as she was going out to play games in the evening and she wanted to be fresh to win.  Dr Anne had something else in mind...

J. D. and Dr Anne set off around 11.30 along Chapel Street, up Hill Street, across Cullen Street and up Marine Terrace.  They were out of town and on their way.  The day was sunny but cold.  There was wind in places.

The Bin Hill

J. D. and Dr Anne walked past the swimming pool, Westerwards Croft, Heathery and up to North Arnbath. It was over to Redhythe and down to the Glen Glassaugh end of Sandend Beach.  The wellies had to go on to cross the beach as there were two streams, one at Glassaugh and one at Sandend.

Sandend Beach

Path up behing Sandend

A path was found pointing to Sunnyside.  It was off up and down the cliffs.  It was muddy.  It was slippery.  There was a bare wind.  One hour later J. D. and Dr Anne arrived eventually at Findlater Castle.  From there it was down a muddy, slippery path to Sunnyside Beach.  At one point the good Dr was on her backside.  J. D. had disappeared round at least two corners stepping out at a great pace.  Dr Anne's wellies had no tread.

The first Spinkie of 2012?

The Giant Steps with the Cairn

 Once the two got to the bottom, all was well although cold and windy  They walked along the shore to the giant steps laid by Tony Hetherington, a cairn strategically placed in his memory.

There was a further walk along the bottom of the cliffs.  Dr Anne phoned V. T. and asked him to pick them up.  However there was still at least a mile to go up the brae and along by the caravan site, round the cliff tops and down to the harbour and V.T.s car.

Remember the posting from Grassmere, New Zealand when Dr Anne tried to take a reluctant dog for a walk?  J.D.  stopped and said that she was not moving another step...

Walk 8 - A walk with Grey Granite and Rufus

Dr Anne always enjoys a day out with Grey Granite and Rufus.  J. D. and Dr Anne drove to The Lodge in Strichen and met up with the famous duo.  What followed was an excellent walk.  See: http://greygraniteblogspot.blogspot.com

Grey Granite and J.D. in deep conversation

Rufus enjoying his snack.

Coffee @ The Lodge, Strichen

J. D., Greygranite and Dr Anne met at The Lodge, Strichen for coffee and a scone.  All three chose a freshly baked cheese scone with butter and filter coffee.  The surroundings were bright and airy, there was a choice of tables and chairs or sofas with a coffee table.  Dr Anne awards it 9/10.

Walk 7 - The Winding Walks @ Fochabers

It was another windy day.  J. D. requested a sheltered and gentle walk. Dr Anne thought - woodland walk.  There are not many woodland walks around Portsoy so the twosome set off for the Winding Walks @ Fochabers.  It had been raining @ Fochabers so the ground was wet and at times muddy.  The rain came on giving J. D. and Dr Anne got the first soaking of the holidays.

Crannoch Wood

After a welcome plate of soup, J. D. and Dr Anne headed for Crannoch Wood.  Dr Anne drove up the Cullen Brae and turned left just after the Lintmill turnoff.  There were lots of fallen trees after the latest wind storm but it was warm and sheltered after the bracing walk across Cullen Golf Course. This was a short walk up to and round the loch.

The Deli @ Cullen

Lots of people have been talking positively about the Deli at the top of Cullen.  J. D.  and Dr Anne were badly in need of a plate of soup.  There were a few high tables and chairs and one normal height table with six chairs.  There was a choice of soups but both decided to have tomato and basil soup with bread.  The soup was warm and tasty.  It did have the taste of tinned tomatoes.  The scone was fresh and warm and the coffee great.  The service was good. Dr Anne awards 6/10.

27 December - Over to Cullen

Dr Anne took the car to Cullen Square.  J. D. and Dr Anne headed up Grant Street and down South Deskford Street where they entered the Railway Line heading for Portknockie. They walked across the famous viaducts built when the Laird refused to allow the railway line through his estate.  It was another beautiful day with many people out and about enjoying the holiday.

The Seatown

The Golf Course

The Cullen Bay Hotel

The Temple

Cullen Beach

One of the Three Kings

The views of the Seatown, the Golf Club, the Cullen Bay Hotel, the Temple were magnificent.  The wind was whipping up the waves as they came onto Cullen Beach.  Unfortunately, the tide was in when they walked down the path from the line so they had to walk along the edge of the Golf Course and up to the Square.