Aberdeen!

Although we have been staying in Aberdeen, today was our first chance to get into the city for a wee while.

This gorgeous view has Marischal College off in the distance. Check out the blue skies; we are being credited for bringing the good weather.

You're welcome.

We met up with Pat and Heather and enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Rustico.

We visited these two well known Scottish shops and managed to do a little shopping. I found exactly what I was looking for. What a great start!

The North Sea Coast

We spent our second touring day today exploring Scotland's beautiful north east. It is truly glorious country! Around every bend in the road there is yet another more incredible ocean vista, with rocks, cliffs, powerful waves and quaint villages. Truly memorable.

Our first stop was this beach in Fraserburgh where both mum and dad spent time in their youth. You might expect that a beach as expansive and beautiful as this one would have more people until you step out of your warm car to the bitter cold wind and 10 degree temps!

Mum, Sheena and Euan all shared their very fond memories of playing on these rocks as kids.

Mum and I are smiling through shivers at New Aberdour beach, just west of Fraserburgh, along the northern coast of Scotland.

One of our favourite spots today was a small village called Pennan. Every cottage was right on the water and each had a clothesline right in front of it. What a setting!

Isn't this plate pretty much pure perfection?

Is this a food blog?

The scenery really is spectacular but it seems it's only the food pictures I take on my phone.

Here's tonight's dinner, thanks again to chef Euan.

Haggis, mince and tatties, and neeps.

Affa fine.

Fudge!

This is for you Elaine! A wee dishie of fudge on the table where we had lunch. It made a nice appetizer! And dessert. 

Oh, and I may have bought some more for the car trip! 

Rowie!

It's the first in my quest for daily rowies!

Day 1

First days are looooooong travel days. 7 hour flight Toronto to London. 3 hours to navigate the maze of movators, escalators, auto-elevators, express subways and long long walks that define Heathrow to finally find terminal 5, yes 5! and just make it to our short connecting flight to Aberdeen! But yes, we made it!

Our hosts are mum's second cousin Sheena and husband Euan and we have just spent a wonderful evening with them at their beautiful home, enjoying a scrumptious meal and great conversation.

Oh, and they have a cat. 

Our Second Trip!!

On Tuesday, September 15, Mum and I will be leaving for our 'annual' trip to Britain! This year, we'll be spending a week in Aberdeen, then a few days at my cousin Annette's Inn near Bristol, and the final stretch in London!
Last fall, I created this trip blog to keep in touch and share pics with family and friends at home. Rather than create a new blog, I've retitled this one, and we'll use it again this year to share our adventures! I hope you'll follow along and comment occasionally - it's always nice to hear from you when we're away.
I wrote a post on my retirement blog last April about this trip. It has a few more details, fyi > http://wattsupnext.blogspot.ca/2015/04/scotland.html