Autumn Berries

The trees and hedgerows are looking fabulous at the moment groaning with their berries. I picked some lovely wild blackberries, they are fantastic made into a compote and served with natural yogurt.

The Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally

Taking place today is The Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally, which sets off from Perth, a huge number of rally fans are expected to attend, further information can be found at Coltness Car Club Anyhow, I was pleased to have a competitor and his team staying with us from Ireland, so they were all up and off early this morning, on which I am happy to say is a dry and sunny day. We have had a good spell of weather after the atrocious summer rain, hope it continues.

A couple of weeks ago a near neighbour who is a writer borrowed my copy of Billy's Halo which I mentioned a few months ago, he thoroughly enjoyed reading it and put together an article which appeared in our local paper, the Blairgowrie Advertiser.

An Eventful Weekend

We were very fortunate to have a lovely day today, whilst parts of Britain are being battered by horrendous weather. There is that autumnal chill in the air now, so back on with the central heating, mind you it has been on and off all summer! Lots going on this weekend. The rest of the family had a day out at Glamis Castle where the annual Countryside Festival was on, they all had a great time http://www.scotlandscountrysidefestival.co.uk/

Also in the town were the Braemar Day events from dancing, singing, pipe bands, street market, funfair and finishing off with a firework display. I went down to watch the Pipe Band Parade, they were a magnificent sight coming down Allan Street into the Wellmeadow where they played around the war memorial.

Tomorrow is the Blairgowrie Highland Games.

Wildlife & Fruit in the garden

Hooray, hooray the sun came out today and yesterday and it is warm at last, I can't remember such a dismal August, but September is usually super, touch wood! I picked my peaches yesterday, they are not too bad flavour wise and the apples are looking good. I built a very small pond at the end of May and it is amazing how all manners of creatures find their way to it.

All my guests staying last night managed to see the pipe band playing in the Wellmeadow which they thoroughly enjoyed, they play on a Thursday and/or a Saturday a couple of times a month in the summer. Hopefully I can get some pipe band photos next week as it is Braemar weekend and the Blairgowrie Highland Games on the Sunday.

Morgan Car

Guest's staying last night arrived in a beautiful Morgan car. They had been travelling around Scotland in it and were due to fly home today. I enquired about the car and they had hired it from the Thomson & Potter garage in Burrelton which is only 15/20 minutes from here on the A94 road.

Learn something new every day as I was totally unaware there was a Morgan dealership there and that you could hire out a Morgan car. Anyhow, have a look at http://www.morgansinscotland.co.uk/

Honda Goldwing

Had some more of these lovely bikes staying, or I should say their owners. My guests were off down to East Yorkshire to the 2008 British Treffin http://www.gwocgb.co.uk/ having had a tour round Scotland and previously Ireland. One of my children was delighted to get a seat on one.

Sorry, couldn't resist showing our haul of mushrooms today!

Vintage Motorcycles and Rugby

I have some guests staying who are attending the 34th annual Scottish National Assembly of the Vintage Motor Cycle Club. The club's base every year is at the J. J. Coupar Recreation Park, about a 10 minute walk away. As it turned out to be a glorious day I had a stroll over to watch the bikes coming back from a run out, and there is an opportunity to get up close to all the wonderful machines, also caught a rugby match going on as well.

Land's End - John O'Groats

Had a nice young couple staying last night who were cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats, at least it was dry today for their trip up the mountains to Braemar, as the weather for the time of year could be better to put it politely. Over the years I have had a number of people staying who are cycling this direction of the route (there are several variations for going North) either for charity or personal achievement or both and I have total admiration for anyone who undertakes this challenge, something to put on my 'to do' list, maybe!

http://www.ctc.org.uk/

Drimmie Wood

Had a lovely walk at Drimmie Wood this afternoon, one second it was bright warm sunshine the next torrential rain showers, so I got rather wet. At the start of the walk the heather is looking lovely and there are fantatic views, then you enter the wooded area, planted with spruce trees, before coming to part of the walk that follows old drove roads used hundreds of years ago to move cattle around. Dotted around the wood are wooden art sculptures made by a local group.

A walk by the river

Had a lovely stroll along by the river today, only a 10/15 minute walk from my house. The river was very low, due to the dry spell we have had and looked like a mill pond in places. However, don't be fooled as there are very strong undercurrents and I would not recommend going into the river for a paddle or swim. By 1860 there were 11 water powered mills on the river turning flax into linen, they are now long gone, in ruins or being developed.

The 'Knockie' Path

One of the lovely things about Blairgowrie is that apart from it being convenient for going to many different places is that within 5 minutes you can be walking in beautiful open countryside in total peace and quiet. A lovely walk I went today was to the 'Knockie', part of the Blairgowrie Path Network up above the town where you get spectacular views, unfortunately today there was low mist which hadn't cleared so I didn't see much! I shall endeavour to get pictures of the view another time. From my upstairs lounge window and one of my bedrooms you can see the hill I went over.

I had a telephone call this morning to inform me that I had come 2nd in the Blair in Bloom Accommodation Providers category for my garden, which was good news. There will be a prize-giving in the Autumn.

Inspector calls

Had an inspector call round on one of their surprise visits this afternoon from the Michelin guide, which we are lucky enough to have been included in for a few years now, so it all seemed to go well.

Have had a glorious week of weather and the containers in the front garden are blooming away beautifully and the hydrangea at the front door is looking great. In a moment of madness I decided to enter a category in the 'Blair in Bloom' garden competition, and they called round yesterday when I was out as there was a note through the door to say my garden had been judged, I knew I should have done some weeding at the weekend!! So we shall have to wait and see what the results are.

Raspberry Picking

As it was a reasonably nice day I decided to go raspberry picking, they are extremely popular for Breakfast, and it makes for quite a relaxing and peaceful hour or so. There is a good 'pick your own' farm just outside Coupar Angus. I keep meaning to grow some in my garden, but never seem to get around to it!, it's on my long list of things to do.