A little bit of Heaven on Earth

I have recently returned from Kinloch Rannoch, having spent a delightful week with my sons, my brother and his wife and three very good friends. What an absolutely delightful time we had! We didn’t do much, we didn’t go quad-biking, we didn’t hire a boat on the Loch. In fact we didn’t do much at all, but every second was cherished. Despite a very long (and sometimes frightening) drive up from London, my eldest son and I arrived late on Saturday night to our heavenly retreat. My new (soon to be replaced) Sat-Nav having taken us along the Tourist Route in the dead of night during a particularly nasty rain storm accompanied by some equally nasty gale-force winds. Having been a happy confident driver for over thirty years, this did not at first ring any alarm bells. However, after having driven already for around 9 or 10 hours, I was not happy to be driving in atrocious conditions on a minor road in a borrowed Citroen C5. I couldn’t say where we were exactly when we encountered a bridge we couldn’t cross because of flooding, but it was somewhere near Weem. The Sat-Nav was no help. According to the screen, our car was in the middle of a Loch. (Somewhere I thought we may well end up if I wasn’t careful!) We drove around in circles for a while until we finally decided on a likely road and headed off. Suffice to say after another two hours of driving, sometimes at only 4-5 miles an hour, through flooded roads with no lighting beside swollen rivers and lochs transformed into white-water rapids, we finally arrived at our beloved Lodge. We had seen an ermine on the road as we drove by and had the enormous pleasure to see an owl swoop in front of the car and land on a tree branch just in front of us. We stopped, awestruck and it took a good look at us before it flew into the night, but I have to say I have never been so relieved to reach a destination. Having arrived at the same time as my friends, who had travelled up from Dunfermline , my eldest son, Allen, managed to get me up the 85 steps from the car to the lounge and unloaded the car while I sat on a sofa shaking like a jelly in an earthquake. [Thank you so much to those kindly folk in the office who had brought the key up to the lodge and left the door open for us after a frantic call to let them know we would be arriving much, much later than we had expected.] Anyhoo, we settled in and re-acquainted ourselves with the lodge. I don’t think we’ll ever lose that wonderful feeling we get when we first walk in the lounge. The comfy surroundings, the stunning views and the sense of calm truly sets you up for the week. The cares of the day and indeed of the drive melted away within an hour or two to the happy sounds of good company in cosy surroundings.We spent the early part of the week relaxing, with an occasional excursion to the town for a hearty breakfast in The PosteTaste or to pick up supplies from the shop. Mostly we chatted and we played games. Some of us caught up with a good book and some with knitting or other past-times we are usually to busy to enjoy. We drove out to Pitlochry on Tuesday and enjoyed a long walk (wel, long enough for me anyway!) in the brisk weather around the dam and the salmon ladder before walking to the high street for a bit of shopping and a drink or two in one of the pubs. The day was finished off with a scrummy fish supper and we headed home for a final evening of chat and laughter before my three oldest friends made their way back to the real world of work and life the following morning. The remaining five of us took a slow relaxing drive around the loch that afternoon, stopping here and there to admire the views and getting as much of it on the video camera as we could before the light faded. The following day we’d planned to take a trip to Culloden, (something I’ve wanted to do for years), but instead we decided on a little walk instead and postponed our trip for a day. Thursday arrived soon enough and brought with it a blizzard. This was no ordinary snow, this was real snow! Snow like you don’t see in London, at least not since I was very young. We spent the morning taking some beautiful photographs and filming the scenery; so drastically changed from the day before. It really was a winter wonder-land. Loch Rannoch already had us under its spell and here we were totally mesmerised by the wonderful white cloak Mother Nature had draped over the view outside our conservatory window. We were like little children seeing snow for the first time. My sons have long since become adults and my brother and I are the wrong side of 45, yet we threw snowballs, ate snow and generally larked about in the deliciously chilled air. A marvellously enjoyable time was had by all and we decided to postpone our trip again until the Friday. It continued snowing on and off, but the next day we decided to head off to Culloden anyway and after checking with the visitor centre that they were open, my brother, his wife and I set off, leaving the boys behind to do their own thing. Kindly people would call us naive, the more straight talking folks would call us stupid; either way, we shouldn’t have gone. We didn’t get to Culloden; we had to turn back after a two hour trek through a frosty world, made treacherous by ice and winds and snow-blizzards. The only upside was sighting a herd of Stag roaming the snow-covered hills, completely oblivious to the wintry conditions. How magnificent they were; a most fantastic sight. We should have turned back earlier, but my brother really didn’t want to let me down. Sanity prevailed in the end though and not a moment too soon. The roads that had been worrying on the way up were far, far worse on the way back down. You couldn’t see in front of you and the temperature had reached -3°c. This was worse than the trip the previous weekend! It’s certainly true that the most deadly things in life are also often the most beautiful. I can’t begin to describe the journey back; it was one of the most hairy drives I’ve been on – thank you bruv for getting us safely back to Rannoch – and thanks too, to those heroic snow-plough drivers, if not for whom, we may never have made it back in one piece. Saturday morning we sadly took our leave of the Highlands and set off home, taking a short detour to Pitlochry for some last minute souvenirs. Our week had passed too quickly and as the roads home became less picturesque and more populated we started looking forward to our return next year. Scary drives and inclement weather not-with-standing, there is no place we would rather have been. Each of us had needed a well-earned break away from the world and Loch Rannoch is as far as you can get from the fast and furious pace of city life. The towns-folk are welcoming and friendly, the area is full of history and natural beauty and the scenery is breath-taking. It’s as close to Heaven on Earth as you can get and I am so happy to know that this is ours for life. I don’t think I will ever tire of driving round the bend at the end of the loch towards the lodges. The views fill me with peace and wonder what-ever the weather, rugged and wild or calm and serene - what a haven.

To my darling husband,

Before you return from your overseas trip I just want to let you know about the small accident I had with the pick up truck when I turned into the driveway. Fortunately not too bad and I really didn't get hurt, so please don't worry too much about me. I was coming home from Wal-Mart, and when I turned into the driveway I accidentally pushed down on the accelerator instead of the brake. The garage door is slightly bent but the pick up fortunately came to a halt when it bumped into your car. I am really sorry, but I know with your kind-hearted personality you will forgive me. You know how much I love you and care for you my sweetheart. I am enclosing a picture for you.I cannot wait to hold you in my arms again.

Your loving wife.XXX

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BE SURE AND SCROLL PAST THE PICTURE

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P.S. Your girlfriend called.

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Naughty, but fun!

In pharmacology, all drugs have two names, a trade name and generic name. For example, the trade name of Tylenol also has a generic name of Acetaminophen. Aleve is also called Naproxen. Amoxil is also called Amoxicillin and Advil is also called Ibuprofen.
The FDA has been looking for a generic name for Viagra. After careful consideration by a team of government experts, it recently announced that it has settled on the generic name of Mycoxafloppin. Also considered were Mycoxafailin, Mydixadrupin, Mydixarizin, Dixafix, and of course, Ibepokin. Pfizer Corp. announced today that Viagra will soon be available in liquid form, and will be marketed by Pepsi Cola as a power beverage suitable for use as a mixer. It will now be possible for a man to literally pour himself a stiff one. Obviously we can no longer call this a soft drink, and it gives new meaning to the names of "cocktails", "highballs" and just a good old-fashioned "stiff drink". Pepsi will market the new concoction by the name of: MOUNT & DO. Thought for the day: There is more money being spent on breast implants and Viagra today than on Alzheimer's research. This means that by 2040, there should be a large elderly population with perky boobs and huge erections and absolutely no recollection of what to do with them.

Winter Warmers

Pasta Al Forno

This is a hearty meal that needs no accompaniment other than maybe some nice crusty bread! My sons and their friends ask me for this once a week at least. I will assume that anyone reading this will have a basic grasps of cookery, however, if you need clarification or indeed if you have any comments, please comment below and I will respond asap.

Cook up about a pound or so (approx 500g) of minced beef (or quorn if you prefer) until nicely browned. I do not find it necessary to add any fat at this stage as the meat can cook in it's own juices, but the choice is yours.

Once browned, add a tin of chopped tomatoes, two desert spoons of tomato puree, half a teaspoon of mixed herbs, salt, pepper, a couple of red oxo cubes and a couple of green oxo cubes. Cook for a further five minutes or so, stirring to ensure the flavours mix. Leave to keep warm on a very low heat.

Cook up a large saucepan of pasta (any shape and size will do) in slightly salted water. A small dollop of butter in the pan will add to the flavour and help to avoid the pasta sticking.

While the pasta is cooking, make up about a pint and a half (approx a litre) of cheese sauce. You can make your own, or for speed you can heat up a bottle of Dolmio's white sauce for Lasagna on a low heat and add grated cheese to your taste. Cook slowly, stirring all the while until all the cheese melts and the mixture is smooth and glossy.

Now take a large (you may need two) baking dish with deep sides. (A large casserole dish will do if you prefer.)

Firstly, spoon the mince mixture into the dish. This forms the bottom layer. On top of that pour a large can of black eye beans (drained and washed first), followed by a layer of sliced mushrooms and a layer of sliced mixed red, yellow and green peppers. Lastly place the cooked, rinsed pasta on the top and level out.

The final stage is to pour on the cheese sauce, very carefully over the whole of the dish to completely cover. You can top with a little grated cheese if you like and then place in the oven on about 200-210c about 5-6 gas and bake for approximately half an hour or so until the top is slightly browned.

This meal is delicious for cold evenings and can be re-heated in the microwave successfully the following day.

Give it a go, I hope your family enjoys it as much as mine do.

Tip: My sons are fussy and don't like all the ingredients I do, so I usually prepare this in three separate dishes and leave out what they don't like in theirs. Warning: This will make a very large meal, so if you are cooking for one or two, reduce the quantities by half. This meal can safely be frozen; defrost thoroughly though before re-heating.

Always in my heart

It comes from nowhere, hijacks my mind

 A mischievous spark of the crafty kind 

That slams into me like a bolt from behind 

Slightly distorted with rose coloured age 

It grabs at my soul and returns my heart to a distant page 

Flashes of laughter on soft focused faces 

Dance into my head from long hidden places 

Filling up all the ignored empty spaces 

With a warmth the equal of any sun 

It sooths my soul And recalls my heart to fun 

Snatches of soft breath setting skin shivering 

Secrets of my mind deliciously floating 

Memories of taste and touch re-awakening 

Tender as the wings of a dove 

It frees my soul and reminds my heart of love

I miss you Stephen; I always will....... (in memorium)

Funny old life.

Been a bit 'off' lately; out of sorts, you know? My most favourite lady, Desri (my Dad's sister) has flown back to the states after an all too brief visit and I miss her terribly. I was feeling particularly blue early this week and logged onto Virgin Radio as I do daily to listen to the best music on the airways. This time though I made a rare blog entry and begged a cyber-hug. The response from the interactive community was surprisingly friendly and I found my day turned around. By the end of the week I have made a number of new friends and have had fun reading the various shouts and blogs entered by this happy band of fellow music lovers. C0-incidentally later in the week I won a radio from Virgin via a request on one of the shows. On the other hand, during the week my old Pa was told he need another op, his 26th in his ongoing fight with Cancer. He takes it in his stride as always and is ever the life and soul, full of laughter. He's had me in stitches this week with his quirky sense of fun. All in all then, a bit of an up and down week, but on the whole the blessings outweigh the sorrows; we have each other and our friends and we make new friends all the time. Here's to a good week Pa, life a funny old thing eh?

Question?

Can anyone explain why the woman tennis coach found guilty of seducing a thirteen year old girl is constantly referred to in the media as a Lesbian. Surely the proper epithet should be Pedophile?