Haddington & Aberfeldy
August 2014
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After our trip to Blair Castle, we popped down to Aberfeldy park for the mid-afternoon, where Daisy was a little intimidated by this big slide, although partly this seemed to be due to having just woken up (after a little sleep on the way back from our castle fun).
Lynne did persuade Daisy to slide down but, as you can see, Daisy was a bit distressed by the whole affair, despite her normally loving slides.
This prompted a quiet period of lonely introspection.
Finally, though, she came round and started to enjoy herself on this very flat roundabout.
As the sun came out, Daisy was much more comfortable on slides of approximately this size.
After such volatile behaviour it was of course time for an appropriate level of cake reward in the Watermill Café. The chocolate fudge cake was rather large in comparison to dainty Daisy.
She had a little bit of help from us (in fact, she wasn't keen on us helping at all), but she largely destroyed the huge cake herself. Sugar rush!
Daisy seems to be rocking the more countrified look here, as she played with the toys on offer.
Back at the lodge, cheeky young scamp Gregory was enjoying himself in the tummy tub.
It had turned into a lovely evening so I popped outside to take a photo from behind the lodge...
...and from the front of the lodge around an hour later.
By the morning, there was a very different scenic outlook as the clouds lay low across the land.
We headed down to Auchingarrich wildlife centre, which just under an hour's drive south of Aberfeldy, near Crieff. It was a very scenic drive with lots of twists and turns.
The wildlife featured an all-star cast, including a horse...
...a black pig...
...and a goat, which Daisy eyed up cautiously.
Also one of these little monkey (I know it's not a monkey)...
...and this very similar-looking one but with different coloured fur.
No animal section is complete without one of those crazy meerkats. Their stock has really increased in recent years due to their proliferation on advertisements.
In the baby animal building, Daisy got to hold a little chick, which she did so very delicately.
She had to put it back, though. Probably for the best (for all parties).
She also got to stroke a lizard. She was reticent but gave it a go.
Gregory was either bored senseless by the whole affair or intensely staring at the camera.
Taking it back even further in time, here is an incubation box of eggs.
At the far side of the wildlife centre were a couple of large sheds full of fun things to do. Daisy was in her element as she had the place to herself, although it did perhaps mean that she got a bit bored more quickly than normal.
Fantastically, they had crazy golf, which we played the nine holes of (and table tennis in the background, which we didn't).
Past the café, they had an adventure playground with a stunning backdrop.
Daisy is reunited with a peacock. Not the same one as at Blair Castle, though, presumably. Daisy again had an apple - not sure if she requested that specifically.
The wildlife centre was all neatly laid out.
As sure as night follows day, Daisy sought out the available slide. An encouraging feature for any parent (particularly one of Daisy) was the crash mat at the bottom.
It all got a bit much for the lazy girls as they lay back on the big swingy tyre net thing.
Lynne even had a go on one of the climbing frame things. Not sure why exactly.
This guy's in need of a haircut. Sort it out, mate.
Not exactly what sure this is. Maybe the name will come to me.
Rather hilariously, this black-headed goat was eager to stick his head through the wire mesh fence.
That evening, we headed over to the traditional local venue of choice: the Logierait Inn, which is about a 15-minute drive down the road, to nearby Pitlochry.
Young Gregory was keen to get out of the car seat and have a good look around.
And of course that prompted others to want to hold him - Nicky was only to happy to lend a hand. Or an arm.
And this is how we all lined up - Eddie at the head of the table, then Lynne with Daisy (I presume Gregory is back in the car seat), then Nicky's half-brother Anthony, with his other half Natalie and their son Jacob (who was watching Frozen on a notebook, which Daisy was very much in favour of), then Calum, Matt and Nicky.
I'm not sure but I may have taken Gregory outside to cool down or to switch him from the car seat to the pram. The sun was going down (over some other lodges) but still threatening to break through the clouds.
Daisy, all dressed up in her strawberry dress and jewellery, looks pretty shifty as she munches on this flake, whilst Lynne looks hilariously on with mild alarm.
The Thursday morning after the Wednesday night before and low-hanging clouds have descended even further.
We decided to head back to Cluny Gardens. We had been the previous year, but felt that it would be good fun for Daisy to walk round now that she was more able to do so. Here she is putting the entrance money into the box.
Like all natural number counting expeditions, you start at 1. Here is my able assistant demonstrating where the sign marked '1' is.
In the interests of suspense, I will leave it there on this page and request that you dutifully click here to see some more numbered sign action.