Haddington & Aberfeldy

August 2015

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To recap, we are strolling along the Discovery Trail at the Highland Safari, with Daisy boldly going on ahead.  (I think this was actually taken by Aunty Katie.)

Over by the treeline was this large residence, which seemed to be a new build for sale.

We hadn't climbed much when we had reached the Highpoint Lookout, where a sign told us that Ben Lawers to the west is the highest peak in Perthshire and the River Tay is Scotland's longest river at 117 miles long, and this river is home to the largest salmon population in Europe.

Coming back down the other side afforded us some views of the deer in the field, with this one eyeing me a bit suspiciously.  It's ok, I'll send him the website address.

By this point, The Boy was a bit fed up of walking (or at least he was going too slowly), so I carried him.  And in this case took a picture of us.  (I'm not going to use the S word.)

Back at the main area of the Highland Safari, Lynne had a good look at the gold panning, er, chute.  In the background, the clouds hung around the mountaintop, looking rather threatening.

Daisy was keen to have a go so we paid a fiver and off they went, at first being shown what to do by a member of staff.

The gold panning action soon had Aunty Katie and Gregory peering in for a closer look.

Aunty Katie was clearly eager to have a go and joined in with Daisy.

Meanwhile Lynne and Gregory paused for a pit stop and refuel.

Here are some of the different semi-precious gemstones that you may find during the gold panning.

Aunty Katie was really getting into it.  By this point, Daisy could only stand and watch, unable to get close.

Young Gregory was getting a bit grumpy and was determined to claim the packet of Quavers for his own.  Unfortunately, he complicated matters by adding some of the small stones to the mix.

There was only one thing for it - tine for some proper lunch.  As we had done a couple of years ago with Daisy, we plumped for the Mini Safari Platter for Gregory, which in all honesty he didn't do justice.  He munched on the raisins, cheese and bread, and perhaps a bit of the apple, but that was it.  Never mind: it kept him happy/quiet for a short while.

Nicky and Eddie soon joined us for lunch.

Eddie had been described as some sort of gold panning champion and so it was only right and proper that his skills and general pedigree were demonstrated for all to see.  You probably didn't need to be told that Aunty Katie and Daisy were those in line to watch and learn.

They seemed to have obtained quite a few pans for the panning action.  I think you pay for the gravel, or something like that.

The weather then turned, prompting Daisy to run out into the rain and pose for the camera.  She had also had a bit of fun back on the slide, asking people to give her or guess numbers that she would count on the slide.  (It made more sense at the time.)

The forecast heavy showers were well and truly upon us.  I dropped Lynne, Daisy and Katie off at the Aberfeldy cinema to watch the new Pixar film Inside Out, then headed back to the lodge with a sleeping Gregory.  I also popped in to see Mum with a sandwich that Katie had ordered from the Highland Safari and to check if she was ok.  She munched on some of the provisions then headed back to bed.  Here is a shot of outside - definitely better to be inside.

However, just 50 minutes later and this was the picture from more or less the same viewpoint.  An amazing transformation.  In between, I had picked up the girls from town.

Looking back up to the central lodge, the sky was now a brilliant blue.

Given the nice weather and swiftly drying ground, we let Daisy and Gregory run riot again.  Anything to tire them out for the evening.

Daisy produced some special action poses solely for my benefit.

Gregory the explorer was determined and unrelenting in his progress, walking all the way up to the road that heads over to the farm (and the way out).  I let him go a bit further but then had to carry him back.

They got uncomfortably close to one of the occupied lodges but I thought it was a fine time to capture the stunning backdrop, including the roofs of the two lodges that the Allens had commandeered.

Gregory the explorer became Gregory the mountaineer, his sense of adventure far from being on the wane.  Again, I had to whisk him away from the exponentially increasing sense of danger before too long, but he really doesn't take 'no' for an answer when it comes to trying things out.

On a trip to the local supermarket with Lynne, Katie decided to get quite a lot of food and drink considering they were not here for very long.  One of the purchases was a bottle of Malibu complete with a coconut drinking vessel, advertised here.

Later that evening, the weather was demonstrating its changeable self once more, as Aunty Katie played with her niece and nephew in colder, cloudier weather.

Early next morning, the two monkeys climbed all over Lynne as she watched TV.  Pile on!

With Nana Sue still not well, we again stuffed Aunty Katie in the back between the two car seats and headed off towards Perth.  Katie took a selfie of her and Daisy.

We headed to the Active Kids Adventure Park near Perth, as we had done a couple of years earlier.  Back then, you may remember that Daisy eventually, after a few struggles, made it to the top of the big Jelly Belly and celebrating accordingly.  Daisy's ascent of it was more measured this time.

But she was still happy to be up there, jumping up and down.

What was pretty impressive was the way that Gregory marched determinedly up there, at the tender age of 16 months.  Daisy was on hand to keep a big-sisterly protective eye on him.

But that soon gave way to reckless abandon.

The Boy started to get a little concerned at all the bouncing and headed down towards me.

Ah, a home from home, as he locates a ball pool area.

Here is a shot of Daisy the Allen milking Daisy the cow.  She was a bit unnerved by it and didn't last much longer.

Instead she had swing pushing duties for her Aunty Katie.

Daisy's increasing sense of adventure meant she was keen to tackle this rope ladder thing.  Unfortunately, however, she started to struggle as she got closer to the top and had to be lifted down.  Ah well, it's the thought that counts.

We did manage to find, in the corner of the complex, a very big slide.  It was one of those slides where you had to go down on a small bit of carpet.  Daisy sets herself up at the top.

Needless to say she went down the slide numerous times...

...having an absolute whale of a time.

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