Rudland family on-line

Recently we have seen signs of red squirrels in the garden. After consulting Bob McGarva, who lived at the bottom of the town near the wood with lots of squirrels in his garden, we built a squirrel feeder and fixed it in the old pear tree. Within a short time the squirrels had found it and were taking some of the nuts. Some they seemed to eat and others were carried out into the garden and then buried. Hope they can remember where they are ! !

One day at lunchtime I went the back door and managed to get some pictures. Please see the gallery for comfirmation that they are really cute.

Thursday, 25 September.
Margaret and I set off today to call in at Janet and Adrian’s for an overnight stop on our way to Portsonachan on the south side of Loch Awe.

We had spent our honeymoon at nearby Ardbrecknish, but as this was no longer an hotel, we decided to stay at Portsonachan just a wee bit further down the loch. We were told when we arrived that we had been upgraded to a lochside suite which had a lounge area, a galley kitchen and, on the second floor, a mega bed-cum-bath. Settled in we went along to the main hotel for our dinner. Food great and wine also.

On Saturday we decided to visit Oban, but the weather was not propitious and the vintage lorry rally there was a bit of a washout. Snack lunch and a look in at the local museum filled in the time. We do not normally “do” Tesco but there was no choice so the wherewithal for our evening meal came from there. So home and dined in our own wee pad.

Sunday was slightly better and we made for the Heritage site at Bonawe Ironworks. It is hard to imagine that iron was smelted here back in 1753 because of the ready availability of wood to provide the charcoal which was the fuel. Perhaps, because of its remoteness, it was very well preserved and has now been laid out to show how the furnace would have looked in its working days.

At the head of the loch stands Kilchurn Castle, approached by a track over the tusssocky grass. Really spectacular views down the Pass of Brander. Photos in the gallery should show what it looked like.

In the evening we had booked our dinner in the main restaurant and, again, it was a memorable meal.

Monday morning we packed up and headed south, with a stop at Bonkle where we had lunch with Rowan and Tony. And so back to Dalbeattie.

Another memory to add to our store.

Saturday, 20 September was the date of our Golden Wedding. There was to be a party here and all the invites we sent were accepted so that the group was 25 strong.

First of all, we had a glass of bubbly and Rowan gave her welcome speech, followed by Natalie and then Alan. Now it was my turn “On behalf of my wife and myself…..” At the time of our wedding we had recorded the ceremony on a reel-to-reel tape machine and I was able to replay the bit with the vows to take us back 50 years. Rev Ian Robertson recalled that day and then it came time to eat

Adrian made the buffet and, as usual, created a marvellous spread, standing at the top of the table dispensing salmon with great flourish. There were so many dishes that it was hard to make a choice. Mum had made the desserts and they also made a great picture.

The chat was good, since many of those present had not met up for a good few years.

We had said no presents, but some folk could not read, or could not remember what they had read - there were flowers and plants and other goodies, for which many thanks.

Sunday, 21 September.

Two families had been staying over the weekend in chalets at Barend and it was arranged that there would be a group lunch down there. Again Adrian did his bit and, with some of the stuff left from the day before, provided a meal. The weather was kind and we all gathered on one balcony. Soon it was time to pack up.

Altogether a memorable weekend was the universal opinion.