Billie and Stephen

A quiet couple of days between Skye and our visitors, which was a good thing because when Billie and Stephen arrived the pace picked up. An evenly paced, fun night on Friday, introducing Steve to Haggis products thanks to a productive afternoon in the kitchen from John, but I saved Billie with a Chicken Casserole.

Saturday we took a drive to Loch Ness, so pretty, so green, so wet! The little Nissan has lots of room and with the all glass sunroof, we get a great view of the rain pouring down. Sadly with 2 extra bodies it runs up hills even slower, down to 2nd gear! We didn't sight Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster, just a pretend one.

 

On our return we went up the hill to the Castle Hotel. It sits on a corner with a lovely outside seating area, which when bathed in sunlight, is absolutely stunning. Today the sun was on holiday.
 

The choice of beers is very good, they have different beers on tap everyday or every second day, so you're never really sure  what you're going to get. So it's always a surprise. Luckily it had stopped raining long enough for the boys to sink a couple of pints before we went out for a meal

A small restaurant run by a brother and his wife in the kitchen and the sister runs the front with the help of another girl. The food was stunning, John even had dessert. But the hero of the night was Billie's White Chocolate Cheesecake

 Light as a feather.... Many laughs and home for a wee dram.

Off the next day for a drive in the opposite direction and a tour of the Glenmorangie Distillery. Its been a very cold weekend and the skys have lived up to the Scottish reputation. Only problem is, its still meant to be summer.

We drive home via the Black Isle, where we spot an inn in Culbokie, which scores a mention in the new Rebus book. Stunning view from the beer garden.

View from beer garden

Culbokie Inn

No time for beer, we're on our way to  Chanonry Point, where we may, if we're lucky, spot some dolphins. And we do! There were 2 or 3 of them literally jumping out of the water. They are so quick it's very hard to photograph them and it was blowing a gale, so no pics, sorry, but it was lovely to watch them

Home again, home again, and back up the hill for a casual pub dinner. We score a table under cover with the heaters above. Pretty cosy but the coats stay on and we take the long way home, via the bouncy bridge. How old are we? Frankly, just 4 big kids out for some fun.

Monday morning and the smaller Evereds are on their way. Thank God! I'm sure they feel the same way. They are off to the Shetland Isles for an adventure and we are staying put for a rest. We've had a great weekend, but we're all a bit tired. Some people just never know when to stop, and we're four of them.
Fun, fun, fun in Inverness.