Number Three Son Sighted in North East Scotland

Number Three arrived in Scotland and he fell in love. He kept repeating,

“Oh, I just love it here!”

We didn’t wait long before we took him to one of the most important places, Portsoy Ice Cream.

Soon he and his Dad disappeared into The Work Shop. Number Three was falling in love with hand sewing and leather work. Little did he know how much he was going to fit right in for our evening ‘program’, The Great British Sewing Bee. It’s so nice when your kids grow up to love your stuff.

I’d been wanting to see Slains Castle, but had been waiting for someone to go with me. A gorgeous country drive from Portsoy that took about an hour.

The pathway is lined with crushed shells, which suited us and Gunner just fine. Loved how it loomed in the distance. There is a 20 minute walk from the parking lot to the castle. (No bathrooms, nope, not a one, so come prepared).

Slains Castle is on the North Sea cliffs and warnings are everywhere to watch your step and do not let your dog of the lead.

Built in 1597 and visited by Bram Stoker, it is believed to be the castle that gave him the inspiration for Dracula’s Castle.

The castle was fabulous, click the link for better pictures and more information.

The castle is wonderfully remote. Excellent to visit it with a history loving guy.

The Fishing Museum in Buckie is worth a trip. Free with good parking. It might be small, but it is packed with information. I was drawn to an example of the gansey’s on display. The different knitting patterns were for the different villages. If a fisherman was lost at sea, his knitwear could identify where he’d come from. The website gave me a much better understanding of the sacrifice of the area with 40 pages of those lost at sea over the years. Some years more recent than I would have thought.

No visit is complete without a stop into Buckie’s hardware store. Number Three finally found the new towel he was looking for.

A trip to My Loving Spouse’s Turkish barber for a hair cut and a straight razor shave.

I’ve never seen him hold so still.

Items of food to try when you’re in Scotland. After all if Number Three ate them they must be good…

Irn-Bru

Skirlie (twice)

Fish n’ Chips

Mince and Tatties (twice)

Mac N’ Cheese (what can I say, they love it here) – twice

Meat pies (twice)

….we took one for the team and agreed to go back to Portsoy Ice Cream for a second scoop.

A wonderful visit, precious time together. He kept saying, “Thank you for letting me come.”

I finally said, “We’re your parents you don’t have to thank us for letting you come. We’re glad you’re here.”

…and we are blessed.