Raven's Roads
Living an interesting life: the travels and musings
of motorcycling author Linda R. Moore

Feb 9, 2005

08 February - Local Stuff

Filed in Britain 2005 (1), Travel

This was primarily an errands kind of day…in the morning we went to fetch eggs from the egg ladies. I stayed in the car with Dad until I finally succumbed and got out to take pictures of the nifty trees. Nothing runs rapidly in Scotland but the water, but apparently one always learns something new when talking to the egg ladies. Meanwhile, the behaviour of the free range chickens reminded me what “pecking order” really means.

We took a series of single track roads down to Dingwall, where my parents bumped into yet another acqutaintance. I had to dash to the loo; there is something about the cold air that has that effect. ;-)

Some shopping later, with my Cadbury’s Buttons addiction suitable assuaged, we went to our last errand, which was to go to the San Francisco Music Box company. In the middle of nowhere - quite literally - is a little farm where a Yorkshire family has been quietly building a business for a few years now. My parents’ first visit there was because of my amusement at the link with SF on my first trip to Scotland in 2001; they’ve been taking people up there ever since. I am delighted at the way they’ve expanded and grown and seem to be doing well.

We ended up chatting for a good while and I introduced them to Markeroni. We compared notes about our experiences in America and running businesses and it turns out that David, the artist (it’s also a gallery of sorts) is also a bit of an animal rescue guy. They are nursing a couple of injured swans in addition to their other jobs.

My parents got me the opal necklace I requested for my birthday. It’s lovely. :-)

They sell music boxes, of course, and gifts and jewellery. I can sense an article brewing here…I have for some time now. ;-)

We came home for pancakes…it’s Pancake Day! I had a few - lemon and sugar. Mmm. For those unfamiliar with the tradition, it’s what we do before Lent: the idea is to use up all the good stuff, eggs, sugar, milk in one crazy pancake frenzy…then deprive yourself for 40 days. I won’t, but many do.

In the afternoon Anne came round with Lauren, who filled all available space for the next hour or so. She is sweet, but tiring…I get tired just watching her endless make-believe and energy. Anne got her ready for ballet and she made the cutest little picture, all that pink.

Then we had dinner and went out to Avoch, where my brother and SIL first lived when they came to Scotland. It was a dark drive and it’s hard to see with people’s tendency to carry ten million lights on their cars.

And now it’s the evening, and time to hit “send later” on this post, and tomorrow I am having my eyes tested and it’s another day.