It Must Be Autumn

I noticed yesterday as we were driving through Comrie that a few trees have begun to show red leaves. I suppose that means it is definitely getting to be autumn. You certainly wouldn't know it from the temperature, however, as it probably got up to the low 70s again yesterday afternoon. Yesterday was sunny but today is overcast and misty and so the temperature feels a bit more autumnal.

Our guests left on the 2:15 train from Dunblane to Glasgow yesterday afternoon after we had a rather slow start in the morning. It wasn't their fault; they had begun to pack and get organized for their departure on Thursday afternoon. It wasn't our fault either. No, the problem has to do with some last items to be taken care of related to the renovations and, most particularly, the bureaucratic red tape of the Perth and Kinross Council.

The first visit Friday morning was from Raymond Cramb who came to look at the new cupboard and skirting (floor molding) in the studio so he can work up an estimate for painting them. He came at 8:30 but was here less than 15 minutes. The second visit was from Billy, an electrician from Crieff, who came at 9:30 to do an extensive inspection and complete a form required by the council. Why? After our contractor filed recently for our official Certificate of Completion, which one must obtain following a new build or a renovation, he learned that after they had issued our Building Permit a new regulation had come into effect that all electrical work must be signed off on by a board-certified electrician. Our electrician, Gordon, however competent he is, doesn't have that certification for which one must go on a course (enroll in a course) and so our contractor had to hire one of the only two electricians in the area who do have said qualification.

When Billy arrived, he said "I know Gordon and I know that his work will be impeccable, so I don't anticipate any remediations, but my work is going to take close to 4 hours and I'll be needing to switch your electrics off and on during the course of my inspection." Not only did he have to double-check all of Gordon's work, but he essentially had to double-check all of the wiring we have, including that in the rooms and the garage where no work even took place! Most of his work involved his being in the hallway outside our bathroom where the switchbox is located. He had his equipment and the form he had to fill out on the floor of the hallway so that Don and I had to step over him and all his stuff to access my studio (which is also my dressing room) or our toilet. Ruthellen and Russell were better off with the shower room right outside the guest room door which wasn't in the area Billy needed to access at first. But then he began checking all the switches and outlets in every room so we simply couldn't avoid being in each other's way.

Meanwhile I made porridge which seemed the only sensible thing to do when the electricity kept being switched on and off as our cooktop operates on natural gas. As it was, we didn't sit down to have our breakfast until 11. The positives were that Billy (whose surname I never got) was a jokey, friendly fellow who was pleasant to have around. He was still at work as we left the house at about 12:30 but was almost finished and said that it appeared that no remediations would be required. This was a relief. The post script to this episode, however, came in the afternoon yesterday when Bill Laing, our contractor, phoned to say that Billy will send the completed form to the council who will then send out their own inspector to double-check Billy's work! Can you believe it? Sometimes I think bribing public officials from the start is the more efficient way to handle these things.

We took advantage of the beautiful day to visit Doune Castle (the one that holds a Monty Python Day on the first Sunday each September) in the town of Doune which is not far from Dunblane. The castle is the most well-preserved one we've seen and is great for exploring around on your own. We climbed all over it and saw chambers and ante-chambers, banquet hall, kitchen, and even got out to one of the ramparts. For those who don't know it, Doune Castle is where many scenes from Monty Python and the Holy Grail was filmed.

Next we drove to Dunblane, parked the car at the train station, and then walked around this lovely little city. It is really a town in size but because it has a cathedral, it is called a city. In fact, we walked to the cathedral (Church of Scotland or Presbyterian) and back, browsing in a charity shop along the way. We got back to the train station in time to help Ruthellen and Russell get their bags onto the train. It was a terrific visit. We all had a really good time.

On our way home, Don and I stopped at the Raphi Centre, a new alternative therapies centre near Comrie on the twisty moor road that runs between Braco and Comrie. The Centre also has a farm, gift, and coffee shop. We had a bowl of soup and a sandwich and then browsed the shop, picking up a birthday gift for a friend.

In the afternoon, I began washing linens while Don went out to practice some golf shots. Last night, we went to Crieff to the new Thai restaurant. Robbie and Peter Innes went with us. This restaurant replaced the Thai restaurant that had been there for a number of years but had to close because the chef was not able to get a visa to stay due to strict new immigration laws. We were so sorry to see the place close as it was a nice restaurant and the people who owned and ran it were lovely folks. We were happy to see this summer that a new Thai restaurant was taking its place. The menu is a bit more extensive and the food equally as good.

On Wednesday we went to Dunkeld where we browsed the shops and visited its Cathedral overlooking the Tay River in a gorgeous setting. We had lunch there and then went to Pitlochry Theatre for the matinee presentation of Oscar Wilde's "A Woman of No Importance." I'm sure it was a scintillating play in its time, but for our modern times, it was quite talky. The actors were wonderful and the costumes were marvelous but it was "a long sit." On our way home, we went via Loch Tummel where we stopped for a "photo op" at Queen's View, one of Queen Victoria's favorite views. From there we went through the village of Kenmore at the eastern end of Loch Tay and then took the Glen Quoich single track road over the hills to Amulree and Sma' Glen. That night we had a pub supper at the Royal Hotel.

Thursday was a rainy day, not very nice for touring but it was the last day we had to show RE and RB the sights. One of the items on their wish list of places to see was the Trossachs and so we drove them to Loch Katrine. Under umbrellas in a drizzle we walked out along the walkway by the loch a little way so they could get as good a view as possible in those conditions of the steamship, the Sir Walter Scott, and of one of the little islands with tall trees on it, which are the hallmark of the Trossachs. Then we drove to the town of Callandar for lunch and a browse along the High Street. The afternoon turned sunny and so we had a pleasant drive back to Comrie.

So now it's Saturday. Don is away at his standing golf date with Craig and I'm getting our clothes washed so we can pack tomorrow for our trip to Cassis in France to visit with friends.