A week at home

 The boat survived the gales well - thankfully not as strong as predicted.  On Monday 3rd we left the boat in Peterhead with fingers crossed that there would be no more big winds while we were away.  We took a taxi to Aberdeen and spent the night there in a Premier Inn - meeting Steve for dinner (he had gone to Aberdeen the night before to meet a friend) and a had a great steak at Miller and Carter - their dripping sauce is a big favourite of ours! We spent the Tuesday sightseeing in Aberdeen.  In the morning we went to the Maritime Museum which was excellent - particularly on the significance of oil and gas to the area. Then in the afternoon we took a walking tour with a delightful young guide who, as well as pointing out points of historical importance, showed us the really interesting street art in the city.  We flew back to Luton late Tuesday night and Isabel kindly picked us up from the airport. 

Being home was lovely in some ways, and odd in others. It felt a bit like living in two worlds. The bath was marvellous though! On the Thursday night we went to see a play called ‘Patriots’.  The play (by Peter Morgan) tells the story of billionaire businessman Boris Berezovsky (played by Tom Hollander) from being a key member of Putin’s inner circle (played by Will Keen) to becoming public enemy number one. It was terrific. 

On Saturday we travelled to Richmond where we stayed the weekend for our nephew’s wedding (the reason for coming home for a week).  It was a really lovely occasion and we were so glad we were able to be there. 

Tomorrow evening we fly back to Aberdeen to rejoin the boat at Peterhead. We will be flying from Luton and Alan will be coming from Rhodes. We hope to meet up to share a taxi! 

The plan for this week is to get to Arbroath, with one night at Stonehaven. The fleet will be gathering in the River Tay for the next ‘party weekend’.  We will all have dinner together next Saturday evening on the Discovery, the ship used for Scott’s Antarctic Expedition at the beginning of the 20th century. 






Photos of Aberdeen, including a street hung with umbrellas representing the city’s welcome to all, especially all neurodiverse people and deer in Richmond Park. 

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