Strawberries & Cream -- YUM!!!

May 12, 2011

Ok, we had an early evening last night so you would think that Ray would have had things prepared better for his morning (Scottish time) blog.

Yesterday (Wednesday) we spent most of the day helping out Labrador Rescue Scotland at a store called Pets at Home. Pets at Home is sort of like a Petsmart/PetCo in the Colonies. Pets at Home are having an adoption awareness campaign. Lab Rescue was asked to staff the booth one day.

So it felt just like I was at home working an event with Heart of Texas Lab Rescue. So we sold raffle tickets and a few Lab Rescue items to raise funds. But mostly talked to people about the importance of adoption.

And of course as with any event you must have your spokes Lab. Here is Molly working the booth. She was incredible, and speaks eloquently about the benefits of re-homing.











While we were at Pets at Home (a wonderful place by the way, and I highly recommend stopping by one if you are in the area). A little girl came by with her school project. She is to take care of Thomas a stuffed Dalmatian for a week and bring him around. With her.














Ok, every adventure has to have something unique in it. So during one of the breaks Sheila and I went and wandered around a local cemetery. Where we found some wonderful headstones (Including Carolyne's Dad whom we said hello to). But this one was very interesting and indicative of many of those in the area, with a lot of detail about the person.


















After a wonderful day of meeting Labbies it was time to relax. Roger had offered to make Pizza. (sorry no pictures I was to engrossed in gouging myself) It was wonderful. But of course to make Pizza means you must have pizza ingredients. So off to Tesco (local grocery store) we went. While Roger, Sheila and Carolyne were out finding food Ray was in the Wine/Booze section. Roger and Sheila knew that I would be most useful there.

Now one of the things about letting Ray loose in a Liquor store is that you never know what he will come back with. Well of course I found a wonderful Jacob's Creek Shiraz that was reasonably priced (Ray rarely pays more then $15 for a bottle of wine) but the find of the day was a bottle of Strawberries & Cream infused Vodka. I kid you not.


It sort of looks like Pepto Bismol (an upset stomach med in the states). But taste wonderful (at least to me, and that is all that counts).

Oh, and I almost forgot we did go and see some scenery. Here is the obligatory picture of the North Sea. Love the whole rocky shore stuff going on.


(Can you tell Ray is getting to the end of the Blog and Breakfast is calling and I can't eat until I'm done informing you of what went on).

So Mega great day. Today we are off to Tongue. So far the day is starting off well. Usually I have to prod Sheila to get up in the morning, but she popped right up so I think she is as excited to start the day as I am.

Cheers,
Ray & Roger & Sheila
P.S. Ray is getting the hang of this driving on the wrong side of the road thing and is going to be head chauffeur to Tongue today.

Movie Stars in Wick

May 11, 2011

Well yesterday (I am writing the recaps the morning after) was brilliant.

We started out with a wonderful breakfast at the Hawthorne's B&B. Gosh if you go away hungry then there is seriously something wrong. Thresa lays out a wonderful spread and makes a great cup of Coffee.

Afterwards we were off to Carolyne's and then to spend the morning in Wick. Wick is a wonderful little burg in the Highlands. While there we did one of the things that we came to Scotland to do, which was to hand over a little donation to Labrador Rescue Scotland to help them in their good works.



Glamor Queens:
Then it was off to the place where Locals have Coffee and a pint in the morning in Wick, and to have a walk about (have to throw in my Australian once in a while). While there we had what could only be called Movie Star sightings (I'll post a pic later, can't find mine) only to find out that they were Carolyne's Aunt and Mum.

But gosh they they were very much in the style of Greta Garbo & Lillian Dish. Very Glamorous. With the Carolyne's Aunt wearing sunglasses to hide her identity from all her adoring fans (which I later found out were to hide an eye that just had surgery on it) and Carolyne's Mum with a wonderful white headscarf on. The two of them looked like they stepped out of a 1950's post card. It was wonderful.

After a nice pint errr.... I mean a wonderful Coffee. It was time for a walk about. I was thrilled to see the Cancer Research Store. A place where survivors can go. (Those of you know me, know I kicked Cancer a number of years ago and thanks to my beloved Labbie Ms. Shasta it is not coming back).

The town is very walkable. We had a wonderful time. Just strolling around.

While about we stopped off at one of businesses that help out Lab Rescue Scotland, Hilltop Horses. A wonderful store full of everything you would need to go riding. www.hilltopholidayhome.co.uk and of course we had to have a picture with all the great gear as Margaret Huston of Heart of Texas Lab Rescue would be jealous ;)



Thumpster
The it was on to a real treat. A honest to god Manor house. Thumpster Estates http://www.thrumster.co.uk This is a wonderful place situated on over 10,000 acres where you can go hunting & fishing etc... But they also have Flat Coated Retrievers. Which of course made our day. I am going to do a special Blog article on this place in the next day or two. There was so much to see and do that I could not give it justice. But suffice it to say it will go down as one of the highlights of our trip. Not just a wonderful place, but wonderful people with of course wonderful dogs.


Gracie
After a relaxing dinner, we were off to hand deliver a couple of paintings to Rory & Sarah. So thanks to Carolyne's husbands GPS unit (a Tom Tom) we were able to make it cross country to Halkirk to meet Gracie. A wonderful 2 year old Lab who for all intensive purposes rescued Rory & Sarah. To boot it was close to Sarah's birthday so Sheila was able to drop off a couple of paintings.


Next came a wonderful drive back to our little B&B in Mey. And the end to another wonderful day. And of course since Ray is too darn lazy to write about the day they had on the day it was had, it is being done the morning after the day. And it looks like it will be the start of another wonderful day.

That is if Ray can get Sheila & Roger out of bed. They look so comfy under the wonderful down comforter. I even went over and tickled Sheila's feet but she did not move.

Oh well. We hope you have as brilliant a day as we do.

Cheers
Ray & Roger & Sheila
P.S. We decided that we will do a Photo site and download all our photo's to it. There are so many that we just can't get them all posted here.
And stay tuned for a special posting on Thumpster Estates.

A day in Mey

May 9, 2011 Recap
Oh my!!!! it is 7am. But these comforters at the Hawthorne's are so comfy I never want to get out of bed. Lucky for me I can compute while in bed.

Ok, I am writing this the morning after it happened.

Whew we are having a whirlwind of a time.

We drove up from Loch Ness yesterday to Mey. The trip was very stunning. We stopped at a little cafe outside of a town whose name I can't remember and had a "Spot" of tea and then went up to view the Emmigrants statue (I'll talk more about that in a later post).


Then up to Mey where we checked into the Hawthorne's B&B. Much to my surprise there was a Police Van in the driveway. Hmmmm!!!! I was certain that I had violated a few driving laws in negotiating the roundabouts as well as driving on the "Wrong" side of the road. But alas it was just Andy whom is the Husband of Theresa who runs the B&B.

After resting up a bit we got a Police escort up to Carolyne's place (Home base of Lab Rescue Scotland). Of course I took pictures of the Labs. Here is one of her D'Arcy who looks so much like Roger & Sheila's Sophie that it is scary.


Then it was off to Castle Mey, which was the late Queen Mum's Castle. You can tell that the whole area just loved her. No pictures allowed inside, but needless to say it was very nicely done. But not pretentious.



After Castle time it was time to hang out with Labbies. Ollie & Lenny were gracious enough to let us come and play with them.


Then it was back to Carolyne's for a light dinner and some pleasant conversation before the harrowing ride (minus police escort) back to the Hawthorne's. First Ray had to figure out how to turn on the headlights in the car. That was a comedy act until we found the switch that had a headlight on it (DOH!!!!) Then came the drive back on the single track road which was going well until we came up on a car coming right at us. So I went to pull over and they went to pull over but we both went to pull over in the same space. Of course the whole time Roger & Sheila are yelling "Left, Left, Left" so I swing over to the Wrong Side of the road again and all is fine.

Ok, back to the Labraventure. Today is going to be packed full of excitement.

Ray & Sheila & Roger

Day 1 Recap

May 9, 2011 7:30am

Day 1 recap.

Well we had an adventuresome flight. Sitting around us was 2 old laddies cackling about something to do with Arthritis and how one is considering going to Germany for a new experimental Pig Testicle treatment. Heck. I learn so much while out traveling.

Then came the landing in Glasgow, where we breezed through customs. Though we were quized by the Customs officer as to what we were doing here and why we were going all the way up to the northern reaches of Scotland just to see Labradors. (She obviously does not know us.)

Next came the car. Well we got a nice little Skoda. And after driving around the area a while Sheila saw the M8 motor way and off away we went. Once we found A82 we just never got off.



On the way we stopped at some castle (I think stared with Uraich (or something like that. ) It was closed for the day, but we made the best of the situation.



Then came a wonderful evening of sleeping with Roger & Ray competing to see who could have the freshest gastronomical explosions ;) Sheila refereed the competition.

And of course a Nessie sighting.



After that it was Piddles, Cookies and Beds for us.

It is really the 9th right now, but morning is just starting so we will post later in the day. Including a before and after picture of Sheila. Before she shaved her arm pits and one after ;)

Ray & Roger & Sheila

May 8, 2011 4:15am Loch Ness Time

Whew we made it. Had a nice drive over to the Clansman Inn on Loch Ness. Sheila and I are having a nice glass of wine and some cheese while Roger naps.


Yes this is Ray driving legally on the wrong side of the road. We have a Skoda, nice car to drive but you can't see the front end of the car from where you sit to drive (bad product design). So every now and then I misjudge the wrong side curb. And of course send Roger and Sheila screaming ;)



Sheila was having such a fun time on the flight. This was taken after Ray had spilled a glass of Water all over the place.



in the Philly airport there are Portable Defibrillators all over the place. So if you plan on having a heart attach in an airport, we highly recommend the Philadelphia airport.


Ok, write more in the Blog or focus on drinking a wonderful Italian Red wine. Hmmmm!!!! Wine Wins out.

Check back later for more.

Ray & Sheila & Roger

Labraventurerers in Philly

Yes we are in Philly, next stop Glasgow. Sheila is having the official Philly meal of the Great Scottish Labraventure. A Philly Cheese Steak.

So far all is well. Flights have been on time and we are having a blast gabbing.

Sheila is wearing her travel pants. I think she got them a little to big so that I would have to carry her bags while she keeps pulling them up.

Word is that Carolyne has a bottle of something for Roger and I to consume in Scotland. We can't wait.

Connection keeps getting dropped so will keep this short.

Ray & Sheila & Roger

If you want the Loot, read on!!!

May 7, 2011 4am Austin time
(For God sake what am I doing up at this hour? need to catch a ride to the Airport for my 7am flight. Ride shows up around 5am.)

Let the Labrventure begin!!!!!

Sheila and I talk just about everyday. Usually, I answer the phone with "What do you want now" But yesterday it was "Thanks God it is you and not work".

So everyone is packed. Sheila packed about a week ago, Roger packed a couple days ago and I of course packed this morning. Socks, Shoes, Pants, Shirts, Dinner Pajamas all packed in. I had wanted to bring my Cowboy Boots, but alas space constraints mean they stay home (sorry Carolyne). And sorry Carolyne & Yvonne the Stetson is staying home, don't want to risk crushing it on the flight. But don't worry I have my Cowboy Shirt!!!

So you are reading this and thinking, did he say he packed Dinner Pajamas? Yup you read that correct. I believe that if you are going to be lounging you should be comfy and hence my Dinner Pajamas. Which needless to say have Labrador prints on them.

Sheila calls yesterday (Friday) with her afternoon update. Paintings done, things packed, things shipped and she called her kids and said how much she loved them and how proud she is of them. Damn, I was about ready to cry (except I was laughing so hard). Yup!!! we are all going to die and Sheila is the only one of us who has said goodbye to her family.

So we are off. And of course we are violating one of Ray's prime directives of traveling overseas. Which is never fly a U.S. Flag Carrier. For years when I was with IBM I would only travel on an airline from a country who I figured had not recently pissed off the Terrorist world. Hence I mostly flew Singapore, Emirates, KLM and Swiss when I flew around the world.

But here we are not only flying on a U.S. Flag Carrier across the pond, but one called US Airways. And of course we are doing this just days after the U.S.A. rid the world of a Terrorist. So maybe Sheila telling everyone goodbye is not such a bad idea. Hmmmm Time to get the phone working. (except I doubt anyone would answer their phone at this hour of the morning)

Or I could just assume that everyone I care about will read this post and hence I can cover everyone all at once. So here goes. I love you all, I am very proud of each of you and if I never see you again remember my Will says if you want the Loot you have to take the Labs!!! (Will is located in the Yellow folder on the shelf upstairs.)

Whew!!!! I feel better already.

So we are off. I am as excited to see Sheila & Roger Wedegis (who are my Florida family) as much as I am to to make the acquaintance of my Scottish family. I am lucky to have families all over the place. There is my Texas, Florida, Montana, Oregon & Alaskan families as well as my Egyptian & Australian families. And soon my Scottish Family. Heck why be stuck with just one family when you can have several?

The next post might be from Philly where we may have Internet connection via AT&T WiFi, or maybe the next post will be from Scotland and the Clansman Inn on the shores of Loch Ness. You will need to check to see.

Ray & Sheila & Roger

P.S. don't forget we are posting little snippets on Facebook in the LabRaventure group. If you are not a member just request to become a member on FB or send one of us a note.