Thursday 21st February 2002

Jennifer and Bernie are up and packed early this morning, they have also washed up again. Jennifer must return for a council meeting and Bernie is happy to go home too - he isn't into long holidays. We bid them farewell and safe journey etc.

Gavin has decided that celebration is in order for getting the job, he wants to buy himself a kilt. We all set off to Ayr to find a kilt shop, the weather is dreadful again, high winds and torrential rain - lovely. We have left Sproggy to guard house. En route we stopped at The Old Trout pub for lunch - a mistake, the old trout running the place was horrified. Food?? this is a public house we don't do food, you will have to go to Girvan if you want to eat food!! We did, and had fish and chips all round at a cosy little pub, sitting by a roaring log fire.

We drove on, close to Ayr I spotted the familiar signs to Culzean Castle and asked if we could stop This is my favourite castle. It was designed and built by Robert Adam, a stunning place build out on the edge of a cliff so that 3 sides overlook the sea. It has a unique oval staircase and stunning gardens and a deer park. I love it, but unfortunately we were out of season and it was closed to the public.

We try 3 kilt shops and the latter agrees that they can measure up and send on the kilt to Cambridge without Gavin coming back for fittings. I had suggested Hunting Stewart as Gavin didn't fancy the Royal Stewart, but it is his clan tartan, he really liked it so that was settled and he was measured and sorted fairly quickly. Gavin looked at home in the kilt, it really suits him.

We returned to the Monreith Arms for our last meal here as we leave in the morning. As before it was excellent, this time everyone followed my lead and it was steaks and sticky toffee puddings all round, in the main room in front of the roaring log fire. We said farewell to the nice landlord and returned to Monreith and to Sproggy who was very happy that we were back. A walk for him then we settled in front of the fire which Andrew quickly got going, with a glass of wine before bed.