So that means he is faffing around the kitchen making coffee and himself right at home. It is lovely to have him here again for another festive period, and there is football in McKays today so that will cheer him (should they win!). Last night we were at the "Wizard of Oz" which was great. They put on a wonderful show at Pitlochry Festival Theatre.

I have no idea why I am not updating this more frequently these days, as the editing tool is really easy to use!

Since September we have both been busy. October saw us in Belgrade for the Fall meeting of OSMTH, my first chairing such an event. It was a huge success. Then I worked for a week in Latvia which is always great. We had a new hot water boiler installed which was a struggle for the engineer to bore a hole through the thick walls, but four drill bits later it was done. Later in November I attended the 10th birthday celebrations of OSMTH Bulgaria and was interviewed on TV, and in newspapers and got introduced at the Parliament. I was also honoured with the award of Knight Commander of the Cross of Honesty which was a huge surprise and I was very humbled to receive it. Here I am on the masthead of the daily "Labour" newspaper!


Winter came last weekend but only for a day, but what a day! Freezing rain, then snow and there are still patches of snow and ice around in Killiecrankie.

Of major note was that I received official notification that I have been awarded a papal knighthood. The documentation arrived this week but the lovely bling was already here. I am now a member of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St Gregory the Great, First Class. This is commonly known as Grand Cross of St Gregory and I get to add GCSG after my name.

Monday was time to drive our Bulgarians down to Edinburgh. There was fog and rain at the River Forth so I asked as we crossed the new bridge if they wanted to go to Rosslyn Chapel, which we did. We were only there about 20 minutes though which is never long enough. We drove them to their AirBnB and then out to the Secret Garden at the Witchery-by-the-Castle restaurant for a delicious dinner. It was stunning.

Farewells are always difficult to make, but we are all meeting up again in a few weeks in Serbia, so not long to wait!

First guests to leave were Mark and John on the early train to Edinburgh. Then home to a wild party arriving - it was the Glasgow Gang ready for reviews of the night before and a cooked breakfast. I won a prize by telling them all it was time to go at 3:30 pm and I counted down the minutes until peace returned and I had time for some OSMTH meetings with Peter and Anna so some work was done! Sunday night we went up to Blair Atholl for dinner in the pub where AC's cousins from Bournemouth were dining too. Lovely night out! Below is Birthday Boy Anthony with his Tower of Birthday Cheeses!

What a great night!

Everyone was dressed up in OFH and I shuttled groups down to KHH where they were to pick up the local coach to Blair Castle for the party. Peter was in my Thin Kilt (fat one does not fit me anymore!) and I took AC up with Adam (in his international superstar DJ mode) and Mark and John in my car which I was leaving overnight.


The castle looked amazing! Red carpet entrance was weighed down by curling stones and wonderfully welcoming staff greeted everyone as they arrived.

The first coach load came up from Pitlochry and the second was from Killiecrankie. I got a wonderful surprise when Wee Cath and Kathleen Clarke and spouses arrived as they had omitted to say they were coming up. Wonderful to see them! And then Helen Maria and Aileen Wilson (she has not ben a Wilson for almost 30 years, but so what…) and Paul and Aileen's husband John whom I have not seen since he was courting! The Victorian Ballroom started to fill up with loud whoops of happiness as old friends met up, so it was time for me to grab the microphone and call out the Scottish Contry Dancing steps. I had bought highland pumps the week before as I was not going to hit that dancefloor in brogues - perfect for the dancing. My guest partners of Pauline Cartwright May, Caroline McMahon and Wee Cath were fantastic.



I almost killed the dancers by our final dance of the Swedish Masquerade which is fun to watch but dangerous to perform. I got the opportunity to criticise the poor quality dancing at the end of each set.





Mostly it was a disaster but so much fun and enjoyment. Just before the delicious food (I am told that as I did not have the time to sample) Caroline made AC sit down as she recited her PoYum to him which was wonderful.



The rest of the evening was Adam in full flight as a DJ and everyone had a great time. I hope I managed to get around everyone to make sure they were having a great time! Coaches home and then up the hills. Our great friends from Bulgaria and Serbia had a wonderful night too and it was lovely to get to dance with the ladies in their beautiful gowns.