The days simply flew by with the amount of work and of course my days off were always magic, they just did not last long enough.
Then my son Jan phoned to say they would like to come and visit, and see a bit of Scotland, and could I please organise accomodation for them that would not completely deplete their holiday funds.I went to see Emma at Immervouilin caravan park, as I knew that the caravan that Joe rented for Alex was still empty, and hoped that they would rent it to me. I was lucky to get it, Emma and self of course knew each other from the Inn, as she does waitressing if they were in a scrape with the regular waiters, and she let me have it for a really good price.
In due course they arrived, and as Liz took me to the airport to get them, they were very excited about everything I was going to show them, that is, until they laid eyes on my Panda. Their eyes did some serious rolling, and Jan then asked me with a bemused look on his face whether the car was actually still running! I must say, it might easily have been the oldest running car in the whole of Scotland! But nevertheless, it had never given me one moment of grieve!
But they soon relaxed as I started it the first time, and the engin immediately jumped to life, and took us safely to loch Voile and back!
My young grandson Renè was absolutely intrigued with the pub, where it was warm and cosy, and he loved to sit and watch the men play pool. Jan then played a bit with him, and from then on he just wanted to sit in the pub, and to heck with the sightseeing, and he got very upset on the nights they didn't take their meals there!
As I had to work till about twelve, and then again at six, I packed lunch boxes for them, and they went hiking in the hills, Ben Ledi, Ben Shaen, and also walked along the mountain at the back to the Kingshouse hotel. Inbetween shifts, if they were back, I took them to my favorite spots in my ever willing little Panda!
I had to laugh at Jan, who did not like to be driven by his mum, and after a a day or two said that he would like to drive. I never had a pain if somebody wanted to drive, so coming back from Callender I told him to get behind the wheel, and all went dandy, until we came around the first tight bend, and a big lorry came roaring from the other side, taking up the whole little road. He gave a thin little shriek, and put on the brakes with force so that we almost flew through the bally winscreen! Must say, he was white around the gills, and I remembered my first encounter with a huge truck, and when he said that he thought it better for me to drive, I just took it in my stride, but did laugh a bit at his discomfort.
They loved Christina's cove at loch Voile, so they got a fishing permit, and we went out for the afternoon, and had a lovely barbeque. Nina tried her best to catch us a trout or two, but they were not in the mood to nibble on her bait, but she didn't care anyway, she just loved to stand there with her own thoughts. Renè went for a swim in the loch, but turned almost purple after a few minutes, as the water is of course icy cold.It was a glorious afternoon, and I was sad when we had to pack up so I could be in time for my dinner shift.