And then the week-end was over, leaving us all in a state of fatigue, and poor Tony in a state of fatigue and shock! A lot of people think that owning or running a small hotel was child's play, and when the realities of the amount of work in such a small hotel kicks in, they are completely overwhelmed. We seat about sixty people, and it can be quite difficult to manage even with staff, and poor old Tony, without any experience, had to do the waitering all by himself. I hoped that after this eye opening night he would advertize for help, as I had an idea that I talk a lot of rubbish when I told him what it could be like on a busy night. According to me he did not show enough enthusiasm in looking for help.
I was off on Monday, so I asked Hanna if she wanted to take a trip with me to see Loch Rannoch, near to Oban. So we set off early, a packed lunch of such nice things as different special cheeses, cold meats and olives, and sundried tomatoes, and lovely rolls, and much more. And of course the flask with coffee.
It was a lovely sunshiny day, with only a few far-off clouds drifting lazily high up in the sky, so their was no immediate threat of rain to spoil our day. As soon as we left the village, and the green trees and fields along the road invited me to enjoy their beauty, the tiredness just kind of evaporated from my battered body. It was all worth the hard work and long hours, and to be in such a place was indeed a privilege.
We had our lunch on the banks of Loch Rannoch, and it was so delightful to see Hanna in her nice clothes sitting on the grass. She was quite fussy, and did not like to dirty her clothes or her hands when out on a picnic. However, after having gone out with me a few times, she had calmed down a lot, and nowadays she could even land on her backside when going down a steep slope, and laughed her head off when I had to put in all my strength to get her upright again. And she wouldn't even complain about a few spots on her pants!
Oh, we had a lovely day, and all thoughts of the difficulties at the hotel was banished from my head.
The next day I went away on my own, as I wanted to climb Ben Lawers, and my two best friends, the only two available was not capable to do it with me. I packed both breakfast and lunch, as I usually set out very early, as that is when you encounter  unexpected and delightful things, like a spiderweb glinting in the early sunshine, or some rabbits playing on a piece of green grass, and once or twice I had been lucky enough to see some Roe deer grazing away peacefully. The best is to sit quietly, and wait to see what kind of wild life came one's way!
To me it was always amazing how I got my strength and my whole serenity back when sitting or lying under an umbrella of green leaves, while the wind lightly stirs the branches, making the leaves rustle softly, and the sun peep through here and there from between the leaves. I would usually have my lunch, then  lie down in a cozy spot, and read myself to sleep.
After a day like that I usually have built up enough strength and spirit to go back to work.