The train ride to Stirling was not bad, and as the countryside was so beautiful, the time went quite quickly. We were met at the train station by Liz, who was very excited that Irma had come along. The two of them got along very well, and I was glad for that, as she could take Irma around while I was working.
The boys gave Irma the top room that was not on suite, but had it's own bathroom across the hall, and she settled in quite nicely. But as she had a lot of time on her hands, I roped her in to do washing-up for me, and also to peel the potatoes and cut the chips.
Now, Irma loves cooking, and also entertaining, but I could count on my one hand the amount of times that I have seen her actually doing some washing up. At home she had Elizabeth who has been working for her since Kristani was born, and Kristani was now eighteen. Elizabeth is the most amazing woman, and looked after this family like they were her own, and I did not even try to get a bitty harsh with the kids when I visited them, and their rooms looked like a whirlwind had been through!
So I took a lot of photo's of my daughter doing the washing up, intent on showing it to all her friends, who would not believe me if I told them about it! She was very good with the potato peeling, and also made some wonderful apple and rhubarb pies, and when she finished, she sat behind the piano in the library, and entertained the guests, who appreciated the singing immensely.
The hotel was up for sale, but I had two big functions on my hands, one was a wedding, and the other was a sixtieth birthday party. The boys helped a lot, as John loved cooking, specially making nice and dainty treats, but as they did not employ more staff, seeing that the hotel was almost sold, I still had a hard time to do everything. If Irma wasn't there to help me, I would have been lost altogether!
It was so nice for me to be back, as everybody welcomed me with gusto, and Janet made my day when she said to all in the shop, that whenever she saw the little black Panda going past the shop, she knew it was Spring again! The black Panda was well known, and everywhere I went people said hello with their lights, and waved, and tooted. It is to me wonderful, as in South Africa people are much more stiff and even more so in the smaller villages and towns.
Of course that first afternoon after I finished until six, I took the road to my favourite loch, Loch Voile, where of course I had my own private cove which I christianed Christina's Cove!