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CHAS’ & SUSAN’S
EXCELLENT
UK ADVENTURE

The LAST Page
of Day Five …
at Castle Forbes

Originally, I think Castle Forbes was booked fairly FULL for the evening – being the eve before the Braemar Royal Highland Games. However, one group (of 2 or 4 persons) cancelled due to an auto accident in France (enroute to the airport). And, another group (of 2 or 4 persons) cancelled due to one person’s illness.


Castle Forbes’ Dining Room
had originally been set for several people.

Jinny complained (jokingly!) that she had to keep
RE-setting it, after each phone call!

Thus, apart from Susan and myself, there was only ONE other group present!:
“Michel” and Arlette Palu (a French couple … owners of an International Wine, Beer, & Water business), with their daughter, “Virginie.”
Thankfully, Arlette and Virginie each spoke English!

After Susan, Jinny, Malcolm, and I had dressed for dinner
… while the French party was getting settled in their rooms …
we were served cocktails:
I had a Gin & Tonic (YUM, was it strong!) … Susan had SCOTCH.

Once the
PALUs
joined us,
the CHAMPAGNE
was opened!
And we all retired
to the LIVING ROOM,
to sip our bubbly
before the fire,
and get to know each other!

Whereupon, the
MULTI-LINGUAL
CONVERSATIONS

commenced!!!

My ability to say, “Make the PIG NOISE,” in French, was a BIG HIT!!!
(Per her expression, above, I’m not sure that Susan agrees with me!)

Then Came THE DINNER!!!:
Red or White Wine
(I had Red)

FIRST COURSE:
Smoked Salmon Salad with Lemon,
homemade dark grain bread,
and FRESH FIGs.
(NOT the wrinkly, dried things!
In fact, I’d never even seen,
nor eaten, “fresh” figs before!)

MAIN COURSE:
Venison Medallions swimming
in a lusciously thick Wine Gravy,
New Potatoes Fried with
Whole Roasted Garlic Cloves,
and a Casserole of Stewed
(Fresh from the Garden) Squashes.

Following THAT:

We each were offered the option of “PUDDING” and then “SALAD”
OR … “SALAD” and then “PUDDING!”

THE “PUDDING”: A chocolate sheet-cake, slathered with whipped cream filling, liberally sprinkled with rich chocolate shavings and fresh strawberry slices … rolled-up and cut into LARGE portions … then topped-off with a scoop (or two) of incredibly thick, dairy-fresh, whole cream.

THE “SALAD”: A variety of fresh-picked Garden Greens, “Oat Cakes” (a dry, yet-very-tasty, oat bread patty), and a huge scoop of “STILTON” Cheese. (It’s similar to a “Blue Cheese,” but so delicate in flavor that you just EAT IT, rather than make it into a “dressing.”) Apparently, Malcolm thinks nothing of driving to LONDON to personally procure “a STILTON” whenever they need another!

WOW!

To date, Susan and I have NOT specifically discussed this evening and the dinner.
(I think we were too in AWE of the WHOLE day at it’s conclusion …
and too preoccupied with OTHER travel interests on subsequent days!!!)

But, I don’t mind admitting that I was extremely CHALLENGED by the need to “perform” adequately during the Castle Forbes affair. Then again, I thoroughly ENJOYED every aspect of that challenge! (And, hope to HELL that I performed adequately!)

FOR EXAMPLE: I looked at the formal place setting, with its tons of silverware … and – amazingly enough! – I remembered (from some TRIVIA-POCKET in my demented brain) that you use the silverware from the “OUTSIDE–IN.” Then again, e’en though I knew that, I always waited to observe what utensils MICHEL (who was seated to my Left) used, before I actually picked a dang thing up!

OH!: The “seating arrangement” was perfection!
Jinny expertly arranged everyone so that we each had “here-to-fore-strangers” on either side of us … BUT, so that we also had at least one person who spoke OUR LANGUAGE next to us!

OK! I promised I wouldn’t write a BOOK!

So, lets get on with it!

After Dinner,
we all retired
back to the
Living Room.

Michel, Jinny,
& Virginie
on the couch.

HERE’s THE
WHOLE GROUP!

(Unfortunately, it’s a SUCKY pic!)

Malcolm, myself,
Michel, Jinny,
Virginie, Susan,
and Arlette

After Dinner Drink:
“Right from the barrel” SCOTCH that HAD to be diluted with water,
in order to be rendered SAFE for consumption!!!
I drank SCOTCH, fer GUDENESS SAKES!!!

Alas
and
Alack!
The evening
finally
had
to end!

We returned to our room …
We sat DAZED in our beds for a while

(thinking of the Stone Circle, Castle Fraser,
and Castle FORBES!) …

and then fell into a DEEP sleep.
Upon awakening
the next morning,
there were
COWS outside!

And, a
NEW DAY
of
ADVENTURE
had begun!

Just a couple MORNING BATHROOM SHOTS!
(I was amazed at the quiet elegance everywhere in Castle Forbes, despite the fact that
there were no efforts to be “hoity-toity!” Here, for example, cleaning supplies sit right next
to a lovely potpourri basket, bearing an extra TP roll wound with the Forbes Tartan ribbon!)

THAT’S IT!

I dearly hope that none of my descriptions afford any of you ANY offense!

I also hope you enjoyed our silly American Music CD. I couldn’t think of something else SMALL & American to bring for you! And, I really did want to show my appreciation of all your help during the planning of our trip, and my appreciation of your incredibly warm hospitality during our all-too-brief stay!

Sincerely Yours, CHAS (& Susan!)

To Email Me (Chas):
c-d-miller@neb.rr.com
That’s: c-d-miller@neb.rr.com
those are hyphens/dashes (-) between the “c” and “d” and “miller”