I think I'll be 70 again!

Just returned from a wonderful family weekend in Edinburgh to celebrate my birthday.  Peter had hired a Vivat Trust property large enough for the whole family, perched on top of Calton Hill and overlooking the whole city.  The views could not have been more spectacular when the mist and clouds parted and we could see beyond our noses.  But this was Edinburgh in March so a bit of gloom was to be expected.

The Old Observatory house perched on the top of the hill (on the left)

The entrance

Sitting room

Staircase up

The dining room

Our bedroom

View from the dining room

One of the other bedrooms

The upstairs sitting room

I flew up on Thursday, Peter joined me from Aberdeen where he had been working and the kids arrived in shifts on Friday.  Getting to the house was a challenge!  Three flights of steep steps and two steep slopes.  I had to stop a few times on the way up the first time, but gathered a bit of puff by the time we had done it several times more.  The poor kids were taken by surprise, especially those pushing the double buggy and carrying a very heavy box which turned out to be a present!

Struggling up the hill with the buggy and cases!

We were all delighted with the house and the views, but not so amused by the plumbing which, on the first night, didn't yield enough hot water to bath the grandchildren.  However, we were alright once Peter had tinkered with the thermostat on the hot water cylinder.

On Friday night Nancy and Eliot made a fantastic game pie and on Saturday we celebrated my birthday early with champagne in the upper sitting room and a meal out.   The kids left on Sunday morning and Peter and I polished off the game pie.

Enjoying a well earned cup of tea!

This is the way the ladies ride...

Helping Grandma blow out the candles

Family portrait!

Highlights of the weekend?

Walking round Edinburgh - one of my favourite cities
Dinner at Howie's
The children playing round the table in the circular dining room
A delicious and wicked Black Forest Gateau from Patisserie Valerie with candles and help blowing them out from Abe and Saul
Two bottles of champagne and other sundry alcoholic beverages!
A blender from the children
Exhibition of paintings by Fergusson in the Modern Art Museum

Arriving home to find a tree waiting for me...present no. 2 from the children!