Lochnagar

Our road trip today took us past the beautiful Lochnagar. It's still swathed in snow towards the top but it was a beautiful day way below the snow line

We had lunch at The Bothy in Ballater (well worth a visit). I was so pleased to see the efforts being made by the town to attract tourists back to this locality devastated by the new year floods. Many businesses are still closed - still drying out. Some, I think, will never re-open

A few businesses have opened again and there were also pony rides for children and free story telling for everyone. I'm sure Ballater will rise, like Pegasus, from the ashes but it takes guts, courage and faith in the future to do so

This evening the family are packing for a week in the sun. That will leave me responsible for the two adorable dogs when they drive off tomorrow morning