birthday boat ride

Eldest Son's 19th birthday today. We went down to Castle Douglas for lunch and then to Threave Castle, once the home of Archibald the Grim. The boys always loved coming here when they were little, because the castle stands on an island in the middle of the River Dee, and you have to ring a bell to summon the boatman to ferry you over.

This was followed by a viewing of the Threave ospreys - Mum, Dad and two female chicks who, at 7 weeks, are as big as their parents and almost ready to leave the nest. Just like Eldest Son :-)