With Lady Findhorn at the Dower House

I accepted Lady F’s challenge to find the Dower House. No problem at all until being let into the fortress we couldn’t find No1. No2 and No3 were on the ground floor. We had to go out and buzz Lady F again whereupon she appeared from floor -1. Who knew. It did do me out of a second mince pie which would have been the reward for getting to her front door.

We had a good walk to the Dower House, leaving the car near the Water of Leith visitors centre, walking along the towpath then cutting across to Morningside and Bruntsfield and the Links to the Meadows. It was a beautiful, cold, crisp, sunny day. I had to remove a good 4” of snow from the car roof and bonnet, yet 3 miles down from Balerno at Gillespie Crossroads there was none.

Once found, we had a lovely blather about pretty much anything you would care to mention . generally putting the world to rights and gaining perspectives on issues that only age, Lady F’s wisdom and experience can bring to play. Many blippers got a handle check: IainatCreel, JoppaStrand, Blethers, Wildwood and many others who shall remain blameless.

All to soon we were on our way, walking towards the city centre via Greyfriers Bobby, crossing the Mile and down the Mound to Princes Street where we had a choice of 4, 34 or 44 back to where we parked the car. The 4 came first, and we joined the other sardines in the tin.

We’re travelling back to Kent tomorrow instead of Sunday on account of the dire weather forecast over the weekend. Better go now than be caught up in all that and all the traffic of the last weekend of the holidays.

This means we will not be joining the walking group for their amble around the Kelpies tomorrow, which is sure to disappoint Campervan. Next time.