A wee dram or two or maybe three

Yes this was the challenge Mike set himself on our trip up to Scotland last weekend now he has become quite the whiskey connoisseur. We stayed with our lovely friends Moira and Fraser and daughter Lily, who had recently moved from the salubrious surroundings of Thornton Heath to the haven of peace and tranquitity known as the village of Dumgoyne.

It was a place full of memories for me as I have been up there so many times to stay with groups of friends and Moiras family. I was very pleased that Mike would be able to experience the same beautiful scenery, sights and exciting adventures that I have had in years gone by. Being pregnant however, did prevent such antics as marching up the stream from their garden in knee deep water, crawling under little bridges until you arrived at the pub at the end of the road for a few pints of ale. Mike did find the local pub but by conventional methods and was also very keen to sample the local brew, Glengoyne whiskey, also coveniently found at at the distillery at the end of Moira and Frasers road.

We took a trip to Stirling Castle one day which was interesting and good fun. Mike especially liked the Whiskey shop located within the grounds and I think spent the best part of an hour discussing the huge variety of spirits on offer, weighing up the pros and cons of which one to buy. Outside I had looked at the stand of postcards so many times I could have memorised them all. Purchases made, we finally left for a scenic drive home.

We had another trip out to my favourate place, Loch Lomond, where we all spent ages scimming stones across the water and gazing at the beautiful view. It is such a peaceful place and an idyllic setting. Hamish the cow was not to be outdone either on the list of sights and I have to say Mike was as excited at seeing this hairy beast as he was discovering the many whiskey collections on this trip. One morning Mike and Fraser even climbed Dumgoyne, the famous 'sleeping elephant' hill once again, to be found at the end of Moira and Frasers road.

So for a tiny little village consisting of a few houses and a 'blink and you'll miss it' drive along the main road, it has a fine feast of options to keep any man happy. Who needs surbuban life?