I spy with my little eye.......

6th - 9th October
 

......   a thing called blue sky!!

Gone is the vast wild heather moorland and rugged mountainous landscape; replaced with fertile farmland and folds of the rolling rounded grass covered hills of the Lowlands. There's an order; a tameness about the Lowlands but the autumnal brilliance of colours under the October sunshine are a joy.  

Grieving a little for the magnificence and freedom of the north and sensing that thing called 'stress' creeping up on finding ourselves plunged into the hectic shopping centre of Ayr, busy roads, traffic lights and traffic jams (long forgotten during the last few weeks enjoying the freedom of the north) we found an oasis of peace in the pretty little wool town of Moffat in the Scottish Lowlands, cradled between the rolling border hills on the banks of the river Annan.

 

 

We found a little pottery lamp to further enhance the homeliness of Libby - this we bought from The Singing Potter in Moffat - Gerry Lyons, a former opera singer and a born-again Christian. What a wonderful testimony he has to share:  within a year of becoming a Christian he was diagnosed with a serious heart condition and told there was no cure for his damaged heart.  He was completely healed after prayer from fellow Christians and doctors are still unable to find any explanation as to how his health improved so dramatically.  Gerry's recordings of sacred music and hymns are purchased by folks from around the world and he tells them about the most famous "potter" of all - the one who taught him all he knows - and the Divine Healer.  There's so much more to this testimony which can be found at http://www.alcorne.free-online.co.uk/g_lyon_0.htm  

We enjoyed pottering around the village and little shops.  There was also the woollen mill which attracted many coach loads of tourists!

Butchers shop in the High Street

In the Guinness Book of Records as the narrowest hotel in the world

The bronze sculpted Moffat Ram

 

detail of shop building

War Memorial

Lower end of the High Street

 

The Moffat Toffee shop with over 5,000 jars of sweeties!!  Oooh, the dilemma!!!!
And these weren't all - there was a huge pick 'n mix selection not only of all the sweeties I've ever known (many from childhood days) but also the biggest selection of hand made chocolates - and so it went on - I didn't dare check it all out, I'd have been in there all day and needed a wheelbarrow!

Typical little houses of the village:

The twitten

 

The weather brought us beautiful sunny days with bright blue skies whilst we were in Moffat so we stayed a further 2 days beyond our plans just to luxuriate in this unexpected warm autumnal treat and enjoy walks in the countryside.  It was beautiful - the feel of that warm sunshine on our skin, hearing the gentle moo-ing of the cattle, the occasional bleating of sheep......   it gave me a true sense of well being.

 

 

 

  

 

.... though a little muddy in places!

still waters

 And we found these cute little fellas:

 

Though we were to travel down to stay with friends in Lancashire and a further break in our journey in Hanley Swan - which interestingly was our first stop almost 3 months to the date when we started this 'maiden voyage' of ours -  leaving Moffat felt like the end of our tour.  It was with rather heavy hearts we finally left Scotland behind us, yet we have so many happy, fun memories - the highs and the lows, literally! :

 

 

we finally locate a car wash so Libby gets her first wash in 3 months!

.... and I tuck into the biggest yummiest coffee choux bun to cheer me up as we head homeward

 ........  but it will be grand to see the family again - we've never been apart for so long!   

We have Jon and Abi's engagement to celebrate, Sam's new job and his birthday, my Dad's 95th birthday - so much to look forward to!  And we've lots of whisky tasting fun ahead of us with all those malt whiskies Michael has amassed en route!  The fun never stops..................

...... The Glebe, Luss