Amazing how time flies. It's nearly two weeks since my last blog. Part of the reason is because I've been away to stay with T&amp;J in the Highlands. What a beautiful place it is and well worth the nine hours of sitting in the car. To make sure I was Covid safe I took lunch and a flask with me so I only had to stop once at Carlisle to refuel and again just north of Perth for lunch. I rolled onto their drive just after 3pm.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TJ-GardenSep20.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-6476" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TJ-GardenSep20-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>The weather was wonderful and it was great to sit outside that evening in their beautiful garden.

Very peaceful and relaxing. I find their home a safe haven and they look after me so well.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tony-Jude-Sep20.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-6477" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tony-Jude-Sep20-150x200.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="200" /></a>A visit to the Moray coast is a must and on the first full day we went for a walk along the beach stopping at the Captain's Table for morning coffee.

Tony and I went for a walk to <a href="https://blairsloch.com/welcome-to-blairs-loch/history/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Blair's Loch</a> which is a man made fishing lake on the Blair's Estate. It's only  a couple of miles from their house but I had never been before and was surprised to see an Italianate building which had at one time housed horses and farm machinery. After years of dereliction it has since been restored and is now part of <a href="https://www.altyre-estate.co.uk/gsa-creative-campus" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Glasgow School of Art</a>.

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On the walk around the Loch I was taken aback by this tree with its branches coming up at odd angles like a person waving their arms around. Quite spooky.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Brodie-CastleSep20.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-6472" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Brodie-CastleSep20-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>We did another walk around the grounds of <a href="https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/brodie-castle" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Brodie Castle</a>. This is a favourite of mine because I really like the turrets and height of the building. It seems well proportioned.

The grounds are also delightful with some wildflower areas which look delightful however I can imagine they are difficult to sustain because there's always one brutish wildflower that takes over the bed.

On the last couple of days I was pleased to help Tony clear the gorse and broom that was starting to encroach onto his garden from the fields around. I took a before and after shot but it doesn't really show the extent of the clearance achieved.

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<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Steve-Gorse-RootSep20.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-6470" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Steve-Gorse-RootSep20-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>As we got towards the end of the clearance we started to get a little ambitious and rather than simply cutting the gorse down we started digging up the roots, especially the ones that had self seeded on T&amp;J's side of the fence.

As you can see I was rather pleased with this stump.

My visit flew by and before I knew it I was setting off, back through the Highlands on a beautiful autumnal morning towards home. The journey back was fairly uneventful and the rain stayed off until I stopped again at Carlisle Tesco, just off junction 43 of the M6.

The last three hours was a bit of a struggle as there was heavy rain and I was feeling quite tired.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Courtesy-CarSep20.jpg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-6467" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Courtesy-CarSep20-200x150.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="150" /></a>The following morning I was up early to take the MX5 in for its final service. I've decided to sell it as it has reached the 3 year mark. More on that next time.

The courtesy car was this little Mitsubishi Mirage. I'm used to a bit more power in my cars and far better road holding. The CX30 might be a SUV but its all wheel drive gives it excellent road holding and it is 175bhp. I was throwing the Mirage into corners and finding it didn't like it. I eventually learned my lesson and slowed down. I won't be buying one anytime soon.