CHAS’ & SUSAN’S EXCELLENT UK ADVENTURE

The LAST Page of Day Five … Castle Forbes Continued

Originally, Castle Forbes was booked fairly FULL for the evening – being the eve before the Braemar Royal Highland Games. However, one group (of 2 or 4 persons) cancelled due to an auto accident in France (enroute to the airport). And, another group (of 2 or 4 persons) cancelled due to one person’s illness.

Castle Forbes’ Dining Room had originally been set for several people. Jinny complained (jokingly!) that she had to keep RE-setting it, after each phone call!

Thus, apart from Susan and myself, there was only ONE other group present!:
Michel and Arlette Palu (a French couple … owners of an International Wine, Beer, & Water business, and – seemingly – incredibly wealthy), with their daughter, “Virginie.”
Thankfully, Arlette and Virginie each spoke English fairly well! Michel spoke none.
(BTW: “Mee – shell'”)

After Susan, Jinny, Malcolm, and I had DRESSED FOR DINNER
… and the French party was getting settled in their rooms,
we were served cocktails:
I had a Gin & Tonic (WOOF, was it strong!) … Susan had SCOTCH.

Once the French party joined us, the CHAMPAGNE was opened! And we all “retired” to the LIVING ROOM, to sip our bubbly before the fire, and get to know each other! Whereupon, the MULTI-LINGUAL CONVERSATIONS commenced!!!

My ability to say, “Make the PIG NOISE,” in French, was a BIG HIT!!!
(Per her expression, above, I’m not sure that Susan agreed!)

Then Came THE DINNER!!!:

Red or White Wine (I had Red) FIRST COURSE: Smoked Salmon Salad with Lemon, homemade dark grain bread, and FRESH FIGs. (NOT the wrinkly, dried things! In fact, I’d never even seen, nor eaten, “fresh” figs before!) MAIN COURSE: Venison Medallions swimming in a lusciously thick Wine Gravy, New Potatoes Fried with Whole Roasted Garlic Cloves, and a Casserole of Stewed (Fresh from the Garden) Squashes. Following THAT:

We each were offered the option of “PUDDING” and then “SALAD”
… OR … “SALAD” and then “PUDDING!”

THE “PUDDING”: A chocolate sheet-cake, slathered with whipped cream filling, liberally sprinkled with rich chocolate shavings and fresh strawberry slices … rolled-up and cut into LARGE portions … then topped-off with a scoop (or two) of incredibly thick, dairy-fresh, whole cream.

THE “SALAD”: A variety of fresh-picked Garden Greens, “Oat Cakes” (a dry, yet-very-tasty, oat bread patty), and a huge scoop of “STILTON” Cheese. (It’s similar to a “Blue Cheese,” but so delicate in flavor that you just EAT IT, rather than make it into a “dressing.”) Apparently, Malcolm thinks nothing of driving to LONDON to personally procure “a STILTON” whenever they need another!

WOW!

To date, Susan and I have NOT specifically discussed the intricacies of this evening and the dinner.
(I think we were too in AWE of the day at it’s conclusion …
and too preoccupied with OTHER travel interests on subsequent days!!!)

But, I don’t mind admitting that I was extremely CHALLENGED by the need to “perform” adequately during the whole affair. Then again, I thoroughly ENJOYED every aspect of that challenge!!!

FOR EXAMPLE: I looked at the EXTENSIVE formal place setting … and – amazingly enough! – I remembered (from some TRIVIA-POCKET in my demented brain) that you use the silverware from the “OUTSIDE–IN.” Then again, e’en though I knew that, I always waited to observe what utensils MICHEL (who was seated to my Left) used, before I actually picked a dang thing up!

OH!: The “seating arrangement” was a HOOT, too!
Jinny expertly arranged everyone so that we each had “here-to-fore-strangers” on either side of us … BUT, so that we also had at least one person who spoke OUR LANGUAGE next to us!

OK! I promised I wouldn’t write a BOOK!

So, lets get on with it!

After Dinner, we all retired back to the Living Room. Michel, Jinny, & Virginie on the couch.

HERE’s THE WHOLE GROUP! (Unfortunately, it’s a SUCKY pic!) Malcolm, myself, Michel, Jinny, Virginie, Susan, and Arlette

Alas and Alack! The evening finally had to end!

We returned to our room … We sat DAZED in our beds for awhile … and then fell into a DEEP sleep.

Upon awakening the next morning, there were COWS outside! And, a NEW DAY of ADVENTURE had begun!

Just a couple MORNING BATH ROOM SHOTS!
(I was amazed at the quiet elegance everywhere in Castle Forbes, despite the fact that
there were no efforts to be “hoity-toity!” Here, for example, cleaning supplies sit right next
to a lovely potpourri basket, bearing an extra TP roll wound with the Forbes Tartan ribbon!)

CLICK BELOW to COME WITH US to DAY SIX The BRAEMAR ROYAL HIGHLAND GAMES!

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OR contributions to the photo gallery!
please Email WebMistress Chas!
c-d-miller@neb.rr.com
That’s: c-d-miller@neb.rr.com –
those are hyphens/dashes (-) between the “c” and “d” and “miller”

This COUNTER was started on September 21st, 2002.