Just A Little Note

 Just A Little Note From 

the Scottish Borders


Happy New Year Everyone! I spent the New Year's at a lovely place called the Walton Hall estate to experience another murder mystery event produced by the Killing Game group. All of us attending were put up in the Manor House, which had its own set of rooms, bar, & restaurant. What a lovely time. The evening story was about a community torn with what to do about church land that had recently become available. Does the town keep it for community events? Or develop it for businesses? A very power-hungry community leader want to develop it who was murdered by her not-so-faithful husband in an act of revenge & hostility.  A real sordid affair. The eventing was a lot of fun with great food, music, & drink throughout the evening. The best part of it came from a couple at my table that were from Ireland. The guy Alan, was absolutely convinced I was part of the Killing Game actors. My story of who I was and where I came from just sounded too fantastic to him. I finally had to show him my passport so he would believe me and help us at the table figure out who the murderer was. It was so very funny!!
The community of Walton where the mystery was being hosted, was about 8 miles from the town my sisters and I stayed in during our 2016 trip here called Lower Slaughter.. Going from memory, I took a drive & found the Arlington house we stayed in. We had a wonderful time staying there & I would recommend it for parties up to 6 people.
The hotel & spa at Walton had old buildings (like the manor house I was in) and new ones. The older had so much more character. However, the property is in desperate need of some TLC and I would not recommend it. Here are a couple of shots. I was fortunate in that the weather was pretty good during my stay there.


And inside, there were some beautiful details in the crown moldings, staircases, etc.









A couple of days prior to leaving the Tynely Family farm in Chathill, I snapped this one from a sunset. And while packing up I opened the front door for some fresh air. I looked up and found this little girl was visiting me. She stuck around for a until the next day.






















On the way to Walton from Chathill, I had to snap this pic on the motorway for my Hull men. 

A few amusing names of businesses I've come across.
Pen & Parchment
Splitting Feather Deli
Hotter Than Hell Tatoos
Pulp & Grind (juice & coffee bar)
During the drive, I also stopped and snapped a couple of church buildings. **Sigh - such beautiful architecture can be found here!** 

Last time I was here in 2017, I drove through the Cotswolds and stopped in Stratford Upon Avon. I was not nearly as confident in driving in busy traffic as I am now. At the time not only was there a lot of traffic, but a huge parade going through the town. So I motored on. This trip I stopped and enjoyed some downtown sights. Everything is all Shakespeare all the time!














I thought these stone carvings were interesting.  In the middle of the Barnett garden/park area, there was a huge sundial clock. Unfortunately, there was no way to capture all of it. So I just snapped the carving. Hamlet was there too.










It was a lovely day and almost everyone was walking their dog.. Lots & lots of pups at the park!

Odds & ends from shopping.  A display of battery operated puppies & their beds. They looked so REAL!









A very high-tech McDonalds. No ice cream! So I left..










Signs from restaurants - 








Now I am here in this wonderful little cottage called Nettlebush just outside of Drumelzier which is in the Scottish Borders (county). I am surrounded by sheep farms and it is wonderfully quiet. Which I love! Here are a couple of snaps from surrounding farms and the full moon the other night. 






I also took a picture of a very big spider web attached to my kitchen window casing before a gusty windstorm swept through. See you when I post right before heading to the US for my women's conference in Santa Fe, NM and then to visit my sister in Palm Springs. Thank you so much for following Tales From The Bucket!!
  













Location: Drumelzier, Biggar ML12 6JD, UK

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