England 1997

A strong front from Siberia (brrr!) has attacked the British isles, ironically dumping snow in the South of England, but not in the Scottish Highlands (smirk). A full Scottish breakfast, however, warms us up and readies us for another day at Skibo Castle.

We all head up to Ivy Barn for some more fun! Air pistol shooting at targets keeps us entertained. John and Mark are both very good at shooting!

We try the “long bow” first and have some fun, but when John takes a few shots, he picks up the “power bow”. “Little John” pops a few arrows right into the cobra paper target at the end of the barn.

I try my hand at both… good thing I brought my glasses! Ha!


The “power bow” is actually easier to use than you might think! The configuration of the strings and pulleys makes it as easy (if not a bit easier) to use than a standard “long bow”!!

We return for lunch in the study, this time, and are not disappointed in the fare! After eating, we decide that we must have a peep at Loch Ness, since we are so close to it! An hour later, we are driving along the shores of the famous Loch Ness, looking for signs of “Nessie” as the sun drops behind the highlands.

The Loch is truly in a crevasse, formed by the hills on either side. The narrow, two-lane road that winds along one side is bordered by the Loch and a steep mountainside.

No sign of “Nessie” (OR IS THERE????), but I do get some nice pictures and memories!

As we drive back to Skibo, we talk about what we’ve done so far. It’s only the fourth day, and I’m already overwhelmed! As we arrive back at the castle, our butler, Oliver greets us and has been worried, since we were gone for so long. It’s quite easy to get used to this pampered lifestyle!

Dinner was great, again. We had a fantastic salmon main course, and were invited into the kitchen to share desert with Skibo’s Michelin Star Chef! This is a special treat, as he does not do this often!  We had a wonderful Grand Marnier souffle!

Absolutely “to die for”!!!!.

We set out for another evening of snooker. Since we were short one player, Oliver joined me, John, and Mark. He was a very nice young man and has some grand life plans ahead of him as he heads off to Australia to be with his girlfriend. Best of luck to you both, Oliver!!! 🙂

Again, it’s after midnight as we retire. However, this time, we must pack all of our things and be ready to go early the next morning. What a wonderful time we’ve had!