Moose aboot.

It hardly seems a year since I was complaining that invitations to traditional national events no longer fall through the letter box at the Tower of Glen Trollaigh and this year nothing has changed; one just has to accept that any influence and responsibility one once had has passed on to others. I honestly cannot say that I miss the dinners or the church parades; less so now that many chums have "passed" as the Americans rather bluntly put it. This gives me more time to appreciate the wonderful part of the world that we live in, and enjoy it; despite the constant corridor patrols looking for any sign of deterioration of the baronial hacienda or its furnishings. And what surprises we have with new gardens, polytunnel, hydro and other micro generation projects, I hardly have time for my traditional roll of Laird of all I survey, shooting and fishing my way through the autumn. However a warning on the sporting front as I have at long last purchased a new pair of ski boots that I can force the feet into; doubtless it will now not snow for years.
Dearest Dottie and I were inveigled away for another mini break, this time to the German Baltic coast, a spot I am completely unfamiliar with but would certainly visit again as it is both charming and has fabulous sailing waters. We travelled there for a 75th birthday party of a German sea Captain who has been a great friend for many years as he "emigrated" to Inveraray for a fair chunk of the 80's, 90's and 00's where he developed a love of and feeling for the Great Pipes; so his party is best described as multicultural. Not wishing to make it too easy we travelled there by train, requiring 5 separate train connections each way, which gave us an opportunity to overnight in both Koln and Brussels on the way home. Koln on the Rhine was perhaps a highlight, staying in a recommended hotel with an eye watering bill; although I am sure a few of my relations probably flattened the place 60 years ago. However a city of fabulous shopping so make sure you cut up the family credit cards before a visit. The only fly in the ointment was the Glasgow bound Virgin Pendolino, now a 4 hour super blast from Euston; the train was dirty and smelly and mismanaged by a Glaswegian crew who seemed to ignore the constant complaints about things not working whilst engaging in loud "banter" before being first off the train, by then half an hour late without apology and presumably without reporting any faults to their hapless southbound colleagues. A fair contrast to our German train manager who was riven with apologies when his train was 3 minutes late into Koln from Hamburg (also 4 hours) with 6 hours still to go to Stuttgart. why do we manage to accept 2nd best most of the time?
A common language often confuses and this cannot be more true than that between English and Scots, as she is spoke, as I discovered whilst engaging an Argyll resident during a recent chance meeting. Upon enquiring where the cove was heading the reply came "I'm inta Oban to sort the moose"; this offers various possibilities of vermin control or possibly something a little larger with horns rampaging about the house. When I tried to define things a little by asking where the "moose" was, the reply came back "aboot"; this dear reader means virtually anywhere. Further questioning ascertained that the "moose" was in "the boot"; at last a ray of understanding shone through as it is fairly common for country dweller's cars to suffer from rodents nibbling through wires or fuel lines as the little blighters seek shelter from approaching winter. So my friend was indeed en route to an Oban garage to repair his car which had suffered rodent damage in the boot. Alas I was by now too exhausted to enquire after the fate of  the "moose" however I would imagine that there are some replete hens about the farmyard. Yours aye, Archie, The Baron Trollaigh.