Findhorn Beach

I had a lovely day with Babara. We went to Brodie countryfair to meet up with a cousin of hers that she had never met before but who she had discovered by doing some family history work. Her cousin's husband and nineteen year old son came along too and while Barbara chatted away like long lost friends with cousin Margaret I got to listen to her husband Billy tell fascinating stories of his life as a manager of Glenlivet Whisky Distillery! I learned how to make sure that would-be whisky lorry hijackers got arrested and that only the whisky in the neck of a bottle is profit and the rest of the money made goes to the taxman!! Seems like our country is funded by the barley that is getting harvested all around me!

Once we said our goodbyes we headed off to Findhorn to discover the beautiful beach there. The village is certainly worth a more in-depth visit another time being full of fascinating little cottages and set on the huge estuary of the Findhorn river. Next we visited the Findhorn community that has gained international fame as an ecological community. We visited the original garden that was very peaceful - in fact one person appeared to be asleep on a bench and then popped into the intriguing shop that had all manner of books, music and assorted items to assist you in living a "more in tune with nature and yourself" sort of life. It also had a very tranquil feel to it - perhaps it was the meditation music playing and the wafting of incense!

Suitably relaxed and invigorated we headed off for a meal of good old fish and chips before it was time for Barbara to head back to Caithness.