Oban and Stirling

The weather has been glorious. Everything seems beautiful. I would probably find the tarmac to be unique and the garbage cans clever were I to pay them any attention, in weather as beautiful as this. People always groan about the weather here, but I am deceived into loving the place because of days like today and yesterday, (and fingers crossed, tomorrow and the day after as well).
Eileen Donan Castle has occupied its spot on the hill for more time than is fully known (ie, it has prehistoric stones left on the site, and then a couple of layers for the current buildings. Though in great ruin and disrepair, it was bought by a Mr.McRae _______ and his family in 1913 and for the following 20 years or so, built up and repaired. It is now a headquarters to the McRae Clan. It's location is spectacular, surrounded by waters that are tidal - sometimes accessible by land, and at other times, only accessible by the bridge leading to it.
Today we visited Stirling Castle, and again the sun shone. Bright and warm. I even managed to get down to just my t-shirt! It made the green lawns look even brighter, and the trees offering shade seemed to actually serve a purpose! Stirling castle was a royal home for centuries, and wasn't really meant to be a strong hold for fighting, but was positioned in a stategic place...sort of in the middle of Scotland's narrowest part of land. The Stuarts lived there, and there are major restoration works taking place on the palace/residential buildings at the moment. It will look amazing as they cover up all the stones with the lime wash, tinted in the same colours as they were originally. It is hard to imagine an old castle without it's stones showing - and yet, the majority of castles were probably once rendered in something...
We learnt more in our journey to understanding the positions of Englishmen, Scots and Jacobites, and the conflicts they had. Unfortunately there is still way much to learn, so I shan't attempt a definition as it would most likely be wrong! The kids most thoroughly enjoyed watching 'two of Cromwell's men' (with disticnctively Glaswegian accents)explaining how the seige went on the castle, when highlanders were the ones defending it, and also how to load and fire their muskets.
We repeated our never-to-be-repeated act of not having accommodation pre-booked, and headed to Oban. This time there was a lot less stress, as the first place we went to gave us a room - on the top floor- of course....it is always the top floor, which is good for the view, but not great for the lugging of heavy cases. It was a great big old house, on the end of the Esplanade. Even though it was part of a terrace building, it was still huge. Lots of rooms, at least 26, and a grand old drawing room downstairs, across the hall from the shared kitchen. All the front rooms look out into the bay. This is especially picturesque on a morning like this morning, where the waters are calm and still, and there are rows of sail boats, anchored in harbour.
We met a couple from Queensland, who have both left their jobs and are traveling the world for a year. What amazing places they have seen and been to. The man is calling it his midlife crisis...that's as may be...but what a way to have it.
Eliza's foot is getting better. She can walk most normally on it again, but it is still very tender.
On our last night in Plockton, we had dinner with Ailsa and Forbes, as they are holidaying near by. The good bye at the end of the evening was quite sad, and I had to focus on the possibility of them visiting us in Oz someday, as opposed to the likelihood of it being a long time, if not forever, before we see them again. Add this to the farewells at Bonar Bridge, and it starts to feel like things are coming to an end. However, we are now back at Innerleithen, enjoying the generosity of yet another of Cat and Stu's rellies (Stu's Mum and Dad this time). The focus will be on a good week, with lots to see and do...Edinburgh for example, and Melrose Abbey. Goodbyes will be dealt with later!