Z's Scottish holiday - 3 (having written 2 but not described it as such)

 I hadn't realised quite how huge Loch Lomond was, nor any of the lochs.  Scotland is bigger than it looks on the maps.  The drive to Fort William was uneventful and I received a warm welcome from my very dear friends.  The next day, J was working - though past retirement age, he still works as a doctor at the local hospital, with one day a fortnight dedicated to his really vital research.  C and I drove up towards the port that led to the Isles.  

That would have been uneventful, if an idiot hadn't completely misjudged a series of bends and driven towards us, on our side of the road.  It was sheer luck that he managed to control his car at the last and - C having braked sharply - avoided us.  The roads are well signed to slow down, the moron had no excuse.  A lot of people drive badly and that's that.  Your bad luck if they kill you, but we were lucky that day.

Truly, the time I spent with J,C and their son Ca were wonderful.  I loved everything.  The drive and walk to the waterfall, their delicious food and the visit to Mallaig, with the excellent lunch that C would not let me pay for.  The next morning, I drove back to Glasgow, stopping at the Hill House, designed by Rennie Mackintosh, on the way.  The sadness that he died quite young of cancer, not having any idea how much he would be admired in the future.

I got back to the hotel and had a nap before dinner.  How pleasant it is, to have an afternoon nap - I so rarely do that.  The nice young waiter greeted me and remembered my preferred drink.  After a peculiar pizza a couple of nights earlier (I don't say it wasn't acceptable, but gherkins on a pizza are weird), I decided to have a burger, which was one of the best - I'm no expert and rarely eat it, but that didn't preclude its quality - I've ever eaten.

Today, I drove back to the BWs in Northumberland and arrived quite a lot earlier than I'd thought I would - which was just as well, because rain was forecast and they wanted to take me to their favourite National Trust property; Wallington, about half an hour from their house.  And now it's 9.30 and I'm tired, so more another day.  Tomorrow, I drive home again.