Z's Scottish holiday - on my way via the North East

 I'm having a wonderful time, though there was a glitch on my way up on Wednesday.  

A few weeks ago, the battery on the BMW was flat, but we restarted it with the portable battery pack and I left the engine running for long enough to build up charge.  Then on Tuesday, I drove over to the tile place in that car, to make sure it would start okay the next day.  I was slightly concerned.  The car usually starts with a vroom and it was rather more politely muted than that.  But it did start and seemed all right.  I meant to fill up with petrol on the way home, but the Co op has had problems with its supply, usually of diesel but this time with high octane petrol.  But the tank was three quarters full, so no problem.  I went to the farm to stock up on Fen Farm presents for my friends and, the next day - amazingly - left home at exactly the time I'd hoped to.  But the car was still more polite than enthusiastic and, although I'd meant to call in at the deli, I decided not to stop and restart the car so soon.  I called in at the big Tesco near Bury instead.  Then I went to its petrol station to fill up.  And it wouldn't start again.  And they wouldn't let me use the battery restarter in case there was a spark by the petrol pump and I had to call out the breakdown people (my insurance covers that).  The nice man turned up within half an hour and promptly started the car and then checked everything and couldn't find a problem.  He suggested that maybe the battery, which was only replaced last year, wasn't holding a charge and that I might need a new one.

When I reached my Wednesday destination - and it was so good to see Blue Witch and her Mr again - I told my tale and Mr BW kindly checked the battery, which was fine.  Next morning it was still fine and the car started with a vroom.  In the meantime, I'd seen round their lovely new home and eaten and drunk a great deal.  And then I drove off and reached Glasgow without incident, having stopped on the way for fuel.  I've no idea what's amiss with the car, but hope it won't happen again.

Fiona and family asked me round for the evening - they live in a beautiful and enormous Edwardian house, which they're still getting to grips with.  It looks wonderful now, but they have more plans.  Again, lots of delicious food and I hope I'll fit in some of my clothes before I return home.

The hotel is comfortable and well equipped, albeit with the heaviest bedroom door I've encountered.  I know they're fire doors, but it helps if you can open them without leaning hard.  

Hotels always have really comfortable beds nowadays, don't they?