Birthday Presents

[smokingboot]

R's birthday went well, though it cost me much gnashing of teeth. The tale of my frustration started years back when I first tried to book a husky sled ride for his birthday. I got no reply, no interaction whatsoever despite repeated attempts, so in the end got my money back via Paypal and found some other present for him.

Plan A
This year, I saw a totally different company, one of those 'gift experience' jobs, running Husky rides. These are only an hour and a half away, so it was a winner! I booked! I got the voucher! I saw the details...the Husky rides are run by the same people I had trouble with before. Why didn't I guess? Because basically I'm a bit of an idiot. Sometimes the obvious answer really is the correct one.

I was on to the umbrella company straight away, saying I knew this bunch, they wouldn't reply, I was going to get jack for months assuming they ever answered me at all. He said he would try to deal with it, but he sounded a bit timid. I decided the ride was so unlikely to happen it was time to resort to plan B, more of that later. After I had metamorphosed into a phone badger for a week, the farm still didn't know, and wouldn't be sure until the night before the proposed date for the run. This was all due to recent rain on the trails. I tried not to bite my knuckles in annoyance, and enjoyed our meal out on Friday night, at a gorgeous little fusion place. Cocktails, tapas, chorizo in honey sauce, potatas bravas,mackerel with apple,cucumber, chives, and creme fraiche... the diet suffered a mortal wound that night. It rises from the ashes today.

Plan B
Plan B was a couple of tickets to see Il Trittico performed by the Scottish National Opera. Hellish as it might sound to some, there's a thing I've noticed about very musical types; Rock god and Opera diva are close to each other, much closer than say, someone who loves music and someone who can take or leave it. I am not transported by sound unless it fills the air around me, it has to, I don't know, do something that even now I can't define. In general, I am more likely to be moved by an art exhibition or an archeological site than by music, while R's the opposite, he moves with music, feels for it in a way that seldom reaches me. It was a wonderful night, enough to warrant a separate post on Il Trittico. Between acts the farm contacted me. We were on for the morning.

Plan A again
Doggy pong, ouf! But you get used to it fast. Over 50 happy dogs all affection and enthusiasm, and every one of them up for a run out down the trails through the woods.
Of course the farm was in the middle of nowhere, bubbling brooks over stones, distant mountains, lambs in the fields, views to make you sing! We both had a fabulous time. The farmers were warm and friendly. Having been there I get why they don't answer the phone, if they're not out among sheep and highland coos, the dog music is pretty incessant. Still, they need a proper working office, cos communication with the outside world is a seriously weak point in their business. But I've been charmed, I admit it. It was all wonderful, and seeing his eyes sparkling was the best of all.

Then we went to our favourite burger van ever. It's this place https://www.facebook.com/thecraftdiner.co.uk/ It's good. We ate. We came home.

Next year the Galapagos? It's a great idea, but it looks as if El Niño is coming, which may or may not affect the islands. We'll adapt if need be. There's always Plan C.

Comments

[mallorys_camera]

You do such creative birthdays!