7th August
Today was the day to leave Edinburgh. Today we leave our lovely apartment.
Lounge/dining room.
Kitchen
Our bedroom
We headed north toward Aberdeen in search of the Jeffrey (Jaffray) clan. By heading NE, we also left the Lowlands for the Highlands.
The countryside was beautiful and green. There were many fields of gold and green cultivation. Stonewalls separated the fields and a mixture of ancients stone cottages, manor houses and modern barns were dotted randomly throughout.
Eventually we reached the village of Oldmeldrum (which was the latest suspect for the birth place of John Jeffrey(Jaffray). Hopes were heightened because the Reverend of the local church was a Jaffrey! We took lunch at the Redgarth. The publican was super helpful. He told us that the local library staff would help with family history research.
He also told us that the Glen Garioch (pronounced Glen Geery) whisky distillery gave tours. First to the library, I told my tale of trying to track down my great great grandfather from Aberdeenshire. They offered to help and suggested that I go to the distillery tour. A very persuasive argument!!
Glen Garioch is a small but very old distillery (dating back to the 18th century). Our tour guide was Fiona, she was very knowledgeable and professional in her presentation. We got a good understanding of the whsiky making process. Then we got to taste the whisky! In fact I got three tastes because my fellow tourers were not keen on whisky.
It was soon time to go back to the library staff (albeit with a bit of a whisky glow). The library staff had been successful in tracking down one of the missing links. Unfortunately, it confirmed that another John Jaffray was NOT my g-g-grandfather. Bugger!! However, I have two new friends who are skilled in tracing records in the Aberdeen/Northeastern Scotland. The mystery will be solved! Just not today.
We moved onto our overnight location: a B&B (called Rosemount) in Elgin. Elgin is a nice town, but showing its age and the downturn in the oil industry. Communities in the northeast house workers for the North Sea oil rigs. The B&B was run by Ken. A delightful gentleman who is a retired chef.
He recommended the Drouthy Cobbler (a pub) for dinner. What a superb little pub. Great food and great service!
Today was the day to leave Edinburgh. Today we leave our lovely apartment.
Lounge/dining room.
 |
View from our bedroom. |
We headed north toward Aberdeen in search of the Jeffrey (Jaffray) clan. By heading NE, we also left the Lowlands for the Highlands.
The countryside was beautiful and green. There were many fields of gold and green cultivation. Stonewalls separated the fields and a mixture of ancients stone cottages, manor houses and modern barns were dotted randomly throughout.
Eventually we reached the village of Oldmeldrum (which was the latest suspect for the birth place of John Jeffrey(Jaffray). Hopes were heightened because the Reverend of the local church was a Jaffrey! We took lunch at the Redgarth. The publican was super helpful. He told us that the local library staff would help with family history research.
 |
| Very helpful. |
He also told us that the Glen Garioch (pronounced Glen Geery) whisky distillery gave tours. First to the library, I told my tale of trying to track down my great great grandfather from Aberdeenshire. They offered to help and suggested that I go to the distillery tour. A very persuasive argument!!
Glen Garioch is a small but very old distillery (dating back to the 18th century). Our tour guide was Fiona, she was very knowledgeable and professional in her presentation. We got a good understanding of the whsiky making process. Then we got to taste the whisky! In fact I got three tastes because my fellow tourers were not keen on whisky.
 |
| Glen Garioch |
It was soon time to go back to the library staff (albeit with a bit of a whisky glow). The library staff had been successful in tracking down one of the missing links. Unfortunately, it confirmed that another John Jaffray was NOT my g-g-grandfather. Bugger!! However, I have two new friends who are skilled in tracing records in the Aberdeen/Northeastern Scotland. The mystery will be solved! Just not today.
We moved onto our overnight location: a B&B (called Rosemount) in Elgin. Elgin is a nice town, but showing its age and the downturn in the oil industry. Communities in the northeast house workers for the North Sea oil rigs. The B&B was run by Ken. A delightful gentleman who is a retired chef.
  |
| Rosemount our room for the night. |
He recommended the Drouthy Cobbler (a pub) for dinner. What a superb little pub. Great food and great service!
Good luck with tracking down our relatives. Enjoy more whisky - although my preference is for Japanese which are fresh and crisp.
ReplyDeleteI love all the funny names of the pubs and ale houses. 😀
ReplyDeleteI feel like we are retracing your steps. Just reading your blog and we are in Elgin tonight and tomorrow night and have had a coffee today at the Drouthy Cobbler.
ReplyDelete