Sue,

I hope you enjoyed your trip to Scotland even though you caught that terrible cold. I still can't get over how Stranraer totally shut down for four days to celebrate Hogmanay. No one warned us that New Year was a bigger holiday in Scotland than Christmas. It was wonderful the way our B & B hosts were so kind and spent New Year's Eve with us beside the coal fire before they went "first footing." An even bigger gift was the wonderful dinner they left for us on New Year Day since everything in town was closed. Dean still feels bad he did not watch the fire more closely to prevent a coal falling out and burning a small hole in the rug. It did not seem to bother our hosts but it upset him.

New Year's Day at the Corsewall Point was glorious. Corsewall Point's attendant, Tom Kelly, was awfully nice to let us in on New Year Day to measure the rooms. Safeway's shepherd's pie might not have been the most elegant New Year's lunch but we certainly shared it in a great place. I am glad you and Dean loved the lighthouse as much as I did. I was worried that I might have made a mistake when we made the first bid based on my evaluation alone. Remember having dinner with Corsewall Point's attendant at the hotel in Kirkcolm followed by the trip to see the lighthouse up close at night? By the time we arrived at the lighthouse a light snow was falling. Glancing skyward toward the tower we saw five shining shafts of light containing glittering particles of white rotating above us. Resembling the blades of the departing helicopter, the light extended out from the tower in long silver beams containing glittering snow trapped in absolute silence. What a wondrous sight in the starless sky we experienced that night. Going to the attendant's little house for tea and a wee dram finished the perfect evening. If only the rest of the trip had turned out better for us all. The Northern Lighthouse Board calling for bids immediately upon our arrival was expected but their announcement that two other people had become interested in the property since last fall was a frightening. At least we had left Stranraer before the bid opening.

You know we made the highest bid we could using all available resources. I remember standing in the Macdonald's kitchen hearing the telephone ring, knowing it was the results and dreading to hear what our solicitor had to say. I kept hoping it just might be good news. It wasn't. The Board had accepted another bid. Our decision the proceeding fall had been a mistake. In order to save a little money and be extra cautious we had lost a fabulous opportunity. I know I will regret that mistake for years and find myself playing the "if only" game. There is no second chance with these bids so there is no "if only." I know you were as disappointed as we were but hope the rest of the trip made up for the bad ending.

Frustrated,

Sharma