2017-18 Diary

Our wonderful Probus Club has enjoyed another successful year, with an enjoyable Programme and the continuing activities of our sub-groups.  As usual, our year concluded with our sunny Summer Outing to Bowhill House – see the report kindly contributed by our new President, Catherine Whitten.  We are also grateful for the reports contributed by members of oursub-groups.

 

PROGRAMME 2017-18

Aug

Meet and Greet

Sep

‘War Poets Collection at Craiglockhart’ – Catherine Walker

Oct

‘Reduce Stress and Increase Relaxation. – Caroline Finlay

Nov

‘A Trip to Japan’ – Eric Melvin

Dec

Christmas Lunch - Capital Hotel

Jan

‘The Life and Times of Robert Burns’ – Jeff Stewart

Feb

‘St Kilda’ – Christine McPherson

Mar

Charity – Guide Dogs for the Blind

Apr

Annual General Meeting
‘Rotary – Making a Difference’ – Lindsay Craig

May

Summer Outing – Bowhill House

 

WALKING GROUP

(Thanks to Theresa for the report.)

The Walking Group Summer Outing and final walk of the season took place on 5 June.  This was a glorious end to yet another great season.  The outing covered 6 miles of the Fife Coastal Path from Inverkeithing via Dalgety Bay and Donibristle to Aberdour.  Nine members had a wonderful day of sunshine, panoramic views and a jolly good lunch at McTaggarts in Aberdour.

With the exception of the Callander Park outing in January (Callander Park House is closed on Tuesdays), all of the planned walks took place.

The planning meeting for the next season will take place at The White Lady, Corstorphine on Tuesday 31 July at 10.30 am.  New members are very welcome. 

 

LUNCH CLUB

Our third trip through the alphabet took the group to:

S

Signet Library (Sep 2017)

 

An excellent Afternoon Tea was enjoyed in very elegant surroundings.  The staff were attentive, and there were posh doggie boxes to take away excess cakes.

T

Torfinn, Corstorphine (Nov 2017)

It was good to try a new local venue.  Most of the group had fish and chips in a lovely light batter.

U

Usquabae, Hope St, West End (Jan 2018)

 

The food was enjoyable, but the service was very slow – although we were the only group eating there.

V

Vittoria’s, George IV Bridge (Feb 2018)

Excellent and good value 2-course menu.

W

Whighams, West End (Mar 2018)

 

Lunch with drink included was very enjoyable.  Service good too.

Z

Zizzi, Queensferry St (Apr 2018)

 

Very tasty risotto spoilt by being served on cold plates.

 Back to the letter A for another munch through the alphabet:

A

Angels with Bagpipes, High St (May 2018)

Excellent food and wine in the heart of the Old Town.

 

Thanks are due to the ladies who took turns to organise the lunches.  All are welcome - please see the list at the table at each Probus meeting.  (Thanks also to Margaret Miller for the Lunch Club report.)

 

BOOK GROUP   (Thanks to Joan Dakers for the Book Group report.)

It doesn’t seem like a whole year since I last wrote about the Book Group, which continues to thrive – older but not much wiser in spite of all our reading!  This year’s books were:

Book Title

Author

Star Rating

His Bloody Project

Graeme Macrae Burnet

4*

Old Filth

Jane Gardham

5*

A Far Cry from Kensington

Muriel Spark

2*

Elinor Oliphant is Absolutely Fine

Gail Honeyman

4*

Midwinter Break

Bernard McLaverty

5*

Days without End

Sebastian Barry

5*

The Gustav Sonata

Rose Tremain

5*

Conclave

Robert Harris

4*

 

ANNUAL EVENTS

The Christmas Lunch

Another enjoyable lunch at the Capital Hotel.

 

May Outing to Bowhill House – 24 May 2018

(Thanks to Catherine Whitten, our new President, for the report.)

What a fantastic end to this Session!  The day was both relaxing and interesting.  The sun shone – what more could we ask for?  We set off just after 9 am, and after a leisurely drive through lovely countryside, we arrived at Bowhill, near Selkirk, in time for tea and home-baked scones.  We then split up into 3 groups to begin our tours of the house. 

Our guides were informative but also amusing.  They gave us an insight into family life at Bowhill as well as the history of much of the art work and furnishings on display.  I particularly liked the portrait miniatures and could imagine the Queen taking her place at the magnificent dining table on her last visit.  (Should they have had the sofa re-covered, I wondered.)  Everyone will have their own memories.

After lunch we were free to visit the Victorian Kitchen, Gift Shop or the Collections of the Dukes of Buccleuch.  Others opted simply to stroll around the magnificent grounds where watching the Daleks – the robotic lawnmowers – was fascinating!

We returned home to Edinburgh a little later than expected but having enjoyed a great day out. 

(See photos in photogallery.)