Pluscarden Abbey - Rafford - Nairn

The meeting place for myself and my new found relatives was Pluscarden Abbey - a Benedictine Abbey in the most beautiful surroundings...

From their website...

We are a community of Catholic Benedictine monks living in the only medieval British monastery still being used for its original purpose.
 Situated six miles south-west of Elgin in Moray, the monastery enjoys the peace and stillness of a secluded glen, but is easily reached by road from the town. The atmosphere of quiet reflection and of work dedicated to the glory of God is the same now as it was in the thirteenth century, when a community of monks first came to this part of Moray.

And it was  a most delightful place. You could feel the serenity (with apologies to The Castle!)
It was set in the most beautiful surroundings.... hills and trees and I have to admit the blue skies just added to all this...

Pluscarden Abbey

It reminded me a bit of Mount St Bernard's Abbey near Fiona, which we visited whilst I was staying there. But this is surrounded by more of nature. It had a stillness and peacefulness that is hard to explain - it can only be experienced...

Pluscarden Abbey

Pluscarden Abbey

Pluscarden Abbey

They were having a fund raiser to refurbish the roof and were selling tiles for £10 each, so I bought one for all the descendants of TB Hunt - so this is for Audrey and Josephine and John Salt and all the Nolans and Curtains and Haldanes at home!

Our roof tile at Pluscarden Abbey

Maybe the monks will pray for us all now.!!!!

And the added bonus to all this was I got to meet another branch of my family!!!

John and Juli Salt and me at Pluscarden Abbey

John and Juli Salt and me at Pluscarden Abbey

John and Juli Salt and me at Pluscarden Abbey

John is the first cousin of Josephine, who took me out in Leicester and who also is famous for her capture of the pheasant!!! The same Jo rescued me in my pursuit of the banks. Along with Audrey, we all share a common great grandfather - T B Hunt.
John and Josephine are both Salts and their fathers were brothers.
And for both John and Josephine and Audrey... all our grandmothers were siblings.... so I am second cousins to them all.

We had a lovely afternoon together. We also met up with their daughter Emma and her little girl Faye.

Emma and Faye at  John and Juli's house

John and Juli have a 5 acre block at Rafford near Forres. John is heavily into bee keeping and is acknowledged as a local guru on all matters relating to bees.

John's bee area

It was lovely just to sit outside in the sun and just chat about life in general. John is also a maker of web pages so we had a few common things to discuss!

Sitting in the back yard chatting!

Juli made a delicious Shepherd's Pie  for tea, so my heart was happy to have some home cooked food again!!!

Because I had not yet checked into my hotel in Nairn, I had to leave about 6.30pm, but it was just a delightful day spent with people who were previously unknown but are now claimed as family.

Here is my hotel in Nairn

And here's the view from the terrace at the side...

View from Golf Links hotel in Nairn

 What a wonderful day to spend a day.... :)