Your early morning wake up alarm usually means you either hit the snooze button or you turn it off…not Nisha…oh no…she’s so deep in sleep that the alarm is buzzing for a couple of minutes before there’s any sign of life from her!!!

Good morning all 🤣🤣🤣. We were up at 6.30am, kettle was boiling by 6.35am, tv was on at 6.40am. Once we were wide awake, we showered, dressed for our bike ride and made our way down to The Grill Room for breakfast. As we entered, a smiling young waitress took our name and room number, checked we were on her list and once approved, she led us to our table. It was the same table we were seated at for dinner. Breakfast is buffet style with hot drinks brought to us by the waiter, and a small bottle of fresh orange juice on our table.

We sauntered over to the buffet, eagle eye Nisha had already spotted the hot cauldron housing the porridge. Nisha opened the lid and started stirring the porridge. Hasn’t anyone else had any? There was quite a lot in there. Eventually after we were happy that the mixture was properly mixed, I filled two bowls while Nisha grabbed two sachets of honey. As we sat down another waiter came to us asking which hot drinks we would like. Tea for Nisha, decaf coffee for me. Honey was gently poured and mixed into our porridge. Still piping hot, Nisha just began eating it, all the time saying ‘it’s piping, just the way I like it!!!’ Me on the other hand had to cool every spoonful by blowing on it. I’m going to give the porridge a rating of 6 / 10, the thing was just too watery, and even though adding salt improved the taste, it was like soup.

Next course for me was a bowl of fruit and a carton of plain yoghurt.

Nisha had ventured to the cooked breakfast buffet and came back with…

Nisha (I’m a pescatarian 😜😜) had selected scrambled eggs, haggis, vegan sausage, black pudding, potato scones and mushrooms. I still don’t know how she keeps a straight face every time we walk past sheep 🤣🤣🤣.

Next course for Nisha was a bowl full of pineapple.

Breakfast rating 7 / 10.

With breakfast all finished, we headed up to our room to freshen up and grab our backpack, and put on our windproof jackets.

By now, it was raining so we headed to the table tennis room to wait for the rain to pass. Two games were played and I lost those two games, scores were 21/18 and 21/19. I didn’t get battered!!! We then moved onto the makeshift badminton court, a court without Any markings. Nisha isn’t as good at badminton as she is at table tennis. We could have played a game which I would have easily won but no, we just had a practice session.

Dip, when are you going to arrange a game of badminton for us all??

By now, the sun was beginning to appear through the frosted glass ceiling and it was time to get to the Bike Zone, this is part of the hotel where they hire out bikes. It’s a large room in the basement!!! Luckily they have 2 bikes in our sizes. Two helmets, a lock and after signing their waiver that said they don’t take any responsibility for anything that may happen to us, we set off, or so I thought. Nisha was struggling with the gears but eventually sorted it out. Our route meant heading for the exit and taking a left and first right and the trail starts there. Five minutes into our ride and navigator Nisha pipes up ‘Jes, we’re on the wrong route, we want to go to Glentress which is in the opposite direction’. She stopped, took out the maps given to us at the Bike Zone and worked out how to get on the right route. We turned around, back tracked and got to the road. As the Highway Code states, look left and look right, when it’s clear you may go. When the road was clear we started pedalling…and pedalling…we pedalled for a mile and eventually turned left into Glentress which is a large forest with bike treks, camping facilities and lovely views. First port of call was their cafe which had info about which treks were available, they ranged from green which is the easier to black which is the hardest. After green was blue then red. If I had been cycling regularly, I would probably have gone for the black trek. Even though Nisha was getting more confident with her bike, we opted for the green trek. Green is meant to be easy, you wouldn’t have thought that as you have to cycle up a steep hill before things level off. The way down was through the forest and quite fun and easy, even Nisha was smiling on her way down. The whole trek is about 2 miles but on completion, it felt more like one mile. From there we followed another route which went along side River Tweed, through a golf course (every golf course I’ve seen in Scotland has been immaculate!!!). This route is also known as The Tweed Valley Railway Path which runs from Peebles to Innerleithen.

We joined the path from Glentress, cycled to Innerleithen, had a snack at the end of the line (get the pun?). The wind was picking up so rather than venture to the town we turned around and headed back. This time, we bypassed Glentress and headed for our hotel. Our intention was to cycle to Peebles but we were exhausted. The wind was very strong and against us, we couldn’t free wheel as the wind just stopped us dead. We had no choice but to keep pedalling all the way. The stats for our ride are…

I was now running on empty. The lack of exercise since my shoulder injury was really evident!!! Nisha was also beginning to suffer but most of all, both of our butts were suffering…if only we’d remembered to bring our padded cycling shorts!!!

The route ended and a right turn was taken which led us into the hotel grounds. A major problem here, the right turn is on flat ground whereas the hotel is on top of a steep hill. Both of us rapidly changed gears to the easiest setting and slowly made our way up. Neither of us stopped!!! We both made it to the top and onwards to the Bike Zone without needing a rest. UPDATE AND CONFESSION FROM NISHA…she walked up the steep hill and only got on the bike at the top to give the impression she had cycled all the way up!!! I’m totally devastated!!!! At the door, we both gingerly got off the bikes… neither had any feelings in our butts and both needed some refreshments.

From the basement, we slowly walked up the stairs to our room. The windproof jackets are a god send….they kept our core warm which was such a bonus!!!

After a quick shower, we went in search for lunch. The conservatory was reserved for a private function. The waiter presented us with two options. Option one…sit on a sofa next to a wood fire…option two…sit in a makeshift conservatory. Option two please…In this conservatory, there are two long tables, one is already occupied so we make ourselves at home on the other one.

I ordered an oat milk decaf latte while Nisha doesn’t feel thirsty. The waiter leaves us with the menus while he gets my drink. Both of us order Scottish smoked salmon sandwiches which come with crisps and a small salad. Carbs…yep…all about the carbs and protein after such a long ride!!!

During our lunch, I’m working and eating. Kris has been doing so much of the leg work re our fathers probate and I’m doing all of the bits and pieces I can from up here. Nisha is reading her book and such a huge support at such times. It can’t be nice when your unintentionally being ignored. Sorry Nish ❤️. A huge thank you to Kris and Dip for doing so much re the probate ❤️.

Anyway…lunch has been eaten, Nisha orders an oat milk decaf latte…(I’m going to make sure I write this every time we have a coffee 🤣🤣🤣🤣), I’ve ordered a Guinness. It didn’t last long!!!

Nisha has gone swimming while I update this blog. There’s so many check ins today, and from chit chat I’m hearing, there’s a wedding happening this weekend!!!

I’m now gasping for another drink…should I get another Guinness or wait for Nisha and get a bottle of wine. I think I’ll do both…

This seems to be a regular thing with us guys…Kris and his beer, Sal and his beer, Graham and his beer and Vijay and his beer and wine!!!

As for the girls…well…Nisha and Dipti with their ‘it’s on a special so let’s get two bottles philosophy’, Vikki and Ann with their gin…more gin than tonic 🤣🤣🤣, Ria, Piia and Maya drinking god knows what!!! and finally Ranjana ‘I don’t drink but I’ll have a glass…of wine or Prosecco or even champagne’. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.

Nisha returned from her swimming session, I think she’s done too much exercise today 😜. A cocktail is required…A whisky sour from Not A Cocktail Bar was needed…and ordered…and drank…

It wasn’t long before hunger reared it’s head and today we fancied a meal in the Miller Lounge…

The mains look enticing so we decided against a starter. Both of us ordered Smoked Haddock, Salmon and spring onion Fishcakes with sides of skinny fries for me and cheesy garlic bread for Nisha. Sorry, no photos…we forgot and we were very hungry!!! No wine today, just another Guinness.

For dessert, we’ve chosen Vegan Chocolate and Coconut Tart, and two decaf americano coffees with OAT MILK ON THE SIDE 🤣🤣🤣.

I tried to take a photo of our dessert but I just couldn’t hold Nisha back long enough 🤣🤣🤣🤣

For a nightcap, I’m having a dram of bunnahabhain 12yr and another whisky sour for Nisha (I don’t fancy an alcoholic drink tonight) 🤣🤣🤣🤣.

That’s all for tonight folks…we check out tomorrow morning…the world is our lobster 🤣🤣🤣