MODERN life ... it’s all a bit of a hectic whirl isn’t it, with us caught in the middle of a dance of change.
Governments come and go, the economy collapses then starts to recover – maybe – and they’ve even cancelled Last Of The Summer Wine on the telly.
But in the middle of all this, it’s nice to know that some things remain the same. The sun will always rise, the tide will always come in and Scott Skinner’s will always serve a no-nonsense meal.
So when my wee family was fancying a treat tea without any frills – or risks – we jumped into the car and zoomed over to Banchory.
It has been a while since I set foot in this popular eatery and watering hole, but it might as well have been yesterday, or even yesteryear.
We got the same cheery welcome in the wood-panelled cosy eatery and were handed menus that were nicely familiar, from homely roasts to sizzling fajitas.
Not wishing to be piggy, we shared starters. The tattie skins (£4.70) came slathered in rich cheese and stuffed with salty bacon and disappeared in a whirlwind of hands darting in from all quarters of the table.
The creamy duck pate (£4.95) was just as popular with the hint of orange lifting the dish.
On the mains front, the urchins went for their tried and tested favourites.
The loon had loaded his chicken burger (£7.70) with onions, bacon and cheese and stopped chatting while he demolished it, while the princess was happy with her chicken teddies (£3.50).
So much for the kids, on to some grown-up dining, Mrs B leading the charge with her Chicken Strathspey (£11.75) from the “fancy bit” section of the menu.
And fancy it was, the creamy sauce ably supporting onions, mushrooms and tomato, while the cheese and oatmeal topping added an enjoyable texture.
Cooked with the bone in, to add to the flavour, this prompted much “yumming” from my beloved, who was delighted it managed to be creamy and rich without being cloying and sickly.
I was in a traditional mood in keeping with the surroundings so couldn’t resist the roast of the day when I was told by the waitress not only was it beef, but there was lots of it.
She was as good as her word with four thick slices of the most tender, melt-in-the-mouth beef you could hope for.
The gravy was a tad glutinous and the Yorkshire pudding a bit scone-like, but minor quibbles given the fineness of the meat and the freshness of the veg.
So, the more things change the more they stay the same – especially at Scott Skinners.