John and Elizabeth Crothers have lived all over the world from Brazil to Indonesia, but nowhere has felt more like home than Aboyne.
Originally from Northern Ireland, the pair have spent 26 very happy years at 9 Kinord Drive, which lies in the heart of Royal Deeside.
Every corner of the four-bedroom property is filled with memories and exotic items from their travels, and there is even a tiny hidden courtyard tucked away in the lovingly cared for gardens.
However it was only by chance that the pair ever came to arrive at Aboyne, after John played a game of golf nearby.
At the time the pair were living in Aberdeen while John worked in the city’s oil and gas sector.
One afternoon, colleagues invited him for a round of golf at Aboyne Golf Club, and John found himself very much taken by the charming village.
Having lived all over the world the couple decided that Aboyne would be the perfect spot to raise their son Jonathon. For Elizabeth, 65, it was the fabulous semi-rural location which clinched the deal.
“The area has just been ideal for us over the years,” she said.
“We looked at a few houses before deciding on Kinord Drive, but none of them were in such a lovely cul-de-sac with plenty of neighbours yet just minutes from rural countryside.
“We were just a two-minute walk away from Jonathon’s school but we felt like we’ve had more privacy here than ever.”
John, 75, continued to work in Aberdeen, meanwhile Elizabeth took up a position at Glen Tanar Estate, located just outside the village.
However in 2009 things changed for the Crothers, as Jonathon flew the nest after getting a job in Australia and John found himself posted to Kazakhstan on a new work contract.
“Within a week they were both gone!” Elizabeth said.
“It was a big change for me at the time.
“But John is retired now and we’ve been out to visit Jonathon every year since.
“I’m not surprised he moved over to Perth as it seems to be in his blood.
“You see John’s father Hugh emigrated to Australia when he was young in 1924.
“He was a really interesting character and we’ve done quite a bit of research on him and the family tree.
“Hugh was one of a big family in Ireland and wanted to do something for himself so he travelled over to Sydney and got himself a job as a cattle drover.
“He was there for quite some time in various different jobs before coming back home for a visit in 1929.
“On the way home he stopped off in Perth and picked up a leaflet about buying land in the area with the intention to stay around Western Australia when he returned.
“But when he was back in Ireland he ended up meeting John’s mother and never made the trip back.
“We’ve actually got the very leaflet he picked up in Perth, it’s an amazing bit of history.
“And when we were out visiting our son there, we kept wondering if we were walking in his footsteps.”
But with the thought of endless long flights back and forth from Scotland looming over them, John and Elizabeth have recently taken a leap of faith of their own, and put their beloved house on the market with the intention of relocating down under.
“We have just fallen in love with the lifestyle over there,” said Elizabeth.
“Aboyne has been our home for so long but we are ready for a change and want to be nearer to our son.”
It’s not surprising that it’s a wrench for the pair to leave Scotland, as Number 9 has proven itself to be a versatile family home over the years.
Set within well-maintained gardens, there is plenty of space on offer.
The generous lounge has a wonderful cosy feel, with a welcoming fire crackling away in the elegant wood-burning stove.
Exposed beams add character, while double-aspect windows flood the room with light and show off the gardens.
It is the spacious dining kitchen where the Crother family have spent the most time however. With ample unit and worktop space as well as plenty of room for a dining table, the room lends itself to relaxed dinners and gatherings, with plenty of space for the whole family.
A bedroom come office, utility area and shower room complete the downstairs accommodation.
On the upper floor, the remaining three bedrooms are all of a decent size, with the master bedroom offering fabulous his and hers walk-in wardrobes.
A family bathroom finishes the accommodation.
Outside, both the front and rear garden have been well maintained, with Elizabeth and John priding themselves on being keen gardeners. There is plenty of opportunity for alfresco dining and even a lovely area out of sight around the side of the house.
“It’s been my own hidden courtyard,” Elizabeth said.
“It sounds silly but I hope the new owners enjoy it as much as I have.”
Offers should be made in the region of more than £340,000.
Contact Raeburn Christie Clark & Wallace on 01330 822931 or the landlord on 07900 988094