Our visit to Scotland has gone just like that, a blink of an eye and back to the land of heat. Bah Humbug!

Whilst we were away, I used the old fashioned way of recording my thoughts via paper and pen. Here is some of it for today, will write more later in the week:

Monday 23rd June 2008  10.45 am

Well, we are at the airport and already the journey seems long as our flight to Newark has been delayed by 2 hours.  As our flight to Scotland is coming from Los Angeles, no doubt that will be delayed as well, so we should be in for a long night!!!

Same day 1.15 pm

Still in Austin!  Flight delayed until 1.55pm so should be boarding soon.  Apparently our connection is on time so hopefully we won’t have any more delays, fingers crossed!

Tuesday 24 June 5.20 am Glasgow Time,  (11.20pm Austin Time)

2  more hours and we will touch down in Scotland, land of the Braveheart (lol).  I love going back home to the UK but I hate the process, it takes so long!  We made our connection with 5 mins to spare.  As its an overnight flight, the on board entertainment started almost immediately. No choice of movies on this flight as they only have those poxy pull down screens – so you can barely see what is going on (Place overhead very 3rd seat).  Also the usual overheated choice of meal – never pick the chicken as too scared I will come down with some form of food poisoning.  As the drinks were served, a call went out for any available medical help.  About 15 mins later a man with obviously no trousers on (towel wrapped around him), in a very disheveled state held up by a cabin member, was escorted down the aisle. Have no idea what his problem was but one can’t help think it was alcohol related., This flight is mainly for returning Brits after all.     Nothing else exciting has happened since, as to be expected.

As usual I cannot sleep and actually, even Gordon is nor sleeping so well, which is very unusual. Gordon can sleep anywhere, anytime and most of the time. 

So in 2 hours we find out if our luggage made it to the plane (will be impressed and surprised if it did!). Then we make our way via the Glasgow Airport Express and local transport to Hurlford.  Only  days planned so far are a trip to Edinburgh on Thursday and then to Kinross on Sunday. However, I am sure we will ample to occupy us and our brief 10 days will be over before we know it. C’est las vie!

Now back to reading Veronika decides to die by Paulo Coello,  a very dark fable so far.

Wednesday 25th June 2008 11.10 am

So here we are taking the bus to Glasgow. 

As can be guessed from the above that means we arrived safe and sound yesterday. The flight actually arrived 20 mins early and surprisingly so did our luggage. Unfortunately one of the cases got seriously damaged. arriving missing a handle. Gordon was convinced the bottle of vodka (we had bought for his Dad) had been stolen but turns out it had just shifted in the travelling.   As we are borrowing a friend’s car for the duration (of our trip), we had to find our own way back to Hurlford but that turned out (to be) very easy. A quick shuttle ride to Glasgow Bus Station and a 30 min wait for an Express bus to Hurlford.  The only inconvenience being the missing handle on suitcase Gordon had.

Glasgow Bus Station

The PM was spend in bed.  I rather unwisely took a sleeping pill, so had a good 4 hours of  sleep but it meant I was drowsy for the rest of the day (however) as we weren’t doing anything that was OK . 

Last night before we went to bed, we watched the tail end of a program that showed the most detailed views of a woman’s vagina I have ever seen.. It wasn’t a sex show, more a documentary/info program for women to understand their nether regions.  Given we are living in a country were even the butt crack at the top of a pair of jeans blurred, it was quite a a shock to the system to see a full blown shot of a woman vagina.(quite informing  and interesting though).

Anyway now arriving in Glasgow. Not sure what we will do but looking forward to it. Fish and chips for supper tonight.

Friday 27th July 1.45pm

Wow!  Thursday been and gone, where did it go?  Must admit that although I have been up for about 3 hours and eaten lunch, I am only just coming to life.  I have woken up before dawn (each morning) which is about 5 am in these parts. Not wanting to disturb anyone one I have been sleeping fitfully after that.  Well, last night I decided to get up for an hour or so.  I slept so well after that I haven’t been able to wake up properly since.

Yesterday we spent in Edinburgh.  Its an OK place but not as good as Glasgow to be honest.  We went to the Scottish museum in the pm where they had excellent exhibit about the forging of Scotland as a nation. Its was the first time we had been in the newer part of the museum and were very impressed.  After that  we wandered along Princes Street.  As we are not tourists in the strictest sense of the word and everything here is way more expensive (than in the States), window shopping has its limits.

In the evening we met up with some friends of Gordon’s from University and had a really great time catching up with old times and hoping it won’t be when we are 60 when we meet again.

Today has been  quiet day so far. Lunch with Margaret, next door and Gordon’s Dad.  Tonight we are off to Alex and Laura’s. so I will need to watch I don’t drink too much.  I just can’t take so much alcohol these days, has too many lingering effects on my body.

Tomorrow is up in the air so far but we have been invited to a 50th birthday party.  Then on Sunday we are off to Kinross to see a few folk.

Monday if the weather is good, we will do a day tip to Arran. After that, the 3 remaining days we will fly by the seat of our pants.