Catching up

Well we are half way through our trip! Six days ago we made our way to King’s Cross Station and onto a direct train to Edinburgh. The first class coach was comfortable although the sandwiches a little sketchy.

Train travel does not lead to tachycardia. A reserved seat, handing luggage directly to the attendant at the baggage car, no scanners, no removal of clothing, no one trying to “touch my stuff”. When you consider there may be 600 people on a train and half that many on a plane one quickly understands how over the top airport security has come!

We arrived in Edinburgh on time and a short taxi ride away were in our new apartment, on one level, roomy, tastefully decorated and central.

Around the corner was Broughton Street, filled with a variety of eating establishments that were highly recommended.

We purchased a 2 day any bus tour package and visited the high points of the Castle, Holyrod Palace, and the Royal Mile.

Our last day was a full one! An 8am departure on bus tour of the Highlands. The tour guide had encyclopedic knowledge of history and folklore. We stopped in Glen Coe, beautiful but barren and the site of many battles most notable the massacre in 1692.

 

 Here are Deborah and Catherine, Glen Coe in the background



One of our stops included the second most famous Hamish in the world. Thes Highland bulls are hardy and have lasted many a cold highland winter. During high 
 school my son Hamish had a very similar hair style !

 Hamish as Hamish





Next stop was Loch Ness. Saw the the loch (lake), saw the locks, all the 4 highland lakes are connected by canals and a lock system. We did not see the monster, but did see an ubfortunate chap fall into the drink as his boat was being pulled through the locks!

The real Loch Ness


The Lock at Loch Ness






Upon returning to Edinburgh we had dinner with Pearl and Ted (slugger). The Balmoral Hotel is a 5 star hotel at one end of Princes Street, at the other end is the Caledonia, another 5 star destination. We ate at Hadrians which was highly recommended, unfrunately this was the only suggestion which did not pan out !! I owe slugger big time, for the suggestion and his deft hand at picking up an inflated tab.

The next morning had it’s own theatre, our wash was stuck in the washing machine, Robyn was over in a Jiffy and did his best, alas we eventually heard a pop and an Ah AH, he had yanked the door open breaking the lock! This was after he had correctly comncluded the drain was probably blocked, his cleaning of the drain yielded a very faded 10 pound note!

We boarded the train at Waverly , switched at York and arrived in Hull on time. The University sent a van to take us to the University of Hull, a quant campus about 3 miles out of town. They were extremely organized and helpful. 

Deborah and I eventually found our way to Pearson Park Hotel a short 20 min. walk from where Catherine now resides. The hotel clerk looked like a Hamish fiction character, scoliotic, with a warm smile and an accent I could not imitate or define !

Today was not therapeutic for a malignant type B personality with a history of heart attack and arrythmia.

Men shop with a purpose, women shop for the experience. 

Take bed sheets. They are usually covered by a bed spread, and slept in with the lights out. How anything other than texture and size is of any relevance is beyond me. We spent 42 minutes and had at least 3 sets chosen/then returned before we got to the towels. 

To quote Kurt Vonnegut : “  And so it goes”. 

To quote my Father: “ and on and on it goes”

Shopping was completed.We returned to Catherine’s apartment to put all the bounty away, the ever changing plans were stymied as her shower is not operational. 

As I write this , I have been banished to the pub as the ladies freshen up, I sip a pint and thankfully the incessant beeping of the alarm testing has finally passed. I am gazing out on a quaint and tranquil Pearson Park while the sound system belts out oldies. As I look out the window there are retrievers in the park, the strange man at recption has just served a lady on the terrace a cup of tea, her nose reminds me of Cyrano…..