Time to go Home

May 31 2023

After living in Ontario, for fifty seven years, I still call Scotland home.

I decided this was the year I'd visit some old haunts and spend time with family. The week before I was to leave I tripped on a carpet and fractured three bones in my foot. Wearing a large boot to hobble around in a city with cobblestones and lots of hills was daunting. 

Flying into Heathrow Airport to catch a train to Peterborough to visit my sister and family was a breeze, as the airline staff ferried me about in a wheelchair and picked up my bags. Then took me to the tube to catch the train. Good service.

Three days with my English relatives.

                                       

Rosemary, Cara, Pam with Norman and Elsa

My niece Claire and I out for lunch.

                                                         This was a theme for the entire trip.

My brother Raymond met my sister Rosemary and me at Waverly Station in Edinburgh -  one of the most beautiful cities in the world and it's never a disappointment. Cherry blossoms were everywhere and the yellow gorse was on Arthur's Seat when my brother took us for a drive around the city.

Edinburgh is the world's first UNESCO City of Literature. Designated in 2004, the capital of Scotland has a population of almost 500,000. It is the birthplace and home to world-famous writers, poets and playwrights including Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes), Walter Scott (Waverley), and JK Rowling (Harry Potter). And so many others.

A view of the castle and Walter Scott monument from Arthur's Seat. 

Beautiful Gorse

Learn more about Edinburgh Castle here.

A mingling of the old and the new.

  

Rosemary and I had lots of catching up to do but we could have done without the hail when we were out walking. So we retired to a lovely Steak House and bar, as one does, to drown our sorrows. On another day we visited with the cousins Anne and Eleanor at The Dome restaurant for lunch. So much fun catching up.

Capturing the beautiful Dome

Another view. So beautiful.

Sunday evening we taxied to the “Dockers Club”. Raymond, was playing drums with the band he has played with since the sixties.  “The Hipple People”. This was the first time I had ever seen him play as I left for Canada in ’66. I even got up to dance with my big black boot. Well, I moved sort of. No pictures of this world shaking event!

Rosemary, Raymond and Pam at the Dockers club

Raymond letting loose with the drums

                                                                                                                                                                                          

A laughter-filled four days with my sister Rosemary was just what I needed. A life spent apart in different parts of the world. Stories to be told and shared, Magic!

We also visited the Caledonia Hotel, now owned by the Waldorf Astoria for a coffee and... what else,a scone and jam but also to visit the plaque on the pavement outside, dedicated to our grandad, Sandy James who was the doorman there for forty years.

Pam admiring the paving stone outside the 'Caley'. Caledonia Hotel

 

After Rosemary left to return home to Peterborough, Raymond and I sought out a childhood place where we, and our siblings camped in a small hut with an outside toilet. We were only eight or nine at the time so we were not aware of the significance of this site as it was in the Glen (valley) of Roslin Chapel. Dan Brown’s novel, the  ‘Di Vinci Code’ put Roslin Chapel on the map but its been around since 1446. Also spelt Rosslyn. They have done a wonderful job preserving the building and it’s still a working chapel. It's surrounded by the Pentland Hills.

 

Magnificent masonry at Roslin Chapel

Entrance to Roslin Chapel

Pam and Lynda

My lovely niece Lara O'Brien

Raymond and Lynda at their home.

                                                                     

A visit to Chirnside in the Border country to spend time with my friend Glynis was more of the same. Eating, drinking and visiting old country houses. Friends for sixty years we had much to talk about. A visit to Berwick on Tweed for some shopping and Paxton House. One of the many houses open as a tourist attraction with many original furnishings. They needed to add central heating  for me or light the many fireplaces. It was a damp rainy day we visited but the grounds were glorious with fields of daffodils surrounding the buildings. Of course they had a tea shop waiting for my daily scone and jam to warm me up!

Paxton House

 

  

Glynis and Pam. We met at sixteen in our first jobs.

 We haven't changed a bit. She keeps reminding me I'm older than her!

 

I was now back in Edinburgh with my fifth sleeping arrangement. This time with the Blance clan. So good to relax and visit with my nephew and his wife and to have a long chat with my brother-in-law and his lovely wife of sixty eight years.
Robert and Elma are now in their 90’s and were a sight for sore eyes. Enjoyed my visit immensely.

Robert, Pam and Elma Blance

 

 

 

A view of the lit up ski slopes from my bedroom window

. '

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

              
 

 

 

 

 

Margaret , Pam, and Peter Blance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was taken at Greywalls Hotel, Gullane, near Muirfield golf course. 

The most wonderful afternoon tea. Spectacular!

When I was not eating scones with jam and clotted cream, or having my favourite, Black Pudding (Blood Pudding)on a bun, YUM, I was eating fish and chips. Diet is starting any day now.

Not many cities boast a castle in the middle of town and the largest monument to an author, Sir Walter Scott stands on the main street, Princes Street. I had the pleasure of a trip to his home, Abbotsford, near Melrose. Built in the Baronial style,1817, it houses a collection of 10,000 artifacts. The library was my favourite but was fascinated to find Lord Nelson's, and Bonnie Prince Charlie's  locks of hair and Flora McDonald's small purse.

Outside Scott's house in  Abbotsford. We were lucky with the weather that day.

Peter and Pam outside Abbotsford

A bust of Sir Walter Scott

The library at Abbotsford

This home is the extraordinary home of Sir Walter Scott, the 19th century writer of Rob Roy and Waverley; the 'Great Scott' who popularized tartan, saved the Scottish banknote and rediscovered his country's Crown jewels. ( This from their pamphlet)

My photographs didn't do it justice. 

The Waverley Novels

                  

The inscription inside

 Cherished possessions.

The inscription says, From Ma and Pa, Xmas 1889. 

 On my last day, Peter, my husbands nephew and his wife Margaret asked if I wanted to see some alpacas that were in a field near where they live. If you know me at all you know my fascination with all things alpaca. My favorite animal and their yarn is the best to knit with. Arriving at BobCat Alpacas, with a big boot or not I was going to climb the hill to see them. A herd of sixty spied us and they raised their heads and down they came to say howdy. I was in heaven. There were a few crias (babies) and most were hoping to be fed pellets from my hand to supplement the grass.

Shall I buy some yarn?

                A championship herd with loads of awards.  I couldn't resist buying some!

             

Having a lesson on Alpaca care.

He's not listening to me!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This trip was long overdue and no, one does not go to Edinburgh for the weather. Chilly and wet was the order of the day but it didn’t dampen my enjoyment seeing family and friends and the joy that is Edinburgh.

Until the next time, without the boot!

Slainte,

Pam

Family Vacation Time - Gulf Shores Alabama

 April 30 2023

The Lindsays are blessed to be a clan who love to hang out with each other. Past family trips have included a trip to Virginia Beach in 2015 and the best time ever when all but one of us were able to have a fantastic week in Cuba in 2019.

Family plus friends Virginia Beach

Family in Cuba

Then we all know what happened the following year. Never mind a family trip, not even a visit for weeks and months!

So when the opportunity arose for us to take a road trip in 2023 it was full speed ahead! 10 adults,4 teenagers and 2 dogs. Oh, and of course, Mary Blue Eyes!  She manages to accompany us on most trips and family events.

Smiles generated courtesy of a "sunjabs" memory.

We decided on a locale that none of us had been to before, to make memories that would be new to each of us. We settled on a 2 acre rental property in the Gulf Shores, Alabama area. More specifically, located in Fort Morgan, Alabama. A wonderful Mediterranean influenced 4 bedroom home, with 2 smaller guest cottages on the property. Perfect for our group. While we weren't on the Gulf of Mexico, we did have a spectacular water view of Bon Secour Bay, which is part of Mobile Bay. Pelicans by the dozens and a pair of beautiful herons were on view constantly. No alligator sightings, but there was a dolphin at the end of our dock, and slithering at the base of a palm tree, a small snake, ugh!

A pool and oversized, screened in lounge area on the dock, with an outdoor fire place made for the perfect family evenings.

We arrived at the tail end of a monstrous thunderstorm, but for the rest of the week enjoyed a beautiful sunny week, with a well deserved day at Orange Beach, where we enjoyed the sights of the Gulf of Mexico.

Another outing was to the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, which I unfortunately had to pass on because my deteroriating hips wouldn't have dealt well with crawling around a submarine or decks of the battleship! Those who went were impressed by the facility and I was disappointed to miss out on this excursion.

And of course there was a theme park day at Tropic Falls for those who love the thrills of roller coasters and/or lazy river meanderings. Another pass for moi.

All too soon it was time to leave, but we had earlier made plans for a side trip on the way home for most of us. Gettysburg, PA.  I'm so glad we did. It was far too brief - basically a drive through, but it whet our appetite to see more. So we have tentative plans to return for a three day visit this fall.

Not a statue

This is a statue - one of hundreds!

All in all, another amazing family vacation with tremendous memories filed away. I'm still working through photographs - thank goodness for digital pictures - can't imagine dropping off 2 dozen, or more, rolls of film to be developed! Only to probably discard three quarters of the results.

My personal count now of American States I've driven through stands at 16. We hadn't travelled across the border in a few years and I have to admit to a small level of nervousness and anxiety. But now having broken the travel drought, I look forward to a smaller trip back to Gettysburg.

As noted in Jamie Tremain's May 1 Newsletter Pam has also been travelling. She crossed the pond to visit relatives in England and Scotland and should be back on home soil by the end of this week. No doubt she will have travel tales to share later as well.

What about you? Summer is fast approaching - do you have travel plans? We'd love to hear about them, or about a favourite place you long to return to?

Cheers!

Liz

p.s. This is Mary Blue Eyes - she bugged me to be included properly!