Our new kitchen

Let me present to you, courtesy of Stephen and Brian, our brand new kitchen in all its glory. It's been a long time coming but the lads worked like Trojans and we are extremely happy with the results. We're very much looking forward to showing it off to future visitors, so get yourselves booked in!

These photos were all taken this morning, but for 'the making of' please use the following link:

https://picasaweb.google.com/PapamanPicasa/110701KitchenTransformations?authkey=Gv1sRgCIXZ6Y3siZbQogE

A big BIG thank you to Stephen and Brian who we are looking forward to seeing again soon.

Post Scriptum: Day Eleven

All packed up, ready to go
Can you spot Maxie's restaurant: just round the corner from our apartment
The finger of God is pointing to where we stayed in relation to the Castle
The rear of the Royal Mile from Princes Street Gardens
The Udderbelly, one of the Fringe venues. We didn't go in but it looked fascinating!

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Sadly no diary was done today so just a few lines to close the blog.

The last morning was spent tidying up, carrying all our bags down five flights of stairs, and packing the cars. Anna and George left for West Yorkshire and Tine, Les & I wandered over to the Princes Street area whilst Jim parked the car again. We got a good view of the back of the Royal Mile and could picture what it must have looked like with all the tenement blocks built on the slope, down to the old Loch, now beautiful gardens, which was used for all the rubbish (and more!) from the Old Town. Perhaps that's why the land is so fertile!

We met Jim, Clare & Rob near the Udderbelly for a Guardian podcast, a very interesting experience, then bade our goodbyes to C&R and Edinburgh, and made our own way back to West Yorkshire and a good old Yorkshire take-away curry. At last!!!

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The last of the photos are to be found on http://picasaweb.google.com/PapamanPicasa/4GoToScotlandDayEleven

And don't forget to keep reading http://anenglishmaninlatranche.blogspot.com/ for updates on Maison Clegg and our latest exploits!

Day Ten

View from the top of Arthur's Seat
Holyroodhouse on our way back from Arthur's Seat
Holyroodhouse with Greek-style pillars in the background
One of Tine's favourite street musicians. We even bought his album!
The last meal together (sob!)

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Day Ten(T):

Dave & I were first to leave the Big Brother House today for a change - not that we'd been evicted though, but because we were lucky with the bathroom! So we set off down the Royal Mile (again!) this time to aim for the foot of Arthur's Seat hill, and perhaps climb to the top... When we started the climb, we weren't too sure we'd make it to the top as it looked quite a hike and it was threatening to rain. However, very proud to say we made it and we escaped the shower until we got back to Holyroodhouse where we tried to shelter under the trees for a wee while. (Notice I'm already under the Scots' influence!) Anyway, the views from the top were very impressive on all sides. Unfortunately the light was not good, very grey and miserable, but Dave still tried to take a few photos. We walked back quite briskly in the hope of avoiding the rain and the promise of a cup of coffee and a bite to eat. Though not very successful at the keeping dry bit, we sat in a friendly little café and enjoyed coffee, panini and caramel slice: just the job before tackling our tour of Mary King's Close. But I'll let Dave tell you about it ...

Day Ten (D):

Possibly the high spot of our stay in Edinburgh (for us) was our visit to Mary King's Close where you descend (literally) to the depths of Edinburgh to see the tenement housing which dates back to the 17th Century when the Great Plague was rife. Our guide was Janet King, Mary's daughter, and she did an excellent job, keeping in role and frightening on or two of our group. Highly recommended!

Day Ten (L):

Jim & I set off for the Guilded Ballroom to investigate 'The Guardian Podcast' which was excellent, Miles Jupp interviewing four acts. We then sauntered down and called into 'The Elephant Café' of J.K.Rowling fame, and had cake and tea for lunch! I had really wanted to see 'The Withering', a new play based on Thomas Hardy's short story, so we made our way to the Quaker Meeting House. We were not disappointed, an excellent production by a young London-based drama school. By then it was time to meet up with everyone for an end-of-hols meal at Maxie's. It was great to enjoy a good laugh together: the haggis was good too! Our finale followed - up to the Assembly rooms to see Balé de Rua, a Brazilian dance group (a marvellously energetic group) and then Jason Byrne!!!

Day Ten (J):

After Jason Byrne we decided as a group to visit the Abernach, a pub we had all decided served an excellent pint of 80/-. Earlier during their stay Dave and Martine had visited the pub to check if the brew was ok. The previous day George & ! also checked the 80/- to ensure that the brew was suitable for a group visit. I reminded Martine to be tolerant with Dave during his second pint in a short time, that this would be his last pub session for quite some while!

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More photos on http://picasaweb.google.com/PapamanPicasa/4GoToScotlandDay10

Day Nine

Two Elvis impersonators posing for Tine
'Graffiti Classics' looked like fun people
The debating chamber in The Scottish Parliament building
The Palace of Holyroodhouse
An Australian street performer: yes he got up the ladder with no help!

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Day Nine (L):

..... in the Big Brother House - it feels a bit like it with us all here together! An excellent day today, beginning with a leisurely roam along the Royal Mile, viewing the street performers and those showing snippets of their shows. A lovely lunch in the Turkish café then we left Tine & Dave free to explore Edinburgh and we headed for the ticket office. Fortunately Anna & George were already there, had been for some time, so Jim and George sneaked off for a quick beer and Anna and I persisted in our endeavour for tickets, some successful, others not. However we saw 'Elvis will hate me', an excellent although quite complex production that kept us thinking until we were back at the Strand for the nth year for the 'Best of Irish Comedy', as brilliant as ever. We then met Tine & Dave for a gorgeous French meal at Petit Paris in the Grassmarket, and finished the day off with Ian Stone (recommended by Clare & Rob) - excellent, fully deserving of his 5 stars.

Day Nine (J):

Although Les & I were out of the house from 11 am till midnight, this was still two hours less than the kids! I think that we will all be fitter as we walked back and forth across Edinburgh, especially when you take into account the steps - up and down thousands of steps throughout the day (not including the steps up to our fifth floor apartment.

Day Nine (T):

Dave & I had a lovely day walking up and down the Royal Mile (at least four times, how many miles is that?!!) watching street entertainers some of very high standard. We visited the Scottish Parliament building and loved it - it was worth having the guided tour. Just before 10 pm (after our French meal with J&L) we ran up the steps to the side of the castle in order to catch the Tattoo leaving. We did see them but they were disappointingly hurrying back to their coaches! The waiting was quite fun though amidst Italians and French people, watching the fourteen year old security lads trying to show the eager but very amenable crowd some authority. Dave & I returned 'home' for a drink and we watched a really interesting programme: Edinburgh through the eyes of Ian Rankin. We found it by chance and loved it.

Day Nine (D):

The Scottish Parliament building was a fabulous visit. From the outside the architecture isn't so impressive but the interior certainly had the wow-factor and our guide was excellent. We also saw the nearby Palace of Holyroodhouse the Queen's official residence in Scotland. Like the Parliament building it is beautifully set beneath the ancient volcanic hills.

Our meal at Petit Paris was wonderful. The restaurant was totally run by French to make us feel less homesick, and the food was excellent!

An exhausting day!

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As usual more photos available on http://picasaweb.google.com/PapamanPicasa/4GoToScotlandDayNine

Day Eight

Julia's house, but she wasn't there!
Standards are slipping - 1/2 pints for Jim and me at Julia's local gastro-pub
View of Edinburgh Castle from our 5th floor appartment (leaning out!!)
Star-struck Les with Mark Watson
Anna, George mid-action and Jim - not forgetting Mr Watson in the background!

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Day Eight (T):

Well, today we said goodbye to Ardnamurchan. We woke up to torrential rain - a real shame for Anna & George's tent which they had pitched out to dry! They were quite philosophical about it and we all went about our packing and cleaning duty under Jim's controlling guidance ... We were gone by 9.55 am, 5 minutes ahead of schedule. All goes to show how much we live in fear of our leader!!

The journey was another very pleasant surprise with stunning scenery unfolding around every corner. The waterfalls were particularly spectacular and the light was beautiful as the rain stopped ... and came again, but mainly stayed at bay. We stopped at Pitlochry for a picnic, a spot of shopping (8 of us to feed soon) and a journey down memory lane for Anna who showed George her lab. Meanwhile, we oldies went in search of our old friend Julia. We found Kirk Lodge on a hill overlooking Pitlochry bu were informed by a lovely man with great accent that Julia was travelling and wouldn't be back until Tuesday. Typical! No doubt we'll hear about it all in our Christmas round robin.

Day Eight (L):

Well we finally arrived in Edinburgh - a brilliant location for our accommodation but very noisy day and night!! - even at six in the morning. The five flights of stairs up were also a challenge but well worth it.

Our first gig - Mark Watson - excellent - no more to say - especially as he agreed to be photographed - proof that I spotted him in the Pleasance Courtyard. The girls don't like me chatting to celebrities but if they didn't like being spotted and chatted to they wouldn't be celebrities, would they? Jim and I then saw a magical little production of 'Ella, Marlene, Marilyn and Me' by an Australian artist, Melissa Western.

Day Eight (J):

The joys of driving through Edinburgh's one-way system!! Ugh! But this was all forgotten watching Mark Watson. He even walked up to Les and spoke, asking her for a shared photograph and autograph - well almost!

Day Eight (D):

But we were there with the camera to record Les's 'rencontre' with the afore-mentioned Mark Watson. We saw him later doing his stand-up routine and he was excellent. Tine and I are Fringe virgins no more ....

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More Day Eight photos at http://picasaweb.google.com/PapamanPicasa/4GoToScotlandDayEight

Day Seven

Beautiful even when the weather is dull

We stayed to the SE of the peninsula
Tine, Jim & Anna striking a pose
George on bended knee!
A few pints were sunk at the Salen Hotel
Return of the pine marten!

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Day Seven (T):

Woke up to wild weather - rain and howling wind - great to see the loch so choppy, and to be able to enjoy all that from the safety of the cottage! After our usual relaxed breakfast, Jim & ! went hunter-gathering in our favourite shop in Acharacle, leaving L & D to prepare our bolognaise sauce for tonight. What a team!

Day Seven (J):

Boring - washing things ready for the big E. After a damp morning we were getting ready for going out when we heard a familiar voice from the side of our cottage - it was Anna and George. Their tent was destroyed in Skye and we were a safe refuge!

Day Seven (D):

So, six of us went to a local wildlife centre which was very interesting. Then a ride to show Anna and George the outer parts of the crater, THEN to the pub! Yes, we had a good few pints of 80/- (80 shillings) at Salen with Jim then Les on taxi-duty. Sadly we didn't see our favourite 'shaggy' sheep on the road, despite having cameras to the ready. Back to Camasinas for Les's spag. bol. (no, I didn't really help - Les is too efficient!) and a lovely evening with the youngstas!

Day Seven (L):

Our final day at Camasinas - weather poor this morning but gave us the chance to take it easy - we were just rallying ourselves to go out when A&G arrived and perked us all up. Good 'early doors' - didn't mind taxi-ing as I quite like driving along these narrow lanes. Got chatting to a girl at the Salen Hotel, a local who said that April/May had been particularly good this year. We were back home just in time to give pine marten his supper - he arrived on the dot at 9.30 pm and put on his show for the last time - we are concerned about what will happen next week.

Day Seven (G):

Wow, what a day. Woke up to torrential rain and wind at Glen Brittle campsite on Skye. After our tent failed us we sought refuge with parents-in-law. We were met with a hearty welcome and stunning views of the loch and west coast. After a quick bite we went to the visitors centre for a quick geology and wildlife lesson! Watched a very nice slide show about the area that reminded us of 'Last of the Summer Wine'. Finished off evening with a few jars of 80 shillings at the local pub, and fed the friendly pine marten. Yet another great place we have visited in Scotland!

Day Seven (A):

Only George was reminded of 'Last of the Summer Wine' since he thinks Yorkshire and Scotland are the same place! We were worried the oldies would have gone out for the day but, true to form, they were still in reading at 3 pm when we gate-crashed their tranquility. They generously showed us a bit of the Ardnamurchan peninsula before a few early-doors pints! Very nice! Looking forward to getting Dave on the front row of a show - fingers crossed he's noticed!

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More photos on http://picasaweb.google.com/PapamanPicasa/4GoToScotlandDaySeven

Day Six

Young lovers by the loch-side

Product placement? What a view!
Dun Ghallain, an ancient Iron Age settlement
Tine in the giant ferns
'Twas a moonlicht nicht tonicht!
Evidence! The pine marten is captured by camera!

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Day Six (L):

I was actually able to photograph our dear friends lying in the sun, and I used suntan lotion! Our neighbours did say that this was highly unusual hence their large dogs were very excitable and woofed a lot. We all managed a lot of reading today and I did a couple of hours' otter-watch but to no avail - only seagulls, terns, and later on in the darkness the fascinating courtship of a pair of slugs. Oh, and it was the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics - not sure what to think of that. It was, of course, very spectacular.

Day Six (D):

We actually got photos of the pine marten who arrived too early for his bread and marmalade supper but returned once Les had 'done the business'. Earlier Tine & I tried to scramble on the rocks at the end of the bay but were blocked by fencing going into the sea. Not to give up we went along the road and along to the next headland with a beautiful walk through the ferns down to the (once again fenced) water's edge. There we saw the small island at Dun Ghallain, home of an ancient Iron Age settlement.

Day Six (T):

Another lovely leisurely day, surprisingly hot around lunch-time - we made the most of the heat lounging outside with our books. It's amazing how suddenly the temperature drops in the evenings though - so much so even Jim & Dave welcomed the central heating! Had a game of cards ('Showie') just to reacquaint J&L with the rules. I managed to win even though I felt so tired! Pine marten and slugs watch duty are obviously harder work than you'd think!

I really enjoyed staying in our 'Camasinas' today even though, like Les, I failed to see any otters when I sat on Jim's rock, ready with binoculars and camera. No deer either although Dave & I walked deep into the forest, down a steep narrow path winding its way through very healthy ferns down to the loch. Some trees are gigantic but we didn't see or hear many birds.

Day Six (J):

A day of restful reading, lounging on the grass and rocks.

A starry night sky, complete with a luminous half-moon throwing a line of reflected light across the loch. (Some people are still calling it a lake - they will be re-educated!!)

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Complete photos for the day on http://picasaweb.google.com/PapamanPicasa/4GoToScotlandDay6