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| Edinburgh |
The reaction I get from people when I tell them this is mixed. Some people, those outdoor types or people who know Scotland, go "Wow! Lovely!".
Others, who would expect a summer holiday to be in sunnier climes, simply go "Oh!" and then are seemingly speechless.
Personally, I have to say that initially I would have preferred to have some guaranteed sun as opposed to guaranteed rain and looking at the weather forecast we certainly won't need to spend any money on sunblock. But the whole trip has grown on me and I am really now looking forward to it. A car journey lasting more than 40 minutes with the 4 kids in the back is an absolute non starter as the "Are we there yet?" comments start before we have even left Leigh-on-Sea, making Stansted the only airport that has direct flights to Edinburgh within viable reach before blood will be drawn.
It'll be busy, busy, busy once in Edinburgh as there seems to be quite a lot to fit in for a supposed restful holiday - family and friend visits, Ghost walks, Arthur's Seat and the Castle - but for me the real rest starts this Saturday when we go up to the big house we have rented for the week at Polmaily Steading, right on Loch Ness.
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| Polmaily Steading, near Drumnadrochit |
I'm really not sure that I will be joining everyone on the horse riding as I think the RSPCA would be involved if I tried to get on a horse and I am also praying I am too big for a kayak as that isn't something that has ever appealed to me, even when I was younger, fitter, thinner and ever so much lighter. But aside from that, a few fresh walks and perhaps a visit to a distillery will allow me to recharge the batteries.
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| Loch Ness |
My Aunt and Uncle visited the area when I was a mere pup back in the mid 1960's and bought me a souvenir back with "Nessie" on it. That sparked an interest in Dinosaurs that I had until I was in my early teens and so this trip will sort of fulfill a childhood dream. I'm not planning on actually entering the water with diving equipment you understand but I will be taking the boat trip around the loch, weather permitting, just in case Nessie makes an appearance. The kids are all looking forward to that as well and I can always threaten to throw them in unless they behave.
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| Nessie? |
After our week in the Highlands we come back to Edinburgh for a few days, taking in some of the Fringe, before flying back home on Tuesday 14th.
So, as I'm writing this on Tuesday evening, July 31st 2012, the bags are packed, The Macallan 10 year old single malt has been opened and I am completely out of work mode. The kids are excited and haven't settled at all - it's a good job it's not an early departure then as we don't leave until tomorrow lunchtime - so I think we can say the holiday has already begun.
I hope to update the blog daily with photos and experiences, please feel free to comment and share.
