I can now identify the secret, exotic destination I mentioned elsewhere that I was travelling to (and reveal why it had to be a secret).
After a 42 hour journey by bus (2), train (4) plane (2) with various stopovers waiting for connections, I reached my first destination. A mysterious country called Scotland, full of wild people and strange food.
Despite having been born there, I know very little about the place and haven't been there in decades. But I am now.
The reason for the exhausting trip, which I have been planning for 10 years, is that Sunday (30th June 2019) was my mother's 90th birthday. She was expecting a simple lunch with my youngest brother and his wife, but when she arrived at the restaurant she found nearly all her 5 kids (including me), all her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Only one of the 30 knew I was coming - my daughter. Big surprise.
I arrived on the Thursday and went to the highly recommended hotel I had booked in a village a mile from my mother's home to recover from the jet lag and hide. Things began to go wrong. The hotel was closed and locked! A woman from the gift shop opposite saw me being confused and came over to tell me that the place had closed months earlier, dishonoring dozens of paid for bookings including wedding receptions and other functions.
The crooks had taken my booking and payment on the 4th of June, despite them having closed in February. As far as I can see their website is still open and accepting bookings. I have reported this to the police, and I paid by credit card so should be able to get my money back. Not however, what you need after such a long, exhausting journey.
Fortunately, the woman also directed me to another (better and slightly cheaper) hotel nearby where I was able to get a room for my required number of nights.
I had a pint or two of that Scottish classic:
and collapsed into bed.
Only to wake up at 3 am craving my dinner! No chance. I had to wait for breakfast.
Next day, I headed to a nearby seaside village where I lived as a kid.
After exploring my childhood, I became a little peckish, so visited a nearby award winning restaurant/cafe that I'd heard of.
I ordered the
Washed down with a bottle of
Despite the pie being out-of-focus, it was delicious. The roast ham was equally good and there was lots of it. Good home-baked bread and fine cheddar. But the star was that chutney. I had to ask what it was and ended up buying a jar to take home to China. The cider was very refreshing on an unusually warm Scottish day.
After a happy nostalgic day, I went back to the hotel, downed a pint or two of
and slept some more.
On the Saturday, I visited Edinburgh, where there were some things I wanted to buy. But also for more nostalgia.
By chance, I passed the cafe where the first Harry Potter book was written. I've never read any of them.
Then lunch. I knew what I wanted.
Haggis (centre), Neeps (left) and Tatties (right). Wonderful!
Also later visited the Oxford Bar, famous from Scottish crime writer, Iain Rankin's Rebus series of detective novels
where I had a pint of
Next morning was the big day. I had breakfast in the hotel.
Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon and spinach. Very Scottish!
Then headed to the surprise party venue.
Coming soon!
