My Flog for March 27 - Our 1997 Trip to Scotland Continues - The Final Chapter - Goodbye Roundabouts ... etc

March 29 - Saturday - after breakfast we fiddled around - went to Cumbernnauld to a mall. Got pictures developed, did a 'wee' bit of shopping. Had a pop and scone at Tesco, which is a big grocery store, then back to the hotel to relax, nap, read, watch TV, knit, whatever. Went to Aunt Minnie's around 6 - another gathering of the clan!

Andrew, Darren, Mom, Edward and Thomas

Steven, Minnie, Catherine, Mom, Rose, Geraldine and Darren

Here is Geraldine modeling the T shirt Cliff gave her. And meeting her - I believe it. (Sorry, Gerry - but I still do.)

Aunt Minnie's son Anthony is a very talented artist - we were all impressed with his work ...

.... see? How intricate is that? Wow.

Tomorrow we're heading south towards Wales and England. Will spend the night in Wales. Tonight the clocks go ahead one hour, so even though it's 11:12 pm it's actually 12:12 am. Time change is just as confusing in Scotland as it is in Canada.

March 30 - Easter Sunday - about 1 1/2 hours out of Glasgow heading south. Saw a herd of windmills high on a hill. Baby sheep around too. Stopped at Gretna Green for potty, food and souvenirs (in that order) at noon. This is where I discovered my  bank card WORKS IN SCOTLAND - and we had loads of pounds of money in 'our' account. Wow! 

All petrol is do-it-yourself - so Cliff did it. Loads of fun.

4:45pm  In hotel in Wales. Arrived about three, went to Cliff and Penny's friends, Mel and Sue -

- and are returning for dinner - if we can find our way back, that is. Called home.

Later - got back from Mel and Sue's after only one wrong scenic view. 

March 31- Beautiful sunny day. Still tired - should still be asleep. Waiting for the others to get on the move.

Later - now in England at the Hilton - (reminded me of this song - I used to have it on an old English pub song record - but the only YouTube version I can find substitutes Astor for Hilton - well, one has to make do with what one has, I guess.) We were driving all day - half of it between here and Wales, and the other half in Milton Keynes looking for something - Aunt Betty, hotel .... whatever. Quite frustrating for driver and navigator.

But find the hotel we did - and enjoyed the cherry blossoms that popped out to welcome us!

We did a side trip to Hadrian's Wall where we met this fellow. Same grad class as Penny, I think.

April 1 -Left Milton Keynes about 11am to head to Aunt Betty's. Cousin Christopher and Cousin-in-Law Robert met us At The Hilton (ahem) and we followed them through roundabouts and country lanes - about 40 minutes drive through lovely English countryside - fields, trees, canals ... windmills.

Met Aunt Betty and some of her crew - Christopher, Jenny, Robert, and Joanna. Had dinner at The Old Swan in Cheddington - 

Christopher, Jennifer, Aunt Betty, Mom and Robert

Left about 3 o'clock. Robert and Christopher led us out. I don't think Cliff enjoyed driving through that particular town, for some reason.

Everyone (except Cliff) sort of dozed as we headed back north to Preston - where we are now! In a hotel with a chef who can't make veggie soup - must send him a recipe - boil water, add veggies, do not ferment. (Actually, now, 16 years later, I could really teach him to make soup. It took me that long to perfect the procedure.)

We actually travelled three pages in the map book today!

Well, here is where my diary keeping gets a bit sketchy, as I seem to be missing days. I guess nothing exciting happened or I would have taken note about it. My memory isn't very good at the best of times.

April 3 - Sooooo tired! Went to St Enoch (shopping centre) today for last minute stuff and 1 hour photo. Another gathering at Aunt Rose's for goodbyes.

Back to hotel now. Dead tired, and a 5am rise waiting. So we really should sleep.

But Mom looks so serious ...

I know he's re-living all the roundabouts ...

... Penny's trying to look serious .. not really working though ...

... oh yes, she lost it. Completely .....

... and brought Mom along for the ride ....

...those darn drugs.... At least Cliff and I are sensible.

And here he goes again - pack that boot, Killie, you know it will all fit - somehow ...

And farewell to the last roundabout at the airport. Good surviving them, brother.

(And so ends our trip. It was the best of times, and the last time we were all together, brothers,sisters and Mom, who ties us all together. This was the last of the good years for Mom, for after this birthday dementia took hold of her and slowly pulled her away. I am forever grateful for Cliff and Penny for allowing me the joy and the privilege of sharing these days in Scotland. Love to all.)