I'm very smug because on this year's summer trip to Scotland, I chipped away at keeping notes of our travels while we were on the road. So here it is: Scotland - Summer 2022.
Fri 29
Got to Toulouse no problem but the check in was a shambles and we were getting seriously concerned that we were going to miss our flight. A rush through the airport meant we made it to the gate on time. Flight was fine and William even got to visit the cock pit before we got off. Joe picked us up and we headed through to Baillieston. Jinty came over and we enjoyed catching up over a curry. We were knackered and managed to get to bed about midnight.
Sat 30
It was a slowish start but the three of us headed up to the Fort around 11.30am to do some serious shopping: Iain needed black shoes for the funeral; I needed Sensodyne toothpaste; and William desperately needed to spend the £20 that Jinty had given him. It ended up a tense time in Smyths as he hummed and hawed between the overwhelming number of toys on offer. Finally, he settled on some Lego, at which Iain and I breathed a huge sigh of relief. We managed to grab lunch there too and it turns out that 5 Guys does a good GF option: a bun-less burger. Clare picked us up and we spent the rest of the afternoon down at Jinty’s, blethering and drinking tea. Dinner was back at Clare and Joe’s where Iain made meatballs while Clare and I enjoyed an apero. Iain headed to bed about 10.30 but Clare and I stayed up chatting until Joe rolled in the door, buzzing from his runners up placing at the bowls that afternoon.
Sun 31
I hauled myself out of bed around 9am. We got ourselves organised and Clare took over to CHQ. William was absolutely delighted to see his Nanny (and Papa!) and we left him with them while we headed to Silverburn so that Iain could finally buy shoes. I was like a half shut knife all day and after a Sunday roast fell into bed and into the deepest of sleeps.
Mon 1 Aug
Today was Yvette’s funeral. Liv and Claudia looked after all the kids (with Vicky Scott in charge of Baby Stella!) whilst all the adults went to the service. Heather picked us up and we all congregated at the Linn. It was actually lovely, all of us being there together to celebrate Yvette’s life. Graham and Claire did a brilliant job speaking and they told some brilliantly honest stories about the character Yvette was. Then it was back to the Sherbrooke for the purvey. And then it was back to CHQ for the post-purvey. We ended up having a long but lovely day, all being together and periodically telling stories about Yvette. It felt like she’d have loved to have been part of it.
Meanwhile, William spent the entire day running around crazy with his cousins, barely eating or drinking a thing, exhausting himself and falling into bed at 9.30pm. His dad was already sleeping by this point and I wasn’t far behind The Boy.
Tues 2
I got up and went for a smug run. Iain had had feedback from the Hurricanes and has been required to provide more information on his application so spent most of the day sorting that out. Alan and his colleague, Katie, popped round and we went for a coffee at the Burrell while William played in the newly refurbished playground. Then in the afternoon, the McBrides swung past and scooped him up for an afternoon run around at the Riverside Museum. With both of my boys busy in their own worlds, I was at a bit of loose end. I spent most of the afternoon sitting in the garden and blethering with Sheena. Sheena made dinner and it was very well received: huge sirloin steaks from Cranston’s. I think everyone was very happy to fall into bed.
Wed 3
Today we went to the National Museum of Flight in East Linton with the McCaigs. We picked up some food at Tesco en route and were there for lunchtime so it was perfect. A quick bite to eat (and William lost a tooth!) then into all the hangars to see everything on offer. The absolute highlight being, of course, Concorde. As you can imagine, William was absolutely thrilled seeing it in real life and it was just a great day out. Bit strange being down in East Lothian again after all these years. Anyway, it was a bit of a mission getting back through west again (the M8 is always choca) but we made it and then we were on dinner duty: prawn pasta with a sundried tomato sauce.
Thursday 4
By far, the quietest day we’ve had since arriving. I managed a wee stretch/core workout in the morning while Iain built Ronnie and Sheena’s new BBQ. In the afternoon, the MacBrides took William to the park and Iain and I hung about at CHQ. We managed a medium sized shop at Morrisons then did a BBQ for dinner on the new gear.
Fri 5
Glasgow Bus Tour with the MacBrides + Ronnie and Sheena. Had an amazing lunch at Brel in Ashton Lane and went for drinks at Platform (the old Arches).
Sat 6
Glasgow Green / WEST Brewery with Alan, Euan and Jinty in the late morning/afternoon.
Over to Gregor & Emma’s for a curry in the evening.
Sun 7
Bit of a driech day. Nando’s and Glasgow Science Centre with Catster, Divsy, Isla & Ruairidh. Great to see them and the kids ran around crazy for two and a half hours. Sheena made beef stroganoff for dinner and we watched the finals of the Commie Games.
Mon 8
Slow start to the morning then over to Heather’s for lunch. Left there and went to Jinty’s in the afternoon for cups of tea in the garden. Iain finally managed to open that wooden box but snapped a bit off in the process (!) so he went to the supermarket to buy glue and took William and Euan with him so they could buy a ball for the garden too.
Tue 9
Hung around CHQ all day. Gia came over with her crew in the morning and we did a workout in the garden. The kids ran riot and William was loving it, (mostly). (His regular routine is out by about three hours sleep deficit so he’s tired and cranky and easily upset.) After lunch Iain and I took Flo, Eva, William and Georgie to Pollok Park in the glorious afternoon sunshine where everyone had a huge play and we all had ice creams. We got back to the house, Iain and I did a Tesco run and had a beer in the garden. Just as Sheena was putting out the dinner, Iain had a message/phone call from Philpy at the Canes. He’s not the preferred candidate for the role. So that’s it: no Wellington. We both have very mixed emotions about the role. A *move* to NZ would be hard work but living there and slotting into and making a life there would likely be quite simple. I’d happily live there so I’m disappointed that it’s not going to happen. But my biggest disappointment is that we’re back to the drawing board. Again. We’ve had so many potential moves over the past 12months but nothing has worked out and everything is just all very unsettled. In many ways, I feel like we just really need to start the next chapter.
Wed 10
Ross’ was round in the morning and we were in charge while Sheena went for her knee scan. Iain, William and I then caught the 12.40 train into Central and Iain went to meet Rosco, Spekkie and Archie for a boy’s day in the West End whilst William and I met Jinty for lunch, a mosey around town including a quick pit stop at the GOMA, a bus trip on the 62, a play in the garden at Gargrave and a fish supper for dinner. Algy took us back over the road and we were met at the gates by a rather inebriated Iain who'd had a great day out with his pals.
Thurs 11
Today was my turn for an all day session, but first, Iain, William and I enjoyed a walk to Sainsburys where we bought lunch to have a picnic in Maxwell Park. The weather was truly glorious; we really couldn’t have picked a better time to be back. After lunch, I got myself ready, and Iain dropped me at Shields Rd subway for me to begin my day. Unbelievably, as I walked through the doors of Queen St Station, I bumped into Callum Beattie! Mental! Hadn’t even made to the fringe and already had my first showbiz encounter. I was at Waverley by 3.30 and in the pub by 3.31. Laura was first to show, quickly followed by Suzy and we did a wee pub crawl through the Old Town. The sun was shining, the streets were absolutely buzzing, and my god it was great to see these two and go for a pint. Lots of catch ups indeed. Gilly and Catster joined around 5.45pm and we all headed to Bristo Square where an amazing beer garden has been set up for the festival (changed days!). More pints, a bit of food, lots of laughter, then more pints for the gig and it was down to George Square for Susie’s gig. As I imagined, she did not disappoint. It was belly laughs all round and at some points, tears of laughter as we connected, *exactly* with Susie’s daft take on life. I’m so glad I got to see her, and introduce her to my mates. We all spilled into George Square afterwards for more pints and laughter but the night had to come to an end at some point. I was *this* close to throwing all my chips in and going on a bender with Suzy and staying at her place but sensible me took control and I got a lift back to Glasgow with Susie. Deffo the better call. What a brilliant day, and so, so, SO great to catch up with the girls sans enfants. How I’ve missed that.
In the meantime, Iain and William had a great day out at the mini golf at Braehead. William loves it!
Fri 12
Wee bit of a slower day (as you might expect). Gayle and Donnie had invited us to the World Pipe Band Championships at Glasgow Green but having had a mega busy week already, the temps due to soar to 28*C (! - I know, right!), and Sheena’s party at Heather’s on the Saturday, we decided that a slower day might suit us all. So it was a day of pottering around CHQ and enjoying the good weather. We did a quick run to Silverburn for a birthday card for Sheena and I got some much needed new chino shorts from Tesco - size 12, may I add! Gregor, Emma and Ross came round later in the day for a wee while and William entertained the wee guy for ages. It’s great seeing him play with the wee ones so well. Dinner was a very relaxed BBQ with Iain driving the meat and me pretty much raiding the entire fridge to come up with suitable sides. But it worked.
Sat 13
Iain was up early doors and away with Sheena to meet Heather for a cold water swim. By all accounts, they had a really great time. They’re off their heads! While they were away, we hung out at home, doing some sorting and chilling out before the inevitable madness of the afternoon at Sheena’s birthday party.
After lunch but before heading to Cambuslang, Iain and I ran a couple of errands in Shawlands. I posted my hat from Brian and Mel’s wedding back to France, and did a food and booze run at Morrisons. Then it was a quick turnaround at CHQ and off to the party.
It was a lovely day, hanging out in the Woodsie’s garden and enjoying the absolutely incredible weather that Glasgow continued to put on for us. We ate, drank, and blethered until our hearts content and once William got over his *hanger*, he had a really brilliant time playing with his cousins. AND he lost yet another tooth! It was also great that Jinty could join us too. We headed back to CHQ around 11pm and fell into bed, absolutely exhausted. Such a great way to round off our trip.
Sun 14
I didn’t really have that much to drink at Sheena’s birthday party but Sunday was a struggle for me. Too much burning the candle had finally caught up with me and I just couldn’t get myself going at all. With a wee bit of a cough and a niggly throat, I actually thought I was coming down with something. All this meant that it was a very slow day indeed. We went over to Heather’s in the morning so that Sheena could collect her car and the dogs, and in the afternoon, I slowly packed and tidied up, then for dinner we phoned a curry. It really was the only way to seal off the trip.
*Edit: William has just reminded me that he stayed at the MacBrides for dinner and had macaroni cheese which he loved.
Mon 15
Travel day. I’d had an okay sleep so thankfully, I was feeling a *little* better and we also didn’t need to be up and away early doors as our flight wasn’t until 2.20pm. Edinburgh airport ran very smoothly and before we knew it, we were in the departures with almost two hours still up our sleeve.
After a bite to eat, we headed to the gate and suddenly heard someone calling, “WILLIAM!” Quite unbelievably, it was Arts! Jess, Olivier, Arts and Freida had made a last minute trip to Scotland to see Jess’ grandparents and were on our flight back to Toulouse. Mental!
We all finally boarded and after a bit of a delay leaving, we were on our way. Border control was easy (thank god we have all our paperwork in order now!), we collected our bag, and then the car, and shot straight down the road to Pau with no breaks. We were just desperate to get home. It was quite shocking to see the state of the fields from the motorway: dry and scorched by the sun after weeks without rain.
We got in, I raided the freezer and came up with an unbelievably decent meal and that was us in and settled. Scotland, done.
Lorna :-)
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