Bonnie Scotland & Family

William Wallace Monument at Stirling Castle
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A visit to Scotland is a must on my round the world journey.  I have not been there for several years and the draw to Brian and Marilyn is great.

The journey to them via LONDON URGH! was a bit of an ordeal as I was reaping the benefit of a cheap flight airline Easy Jet, but I only had 1 hour between my flight landing and the other taking off and I had to claim my luggage from the Lyon flight and go through customs and then check in my luggage for Glasgow and navigate the anal security rigamarole only to find that my flight was at gate 88 of 90....here I go, running through the Stanstead airport at full throttle only to arrive at the gate to the plane being delayed by 20 or so minutes...good, but not good as I had a Robbie Williams concert to get to!

Before I left Brian gave me a lovely post card with a Celtic Blessing on it. It says:

Brian Ollie and ME!
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Once I got on the flight, Brian very graciously was there to pick me up and missed an hour or so of Robbie Williams to come and get me at Glasgow airport.  As I scarfed down the much appreciated sandwich and drink, he beat it over to the infamous Hampden Park where Robbie Williams awaited us...well not quite awaited as he started without us, but the hour or so we saw was fantastic!  Brian had a hand in doing some of the design in Hampden when they renovated a couple of years ago so it was extra special to go with a big shot who everyone seemed to know.

Marilyn and I having a laugh at the statue's expense
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When we got home Marilyn proceeded to make us a little picnic as Brian tempted me with grilled cheese on toast.  At about 2 am I finally crashed!

The next day I awoke to liquid sunshine as Marilyn puts it but it did not stop us, Brian, Marilyn, Ollie and I hopped in the car and headed out to Callandar and Stirling (home of Braveheart).  Callandar was rainy, but provided some good nosh of ice cream and tea and shortbread, but Stirling was terrific.  The sun came out and we walked around the castle grounds and took the obligatory photos of the William Wallace monument, etc.

Brian, Marilyn & Ollie at Stirling Castle
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Brian and Ollie work together and are interior designers and I was treated to an excellent meal in one of their restaurant creations called Osta.  This is part of the morris inn chains and I would highly recommend any of them as Brian has been their designer of choice and he is good!

The next day Marilyn and I went on a shopping spree in Glasgow!  Tonnes of Bargains and I enve got a student discount....that was the best part, someone thought I was a student...Brian commented that they may have considered me a mature student, but what do I care.

We again visited a couple of Brian's restaurant creations in Prince's Square and off home to pack and dinner.

Before I left Brian gave me a lovely post card with a Celtic Blessing on it.  It says:

May the road rise up to meet you

May the wind always be at your back

May the sun shine warm upon your face

May the rain fall soft upon your field

And until we meet again

May God hold you in the palm of his hand

For those of you who know me, you will not be surprised to know I cried....

Much too short of a visit, but I thorouhly enjoyed every moment.