Beau Peep Notice Board
Beau Peep Notice Board => Outpourings => Topic started by: Joan on August 09, 2008, 11:05:13 PM
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No mince encounters, just a couple of encounters with friends whom I haven't seen for a long time. Off tomorrow for a few days to the west coast and Skye - weather not looking good. Been really lucky so far.
Few pictures of places I've been here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/bjjktg/UK2008 (http://picasaweb.google.com/bjjktg/UK2008)
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fantastic photos Joan! Will you be having half a pint with Roger while you are in Scotland?
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Excellent photos, Joan. The quality, composition and content is superb. I can't wait to see Mince's ..0
Unfortunately, the weather's not too good up the west coast of Scotland. Occasional sunny intervals though, so I hope you enjoy your trip to Skye.
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Excellent photos, Joan. The quality, composition and content is superb. I can't wait to see Mince's ..0
Unfortunately, the weather's not too good up the west coast of Scotland. Occasional sunny intervals though, so I hope you enjoy your trip to Skye.
Can't wait to see Mince's .... what...?
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Joan - brilliant photographs. I've lived in this country for over 60 years and apart from St Pancras Station, I've never seen any of those places. I do hope your camera's still working when you get to Scotland - I've never been there!
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Back again - had a lovely trip - weather not too bad. In fact we were informed that it was very good for Skye! Seems most of the time you can't see anything for the rain and the mist! Midges didn't bother me - they seemed more interested in my sister, which is strange as I'm usually the main target. Maybe all that biting by Aussie mosquitoes has made my blood less attractive.
I'd never been to Cambridge before, Vulture - went to meet up with a friend who lives near there. Very pleasant day. My uncle studied at Cambridge just before WWII and I got there and thought I should visit his college. Unfortunately, I got the wrong one - thought it was Trinity and it was Clare. Hadn't seen St Pancras since it was done up either. Well worth a visit - even went back for a coffee when waiting for my train from Kings Cross (which is not worth a visit unless you have to travel from there). Very continental feel about it - all the announcements in French and English. In fact, if I'd had my passports with me, I would have been tempted to jump on the Eurostar and spend a couple of days in Paris. (Silly me for not bringing them.)
More photos in the album http://picasaweb.google.com/bjjktg/UK2008 (http://picasaweb.google.com/bjjktg/UK2008)
WARNING! lots of scenery - mountains, lochs, sea, castles, etc
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That's a lot of loch, Joan, but they are beautiful, aren't they? Cows from Crieff - ah, memories!
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Scotland looks a very dark and brooding place!
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Some great photos, Joan---and you even managed to take one at Dalwhinnie!
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Is the Dalwhinnie Distillery the only landmark of note?
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Is the Dalwhinnie Distillery the only landmark of note?
In the whole of Scotland, Vult? You need to visit. It's only dark and brooding on Dark and Brooding Day. The rest of the time it's quite simply one of the most stunning countries on the planet...if you know where to look, and Joan does.
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I think the furthest North I've been is Blackpool - somewhere around 1958!
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Dalwhinnie is where I grew up, Vulch. It's 1,200 ft above sea level, in the middle of nowhere, was in the Guinness Book of Records as the coldest place in Britain----and I loved it.
There are many beautiful parts of Scotland and, if you ever get the chance, try to get to the Highlands---there is some really spectacular scenery.
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Birds like it round at my house too. Scotland is a stunning place when the sun is shining. I think I recognised Staffin Bay - is that where Uig is, and where the ferries to the Hebrides leave from?
Your mountain pictures reminded me of my Chocolate Hills ones. I wonder if they're related.
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/nigel.sutherland/SHbad34JjfI/AAAAAAAABTA/EqmwYXTsurQ/IMG_1620.JPG?imgmax=576)
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I took that specially for you, Roger. :) When sister said we were going through Dalwhinnie, just had to stop and take a picture. Went in as well and bought a wee bottle of Dalwhinnie malt and a couple of postcards (the postcards to make it enough to use card as didn't have enough cash). Is your hotel still there? I know it's probably not a hotel any more, but I couldn't work out where it was. Maybe we didn't go past it, as we went off to Spean Bridge.
I forgot to say that some of the "dark and brooding" photos were taken in the evening, so even more "dark and brooding". I'm afraid my wee camera doesn't do full justice to the actual views. You really need to be there to appreciate it fully. The second day we were on Skye we went down to the south coast and were just blown away by the views of the mainland. It's actually the clouds and light that make the views so stunning. It honestly looked just like a painting, only changing in light and colour all the time. The pics look more impressive full size as well - Picassa makes them quite small, but it's so convenient to load them up there.
Staffin Bay is on the east side of the top of the island, Peeps. Uig is on the west at about the same level - some pictures in there of the ferry leaving for Lewis. Your chocolate hills were probably formed the same way - my sister kept sprouting all these geographical terms at me, like "truncated spurs" and "morainic mounds". We had a geography teacher who loved glaciated valleys.
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The old hotel is no longer there, Joan. When the new road was built, bypassing the village, it killed off the business---and it only ever operated at a "ticking over" level at the best of times. The hotel was pulled down a couple of years ago, long after my family had left.
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"morainic mounds"
For some inexplicable reason, I suddenly had a vision of Mince there.
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As a loyal Scot, and one who has travelled North to Aviemore and seen the wonderful scenery, I would still love to live there, but when I was over in the UK last year (seems like yesterday) I was very taken with Northern Ireland and the area over the border in the Irish Republic, Donegal, the Inishowen Peninsula area.
I stayed in this house in Glengad, which is owned by friends and is hired out (this photo is on the web).
Weather was great most of the time and because the house was situated on top of a cliff, every morning the view from the window was of nothing but the Atlantic ocean. Absolutely gorgeous.
(http://www.donegalcottageholidays.com/rossheadcottage/house-1.jpg)
(http://www.donegalcottageholidays.com/images/glengad.jpg)
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We had a terrific family holiday in Donegal when I was about 13, Malc. Stayed in a hotel which used to be a farmhouse, with it's own beach. The best thing for me was that it had three ponies stabled there and we just got to ride them whenever we wanted - had to tack them and stable them, etc, but that was part of the whole experience. We rode them wherever we wanted - along the beach, through the fields, along the road - I was riding one of them past a little church one day when an old man came out and told me her (the pony's) owner was inside - "Just bring her away in to see him.", says he, so we led her inside and she clomped up to the altar to see her master.
It's very beautiful country - wild and rugged. I've always wanted to go back again.
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The beaches are phenomenal too, Wide estuary beaches with white sand. If the weather was better those places would be choc-a-bloc with tourists and ugly hotels. Thank goodness for the climate. I could work there, whereas I find it very difficult to work here in Queensland.
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I just remembered I have some pics online of beaches of South Harris, in The Hebrides. Honestly, I've never seen better beaches in the whole of the UK, and as you'll see, they're quite deserted.
http://www.nigelsutherland.co.uk/hebridesetc/hebridesetc.html (http://www.nigelsutherland.co.uk/hebridesetc/hebridesetc.html)
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Great pictures, Peeps. I remember the beaches in Sutherland being beautiful white sand as well - just imagine if the climate was "better" what the North of Scotland would be like in terms of tourist fodder - makes me shudder to think.
The funny thing was, there were hardly any sandy beaches on Skye. The other thing we noticed was that there were very few highland accents - I heard two people speaking with the highland lilt and we didn't hear anybody speaking gaelic at all.
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They say that Sandwood Bay in Sutherland is the UK's most beautiful beach. It also happens to be the least accessible! (Did you know my real name was Sutherland, and not Peepmaster?)
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Sandwood_Bay_1.jpg)
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Fabulous, Peepsie!
Malc, as a veteran of the A9 from Perth to Inverness, and having holidayed in Aviemore almost every year for the past quarter of a century, I agree the scenery is wonderful. It's one of my favourite drives in the UK, with variety all the way.
However, it's only the beginning, as I found out only a decade ago. The best of what Scotland has to offer lies further up the road, north of Dingwall, then up to Lairg and beyond. Where the single-track road takes you beyond any other sign of civilisation for mile upon mile, through the most stunning peaks and lochs you can possibly imagine. I thought I'd seen some spectacular parts of Scotland and the rest of the UK, but I can honestly say that nothing I'd encountered before on these isles could touch the breath-taking views the first time I ventured north of Lairg. I kept stopping to take it all in, each time saying it can't get any better than this, then 20 minutes further up the road, you turn a bend and it does.
Eventually, you can go no further north. But then you encounter perhaps the greatest surprise of all - beaches like the one Peepsie posted above. They're all along that north coast - you expect grey, dark, cold and even oppressive, but what you get is turquoise waters, beautiful golden sands with nary a footprint in sight... and palm trees. Nobody had told me - I literally could not believe my eyes the first time I stepped on the beach at the marvellously named Bettyhill, before heading for home through the jagged peaks (hundreds of them, fading into the distance) and magnificent lochs.
I've done the east coast route, and been up and down the middle routes. Before I die, I'll bag the west coast. Joan, if you've still got three weeks left, and enough stamina (it's a heck of a long drive, but richly rewarding if you get a nice day), don't take my word for it...
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I nicked that picture off a Google search for Sandwood Bay. The Hebrides ones are mine. I'm planning on a tour to Sutherland soon to show Lucy the delights of freezing weather and biting midges.
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She's not had the tour of Sutherland yet? Good lord, man - you're slipping!
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That's because he's not buying tubes. Don't go the old fashioned rout, I'm sick of telling you! It rots through the cups and causes slippage.
Honestly, you have to lead some people by the hand.
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God, Malc, you're a tonic.
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I've seen a bit of the West Coast, Peeps, but not enough. Seen most of the very North (Sutherland, Cape Wrath), but a very long time ago, so would love to go again. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to fit it in this time.
I did know your real name was Sutherland, but it slipped my mind. Tell me, do the Sutherlands actually come from Sutherland?
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I did know your real name was Sutherland, but it slipped my mind. Tell me, do the Sutherlands actually come from Sutherland?
Broadstairs, I believe - via Wolverhampton.
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I just realised it was you who suggested the West Coast, TT - sorry, bit confused this morning.
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I couldn't help but notice, Joan, that you took so many cracking photographs of your tour that, for one of them, you didn't notice that you had the camera the wrong way round, and we were treated to a photograph of you.
This is most welcome! It's really good to put a face to the name, and dispel any mental images we may have of each other. I wonder if anyone else will make so bold?
I already know what Roger, Peeps, Malc and Mince looks like, but have to rely on my mental imagery for the rest of you guys, influenced by avatars and little snippets of information which help to build up the picture. However, I'd hate to be doing anyone an injustice, and at the moment (for instance) I have Colin looking akin to Frankenstein's creation, with massive scars held together by large staples, on account of the one photograph we have been allowed of him so far (oh, and wearing a hideous brown shirt).
I do understand the natural reservations about putting too much information on the web, and I fully respect that, but if anyone is feeling as bold as Joan, then I for one would be delighted to put a face to the name.
And I'll show you mine, if you show me yours.
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And I'll show you mine, if you show me yours.
Even for such an enticement as this, I'd advise you to stick to the picture of a vulture! :o
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Ooops, how did that get in there? Breaks up the scenery a bit, though. Go on Vulture, might be worth it. I've sort of thrown caution to the wind with showing photos of myself - the wind is helping cover up things in that one - at least on one side of my face.
Off into town now to brave the rain and the Festival tourists for a short while. Taking my niece out to dinner tonight. She's 30 today. Now that makes me feel old - not as old as my sister though!
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Fabulous, Peepsie!
Malc, as a veteran of the A9 from Perth to Inverness, and having holidayed in Aviemore almost every year for the past quarter of a century, I agree the scenery is wonderful. It's one of my favourite drives in the UK, with variety all the way.
However, it's only the beginning, as I found out only a decade ago. The best of what Scotland has to offer lies further up the road, north of Dingwall, then up to Lairg and beyond. Where the single-track road takes you beyond any other sign of civilisation for mile upon mile, through the most stunning peaks and lochs you can possibly imagine. I thought I'd seen some spectacular parts of Scotland and the rest of the UK, but I can honestly say that nothing I'd encountered before on these isles could touch the breath-taking views the first time I ventured north of Lairg. I kept stopping to take it all in, each time saying it can't get any better than this, then 20 minutes further up the road, you turn a bend and it does.
Eventually, you can go no further north. But then you encounter perhaps the greatest surprise of all - beaches like the one Peepsie posted above. They're all along that north coast - you expect grey, dark, cold and even oppressive, but what you get is turquoise waters, beautiful golden sands with nary a footprint in sight... and palm trees. Nobody had told me - I literally could not believe my eyes the first time I stepped on the beach at the marvellously named Bettyhill, before heading for home through the jagged peaks (hundreds of them, fading into the distance) and magnificent lochs.
I've done the east coast route, and been up and down the middle routes. Before I die, I'll bag the west coast. Joan, if you've still got three weeks left, and enough stamina (it's a heck of a long drive, but richly rewarding if you get a nice day), don't take my word for it...
Just near Lairg is were we stayed and saw the pine martens we also saw salmon jumping at the Spey falls about five miles from Lairg.
I agree with you it was just beautiful around there.
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Fantastic photos, I just had a look at some of the latest ones - well done, Joan. I heard a legend that Pitlochry was where Pontius Pilate was born.
I went there to see the little Pitlochry theatre which (in the late 70s anyway) was quite a thriving and successful thing, attracting famous actors.
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I went there to see the little Pitlochry theatre which (in the late 70s anyway) was quite a thriving and successful thing, attracting famous actors.
I used to take my mother to a play there every year for her birthday, until she could no longer leave her house, Malc. It's a cracking venue (and not that little - several hundred seats, I reckon) in a beautiful location, still thriving, and indeed still attracting many fine professional actors. Not bad for a theatre that literally started life as a tent after World War Two.
It's also one of our stop-off points on our annual Aviemore pilgrimage.
(http://www.tiraluinn.co.uk/Images/theatre.jpg)
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And I'll show you mine, if you show me yours.
Even for such an enticement as this, I'd advise you to stick to the picture of a vulture! :o
Ah, but you've spoiled that image now, Vult, by revealing that you are Chinese, and I'm lacking the ability to visualise an oriental scavenger bird (how I ever became a cartoonist, I'll never know). I'm sure whatever you were to post would be far easier on the eye than anything I have to offer, Vult. Don't be shy!
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I'm off to Glasgow tomorrow - according to my niece, the shopping is much better there than Edinburgh. The weather looks like it's going to be better too. Wish me luck.
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Good luck, Joan. I hope it turns out well.
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Good luck, Joan. I hope it turns out well.
Smooth talking b.... (What's he after, Joan?)
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Good luck, Joan. I hope it turns out well.
Smooth talking b.... (What's he after, Joan?)
Absolutely no idea, Peeps. Could it possibly be that he's just being nice?
The weather in Glasgow was worse than in Edinburgh, of course. Didn't matter much though. What did matter was that I got to Glasgow Queen Street station and thought "Should have listened to sis's directions." Had no idea which way to go! Somehow, my nose for all things retail led me in the right direction (could have been the signs to Buchanan Street subway which helped as well). Pretty much the same shops, but a lack of tourists, replaced by gruff Glaswegians. Much better than tacky Princes Street in Edinburgh - anyone been there recently? It's dreadful.
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Been doing a bit more of Scotland in the last few days. Apart from Glasgow, I've been across to the West Coast to visit Saltcoats, Ardrossan and Stevenston. My mother's family comes from there, so we went over so I could see some things relevant to them. I haven't been there since I was about 5, so it was quite interesting for me. According to my sister it hasn't changed much, Malc, although where my family lived in Stevenston has changed quite a bit, not for the better either. Unfortunately, it wasn't very clear, so I didn't get any pictures of Arran and the Clyde.
Stayed at Prestwick for the night. Warning - if staying overnight on a Saturday in Scotland, have breakfast at your hotel! We decided to look for somewhere else and by 11 am on Sunday and 55 miles further on, everything was still shut. By that time, I just needed a hit of coffee, never mind the food. Anyway, back to our meanderings. We decided to drive down to our old home town of Castle Douglas in Galloway on our way to lunch with our aunt near Dumfries. Now there's a part of Scotland worth seeing which not many Scots visit. It's very picturesque - rolling hills, forests, lochs, etc.
Most of the photos I've taken recently have been of family and friends, but I did walk up to Balerno reservoir the other day and just had to take photos of the reflections - it was absolutely still.
http://users.tpg.com.au/pdcs01/UK2008/reflectionbalernores1.jpg (http://users.tpg.com.au/pdcs01/UK2008/reflectionbalernores1.jpg)
http://users.tpg.com.au/pdcs01/UK2008/reflectionbalernores2.jpg (http://users.tpg.com.au/pdcs01/UK2008/reflectionbalernores2.jpg)
The hill is one of the Pentland Hills.
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Joan, my family still live in Saltcoats and Stevenston, my mum lives in Adams Avenue, Saltcoats, my brother Clive stays at Campbell Ave, Stevenston.
They're not the most salubrious areas, I'll grant you, but we McGookins are common as muck.
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Joan - do you realise how close to Bute you actually got?
I went over to Arran yesterday (from Rothesay, on The Waverley paddle steamer). It's good to get away from Bute now and again.
Nice pics, by the way.
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Joan, my family still live in Saltcoats and Stevenston, my mum lives in Adams Avenue, Saltcoats, my brother Clive stays at Campbell Ave, Stevenston.
They're not the most salubrious areas, I'll grant you, but we McGookins are common as muck.
Oh dear, Malc, I get the feeling that you know the history. I wasn't referring to the areas when I said it had changed, it just made us sad to see the house no longer there and the grounds so changed. We used to play there as kids - my sister was more affected than I was because she remembers more, being 5 years older.
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Joan - do you realise how close to Bute you actually got?
I went over to Arran yesterday (from Rothesay, on The Waverley paddle steamer). It's good to get away from Bute now and again.
Yes, Peeps, I do. I've never been, but had friends at school who stayed with relations there. When I was little, we used to go to Dunoon, just up the water, quite a lot because my Aunt lived there. The area was another one of our possible trips, but just haven't been able to fit it in.
Never been to Arran either - my sister was quite shocked. My parents honeymooned there.
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Hope I'm not boring you all stupid with my updates - find it quite good to write down what I've been doing. Today I went into town and visited the "Impressionism & Scotland" exhibition at the National Gallery. If you have any interest in impressionist paintings, this is well worth a visit.
Tomorrow, I'm meeting an old friend and we're going to wander down the Royal Mile, with the eventual purpose of visiting the new Scottish Parliament. So quite a cultural couple of days.
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I haven't heard of either of those pubs...
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I haven't heard of either of those pubs...
That reminds me of the time a few years ago my husband, I and the two kids were driving down the Mile and I was saying "Oh, there's the World's End, there's the Shakespeare, there's the Yellow Carvel" and hubby remarked, "Note how your mother spent her youth in Edinburgh, children - the only places of note were the pubs." ..0
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Wasn't "The Covenanter" around there? I seem to recall drinking in there with some guys from the C.I.D. once. Long, and innocent, story.
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Who were you grassing-up, Roger? :o
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M---e.
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:D Yes, The Covenanters - there were several more, but I couldn't remember the names. I could only make it about half way down on a pub crawl.
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M---e.
You were grassing yourself up? Now that's real integrity!
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Stayed at Prestwick for the night. Warning - if staying overnight on a Saturday in Scotland, have breakfast at your hotel! We decided to look for somewhere else and by 11 am on Sunday and 55 miles further on, everything was still shut.
Can I just point out that breakfast is available throughout Scotland from 6.30am, including a very decent coffee at a chain of convenient restaurants with the highly appropriate Caledonian name of McDonald's. I apologise for the late arrival of this announcement - being a native Glaswegian, I was a bit busy being gruff. :P ;)
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Oh God, my foot seems to be permanently in my mouth at the moment! :-[ I love gruff, TT - I was using the term affectionately. Honest!!
Not a McDonalds in sight - believe me, we looked.
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;D None taken, Joan - honest! I emigrated from Glasgow to Perth (via Fife) when I was two - before the gruffness set in.
There's one at Ayr, apparently.
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Where?
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Where?
HE SAID "THERE'S ONE AT AYR"
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Where in Ayr?
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Where in Ayr?
Hang on, I'll ask. Tarks... where in Ayr?
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Where?
HE SAID "THERE'S ONE AT AYR"
WHAT!!
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Oh dear. I suspect Mince'll be along shortly berating you for not using a question-mark. ..0
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Oh dear. I suspect Mince'll be along shortly berating you for not using a question-mark. ..0
I gave MY question marks the day off.
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Sorry - I've been a bit busy.
Here it is....
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa202/sketch1959/mcdonalds.jpg)
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This is the one, Joan, (from a more sensible angle).
(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1095/1433447045_ae8cfb6e04.jpg?v=0)
I suppose you want to see inside too. Okay...
(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1314/1433471969_36243310e5.jpg?v=0)
Oh, hang on... that was Ayr in Queensland! Sorry.
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Tarks is that you in the doorway scratching your head.
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It was a bit of an Ayr-brained scheme, I suppose...
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Tarks is that you in the doorway scratching your head.
It can't be - that person's walking at the same time! ;D
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Tarks is that you in the doorway scratching your head.
If it is, it's not my head I'm scratching.
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Tarks is that you in the doorway scratching your head.
It can't be - that person's walking at the same time! ;D
Cheek! I'll have you know I can...hang on....breathe out...where was I?.....
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;D ;D ;D ;D
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Vulch - what's happened to your avatar? It's gorn.
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I thought the guy in McDonald's looked like Ross from Friends. I bet he's a good Schwimmer.
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That started something - still don't know where in Ayr, though - could be anywhere, TT, even Queensland! :D
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Vulch - what's happened to your avatar? It's gorn.
I've never had an avatar. I can't seem to find one of Terry Wogan!
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Here you are, Vulch, help yourself.
(http://www.nigelsutherland.co.uk/terrywogan.jpg)
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Thanks ever so much, Peeps. :-*
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Is he still around?
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Is he still a round what?
You're more than welcome, Vulch. I did find another piccy of Terry in some moleskin trousers, but I didn't think that would have been appropriate for a family forum.
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Is he still a round what?
You're more than welcome, Vulch. I did find another piccy of Terry in some moleskin trousers, but I didn't think that would have been appropriate for a family forum.
I HAVE seen it all before!
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That started something - still don't know where in Ayr, though - could be anywhere, TT, even Queensland! :D
Dear, oh, dear - am I the only one around here with the technical skills to use a McDonald's restaurant locator? (http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/asp/locator/index.asp)
This may be more of a help, Joan - perfect situation for fresh burger meat...not that I'm actually insinuating nuthin'....
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa202/sketch1959/mcdonalds2.jpg)
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That's a really weird airport just underneath, Tarquin. Is that Prestwick?
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For once, Peepsie, I'm not actually sure if you're joking or not. But then it's the middle of the night and I've only just woken up so that I can get AW to her flight in time.
Back soon!
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Well, we missed it - not that I'm a McDonalds fan - far from it, but at least they serve coffee and something close to food.
If I'm not mistaken, that's a double negative, TT. Not quite sure what you're insinuating - bit slow this morning.
Off to New Abbey on the Solway Coast this morning to visit a relative.
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I'm not sure if Peeps is joking or not, but that's not an airport. It's Ayr racecourse, if I'm not mistaken, scene of many a happy time in my youth.
Not on the course per se, in the function suites.
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So it is! I've only ever seen the entrance gates. I've been to Perth Racecourse. A stunning setting.
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Now I get the burger meat reference! ;D
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To the top left is Ayr United's ground. I'm not even going to Google it, I do believe I went there once, but it was that unmemorable I won't swear to it.
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You could be lucky, Malc. Look what's just come on the market... Link (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7600865.stm)