Said goodbye to a tearful Catherine Carlin, always a sentimental lady. Went to Glasgow airport, returned our rental car and boarded our plane for the flight home. I was fortunate enough to get a window seat and the view I got will stay with me the rest of my life. As we took off and gained altitude, the plane banked right and wheeled over the Highlands and islands giving me a breathtaking view of the hills now mostly brown with bracken, broken up by lochs, inlets and patches of green. I promised Scotland - I will be back.
Nine hour flight home. Flew into 'strong headwinds' - a gentler way of saying we were fighting an Atlantic hurricane!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Saturday, September 27, 2008
I was asked what I wanted to do with our last full day in Scotland so I suggested going to the seaside somewhere, as I knew it wasn't far. We all took a nice tour along the Ayrshire coast, looked out at the island of Arran, saw the famous Turnberry golf course and others, had lunch at a cafe attached to a craft/farmers' market and stopped at Maidens. Walked along the Maidens pier and then down to a little beach where I picked up a souvenier stone for my garden. (This was later confiscated as a possible weapon at the airport!) A very nice day for a seaside drive.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Catherine arrived in my room at 7:30 a.m. with a cup of tea which was a nice surprise. The plan for today is to see Mum's cousin, Douglas McGregor, who is 88 years old but has driven up from home in Moorecambe, England 6 hours away, to see us! He even has a cell phone. They are to arrive here about 1:00 p.m.
Had a great visit with Douglas and his lovely wife, Dorothy, a sweet, tiny doll of a woman who looks rather frail with Parkinson's and other problems - Douglas just dotes on her. Douglas, luckily, is fit and bright and seems much younger than his years. His hair is still black. Douglas is the son of Angus McGregor, my great grandmother's eldest brother.
Had a great visit with Douglas and his lovely wife, Dorothy, a sweet, tiny doll of a woman who looks rather frail with Parkinson's and other problems - Douglas just dotes on her. Douglas, luckily, is fit and bright and seems much younger than his years. His hair is still black. Douglas is the son of Angus McGregor, my great grandmother's eldest brother.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Left Forest Mill about 10:00 a.m. Took motorway straight through Glasgow, which wasn't nearly as scary as I'd thought it would be! Arrived at West Kilbride in Ayrshire much sooner than we had anticipated. Going to stay with Catherine Carlin, Dad's cousin. Her mother was my grandfather's sister, Catherine FLETCHER. Catherine seems to be doing pretty well. She has a nice, spacious 3 bedroom flat on Orchard St. Had some lunch after which I took a walk downtown to see the shops. Many craft shops but mostly designer stuff as opposed to souveniers. Had dinner at 7:00 p.m. but I could not eat - not sure why, maybe I'm coming down with something. Chatted until 9:00 p.m. then I went to bed as I am just so tired out.
Mum phoned Mia, twin sister to Mum's old school mate, Topsy, to arrange a visit but Mia is too ill with a flu to have any visitors.
Mum phoned Mia, twin sister to Mum's old school mate, Topsy, to arrange a visit but Mia is too ill with a flu to have any visitors.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Got up today still feeling really weird. I think I've officially had enough holiday now! Just wanted to go home to my own home, Ron and the kids now. Also, this part of Scotland is not mine - might as well be a foreign country. As Valerie Dunbar's song says, it's "Always Argyll."
Eileen made us a fabulous breakfast - sausage, bacon, egg, toast, potato scone, juice and tea! Got on the road about 10:00 a.m. Back down to Kincardine Bridge. Back towards Stirling on motorway, then off at Exit 10. Took a B road over to the A road just west of Stirling. Took a left toward Stirling, but got off at a road marked 'Camusbarron and Touch Business Centre'. Followed this up and around, through the village of Camusbarron, and out in the countryside came upon a road where an old military tank range used to be. There are still signs there referring to munitions testing. A gate there, up to Shiel Brae Farm, where Dad lived as a boy until 1936, was padlocked. Nearby was a parked police car and we could see several 4x4 SUVs running over the trails. We asked a policeman about the locked gate but he knew nothing of it or Sheil Brae beyond it. Next we went to nearby Berry Hill Farm to inquire but found nobody at home. Undeterred, Dad decided to try Murray Hall Farm. It used to belong to McLarens and my grandfather had worked as a shepherd for Lawrence McLaren years ago. Happily, turned out that James McLaren, grand nephew of Lawrence, is now the farmer and they still own Sheil Brae today. First, he offered info. only but then said he would go up and unlock the gate for us. After doing that, McLaren decided he would take us up the road with his 4x4 truck (as the road is nearly impassable) but we would have to hike down as he had farm work to attend to. But once up there, he must have become fascinated with Dad's stories about Shiel Brae because he stayed around and then drove us back down to our car again! We exchanged info. He said he would like to see old pics that Dad has of Shiel Brae. Five years ago, the house was up but the roof was off. Today, the house is 2/3 tumbled down. I asked how old it might be and I was told 300-400 years old!
After leaving Sheil Brae, we went into St. Ninians for gas. Got lost a couple of times - those roundabouts are murder! Back at Eileen's at 2:00 p.m. Checked e-mail. Eileen made us tea and currant scones. She is getting a roast beef dinner ready. Awaiting the arrival of her sister, my cousin, Mairi, whom I vaguely remember from my early childhood in Scotland.
Had a great time with Mairi and her husband Frank Nelson. They live in Godalming, England. Very friendly people. Had a big roast beef dinner. Later on, chatted with Ian and Margaret online. Bed about 11:30 p.m.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Drove away from my beloved Argyll this morning. Went down to Crarae Garden just past Minard and stopped at Kilevin Cemetery to take pictures of family graves. Photographed Camp Quebec, now a caravan park, at Inverary, on the way through. My good friend Elly Daniels' father was with the Canadian 48th Highlanders and had trained here in WW2. Past Inverary, stopped at Kilmalieu Cemetery. Dad's McKinnon grandparents are buried there but Dad could not find their grave on his last visit (2003?) there, but we found it this time. Carried on to Arrochar and stopped at the cemetery there too, where my great great great great grandfather, George Hamilton, is buried. Then had a lunch of scampi and chips, tried the Bulmers cider too, at Arrochar Hotel.
Onwards now to Stirling, then south to Kincardine Bridge. Then headed north to Forest Mill. The very first house on the left, Smith Cottage, is where my cousin Eileen (McGregor) Gilchrist lives with her husband, Stewart. Eileen was at home to greet us. Having a nice visit and being fed really well! Nice dinner of roast chicken, potatoes, cauliflower and a pear tart for dessert. Eileen has a well stocked bar including 2 flavoured ciders (Jacques??) that I had never heard of. Tried the red one - which must have been black currant - delicious! Went to bed at midnight after e-mailing the kids.
Monday, September 22, 2008
After breakfast, set off for Oban, along the A816. Passed Tibertich (try saying cheaper-steesch!)where Bessie Johnston's New Zealander husband worked/rested during WW1. We believe they met there sometime when Valentine Biggar was recovering from his war injuries.
Arrived in Oban at 10:30 a.m. Parked at the former school at the top of Stevenson St. Went to lots of shops along George St. mainly and bought souvenier t-shirts etc. for all the family back home. Had lunch at McTavish's restaurant again. We were going to eat in the Columba Hotel but could not find the door! Returned to our caravan about 2:00 p.m. What a beautiful warm, sunny day here today. It was so foggy this morning.
I sat outside most of the afternoon with my book. It was far too nice to be indoors. At 5:30 p.m. we set off for Balibeg, on the other side of Lochgilphead, to see the Kennedys. Found John Jr. and Niall at home. Michael was with his grandfather, Johnnnie MacVicar, in Lochgilphead. Catherine and John were away in Glasgow at a hospital where Catherine was having genetic counselling as their have been about a dozen cases of breast and ovarian cancer in the McKinnon (my paternal grandmother)side over 2 or 3 generations. This is very likely the BRAC1 or BRAC2 gene. I have been told to seek genetic counselling too but have not done so yet. Catherine and John arrived home at 8:00 p.m. and we had a great visit with them as always. Catherine gave me a Rangers scarf for Patrick. Returned to our caravan at 10:30 p.m.
Leaving Argyll tomorrow.
Arrived in Oban at 10:30 a.m. Parked at the former school at the top of Stevenson St. Went to lots of shops along George St. mainly and bought souvenier t-shirts etc. for all the family back home. Had lunch at McTavish's restaurant again. We were going to eat in the Columba Hotel but could not find the door! Returned to our caravan about 2:00 p.m. What a beautiful warm, sunny day here today. It was so foggy this morning.
I sat outside most of the afternoon with my book. It was far too nice to be indoors. At 5:30 p.m. we set off for Balibeg, on the other side of Lochgilphead, to see the Kennedys. Found John Jr. and Niall at home. Michael was with his grandfather, Johnnnie MacVicar, in Lochgilphead. Catherine and John were away in Glasgow at a hospital where Catherine was having genetic counselling as their have been about a dozen cases of breast and ovarian cancer in the McKinnon (my paternal grandmother)side over 2 or 3 generations. This is very likely the BRAC1 or BRAC2 gene. I have been told to seek genetic counselling too but have not done so yet. Catherine and John arrived home at 8:00 p.m. and we had a great visit with them as always. Catherine gave me a Rangers scarf for Patrick. Returned to our caravan at 10:30 p.m.
Leaving Argyll tomorrow.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)