After our weekend in London with my parents and Granny at the beginning of April, they went off on a grand tour of Britain, before arriving in Suffolk on April 19 (see, I'm behind). Karin picked them up from the train, and brought them to Quilters Haven. I showed them around the shop, before heading back to Bromeswell. We spent the next few days exploring Suffolk, including a road trip with Bean to some interesting places near by-- and some exceptionally good fish and chips. We also did some planning for the Sewing Centre, Rocky and my new job starting in August.
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| Mom, Granny and I near my house in Bromeswell |
On Sunday, after 3 days in Suffolk, Mom, Dad, Granny and I took a flight to Glasgow where my dad's dad's cousins daughter Gill (to clear up-- my dad and Gill have the same great grandparents, and we were taken to her house in Barrhead, where we would spend the next week.
Monday we took the first of many day trips. Gill took us to the station where we took a train to Dundee. Jessie, Gill's mom and my Papa Kerr's cousin, picked us up there and we took the scenic route back to Barrhead. First we stopped in Monifieth, where we visited Frank, another cousin of Jessie and my Grandpa's. Then we headed to Friocheim (pronounced Freek-um) and the Border Farm were Peter Kerr, my Great Grandpa was born in 1903, and where he went to school. We were able to take a look around the farm a bit, thanks to Jessie talking to the people who live there now. We then had lunch (more fish and chips) before a quick stop in Forfar, where Jessie lives now. We then went to Neil's, who is the son of Jessie's sister, near Methvren. He gave us a delightful tour of his farm, before we headed back to Gills.
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| Jessie, Dad and I in front of the house at Border Farm, where Peter Kerr was born. |
Tuesday we had a bit of a "lie in" as they say here, while Gill went to work for the morning. She had the afternoon off, and we headed up to the Robert Burns Cottage and Culzean Castle. Unfortunately Culzean castle was closed when we got there, but we still were able to walk around the grounds, which were absolutely stunning. We even managed to find a beach! Dad and I went for a wade in the very very very cold water! After this we had dinner at the Turnberry Golf Course, a reasonably famous golf course, and completely and absolutely gorgeous view. We could see the ocean, a light house, and the beautiful golf course out the window from where we were sitting! We got home very late that night, as we tried to stop for ice-cream, but the ice-cream place was closed and we got a flat tire on the way there!
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| Dad and I swoop in for an attack on Mom |
The next day we headed into the highlands, where we had a very quick stop at Loch Lomond (where I spotted some very very young ducks who couldn't even swim yet- the small waves just pushed them back on shore!) before heading to Inveraray jail and Inveraray castle. The castle was particularly interesting as it is still inhabited, and is almost a museum to the people who currently live there-- their wedding dress, photos of his elephant polo championship (yes, elephant polo), and a variety of other photo's and mementoes. We stopped for lunch at the Loch Fyne Oyster Company for some seafood before heading back to Gills.
Thursday our first stop was the New Lanark Woollen Mill, a mill that in it's time was very progressive, and is now a very interesting (and beautiful) tourist attraction and museum. The mill is in a valley near a spectacular waterfall- though probably it was more spectacular when 90% of the water wasn't being diverted around it to create water power. We then headed to Roslyn Chapel, the chapel where the final scenes of the Da Vinci Code took place. Inside it is spectacularly carved, with thousands of different sculptures in the walls and throughout the chapel.
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| Dad, Me, Gill, Jessie, and Granny in front of Gill's house. |
Friday was our last full day in Glasgow, and Gill had to go back to work, so Mom, Dad, Granny and I headed to the Kelingrove art museum, which was a surprisingly interesting combination of art gallery and museum. We learned a lot about Scottish history there.
Saturday we all had to head in our separate directions. Mom, Dad and Granny got on their train to Manchester for their flight home at 10:10, and just moments after they got on their train, my train home was cancelled! Luckily Gillian and Jessie were still at the train station, and we were able to figure out how to get me home.
Luckily I didn't have to go to long without seeing my family members- the day my parents left Scotland, my sisters arrived! I wouldn't see them for a week-- but the story of that will be soon (like, really soon. As soon as I can type it.) So later days! (or, later today!)
Kathleen.
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