Still in Arbroath

Thursday 30th August

Although I still have a few days left in Scotland, today Kylie and I leave Arbroath.   Our time here has been wonderfull and (on the whole!) the weather has been very kind to us.   After Saturday in the rain in Edinburgh, Sunday was a beautiful day - cool but dry and often sunny as well.    My cousin Yvonne and her husband Andy picked us up in the morning and we set off for Pitlochry, via Perth.   Kylie had her photo taken beside the Welcome to Perth sign (she hails from Perth in W.A.)   Via Aberfeldie and Dunkeld we drove through the lovely forested Perthshire countryside and had lunch at the top of Loch Fiskally, which is a big hydro electric scheme.    There is a ladder for the salmon to "climb" to get past the dam wall and after a lot of intense scrutiny we finally saw some salmon leaping!!   We drove home through some more rugged countryside, over Moulin Moor, where the heather was actually coming out and turning the hills a soft shade of purple.

On Monday (in the rain again) we drove up to Ballater on Royal Deeside where we spent Monday night with my friend Connie in the Hilton timeshare resort there.   Connie comes from Neerim in Gippsland and it was so coincidental that we were both to be in almost the same part of Scotland at the same time.   Tuesday was again a better day so we drove the short distance to Balmoral - but although we had our photo taken with the guard on the castle gates, we saw no royalty!!   Did go into Crathie Church though and it was a lovely, old, typical Scottish church, with lots of wood and quite plain.   There was soft organ music playing all the time which was very restful - and also a souvenier stall in front of what I presume were the seats for the Royal Family when they attend.   After lunch with another old friend who drove down from Fraserburgh to catch up with us, Kylie and I set off to drive back to Arbroath.   On the way we had a quick look at Dunotter Castle which is the castle used as the inspiration (or whatever!!) for the new movie Brave.    Wednesday brought the rain again so we just went to Dundee for a bit of shopping and a quick look at the ship Discovery, moored at the docks.   This is the ship that Scott used on his ill-fated trip to the Antartic.     I had my last wander around the streets of Arbroath, revisiting old haunts and reliving many many memories.  Tonight we are out to dinner to celebrate a great week of nostalgia for me - and for Kylie, discovering where her ancestors all came from.   Thanks heaps to Yvonne & Andy for taking us to Pitlochry last Sunday, and to Connie and also Betty for the time in Ballater.    Next stop Dalbeattie!

These photos following are all out of order - but see the captions to see where they are.

Glamis Castle

RMS Discovery in Dundee

River Tay at Dunkeld

Connie & I with the police guard at Balmoral

River Dee at Ballater

River Esk in Glen Esk

Arbroath Abbey - The Roond "O"

In the Scottish Highlands

Scottish Highlands

Loch Lee at the top of Glen Esk

Glen Esk & River Esk

Loch Lee again!!

Kylie & I - last dinner in Arbroath

Cottages in Pitlochry

Dunotter Castle

Arbroath Harbour

Heather on the Hills - Glen Esk

Typical street in the fishing end of Arbroath

More heather on the hills!

Our B&B in Arbroath

Perthshire scenery

Cliffs at Auchmithie

More cliffs at Auchmithie

Tony Lisa & I with statue of Peter Pan in Kirriemuir

Street in Kirriemuir

Typical street in Edinburgh

Arbroath !!!

Saturday 25th August.

Have had a lot of internet connection problems this week - actually typed up all my activities but then the internet went down and I lost it!!   So here we go again.   Limnos was just wonderful and I can't thank Takis and Julia enough for allowing me to stay there with them.   Tony and Lisa really put themselves out to ensure I had a lovely time and thanks to them, too.    The days were all hot and sunny and the nights balmy and warm.    To describe Limnos in a few words is impossible, but imagine white sandy beaches, sparkling deep blue ocean, cloudless blue skies, dry and sometimes barren rocky countryside, lots of people (apart from siesta time!), dozens of tavernas all bustling with life ....... the list goes on.    In Limnos the shops usually open between 8.30 am and 9.00 am and are quite crowded during the morning, especially in "Souvenier Alley" which doesn't only sell things to the tourists but also general shops for the local population.   However around 1.00 pm every day they all close their doors and head home for lunch, which is usually around 2.30 pm and then Limnos slumbers in the hot afternoon sun.    Only a few tourists can be found on the beach or in the tavernas.    Around 6.00 the island starts to come to life again and by 7.00 pm the shops are once again open and people starting to appear.   The evening meal is usually eaten around 10.00 pm to 11.00 pm and by this time the port area is thronged with people, with mopeds darting in and out along the narrow streets, and with cars which seem to have no intention of keeping road rules - as long as you put your hazard lights on, you can drive or park anywhere!!    Tony and Lisa organised for us to go on a sunset cruise one night and this was fabulous.   With no clouds in the sky, there was not the dramatic formations we have in Melbourne, however the sun was a glowing ball of red gold and sank slowly over the horizon - words can't describe it.    We also went on a drive around part of the island and through small sleepy villages clinging precariously to the mountain sides, with unbelievably narrow, twisting streets (one car width wide).  

Unfortunately this idyllic existence came to an end and on Wednesday we were up before the larks (do they have larks on Limnos??) and headed for the airport for the short flight to Athens (in a prop.jet aircraft).   A long and boring day spent waiting around Athens airport and then we were off on our flight to Heathrow and our connecting (delayed!) flight to Edinburgh where my brother David met us, along with his partner Brone and his daughter Kylie.    In two cars we made the trip up to Arbroath and were very glad to tumble into bed at our lovely B&B which, as Kylie said, is straight out of the Antiques Roadshow.

The next morning was spent exploring the old ruins of the Abbey, wandering around the harbour (and seeing how the traditional Smokies are smoked).    A trip out to Auchmithie (a tiny village which was once a thriving fishing area) and a walk along part of the cliff path took up the rest of the morning and after some lunch we set off for Kirriemuir - and my favourite lollie shop to get my Starry Rock and Scottish Tablet (my two favourite pieces of confectionary).   We got the opportunity to put up our brollies here but it was only a passing shower so after admiring the statue of Peter Pan in the main square, and having a look at  the birthplace of J M Barrie (unfortunately we were too late to go inside) we drove back to Arbroath to go out for dinner in a small restaurant in Auchmithie.  

Yesterday we were up bright and early to another hearty breakfast made by our very attentive host in the B&B and then we were off to Glamis Castle for a tour (and I discovered that although it is a common belief that Macbeth killed King Duncan there - this happened 300 years before the castle was built!!!)   Next stop was up in Glen Esk, where I visited on many many occasions before we left for Australia, and we walked up to Loch Lee at the top of the Glen.   (Bruce:   Tony didn't see "Nessie" there either!!   Funny about that!)   The heather on the hills was not quite out in full but there were a few patches we could see.  

Coming back to Arbroath we met up with my cousin and her husband for afternoon coffee down at the Harbour.    How lovely it has been to show Tony Lisa and Kylie around my home town.  

Today Kylie drove us all early to  Edinburgh airport to drop off Tony & Lisa for their return flight to Oz via Athens and Singapore and then we spent the day in Edinburgh, visiting the National Gallery for an art exhibition (Van Gough to Kandinsky) and then having a tour of the royal yacht Brittania, which was just fabulous.   (Ken:  I took some nautical type photos to show to you when I get back - of turbines and engine rooms and so on!)

On the  beach!!

Limnos beach

Lunch with the family in a Taverna

Statue of Maroula - a Limnian heroine

Another beach at Limnos

Courtyard at the house

Limnian scenery

Tony & Lisa in Souvenier Alley- about midnight!!

Cost of petrol - in Euros!

Souvenier alley in the mid-afternoon!!!

The port area at Limnos

The boat we took the sunset trip on

Tavernas in the port area

The port area again

Another view of the port

Limnian coastline from the boat

Sunset on the Aegian.

So now I am up to date and will try to post some photos for you to look at.     Heard you have had lots of rain and I have to admit that today we too had lots of rain!!!

London -- and Limnos!

On Thursday Jean took me to Kew Gardens where we spent most of the day.   Such a wonderful setting and plants from all over the world.   Magnificent trees, and such soft green lawns - like velvet.   In the evening we went out for dinner at a very nice restaurant, so ending another lovely day.   But today (for about fifteen minutes!) I did get to wear my rainjacket and put up my brolly, but then the sun came out and it was quite hot wandering around the wonderful garden beds.   We stayed overnight in London at the Lensbury Club, of which Jean and Angus are members.   They do a marvellous spread for breakfast!!   We wandered on Friday morning all along a towpath along the side of the Thames up to Ham House which is a very imposing Jacobean house but unfortunately it was closed - so we ambled back to the Lensbury and had some lunch out on the terrace, with the Thames in the background.   Before dropping me at my hotel at Gatwick Jean took me to Wisely Gardens which is run by the Royal Horticultural Society.    I am stunned by all the beautiful garden settings here - and although this year this part of England has had rain, they too have been suffering a long period of unusual dryness.

I was up at 4.00 am this morning so I could walk from the hotel into the Terminal for my 5.00 am check-in for the flight to Limnos, which was smooth and gave me a magnificent view of all of Europe (Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia then Greece) before descending to the airport on the island of Limnos (or Lemnos as it is also spelled).    Tony & Lisa were there to meet me, along with Lisa's father (Takis) who drove us home to his house.   TheTh scenery here is stunning - and the sea is crystal clear and sparkling blue.    The countryside is very dry but contrasts beautifully with the blue of the water.   The weather here is very hot and most people have a siesta for the afternoon, coming to life again in the evenings.   However, Tony & Lisa drove me along the coast a little bit where we had a cool drink in a lovely Taverna right on the beachfront.   This particular beach was a stony beach but the one here at Limnos is lovely white sand.   Needless to say - the sky is a clear blue and the sun is hot!!

Kew Palace in Kew Gardens

Boats waiting to go through the Teddington Lock on the Thames

A quiet morning on the Thames - fishing & sailing

Barges about to go through the Lock

Red Hot Pokers - even in Kew Gardens!

and Agapanthus, too.

One of the stunning garden beds at Kew

For Bruce - a waterfall in Kew Gardens!

A bit foggy - seen through the window of a Hot House

Yes - I actually climbed all the steps and walked all around the Tree Walk!!

Another for Bruce - reflections this time!

The house at Wisely Gardens

Limnos from the air

Tony & Lisa on the terrace

Lisa and I at the Taverna

View from the Taverna

Another part of the Taverna

Limnos coastline (from the car window)