We had an uneventful flight on
a Chines airplane from Dublin to Edinburgh. Pleased to be in Scotland but a
little worrisome as to why a Chinese carrier should be diverting from the
unlikely port of Dublin to somewhere more unlikely in Edinburgh. A Chinese local
in the municipal pipe band may one day happen!
Edinburgh we have visited
previously but it was nice to be back among some notable land marks. The castle
dominates the skyline as we wandered the city just people watching and browsing
souvenir shops. I enter these shops with every intention of making a purchase,
determined to buy something I want but repeatedly exit without goods. Then I
get home and see a small space on the sideboard or a gap on the wall and say to
myself ”…I should have bought that wee treasure in Scotland…”.
The city was gearing up for the Edinburgh Festival but sadly we had to move on.
St. Andrews was not our
destination for golf although with the amount of money I had in my wallet they
may have let me play half of the 1st fairway. No sign of Tiger in
the town but I don’t think he strays to far from his osteopath. We were in St Andrews
for a Sinclair family wedding. Helen, the brides Mum, is a first cousin of
Kathleen, Diana’s Mum, so the relationship is quite close and one that has been
strengthened over the last 20 years with the next generations visiting both
countries as well. We rented a BnB with 2 of Diana’s cousins, and Grant who was
husband to one of them.
They had also all
travelled from New Zealand to be at Moira and Alan's wedding. They are McKecknies’ so
Scottish and while Grant did wear a kilt to the wedding he wore a family
affiliated Gunn clan tartan. Fortunately the sun shone brightly and a wonderful
day was had by all including the brides mother. It had been an extremely
stressful week leading up to the big day (but when are they not?) as Helen had
been hospitalised for a day and had only been released 24 hours prior to the
ceremony. We had garden setting vows by a Humanist (that wasn’t someone wearing
no clothes!), lots of food, met some amazing people and a “wee dram” for those inclined, then a live band
and dancing.
Following the wedding Diana
and I travelled further north beyond the Loch Ness monster as far as Wick in
Caithness to meet up with more Sinclair family. We stayed with George and Shona
Sinclair near Lybster, a cousin twice removed (and twice returned it would
seem) and enjoyed 1st class hospitality. We dined with extended
family, walked in the countryside, checked out the Wick Historical Museum and
did some family history research.
 |
| With George at Lybster Harbour |
After 3 nights up there we
headed back to Dundee yesterday via the Culloden Field, the scene of a brutal
battle in 1746. In the space of one hour 2000 men were dead much of it by way
of hand to hand combat. The battle is quite well documented and there are many
relics recovered with the use of metal detectors and enthusiastic historians. A
cairn is erected on the site and a small cottage, several centuries old
remains.
We wanted to be back by Sunday so that we could attend the Perth
Highland Games just an hour away. Alas, the field is soaking wet underfoot and
too dangerous for the “tossing of the caber” event, or any other event for the
matter, so the Games have been cancelled for 2019.
We have two more days left in
Scotland before we begin our journey home. First we fly back to Dublin to catch
our Cathay Pacific flight that includes a stopover in Hong Kong. It will be a
fairly long day by the time we get back to 88 Alfred Street but as always we
have had a wonderful time.
