Lochgilphead, Scotland!

I honestly felt like I was in Minnesota. And the weather acted in much the same way.

Every time my friends and I would make the long trip to the Boundary Waters [five hours to get to the point where you pull your canoe off of the top of your car and start paddling ... for another five hours], we would inevitably experience challenging weather. It was raining, so we were stuck in the tent with our books. Or it was hot, so we would stand in the lake up to our ears with our hats on. Or the flies were bad, so we would stand in the lake up to our ears with our hats on. Or it was hot and raining, so we would try to take a nap and ignore the sticky weather. And as always, there was always one beautiful day ... in hind site, the only one we ever remembered, that kept us going back, again and again.

In the case of my first trip to Scotland, the day I was driving up ... all 465 miles and 10 hours in the car, the weather was absolutely gorgeous! Unbelievable. Unfortunately, this is not the day I took pictures! I was driving! You'll just have to take my word for it. And after making a trip to London the day before, I was wiped out. The dogs and I were sound asleep by 900pm, and when we awoke. It was raining. It never stopped.

Nonetheless, I really liked it. I stayed in the Allt-Na-Craig House B&B. The dogs and I had the Coach House to ourselves. What a great set up. I found a trail just a couple of houses down the road that lead straight up the hill ... did I mention we were in the Western Highlands? Anyway, we found a trail called, 39 Steps,that lead up the hill and ambled through the wood, past crashing streams, through recently cut forest, down logging roads, and with nice views along the way of Loch Fyne ["loch", by the way, is Celtic for lake]. Not sure who was counting the steps as by my count, there were 83 for the first hill we encountered!

Speaking of the Celtics, a little history. The Celtic Scots arrived from Ireland in the 4th century, bringing with them Gaelic language and Christian religion. England seized Scotland around 1286. Then wars for independence broke out and you would now know some of the heroes caught on film such as William Wallace [Mel Gibson in Braveheart]. In 1540-ish, Mary, Queen of Scots, was sent to France to marry [what gives-?] and in that time, Catholicism collapsed. The Scottish Parliament denied the Pope's authority and established the Presbyterian Church.

In 1997, after World Wars, Labour governments, industrialisation, and famine, Scottish voters supported the first elections for the new Scottish Parliament.

Okay, back to my trip. I decided on Sunday that since I was so close to Oban [36 miles], I needed to dart up there. "Darting" is a word that should have long since left my vocabulary. It took two hours to get there. I had to stop once along the way to give the dogs a break and take my first photos. When we got to Oban, I wanted to do the tour of the Oban Distillery, so before I could lock the dogs up in the car, we needed to take a walk, and take more pictures.

Then we headed into town and I registered for the tour, got the dogs some water and did a little window shopping. The tour was about an hour, and unlike Kentucky, you get to taste the Scotch at the end of the tour. And I got a tasting glass! Right here, I should have stopped someplace and gotten some lunch. However, I was feeling guilty that the dogs had been locked up now nearly two hours, so I thought, I'll get them and we'll stop at a pub and eat.

Yeah. I stopped twice, took more pictures, and missed the meal service by 10 minutes each time. Apparently, and sign posted outside "food served all day" does not apply to the obligatory one-two hours that the kitchen closes to clean before serving dinner. You can, however, have a beer. That didn't seem like a good idea on an empty stomach, so the girls and I continued our driving and had a picnic.

We drove over the [famous] Bridge Over the Atlantic, also known as the Clachan Bridge. It bridges mainland Scotland to the island of Seil. There wasn't a whole lot going on ... on the island, except for these sea safari tours, which is nearly the only reason to go there. The "serves food all day" Oyster Bar closes at 300pm, by the way, until 500pm, in case you find yourself there and hungry. The dogs and I had some kibble, cheese, sausage, fruit and raw vegetables.

We made our way back to Lochgilphead, stopping a few times. We went to Carnasserie Castle and walked around the grounds. Somewhere nearby there was the Dunchraigaig, but I couldn't find it. I'm sure it had something to do with driving and not being able to read Gaelic at the same time, but anyway the Dunchraigaig is a stone circle. You can Google it to see it.

The girls and I walked into Ardrishaig, the actual town we were in, to pick up some take-away. On the way into town, a number of sail boats were making their way into and out of the Crinan Canal. Unfortunately, I did not have my camera, but the swing bridge operator had to drive into town to ... swing the bridge open. Running for nine miles between Ardrishaig and Crinan, the canal was built to save sailing boats from the difficult passage around the Mull of Kintyre. The Crinan Canal is a very popular route passing through wonderful Scottish scenery that is especially beautiful around Crinan Basin. That was cool.

On Monday morning, we got up and went for another walk on the 39 Steps Trail. This time, I had my camera and took pictures. And then we started the 11-hour drive home. The joys of travelling on bank holiday weekends. Not!

Aircon now works in car

Thought you would enjoy the residents from the field that the dogs and I walk in ... that made their way into our wood! Misty like to chase the cows. The cows have horns.


Okay, so I dropped the car off at the dealership on Wednesday after "the phone call". Wouldn't you know that just like in the States, the warranty did cover the aircon, unfortunately, it ran out 982 miles before I got the car in for service. It was 12-months or 12,000 miles.

In the end, the fan and aircon now work. I was actually cold today whilst riding in my car. Of course, the temperature outside has now dropped down to 66 degrees, but I am ready in the event it gets hot again.

This weekend it won't. The weather is now supposed to be warm here in the Southwest ... and alas, I am headed North, to Scotland. It will likely snow.

New Words or Phrases:
Mutatis mutandi - The necessary changes having been made

Frog marched - march a person against his will by any method

Grip day - as in, get a grip; you bring people together to regroup

Off your legs - to be overcome, knocked down or blown over

Whittering - muttering or whinging or whining

Bfn!

Unbelievable phone call

Thought I would give you some insights into British customer service. I made a trip to Taunton today for a meeting with the big boss of my region. Anywho, I live in the Southwest, and the one place you do not want to be on a Friday afternoon in the Southwest is on the roads as everyone is headed to the beach. What you find when you get to the beach is another blog subject. Good news: I'm headed North and everyone else is headed South. Bad news: until I get through the round-a-bouts, I'm stuck like everyone else. This makes it even more obvious that my air conditioning is broken.

I am sitting still, so I call the dealership and ask for the service desk.

Yes, that's me.

Hi, yes, I'd like to book an appointment to have my aircon fixed.

Are you do for a service?

I don't think so. I think I have 5,000 miles to go.

Right. Well, what make is your vehicle?

Renault Megane Scenic.

Right. What's your tag?

CP04

Is that "charlie" "pa-pa"?

Yes.

Okay, right, go on.

USW

Is that "uncle" "Sam" "W"

Yes.

Right. Do you have your service manual?

Well, not right now. I am sitting in my car.

Right. Well, you're normally due for service every 18,000 miles. If you check your manual, you will see when you are due.

I know I am due for service in 5,000 miles because it says so on my dash.

Right. How many miles do you have?

48,894

Right. See so if you've had your 36,000 miles service, you'll be due at 54,000 miles. You should check your manual and see if it has had its 36,000 miles service and if it hasn't, you should bring it in. Otherwise, we'll see you in 5,000 miles.

Right. Let's assume I have had my 36,000 mile service because I bought the car from the dealership.

When did you buy it?

December.

Well, it won't be due for service until November or until you hit 18,000 miles.

Right. Okay, let's say I am going to hit the last 5,000 miles that I have in the very near future, can I bring it in for service?

Well, you wouldn't want to do that because it will cost you. Go back and check your manual and make sure that it had its 36,000 mile service, and if it hasn't, give us a ring back and we can book it.

Okay, well let's assume that it's had it's 36,000 mile service because I bought it from the dealership.

You did?

Yes.

Well then you should check with where you bought the car to see if it's due.

Okay. Is this the Renault dealership in Portishead?

Yes.

I bought the car from you.

Oh! Well let me look at the computer. It says here that your Renault had its 36,000 mile service, so you're not due for 5,000 miles.

Right. When I bring it in for it's next service, will fixing the air conditioner be a part of the service.

No.

How do I get the air conditioner fixed?

You should book an appointment.

Can I do that with you now?

Oh. Yes!

Now sadly, this phone call WENT ON! She wanted to make sure that getting the aircon fixed might cost me money unless I had a warrenty. Oh, it's a 2004, I'm sure it's expired. Well, since I bought it from you, I think it has an extension. Oh yeah, that's right ... it says that your warrenty doesn't expire until 27 Nov 2008. You should really bring it in!!!

Cant. Make. This. Up!!!!!!

Chicken run has a speed limit!

My next door neighbors are working on their garden in back. We live on a steep hill with the chicken run [trail] that runs behind the property, down to the High Street. This is a pretty big project, and I guess the row of houses that I live in embarked on this same project about 15 years ago, tackling the hill with terraces and removing the overgrowth and putting in gardens. In light of other projects, my neighbors' garden went by way of the weeds and this is the summer that they will tackle the garden again.

Last month, they cut out the overgrowth and their view of the valley is returned. Now Lawrence, a structural engineer by trade, is getting ready to put in terraces. My back terrace has survived the 15 years of English weather, but now that Kathy & Lawrence have tackled their overgrowth and the row of evergreens that was blocking the sunlight from my garden area, I am feeling motivated to pull some weeds and cut out some overgrowth. Of course, this will require Mother Nature to cut back on the rain we have been getting.

Anyway, in England [don't know if this is true in Wales or Scotland], there are no plot lines for the property. If you think about buying a home in the US, the seller is required to provide an official measurement of the property so you know exactly where it begins and ends. In the UK, the front yard is defined by the street. The side by either the extension of the building you are in [for example I am one of three houses in a building], or where the next building begins [as my neighbors to the North]. The back, apparently just "ends at the trail", which is considered a highway because it has been there longer than the neighborhood!!! That's right, the Chicken Run is a highway, and by law, the speed limit is 60 mph.

I'll have to remind Allie of that as she is the ONLY one that tries to take the run at any speed! G'night!

New Words or Phrases -

The nights are drawing in - days are getting shorter now that we're past the summer solstice

On the hoof - to do something without thinking or planning

What you're on about - what you're ranting or carrying on about. I think this is a Southwest thing

Hobson's choice - a free choice in which only one option is offered, and one may refuse to take that option. The choice is therefore between taking the option or not taking it. The phrase is said to originate from Thomas Hobson (1544–1630), a livery stable owner in Cambridge, who, in order to rotate the use of his horses, offered customers the choice of either taking the horse in the stall nearest the door or taking none at all.

Grasping the nettle - to take action immediately in order to deal with an unpleasant situation. I think I put in an earlier post that Nettle is a weed that grows virtually everywhere and it stings when brushed against or grabbed, and the sting lasts a very long time! It's a gardner's nightmare.

Bristol Harbour Festival 2008

Yesterday, I took advantage of the beautiful weather and rode the bus into Bristol for the Harbour Festival. The Festival takes place primarily on the Floating Harbour.

Boats come in from all over and are decorated in maritime flags and lights. The harbour covers an area of 70 acres and has existed since the 13th century. In the early 19th century they installed lock gates in the centre of the city and providing a tidal by-pass for the river. It is called a Floating Harbour as the water level remains constant and it is not affected by the state of the tide on the river.

There are a number of stages set up with Bristol bands, troupes of circus-like actors, and dancing. There are food fairs, such as Italian, French, Thai, and Spanish. And the vendors, by the way are from Italy, France, and Spain. In the French corridor I had a taste of wine from the keg. I found cheeses, sausage, and wine, and I bought enough for last night's dinner. There were loads of booths with information to be more green in your gardening or life.

I'm not sure what the guys in the green neoprene suits and Christmas boots were about, but I got a couple of pictures. There was a kids park with trampolines and blow-up slides, ball rooms, etc. It really was a cool set up. It was fun!

Debbie Does Windsor

My friend, Debbie had a 12-hour layover at Heathrow airport last weekend, and I made the 100 mile journey on Saturday to pick her up from the international flight arrival in Terminal 1. This is the first time I have been to Heathrow. It is a HUGE airport with five terminals and lots of signs on the way in that tell you to check and confirm your terminal. HOW you do that remains a mystery to me. It's not on the itinerary. It's not on the web. It's not on the signage on the way in as you navigate the traffic into the airport. As luck would have it, United Airlines just moved terminals and there were lighted signs announcing they were now at Terminal 1 ... exactly where I was going! Debbie was on a United flight. I figured she wasn't at 5 which has been a disaster since it opened in May [maybe I was hoping], and she wasn't at 4, the cargo terminal, so may-as-well start at the beginning with 1.

So I get to the airport on Saturday morning at 640 for a flight that lands at 620 after getting up at 400 and leaving my house at 453 and I am waiting for Debbie. I start to wonder ... after stopping in the loo and then buying a diet Coke, how long her flight is to Johannesburg? So, I pull out the itinerary that she sent me and read the bottom. It says that she lands in South Africa on Monday. Odd. Why would a flight from London to Johannesburg take more than 1.5 days? I read up ... no she leaves London on Sunday. Odd. I'm sure Debbie said her layover was only 12 hours. I read up ... she lands at Heathrow on Sunday, 27 July. I am standing in Heathrow on Saturday ... which is obviously not the 27th. Crap!

So, back to Bristol I travel. In all, the trip wasn't bad A good practice run to the world's busiest airport without a hitch. Of course, I get back to my neck of the woods, and every summer holiday-er was on the road with his trailer in tow. This was the first weekend of summer holidays, so not only was the M-5 in grid-lock on Friday, but it was carrying over to Saturday as well. The last 11 miles of my journey took 30 minutes.

On Sunday, I get up at repeat the journey and meet Debbie at Heathrow. She greats me with bags of gummy Life Savers and boxes of Cheez-its! She can stay.

I decided [after consulting with my team] that we would spend the day at Windsor. The town is close to Heathrow, has a lot to do, and it's the home of the Queen and the Prince of Wales. The weather was perfect for a day at Windsor. The only problem is that since it was Sunday, there wasn't going to be a changing of the guard and the chapel was closed [unless you were going to the service].

We got there very early. There weren't any tourists yet and there wasn't any place open for breakfast, so we walked. It looks like a typical English village and high street with lots of shops. This is the one house that caught my attention. I think the picture explains it all. Cool, huh?

Once in Windsor, we walked the grounds and followed the audio tour. Windsor Castle is the largest inhabited castle in the world and, dating back to the time of William the Conqueror, is the oldest in continuous occupation. The castle's floor area is approximately 484,000 square feet.

Together with Buckingham Palace in London and Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, it is one of the principal official residences of the Queen. Queen Elizabeth II spends many weekends of the year at the castle, using it for both state and private entertaining. Her other two residences, Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle, are the Royal Family's private homes.

Most of the Kings & Queens of England / Great Britain / Commonwealth have had a direct influence on the construction and evolution of the castle, which has been their garrison fortress, home, official palace, and sometimes their prison. When the country has been at peace, the castle has been expanded by the additions of large and grand apartments; when the country has been at war, the castle has been more heavily fortified. This pattern has continued to the present day.

When we walked the grounds we saw the Round Tower and St. George's Chapel. Here is a picture of Debbie and then me in front of the Upper Ward or Quadrangle. In the background is the South Wing. To the left of the wing is the Private Apartments for the Royals.

We went inside the Castle for a tour of the State Apartments. Most of these were rooms from Royals past and were filled with antiques, paintings, tapestries, etc. We also saw the newly restored St. George's Hall, newly restored after the fire in 1992. It houses replications of the shields of all knights under each of the monarchs.

Windsor has it's own wheel, like the one in London, only smaller. We went to the park to have a rest and enjoy a Pimm's and lemonade. Pimm's is gin-based beverage that is served both on ice or in cocktails. The recipe of Pimm's No. 1 Cup is secret; it has a dark tea colour with a reddish tint, and tastes of spice and citrus fruit. Pimm's cup mixes one part Pimm's No.1 with three parts lemonade, ice, a wedge of cucumber, mint leaves and slices of lemon, orange and strawberry.

It's most popular in Southern England and it is one of the two staple drinks at Wimbledon, the Henley Royal Regatta and the Glyndebourne opera festival, the other being champagne. As a result Pimm's has the reputation of being a drink for the upper class.

Debbie managed to stay awake all day. We had some dinner at a pub before I dropped her back at Heathrow and she left for Africa.