Scotland, England and Turkey
The B8 summit - High Bonnybridge, Scotland
Ex Perth 11th April 2014 @ 23.30 uneventfully and at last! The count down has been on since July 2013. Literally.
The trip to Doha is too long and we are split up on the plane. The kids and I are together though. Arriving in Doha we have just enough time to stretch our legs and queue for the loo and then nearly missed our flight. It's a "silent" airport, no announcements. But we'd been directed to the wrong gate, waited for the boarding to start and then were told our flight to London was a different one that had just finished boarding! We were sent running through the terminal to the correct gate, with just enough time to spare and last to board. It's another long flight to London but we're over halfway there.
At last we hit London and a 4 hour stop over. We've only got a 40minute flight to go! But we caught up on food and a change of clothes, and had a prolonged security check (they took my booze and Sally's hand luggage!). Finally we on the flight to Edinburgh and I just want to be there! Fortunately we are met at the gate by Peem (my cousin Jim) and the children, Roisin and Robbie. My word those babies are so beautiful and they took to The Drummer and The Piper straight away. Thank goodness Peem met us. There was chaos trying to find the car but he works at the airport so he knew exactly where the hire cars were. We caught the shuttle bus there with Roisin and Robbie while Peem drove around.
Our car is brand new. It has 6 miles on the odometer. A little black Nissan. With no fuel, so the first stop is for petrol then we followed Peem to the restaurant for dinner. The The B8 summit has begun. Thirty of us! We managed to meet up in the car park, all driving in simultaneously. I met my dad's elder sister, my Aunty Aileen for the first time. Also got my new scarf from Lynne. Thank goodness cause it's freezing and mum forgot to bring my coat. I'm absolutely overwhelmed but so happy. The Piper is hanging with the kids, Robin, Frank, Emily and Fiona. Some of grans great grand children finally meeting each other. Scots, Canadians and Aussies. Sally and wee Aileen are chatting away, a pair if of vegetarians. I also met my new wee cousin, Freya. So sweet.
After dinner we attempted to go home to High Bonnybridge. There is apparently some road work that sends us on a wild goose chase but Peem takes control from Uncle Jim and we find the way. More about the accommodation in a while, but we are housed with mum and Stan in our own 2 bedroom place. We've got everything we need. I'm exhausted and ready for a big sleep.
Saturday 13th April
It's raining. Welcome to Scotland.
We had a quiet day. The kids spent hrs in the rain in the hot tub. Finally I'm reunited with Eric. It's great to see him and he hasn't changed at all. He still has the great Broon sense of humour. We hung out with the Canadians and Uncle Eck, Aunty Aileen, Aunty Isla and Uncle Willie. We sat around in the Canadians house and drank tea and talked until the rain cleared. Then we headed down to the town with mum and Stan for a look, a meal in the pub (The Royal) and a quick shop for the essentials. After lunch we hung out with the family then took a lovely walk along the Antoinine Wall and through the ruins to the Falkirk Wheel. This is a great structure / device, in the middle of nowhere, that joins two canals so that boats can travel from east to west. You need to see it to believe it and to understand how it works. I didn't really get it because it was closed and so it wasn't going. Hopefully folk you it to travel through Scotland rather than go around it.
The rest of our evening was spent in great family company and drinking and eating.
Monday 14th April
As planned, we were up and about to meet Uncle Two at Alloa. He has something to do with the club so we had access to the gym all the kids, big and little, had a great time with the equipment and then playing football on the oval. They came away with guernseys thanks to Uncle.
After our mornings excitement a decision was made that all 21 of us would head for lunch. The tally goes Canadians 8, Aussies 6, Mexicans 1 and Scots 6 so far. The remaining scots are moving into the big house today and we're headed home for a professionally taken family photo. But first we head to Falkkirk Wheel again, this time to see it in action. Now it makes sense. They also have a small lock, nothing like the one in Cardiff, but great to see in action. There's just nothing like those in Aus.
Home for the official B8 summit photo. Eight nations represented Scotland, China, Mexico, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia and Aboriginal Australia. All the flags are flying and look amazing hanging from the trees. It was so great to see them when we arrived. Two official photos are taken. What a fabulous and thoughtful idea. Have a look at the one in front of the flags. It tells the story of how the Scots intend to vote in the upcoming election. A family divided is indicative of a country divided.
Now for dinner. The Aussies have been volunteered for the BBQ, if inly we can find it. It's in the funny little house in the back yard with reindeer skins on the seats around the 6 sides and a raised fire in the middle. Not a BBQ plate in sight but we managed somehow to cook sausages and lamb. On an oven rack. No one complained and ultimately we cooked three nights in a row!
Tuesday 15th April
A little bit about all the children. My three little cousins, Uncle Two's children are just little and delightful with their huge eyes and animated faces. The other children are my other cousins' children, two strapping young lads (the yoga cousins children), all growed up beautiful young lady and man (cousin elder children), sweet little rosy cheeked babies (Peems children), the soccer queen and the chatty one (boy Cananda cousins children) and The Drummer and The Piper. That makes 13 children. They all got on so well. The Piper hit it off with the Canadians and with the boys. He loved Peems two (especially the way R says "Grandad") and he loved playing with my three little cousins. They all swam, spa'ed, walked, played pool and soccer, traveled and sight see'd together as if they had know each other forever.
Now for the adults
Uncle One from the North
Aunty Alien from Mexico
Aunty Bubs from Canada
Uncle Two from the South
Of course my Dad is the missing one from that generation, having died of lung cancer in November 1996. He was the middle child and by all accounts the naughty, loud, happy one that took chances and enjoyed life. not that the rest don't, as you can tell from the photos.
The trip to Doha is too long and we are split up on the plane. The kids and I are together though. Arriving in Doha we have just enough time to stretch our legs and queue for the loo and then nearly missed our flight. It's a "silent" airport, no announcements. But we'd been directed to the wrong gate, waited for the boarding to start and then were told our flight to London was a different one that had just finished boarding! We were sent running through the terminal to the correct gate, with just enough time to spare and last to board. It's another long flight to London but we're over halfway there.
At last we hit London and a 4 hour stop over. We've only got a 40minute flight to go! But we caught up on food and a change of clothes, and had a prolonged security check (they took my booze and Sally's hand luggage!). Finally we on the flight to Edinburgh and I just want to be there! Fortunately we are met at the gate by Peem (my cousin Jim) and the children, Roisin and Robbie. My word those babies are so beautiful and they took to The Drummer and The Piper straight away. Thank goodness Peem met us. There was chaos trying to find the car but he works at the airport so he knew exactly where the hire cars were. We caught the shuttle bus there with Roisin and Robbie while Peem drove around.
Our car is brand new. It has 6 miles on the odometer. A little black Nissan. With no fuel, so the first stop is for petrol then we followed Peem to the restaurant for dinner. The The B8 summit has begun. Thirty of us! We managed to meet up in the car park, all driving in simultaneously. I met my dad's elder sister, my Aunty Aileen for the first time. Also got my new scarf from Lynne. Thank goodness cause it's freezing and mum forgot to bring my coat. I'm absolutely overwhelmed but so happy. The Piper is hanging with the kids, Robin, Frank, Emily and Fiona. Some of grans great grand children finally meeting each other. Scots, Canadians and Aussies. Sally and wee Aileen are chatting away, a pair if of vegetarians. I also met my new wee cousin, Freya. So sweet.
After dinner we attempted to go home to High Bonnybridge. There is apparently some road work that sends us on a wild goose chase but Peem takes control from Uncle Jim and we find the way. More about the accommodation in a while, but we are housed with mum and Stan in our own 2 bedroom place. We've got everything we need. I'm exhausted and ready for a big sleep.
Saturday 13th April
It's raining. Welcome to Scotland.
We had a quiet day. The kids spent hrs in the rain in the hot tub. Finally I'm reunited with Eric. It's great to see him and he hasn't changed at all. He still has the great Broon sense of humour. We hung out with the Canadians and Uncle Eck, Aunty Aileen, Aunty Isla and Uncle Willie. We sat around in the Canadians house and drank tea and talked until the rain cleared. Then we headed down to the town with mum and Stan for a look, a meal in the pub (The Royal) and a quick shop for the essentials. After lunch we hung out with the family then took a lovely walk along the Antoinine Wall and through the ruins to the Falkirk Wheel. This is a great structure / device, in the middle of nowhere, that joins two canals so that boats can travel from east to west. You need to see it to believe it and to understand how it works. I didn't really get it because it was closed and so it wasn't going. Hopefully folk you it to travel through Scotland rather than go around it.
The rest of our evening was spent in great family company and drinking and eating.
Monday 14th April
As planned, we were up and about to meet Uncle Two at Alloa. He has something to do with the club so we had access to the gym all the kids, big and little, had a great time with the equipment and then playing football on the oval. They came away with guernseys thanks to Uncle.
After our mornings excitement a decision was made that all 21 of us would head for lunch. The tally goes Canadians 8, Aussies 6, Mexicans 1 and Scots 6 so far. The remaining scots are moving into the big house today and we're headed home for a professionally taken family photo. But first we head to Falkkirk Wheel again, this time to see it in action. Now it makes sense. They also have a small lock, nothing like the one in Cardiff, but great to see in action. There's just nothing like those in Aus.
Home for the official B8 summit photo. Eight nations represented Scotland, China, Mexico, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia and Aboriginal Australia. All the flags are flying and look amazing hanging from the trees. It was so great to see them when we arrived. Two official photos are taken. What a fabulous and thoughtful idea. Have a look at the one in front of the flags. It tells the story of how the Scots intend to vote in the upcoming election. A family divided is indicative of a country divided.
Now for dinner. The Aussies have been volunteered for the BBQ, if inly we can find it. It's in the funny little house in the back yard with reindeer skins on the seats around the 6 sides and a raised fire in the middle. Not a BBQ plate in sight but we managed somehow to cook sausages and lamb. On an oven rack. No one complained and ultimately we cooked three nights in a row!
Tuesday 15th April
A little bit about all the children. My three little cousins, Uncle Two's children are just little and delightful with their huge eyes and animated faces. The other children are my other cousins' children, two strapping young lads (the yoga cousins children), all growed up beautiful young lady and man (cousin elder children), sweet little rosy cheeked babies (Peems children), the soccer queen and the chatty one (boy Cananda cousins children) and The Drummer and The Piper. That makes 13 children. They all got on so well. The Piper hit it off with the Canadians and with the boys. He loved Peems two (especially the way R says "Grandad") and he loved playing with my three little cousins. They all swam, spa'ed, walked, played pool and soccer, traveled and sight see'd together as if they had know each other forever.
Now for the adults
Uncle One from the North
Aunty Alien from Mexico
Aunty Bubs from Canada
Uncle Two from the South
Of course my Dad is the missing one from that generation, having died of lung cancer in November 1996. He was the middle child and by all accounts the naughty, loud, happy one that took chances and enjoyed life. not that the rest don't, as you can tell from the photos.
Bonnyside House & Antonine Wall CottagesSleeps 28, Bedrooms 11, Dining 18
Bonnyside Road, Bonnybridge, FK4 2AA, UK
Bonnyside House is the perfect luxury location for a family or group of friends to relax and enjoy each others company. Comfortably furnished and with original features it offers plenty of space for both socialising and plenty of private areas for relaxing! There are also 2 cottages available sleeping up to 4/6 each cottage. There is also a heated swimming pool to 32-35C, that can be used all year round, a sauna, and an 8 seater hot tub. |
I've been to London to visit the Queen. Sort of. More like Woking, England
Aunty Joan and Uncle Bob's Place
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Making the pilgrimage to haloed ground - Gallipoli, Turkey
ANZAC Cove and North Beach, Turkey
We also stayed in a hotel in Istanbul, but sleeping at North Beach was a serious lifetime highlight. A small piece of Australia in a foreign country.
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I hope you've enjoyed reading this adventure. If you want more information about the places I went or the things I did,
please feel free to contact me at [email protected]
please feel free to contact me at [email protected]