Stirling!

Today was amazing. One of those perfect touristy days where everything goes smoothly and everything is amazing. Trond, Jess, Gowri, Lily and I took the train to Stirling this morning for a brilliant day of history, sunshine and loveliness. Trains rule.

First adventure of the day was Stirling Castle. It was so cool. We had an amazing tour guide - Charlie the enthusiastic Northumbrian - who was very animated and shouted BOOM! a lot when he was discussing battles. He was really really good. I feel like every single thing Ive ever learnt about Scottish history was mentioned in his talk. That's I guess because Stirling Castle is so important in Scottish history. Highly highly recommend it, and Stirling generally, to anyone intending to head in this direction.The main entrance to the castle - those towers used to be twice as high. But then... BOOM! Short towers.These tapestries are being made for the restored palace. They take 4 years each to weave. Intense. The weavers are still weaving some on site and we got to watch them for a bit. So fiddly. The man with the beard is Charlie. Charlie was awesome. He wore tartan pants.
The castle was used as a garrison until 1964 so on site there is a military museum that covers all Scottish military history. Above is some actual chocolate sent to troops in the Boer War by Queen Victoria in 1900. Its Caburys!
Trond and I with a canon.
Jess helping out in the kitchens.
The gang - Trond, Gowri, Lily, me and Jess.
Lily and I surveying the terrain in preparation for a mighty battle. BOOM!
Me, Jess and ole Brucie.
View of the Wallace Monument from the castle.
As part of the castle tour we also got to visit a nearby example of a 17th century town house - belonged to the 6th Duke of Argyll, maybe the 7th... lordy who knows?! Our tour guide was no Charlie. He was like a perfect caricature of a posh, BBC English speaking, navy cricket hat wearing, dandy. Unbelievable. No words can really do that man and his accent justice. I nearly cracked up so many times. He was mighty difficult to listen to that's for sure. And by this point we were starving. So the ridiculous accent combined with the rumbling in my tummy meant I cannot recount a lot of what happened to the Dukes of Argyll in that house. Never mind.

Pretty good example of what a good and smooth day it was - as we came down from the castle Trond and Jess simultaneously expressed a desire for a burger and pint; and within maybe half an hour, we found ourselves eating burgers and drinking pints. Excellent.

Next trip of the day was to the Wallace monument. On the opposite side of town. It really is a magnificent structure.Completed in 1869, this monument represents a fleeting period in Scottish history where the Scots saw themselves as a magnificent contributor to a magnificent empire. 'Unionist-Nationalism' its called by historians - (I did an assignment on this you see). So yes, the tower therefore is designed to reflect this idea. The baronial tower is typical of a medieval Scottish fort and on top of this sits stone work intended to represent the imperial crown. So its like Scotland is holding up the empire. One designer wanted to have a rampant lion mauling a crowned monster... hmmm... I really do wonder what that would have done to Anglo-Scot relations. I really do find this monument fascinating. It was awesome to visit it after learning all about it in class. Jess and Trond discussing something physics related - prompted by the bust of James Watt in the Hall of Heroes. Most of these busts have been there since the monument was built as it was intended to celebrate not just Wallace, but all great Scottish achievement.
Its 248 steps to the top - sooo worth it!
Spectacular view! You can see the castle there in roughly the centre. And what lovely weather too! We've been awfully lucky almost everywhere we have been. Even in Glasgow the weather has been pretty good. None of this constant rain I was warned about. Touch wood.We walked down from the monument and headed back to the city - just a wee rest on the way. Spring is wonderful!
Lily and I sitting on the banks of the River Forth.Chilling out by Stirling bridge. This is a very important bridge in Scottish history. Essentially, to get to the highlands, and conquer Scotland, you had to cross this bridge. So who ever held Stirling Castle and Stirling Bridge, held Scotland. How historically enriched do you feel right now?Crossing Stirling Bridge. See that ominous cloud in the background? Our cue to skedaddle back to Glasgow.

Such a lovely day. I think I'm a bit sun kissed. Glorious!
x

Sexy men in tailcoats.

The Futureheads were awesome this evening. Awesome. Awesome.

Glasgow rules.
x

Greenock and The Flying Duck.

Wow. What a hole that place was.
I went out to Greenock yesterday for a bit of history. Its a town 40mins by train west of Glasgow. Was probably quite ritzy at the height of its shipbuilding but alas, out went the ships, in came the chavs.
I did play on the microfiche at the James Watt Library and read some cool stuff in the Greenock papers about the early settlers in Dunedin. Fun fun.
I was going to try and find the house where my great grandmother was born, but it was raining and the place was depressing me so I didn't in the end.
A view down the Clyde - this is where many of our ancestors would have stood before boarding ships and sailing for 90 days to the fair shores of Aotearoa.This is the customs office - this building would have been exactly the same when the first Otago settlers boarded the ships.

It was a grey and rather foul day for it unfortunately. Much nicer weather in Glasgow when I got back. Went to Jacqui's for some delicious dahl, then out to the Flying Duck for some pints and some music.
DJ Lyall at the decks. He finds my accent most amusing when I refer to his decks.
The Flying Duck has free toast! The BEST idea ever.
Jess and Connah. :)
I've been to the Louvre, I've been to the Tate Modern.... but nothing beats this.

The Flying Duck rules.

Election.

The British election is next week. As of a few days ago I am officially registered to vote. How exciting. So far these are my observations:

- I have no idea how or where to vote yet. No little orange man here.
- In my everyday wanderings around my area and in the city, the only electoral ads I've seen are a couple of pithy posters in the windows of people's home. Such as a neighbour of mine with a home made SNP banner in his window. Printed it out himself probably.
- The electoral ads I have seen have been alien. For an example, google 'Eddie Izzard' and 'Labour'. So bizarre. Nothing like it at home.
- I have no idea who the candidates are in my area. I don't know their names, party affiliation, anything. The first time I see their names will probably be on the ballot.
- I cannot find polling data that explains how constituencies are dealt with in the polls. If the polls are representative of popular vote, then in an FPP system they mean nothing... confusion.
- No one seems to care that their vote is unlikely to count for much or that in Scotland they are likely to be unrepresented in the next Government at all.
- Everyone (media and public) seems to associate the phrase 'proportional representation' with 'instability' and 'anarchy'. Rarely with exception.
- Nick Clegg said today that if there is a hung parliament he might come to some agreement with the Conservatives. Huh?
- I have heard many random members of the general public, including a taxi driver, a shop keeper and a security guard all say variations of the following thing: 'Don't plan to vote myself; all as bad as each other.'
- The BNP may win a seat or two... British citizens electing a couple of holocaust denying racists? Good one.

Apathy is viral. My attention is waning.
Thinking a protest vote is the only option. I don't live here after all. Maybe I can add to the Green's 0.2%, they sure could use the help.

ANZAC

I was feeling rather patriotic this afternoon and whipped up a batch of ANZAC biscuits. Baking is fun. Granny would have been proud.While purchasing ingredients I happened upon a bag of Vogels! What a way to make the ANZAC afternoon complete. New Zealand marmite on a piece of Vogels! Never thought I'd be one of those travellers who would get excited by a bit of Vogel's, but there you go. Also found a Mac's Gold in a shop recently. Hmmm. Maybe Im missing New Zealand more than I think... if Im that enthused about a Mac's gold....

Chew Lips and K-Bars

Last night Jess and I went to Connah's house for curry, yum yum, and then to the ABC to see Chew Lips. I have no photos. They were awesome. Tigs is so cute.
After the gig we went and sat in the Brunswick Cellars and drank pitchers of cocktails. The first one we had tasted like pineapple K-Bars. The second like tropicana Raro. Mmmm, who would have thought that the tastes of childhood could be found in an underground bar in Glasgow? What a discovery.
x

Cake and Questions

After a lovely sweet and sour party at Ben's house last night which ended in ice cream and port wine, today to celebrate Deb's birthday we went to the cutest cake shop in the West End. Its only just opened. So adorable. Auntie M's Cake Lounge. It feels like walking into a time warp. A wonderful 1960s time warp. And there tea and cake for all! So good. I had pecan and kumara. Unbelievably good. So so so good. We played a vintage game of 20 questions. 'The oak tree that King George hid in' - .... uhhhh. Leonard Cohen on the speakers, cake and coffee in my tummy, lovely company.. Happy Birthday Deb!There are constantly such lovely surprises in Glasgow. We are all going to be very sad to leave.

What fun

Another excellent night with an excellent gang.

A Wee Countryside Jaunt

I just got back from a very brief trip to Melrose in the Scottish Borders. Lucky for me brilliant sunshine seems to be following me everywhere I go! Melrose is the town where my mother grew up and where the family farm was and where my parents were married and is lovely and quaint and Scottish so I had to go for a quick visit. I stayed with a school friend of Mum's - Bumble, and her husband Rob and their youngest daughter Lucy was home too. She was amazing and entertained me all weekend. A proper Scottish farm in the proper Scottish countryside. Excellent.
Most of what follows is for Mum and Granny's benefit - although there are some pretty pictures of lambs for everyone else to enjoy. :)

This is the view from the farm house. The Eildon hills visible there. Lovely.

On Friday morning Bumble dropped Lucy and I off on the drovers road and we walked from there into Melrose. Must have been quite a long way - it look us nearly two hours. And although we started on the Southern Upland Way we cant have followed it the whole way because somehow we ended up missing Gattonside all together and walking via Darnick. And look at all the wildlife we saw on the way!
Hmmm... ominous.
Lambs!Pheasant!
Moooooo
And LOOK!!! Hedwig!!! She must have just been resting up after a long flight with a heavy parcel. Awesome.

Mum said I was supposed to end up walking a long the top of the farm and past the old farm buildings but somehow Lucy and I ended up walking right past the house!
Easter Housebyres. I was even brave enough to go up to the front door and knock with a little speech mentally prepared about how I was the granddaughter of Jim and Aileen Lauder and this used to be their house.... that was about as far as I got; it was possibly lucky no one answered. The sheds looked rather empty too. We kept on walking. For ages. Poor mum - having to walk that everyday... yikes.We made it to Melrose - both a little sunburnt, it was 17 degrees! - and met Bumble for lunch and had yummy Orkney fudge ice cream.
This is Melrose Abbey - founded in 1149! This building, or whats left of it was built in the 14th century. And Robert the Bruce's embalmed heart is buried there.
Melrose Parish Church - where Mother and Father were married in 1985. I also went into the pub where they had their reception. Pretty cool really. (Mum - St Cuthberts is the Catholic Church. Epic fail.)

Oh and here's something to distress you Mum:Gala, with a greeaaat big Tescos slapped in the middle. Just out of shot is an even bigger Asda which is right across the road. Bumble thought you would find this troublesome.
We drove into Galashiels Academy too. Nothing has changed apparently. Bumble pointed out where you used to have maths.

We went back to the farm and Lucy took me to see the animals. The farmhouse and the chickens.Jemima and her crew.Awwwwww! Lambies.Shetland ponies!! That's Lucy there feeding them sugar cubes and apples. Then back to Lauder the next morning to catch the bus.
A lovely weekend - and its not over yet! Jess is back in town (her parents are stuck in London what with all the volcanic ash cancelling flights) but Jess is here and we are gathering the gang going out! Yay!
xxx