Scotland 2011 - Day 5: Daisy and the Isle of Arran

Daisy

Josh went to pick up our campervan named Daisy. We drove her from outside of Edinburgh, through Glasgow to Ardrossan. There we caught the ferry to the Brodick on the Isle of Arran.

The Isle of Arran is surprising. For some reason I was expecting it to be flat and scrubby but it was hilly and very lush.

Goodbye Ardrossan!

The ferry journey was smooth. The colours of the world around us were so vivid and the sun was shining so brightly, it was simply gorgeous. As we got halfway across water, we noticed people on jet-skis approaching. They were coming to ride the wake of the ferry! They did amazing tricks and kept us all amazed until we approached Brodick.

Brodick is a small village and we only stopped in at tourist information to ask directions to our campsite. It was called Seal Shore and was just passed Whiting Bay. The road winds its way around the island, giving us the most spectacular views on such a beautiful day!

When we got to our campsite, we were directed to a pitch right off the beach. It was idyllic. We set up Daisy for the first time.

This is the cheery view that greeted us every morning!

View from the camper...the beach is RIGHT there!

Daisy. Love her.

Scotland 2011 - Day 4: Brora, Loch Ness and Linlithgow

Saying Goodbye to Brora

goodbye to Jake - the deaf dog who Isla loves and still talks about

goodbye to Papa Roxy and Elinor (who was in her housecoat and didn't want a photo)

...and goodbye to my amazing and lovely Grandma. It will not be long until we are back.

As you leave Brora the sign says "Haste Ye Back". Indeed.

We drove from Brora to Inverness and down Loch Ness. We stopped for a sweet treat by the side of the road and tried to spot Nessie. No luck this time but the bakery makes a heck of a Malteaser slice.

We kept driving, stopping only in Glencoe for a quick bite to eat. We made it to my cousin Katie's house in Linlithgow, outside of Edinburgh in time for dinner. How amazing it is to see my cousins...to know them as adults. To see their children playing with my children was lovely. It felt so easy and natural.

And what a gorgeous bunch they are!

Scotland 2011 - Day 3: Dornoch and La Mirage

Dornoch

(seals)

If my Dad's later childhood was spent in Brora, his earlier childhood was spent in Dornoch, just a few miles down the road. The beach in Dornoch is spectacular and the seals were out to greet us on the low road.

Dornoch is famous for it's cathedral (Madonna got married there) and for it's world class golf course. The draw for us however, is my Dad, my Grandpa and my Great-Grandpa being represented in the Dornoch museum. Firstly, we looked at school photos of my Dad and his brother. Looking at them reminded me of the movie, Dead Poet's Society. You know, the part where they are looking at all the photos of past students and Robin Williams is whispering "carpe diem" behind them. I could stare at old photos for ages. I love thinking about people and the lives they led/are leading.

The best part of the museum was an 18 minute DVD called The Dornoch Light Railway - The Story of the Beginning and End of a Highland Branch Line. In this DVD, my Great Grandpa and Grandpa are shown on the station platform. You only see them each for a short time but it is very emotional nonetheless. I bought a copy. Max and Isla chose to spend some of their pocket money from Nana Brora. Max bought a pencil sharpener shaped like a catapult (that actually works) and a little bottle of mixed gemstones and Isla bought two little stuffed animals. Treasures for all of us.
Here they are at the Dornoch jail, which is now a shop. Here I discovered a Scottish brand called Ness.

http://www.nessbypost.com

La Mirage

The "small" fish and chips.
From the outside looking in.
Isla standing beside the review of the Fish & Chips at La Mirage by one of the Fat Ladies. Apparently, they are in the top 6 in Scotland!

Interesting decor...
All of us!

Scotland 2011 - Day 2: Falls of Shin and more Brora

The Falls of Shin

The last time Josh and I were here was 12 years ago, on our honeymoon. Who would have guessed that we would be back with two kids!

The falls are a short walk down from the visitor's center (which has excellent mac & cheese by the way). The main attraction is when the salmon are leaping but that doesn't normally happen until August. There are lots of forest walks, an adventure playground and a BBQ area on the patio. We drove from Brora towards Lairg and then turned off to the falls. Instead of coming back the same way, we did a circular route passing by the village of Rogart. It was a beautiful drive.
On our way back, we drove through the village of Lairg and decided to stop at their visitor's center. They had on a great exhibition of "Lairg through time" which the kids found entertaining. It was a nice stop...and I got a cool tartan brooch. A little bling for my trouble!

When we got back to Brora, we stopped at Capaldi's Ice Cream. Now, you must understand that this ice cream shop is the stuff of legend at my house when I was growing up. No ice cream could possibly be as good as Capaldi's.

We concur.

We went back to Elinor and Ronnie (Roxy's) house and settled in for the night. As we were just about to get jammies on, we heard a sound that I have not heard in many, many years. The ice cream van! Oh this is something the Swiss need to adopt. Nothing is more exciting on a summer's eve, when you are up late because the sun is too and you hear the jingle of the ice cream van!! Josh and I leapt out of our seats, instantaneously becoming our 7 year-old selves, and got out there before the kids did.

Ice cream then an iced lolly? I hear you ask.

Oh yes. That is how we roll. Those are good days.

The day ended with more cuddles from Nana Brora.

Scotland 2011 - Day 1: Brora

The magic of Brora.

We started our trip in Brora. This is a place full of importance in my life.

It is where my Dad spent a significant part of his childhood. It is where my Grandma, Max and Isla's Nana Brora, lives.

Brora beach is where we sprinkled some of my Dad's ashes in February 2008. It is a small village but is so big in my heart.

When I was a child, my Dad passed on his love of this place through stories and images and so...I love it too.

My Dad's brother, Ronald (newly christened Papa Roxy by my two naughties) and his wife Elinor live there too. From their house you walk directly out onto the golf course and the beach beyond. It is very special.

This is Max in front of the train station where my Grandpa was stationmaster. My Dad always had a rather romantic view of the railway, which he passed on to me. Max and I often watch the trains go by here in Switzerland and we ask each other where we think the people on board are going. What adventures lay ahead for them...
Max and Isla sit with Nana Brora, their great grandmother, reading the books she got them.
Isla gazes at her Nana Brora with admiration. It fills my heart with joy to see my children with her. She loves them so easily and they her. They love her soft voice, kind eyes and quick smile.

Max wanted to show her his knitting. He loves making things and is currently enjoying knitting and sewing. He was proud and she gave him all the admiration his little great-grandson's heart needed.