It's all claes and porridge...........

 

 

 

 

Yup, it is truly "all claes and porridge" now (a scottish saying used after you have spent all the money, and all you have left is some clothes and porridge) - exactly where we're at!!!!

Here's a run down of our last stop on our trip - Edinburgh, the home of great fiddling!!!

We left our tour friends Gary and Denise at Heathrow airport in London, they came back to Edmonton, and we went to Edinburgh to visit our friend Noreen, and Alistair Crighton, as well as daughters Mairi, and Katrina and her husband Bruce!

I've included pictures onf Edinburgh Castle, the home of my great-grandparents, where my grandfather (mom's father was born!) - a lovely big colonial house in Leith, and our friends the Crightons - daughter Maira in pink - at the door of their great Guest House Cluaran House!

Tom had had a cold at Mala Mala. but it was manageable, as he always gets one. By the time we got to Johanessburg airport to fly to LOndon I knew I was coming down with something. Thank gawd for the business lounge - I slept for 3 hours on 2 chairs pulled together!!

When we got to Scotland I felt really rugged. I also felt badly going into someones home sick, however the Crightons run a Guest House and travellers do come sick. Also, it is like my second hom, so if I couldn't be home when I am sick, that was the only other place I would want to be.

Did curtail our "outings" somewhat, but I was a trooper and slept some extra, then went out anyway - don't think it helped get better, but who can miss Edinburgh!!

This was the first time Tom had been to the Crightons - I had been on my own, when I got to know them, then they visited us last summer, so I was really excited to have Tom in my favorite city with me!!!

Did almost everything - Ali and Noreen took us on a great tour of the small towns and villages surrounding Edinburgh, which was great. Bought funky shoes (Edinburgers dress up very spiffy and have great shops!!).Crightons live in a high end district (not far from J.D. Rowlings house!!) and there is a "boutiquey" street called Morningside. This is where all the "Mornigside Ladies" shop - well-dressed, tweedy,gloves, hats - you get the look - but they are referred to as being "all lace curtains and nae knickers" or, as one cabby told me, whose mother WAS a Mornigside Lady, "all fur and nae knickers" - I love these Scottish sayings!!!

Tom did some great photography of the Scottish countryside and we PARTLY recovered from the long trip!!!

Next, on to the last long haul - LOndon to home. Really looking forward to home and feeling better (I lie, I am home and writing this).

Come back for my next post of what I/we learned from this huge vacation and other reflections on travel!

Huge thanks and hugz to friends Ron, Paula, Meg and Brenda, who commented on my posts as I went along - thanks tons!!! I KNOW you were all reading it(??), but it was great to get the comments and feel that the work was worth it!!!

Doing the Blog turned out to be MUCH MUCH MUCH more work than I anticipated!!! It actually became a chore, especially under the bad computer conditions that were always a problem. But I wanted to record the whole thing and have you share it.

At one point I seriously considered dropping it - it was often very stressful staying up too late to do it (especially al Mala Mala), but I carried on!!!!

For those who didn't comment, please tell me you read it when I talk to you (I will have a short quizz to see if you really did!!).

I may post some more of Tom's pix of Scotland. I am now back to my home desktop, and the pix are on our lap top, so once I have a minute I'll try to do that!!!

Got home Friday, Oct. 3 at supper, and slept all day Sat. and Sun - fell like I might get up today. Took getting home to get over my bug as well.

Poor Tom was off very early this morning to the dentist to get the tooth he broke on Zulu food fixed, and then he has to go into the office to meet the ending of the financial world!!!! Actually he went in Sat. to start his heart attack - not the best time to have been away.

The money is gone and the depression is on its way........it will help our diet!!! Actually we did amazingly well weighwise on the trip!! Tom gained 5 pounds and I gained 4!!!! I wouldn't eat 2 croissants in a year at home, and I was eating 2 EVERY DAY for breakfast along with lots of other fabulous stuff!!! Gives you some idea of how much we WALKED to keep the weight down to that amount!!!!!!

WE ARE DEFINITELY HOME FOR AWHILE - well, until Sat. when we go to Victoria, then March to Maui, April to Scottsdale Arizona for a conference, and May to Peurto Rico for a Tom "performance reward" conference!!! I can't even think of those - the thought of putting clothes in a suitcase makes me want to throw up!!!!!!!!!

Luv, N-J & Tommy!!!!