Happy Holidays ... despite the breakdown

[pandop]

I had a mostly good holiday with Mum, despite the disaster on the way home (more later). Edinbugh was fantastic, it was the getting there and back that wasn't so good.

According to the holiday brochure we should have had a stop at Jedburgh on the way up, so I was somewhat disappointed when we drove past all the interesting things, and instead were deposited at an out of town retail park with and Edinburgh Woollen Mill and a Jedburgh Woollen Mill. We were there for just over an hour, not long enough to go back and see all the interesting things we had driven past, but far too long to spend at 2 shops, especially 2 shops that sell the same things as each other. I also get very annoyed in shops like that, as it seems that the 2 things you can't buy at Woollen Mills are balls of wool, or metres of wool (ie fabric that would be useful for re-nenactment). I want *wool* from a Woollen Mill, dammit, not shortbread!
We did get to spend an hour or so in Edinburgh though, before going to the hotel, which was nice. It gave us a chance to collect some leaflets and plan for Tuesday

With the aid of the leaflets we had collected on Monday, Mum and I chose an open-topped bus tour of Edinburgh to start our Tuesday, as we thought this would let us see as much as possible, without Mum doing too much walking. We scrutinised the leaflets, and worked out which tour was the longest, and took that one (they were all the same price). It was a really good tour - no live guide, but the pre-recorded tour was very informative, and we did indeed see a lot.
We spent the rest of our time at a craft/fair trade fair, having lunch, and wandering around the Royal Mile, which was enough for us. There is a lot we want to come back and see though.

Some of the highlights:

Edinburgh across the Waverley Bridge


Gladstone's Land, a traditional tenement on the Royal Mile, and one of the places I want to come back to visit


The Greyfriar's Bobby Statue


A Celtic Cross that caught my eye on the tour

The Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo (to give it it's full name) was absolutely fantastic. For those Brits reading this, it will be on the tellybox this weekend (I think on the 26th), and should be well worth watching. The night we were there was one of the 3 nights that they filmed. One of our tour group said that the camera's were a right nuisance, but I thought it was really interesting to see how they did it. We had excellent seats, far better than I expected, right in the middle of the South Stand.
As well as the standards of the Pipes and Drums and the Massed Bands, there was a Children's Choir from Africa, the Chilean Army Band (with traditional dancers), the Candadian Army Band (who were very, very funny) and the Top Secret Drum Corps from Switzerland (who were very impressive).
I had camera trouble (basically I need to spend more money on better batteries for the dratted thing, as it eats them so fast), so I didn't get all the photos I wanted, I did get some though(I apologise for the blurriness, moving targets are hard to hit):

Some soldiers


Some more soldiers


Lots of soldiers


The precarious place we sat


and the view from the inside


The Top Secret (no, I never did work out what was so secret) Drum Corps


and the only picture I managed to get of the wonderful projections on the castle wall during the finale

Wednesday we went to the Falkirk Wheel before the big disaster. I was awed, truely awed. Not only is it huge, but it is efficient, works perfectly, and is really beautiful. We were lucky enough to see it go round twice, and I was impressed that not a drop of water escaped the tanks, or dripped off the counterweights, as it was going round. I would have like to have gone on it, but the boat tour takes you up the canal as well, and so is an hour or so long, and we didn't have time to do that (we could have had though, if we had left the hotel earlier, which makes it really annoying). Although being on it would have meant I couldn't have seen it so well.

The Wheel


in action

So, 45 minutes after we left Falkirk, we broke down on the side of the M8 - we hadn't even made it to Edinburgh, and it was 2 1/2 hours before we were put on another coach to continue our journey. Generally this was not handled well, as we had no information from our driver, or the rescue coach driver. It was very frustrating. But we got home in the end, and shall see what comes of Mum's letter.

Thursday and Friday I stayed in Bridlington. The intention was to go on local day trips that we had been meaning to do for a while. Thursday was definitely more successful than Friday.
Thursday Mum and I went to Scampston Walled Garden (no pictures, it rained too much), which we enjoyed despite the weather (and would like to go back to in the Spring, to see what it is like in another season), but has a very expensive, very 'faffy food' cafe. Then we went to Malton, which neither of us had been to before. Not only was it a lovely little town, but the Museum had an exhibition on Wharram Percy, which was a lovely surprise.

Friday we went to Selby, with the intention of going to Selby Abbey, but we were thwarted by a wedding, which you don't really expect on a friday lunchtime. So, we carried on to the Designer Outlet near York (we had planned on going here afterwards), where I discovered I have really expensive taste in plates - and that Mum still doesn't trust me near fine china (she held on to my rucksack as if I were still in reins)

Comments

[rleyser.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a great trip except for the bus breaking down!

mmmm, soldiers.

[hazelstitch.livejournal.com]

We did have a good time - and I will just have to go back to Jedburgh another time!

[mamlambo.livejournal.com]

Mummy doesn't trust me near fine china either and she's constantly amazed I'm allowed to handle objects that are thousands of years old. Never have destroyed an archaeological object, but I have dropped plenty of her plates. ooops.

[hazelstitch.livejournal.com]

Well broken plates are the archaeology of the future!

[mamlambo.livejournal.com]

I pity the person who has to sift through pyrex :-)

[hazelstitch.livejournal.com]

Me too!

Oh, btw, there was a South African Pipes and Drum band at the Tattoo, the Police band I think

[agent_dani]

I can't help thinking of the first graphic on this page. I have to say, though, it would at least be somewhat interesting even if not understood.

[hazelstitch.livejournal.com]

Heh heh

[ninox.livejournal.com]

It was a coach tours and all coach tours of Scotland must include the EWM, either that no one else would shop there! The borders are a bit weird, if you had stopped it the town you might get the vibes.

Trust me the Falkirk Wheel is the only interesting thing about Falkirk. It is amazing I was pleasantly surprised when I went to see it. Can't believe you went to the Tattoo but missed the Fringe (I take it started shortly after your trip). It is well worth a trip, even just for the atmosphere in the street, my mum usually just likes plunking down in Princes Gardens and listening to the world music. Unfortunately I'm going to miss it this year.
Years since I've been to the tattoo, but I have fond memories of being dragged there as a child, it too was great apart from the car trip.

I would also recommend the hidden city tour - I'm just fascinated by the fact that the 7 bridges can hide a whole different world.

Still get the feeling you should avoid buses. You're just a jinx *grin*

[hazelstitch.livejournal.com]

I didn't miss the Fringe, we did see some street theatre, but with only one day there wasn't really time to go and see anything.

As to the EWM, did we really need an *hour* at 2 shops!

The hidden city tour sounds great, I shall add that to the list of things to do next time - thanks

I have had my 3 bus disasters, which means I should be ok on our 'posh' coach in November!

[ninox.livejournal.com]

So jealous, I love the buzz there this time of year, but it can get a bit much. Rosslyn Chapel is really worth a visit, if you haven't already been. It's a bit out side but still doable on public transport. Please don't let Dan Brown put you off. It is a fascinating place, if you elbow the conspiracy theorists out the way. Has strong pagan connections (most green men carved in any building), mixed relgions, Lodge No.1 of the Masons (Lodge No.0 is Kilwinning Abbey) and an intersting connection with gypsies. Right beside where Dolly the cloned sheep was raised.

[hazelstitch.livejournal.com]

Yes, I would very much like to go to Rosslyn, and chances are if I go back it won't be on public transport, which makes out of Edinburghh trips much easier

[zeusgirl.livejournal.com]

Looks awesome! Especially the Tattoo.

I think I saw those Swiss drummers on the Tattoo a few years ago. They are sensational.

[hazelstitch.livejournal.com]

They were amazing - just so fast, and funny!

[zeusgirl.livejournal.com]

Yeah! I remember them well - they did some amazing stuff on the TV Broadcast... drumming on their neighbour's drum, playing and walking in a straight line... it made me want to take up drumming!

[hazelstitch.livejournal.com]

All that - and wearing silly hats and trousers too! ;-)

[zeusgirl.livejournal.com]

Wow, in silly hats? That just makes it so much cooler :-)

NB. Speaking of cool, I am listening to the Spamalot soundtrack at the moment. If you are a Python fan, you would love this!

[hazelstitch.livejournal.com]

I am hoping to see Spamalot when I am in London in the Autumn - I have heard some of the songs on the radio, and I want to see it *so* much...

The outfits were both silly and cool

[zeusgirl.livejournal.com]

It's hilarious. My favourite songs thus far are "Run Away!", "His name is Lancelot", and "You won't succeed on Broadway"

I just wish they'd managed to get the Lumberjack song in there somewhere...

[lynncc.livejournal.com]

It's all lovely. It's been 15 years since I was last in Edinburgh. I want to go! That Falkirk wheel is fasinating. It reminds me of the liftlock they have in DH's home town: http://www.cruising.ca/trent/docs/L-21.html It's 100 years and not as sexy looking but, the principle is that there are opposing buckets of water that raise and lower the boats to canal level.

Can't wait to read the rest. I went straight to the soldiers first.

[hazelstitch.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, we have some canal lifts like that too, but the Wheel is apparently the first rotating one in the world (which does make you wonder why no one thought of it before, as it really is a beautifully simple design)

You hussy you, going straight for the soldiers ;-)

[agent_dani]

Honestly, I'm more surprised it was built. There hasn't been much canal usage in some parts of the world since before the technology existed to build something of that sort. I understand the famed Erie Canal has been in maintenance-only (no improvements) for several decades because the traffic is almost all recreational.

[hazelstitch.livejournal.com]

Mostly our canals are used for holidays now, not freight, but there has been a resurgence in interest in them in the last 20 years or so, and a lot are being restored

[agent_dani]

I wonder how much time elapsed between the two uses. Many of the canals here fell out of use in the 1800s, and the land was allocated for other purposes.

The stretch of the D&H Canal I mentioned in my LJ is blocked by US Rt. 6 in two spots near that lock and pool. I'd be surprised if much more than 0.25 miles of it still exists there, with US Rt. 6 running over it's path either side of that lock.

The railroads and, in turn, automobiles took over here. With railroads, some of the canal companies became rail companies, e.g. D&H.

In those days, such things were seen to have no value. The unused canals were worthless as such, but often valuable as land for railroads and the like.

Fortunately, some pieces survive, but often more due to luck than anything else.

[hazelstitch.livejournal.com]

The railway and the roads took over here, but the canals were well established for a long time before rail.

I am not sure how long they were neglected for - too long, of course.

The Manchester Ship Canal is still used, and it is very cool to see big ships on a little water (I have seen it on TV, and keep meaning to go see it for real)

[ninox.livejournal.com]

That is a shame - it almost seems like a small bit of history dying. Canals are still a novelty to me even though I know stay in the west midlands. It was the railways that had a resurgence where I'm orginally from. The Victorians went made building obscure lines and platforms for the Sunday picnics and some local interest groups are slowly taken them over and restoring them.

[hazelstitch.livejournal.com]

Oh that is good too - I like properly run trains

[ninox.livejournal.com]

Our part timer at work is really into steam trains. She got into them after taking welsh classes and befriended a few people that restore them and run christmas trains for kids to Santa.

Sounds fun. I like their smell, it's got the same comfort value as a musty book.

[hazelstitch.livejournal.com]

Oh that is such a cool thing to do - and I want to learn Welsh too