General Chat

We arrived at Eilean Donan Castle, and after getting out of the car i could hear the Pipes playing, and spotted a Piper standing at the bridge leading on towards the Castle. ( Had a Piccie taken with him ) At the beginning of the seventh century Saint Donan (c.618) lived on the island as a religious hermit, and the name 'Eilean Donan' means the 'Island of Donan'. also, that in the early part of the 14th century Robert the Bruce, who was out of favour with many of the clan chiefs as well as being hunted by the English, was given refuge in Eilean Donan Castle by John MacKenzie. Apart from other such great History reports of the Castle,( Which there are numerous )Some parts of the castle,the walls are up to fourteen feet thick, and in 1719, three English frigates sailed into Loch Alsh and attacked Eilean Donan.The Castle then lay in ruins for 200 years, but was partially restored by John McRae-Gilstrap. After our visit there we headed off across the the bridge to Skye, for a quick gander and a coffee break, before heading back to Fort William, again stopping along the way for short breaks and happy snaps. There are many breaks along the way for you to pull in off the main road to take Photo's, and one that i wont forget....:>)) Yes....Rudee had to climb the hill's...didn't he. But what he didn't count on was the soft marsh underfoot, half way up a steep Hill exploring...and did a sixer...landing on his where the sun don't shine, and wet as a shag on a rock, much to the laughter of Barb...( Not velly funny..ha ha ) Cut my wrist on a sharp rock trying to break the fall, and spilt blood on Scottish soil.....bloody Ozzie tourist ( literally ).....:>))) Tony Oz...:>))

Hiya Julie. Sorry to have missed ya call mate, but didn't have the mobile Phone on at certain times, as i was getting calls from customers back home asking when their jobs were going to be done???..Woz i bovered.......Nup...:>))) Edinburgh to Fort William. We picked up a small ford focus and headed out of Edinburgh along the A8 and joined up with the M9 which took us to Stirling and Stirling Castle. It was raining but we had expected it, and had bought an umbrella in Singapore on our way over.( just in case ) After an approx 45 min drive we were at Stirling. We drove straight to the Castle car park,which cost ( 2 pounds ) and after being given a map, we again acquired an audio headset each for our own guided tour.( Cost to enter was 8 pounds 50p each...aboot $20:00 ea. ) The day was overcast and it was raining on and off. Stirling Castle among others played an important role in the life of Mary Queen of Scots. She spent her childhood in the castle and Mary's coronation took place in the Chapel Royal in 1543.There are many Historical things to see at the Castle, which sits upon an extinct Volcano, and was a strategic Military site during the 13th and 14th Century. As it sits high upon a hill, the views are spectacular, and you can see all the way around from any advantage point. The main Cemetery is 4 min walking distance, just outside the Castle Walls. We entered a 14th Century mock up of a kitchen, and how it would have looked back then with dummy figures all dressed up to recreate ye olde days of Kings and Queens. Audio background noises of animals and the smell of smoke to give your senses a whiff of the era. In the distance you could see the William Wallace monument standing high on a hill like some giant Gothic space rocket about to take off.( a must for me to climb on our way back from Fort William...:>)) There are toilets,restaurant,gift shop,and book shop at Stirling Castle. We allowed ourselves 3 hrs to walk around the Castle, and then headed for Fort William. Back on the M9 we headed for Perth, driving through Dunblane which joins up with the A9. After stopping for lunch,then off again. Back on the A9 we drove through Pitlochry and then changed on to the A889 at Dalwhinnie. The roads are first class and very easy to drive on in the Highlands as we sat between 120 - 140 kms an hr. with short Coffee breaks and Happy snaps of the beautiful Highland Country side. Barb had packed a thermos and goodies. After a short drive on the A889 we did a righty near Catlidge and then onto the A86 down to Sean Bridge ( a Lefty here ) onto the A82 and a 15 min drive onto Fort William.It was about 4:00pm. as we drove into Town, i stopped to Photograph my first encounter with two very large long haired Hewlan Kews...:>)))We stayed at Lochan Cottage Guest house which meets Loch Linnhe ( Lochy side ) and Loch Eil, and at the entrance to the guest house drive way stood two Eucalyptus trees ( had to jump out and crush a few leaves for the smell to remind me i was an Ozzie...lol ) That night we drove into town ( 4 min drive ) and had a Pub meal, at 'The Hotel ' at the edge of town that overlooks Loch Linnhe.( Great View...Great tucker..and Scottish music sung and played by a local one man band on Stage )10/10 After a good nights sleep and a full Scott Brekkie,we headed back along the A82 to Invergarry ( a lefty here ) onto the A87 and headed through Sheil Bridge, stopping at a local Cemetery and monument. If you have McCrae/MacRaes in your family surname, then there all buried here, as the whole graveyard is chockers with E'm.Then it was off to Eilean Donan Castle, a 10min drive further on at 'Dornie'. All the way along from Fort William to Dornie are spectacular covered cloud top Mountains with mini waterfalls and streams running down the Hill sides and Valleys to the Rivers below that run along side the roads, and literaly fields of lilac Rhododendron in full bloom that cover the Hill sides and Valleys( Great Photo shots, very peaceful,and Scenery to kill for )and to boot..... the sun was shining...:>))

Kinda cute werent they? lol Jood

awwwwwwwwwwwww

jood.didn't get the little animals, think maybe you forgot to stick my name in there. have had an enjoyable arvo. peeing about at the music shop, and looking in the cheap shop. bought a little lava lamp that you plug in to your usb port. youngest male child thought oh would love it. no, reckons its tacky - yes it is , but cute. i have it now. remembered to buy toilet paper, chocolate and creme caramel. + a few other unimportant things. keep going with the travel stories please. i love reading it all. love from Yvette

Morning everyone :-) Anna hope you get your comuter back soon. Yvette take it easy and don't overdo it. Vonny get shopping lol Tony sounds like you've had a great holiday :-) You'll have to go to the Tattoo if possible next time, my mum has been going for years now and never gets bored of it. It's Alex's sports day today so I'll be going to watch that. I'll be taking GB with me :-) ~~~~~~~~~to all~~~~~~~~~~ Juliexx

Oh Tony, reading that, for a moment I thought you'd not been able to get into the Crypt ... then I saw that nice Kelly had let you go down there. I am so pleased! I didn't know it would be closed on a Sunday, silly me. Tell the Wattlers about the Greyfriars Bobby, please. Oops, forget that, have just read further back - you have!! Yes, I understand that - about needing to touch the building! :-) cuz Joy

I re-sent the email Yvette. Let me know if you didnt get it - you should have. Or maybe I forgot to put your name on the 2nd email. Awww a nude photo - how could you - it was of lickle animals :-( Jood

just popping out to get essential items eg bum fodder, milk. also got to deliver some pamphletts for new pool. suzi and jood - you both got different photos. jood got one that my son had just added to my hard drive. also got the email with nothing on . maybe its a camouflage shot or a nude photo? love yvette

Thanks for the first instalment, Tony. I love history and swords and armour. Are you a Bernard Cornwall fan. He writes about Sharpe and it's been made into a tv series. If not, try and find one of his books, I think you'll love it. My time in Scotland was too brief. Unfortunately was travelling with BMW Testing Team at the time, so we were always on the move. Good to hear from you Wilson. We were all starting to get a bit worried. Good news about the rain. We're still desparate for some. How ya goin' SuzyQ and how's me Idle Mate? Move to Mudgee. That would be fun! What you up to Trifley. Haven't heard much from you. Are you okay? Not stressing about the cyst thingy I hope (((hugs to you))). Anyway, I'm off to start another book. This one's by Thomas Keneally called Victim of the Aurora about an ill-fated expedition to the South Pole. On second thoughts, as I'm going in January, perhaps that's not such a good idea, lol. Chat soon Lew Lew xxx

Yes, I agree, it was lovely to hear all abart Scotland. Its so histerical - I mean historical. .. When you leave are Scotland to go into England they have a piper playing on the side of the road. (probably playing 'will ye no come back agen' pmsl Thats why I love the UK because of its history, thousands of years old. My family were supposed to have been decimated in the Battle of Culloden, but I can't work out why I am here if that was so! .. We stood in the battle area just where my particular clan would have fought. .. It was an eerie feeling, I can tell you. Sorry Suzy Q - the email I sent, I must have thought was a file attachment, it wasnt - it was in the body of the email and I deleted it. Also I didnt realise there was more than one picture, - you have to delete sideways - very strange! Anyway, not to dectract from Tony's story, I am looking forward to the next instalment (and by the way - just what sort of stuff was in Barb's 31.5kg case????? - you sure you didnt stuff some of the armory in there Tony?) Jood

Good Afternoon, Tony that was a very interesting travelogue, more please. Laurie, didn't you say that you were also going to Perth? I'm a lucky girl as well, I have a photo of Yvette, and soon I will have a figure like hers. I just have to do as I am told. Promise I will Yvette. If you can go to so much trouble for a stranger then so can I. Jood, I just got an email with nothing on, the email that is not me. something about awwwwwwww. Laurie, I am not sure about the new swimsuit. With a slight alteration it would be suitable for some girls too. The straps would cover the little bits. Wouldn't want to get caught up on a hook in it. pmsl. Wonder how long it will be before they are the fashion here? Wilson, where in Qld will you be, could be another excuse for a meet. Lew, please don't hold that room for us, not sure if we can be there, if we do come we can arrange accomodation. Had a real estate agent here this morning, but think it will be a while before we try to sell. There are a few things need doing to the old place, a new bathroom is most important and the floor in dining and kitchen. It is old vinyl and we are in the process of taking it up and polishing the lovely hard wood floorboards. Our homes are always a work in progress. Then we have to decide where we want to move to. Hope all the sick wattlers and family members are feeling better, there are too many of you to mention sad to say. Will email you Trifley. Following up on what Lew said about Telstra. My friend who lives in a northern suburb of Brisbane has just had to go with Telstra because no one else could help him. It is the same here. I get extra MB's because we are Telstra Country but I am beginning to think that they are cheating me a bit. Also if you are not a Telstra customer, you go to the back of the list for any repairs. We should get a dossier on them. Well I have gone on long enough, catch up later Luv SuzyQ

Joodle. Didnt get to the BDM's in Scotland mate. I have only a smidgin of Scot in me, and only a very small twig at that. We only had a cuppla days in Edinburgh, and as it was our first visit to Scotland there was so much to see in such a short time. It is a very large City...as City's go ( as you know ) and we walked and walked our little pegs orf. So much to see...so little time, but it was a taste of things to come for future reference, and if i could go back, i wouldnt hesitate. The history alone, would have taken me a month to see, and still would only have touched the surface. Laurie. Loved the Armoury in all the Castles i have visted, and it took me all day in Buck Palace and Windsor Castle just to see it last year, while Barb ventured off into other places. I was dissapointed i couldnt see any blood on the swords.....LOL Tony Oz..:>)) Orf wif there eads...i say...:>))...Ice in Beer..tsk tsk...Blasphemy ps. Id'e have made a great King....lol pps. Hi Joy...:>)) Yes, we visited St.Pauls in London. It was on the Sunday, and a mass was in service. They close off the Crypts on Sunday as it is below the main Church service.We were told it was closed as not to disturb Sunday mass, as to much noise from visitors disturbs the going on upstairs. We walked to the entry ( near the gates to the Crypts ) and they were closed. There was a girl ( Kelly ) who was an official ( near the entrance ) and we had exlained we were from Oz, and it was our last day in England, and we were dissapointed it was closed. I walked off into the shop to but something, and left Barb to talk to Kelly.....:>))) 5 min went by...and Barb came up to me and motioned me to come quickly. Kelly had done us a favour....:>)) she opened the Crypt gates...told us not to make a sound, and let us have 10 min alone to venture inside. We saw the Nelson and Duke of Wellington plus many others that had been damaged by the great fire of London, so that finished our last day off nicely. Got some great Photo's at the Crypt for our Album. Tony Oz...:>))

Afternoon All, I have sent the winning numbers to Trifley to post to everyone, I don't have email addy's for everyone. Fingers crossed all. Loved hearing about your travels Tony, looking forward to the next instalment. Everything crossed Wilson

Great to hear from you again Vonny - you get out and bend that plastic. .. If you arent sure how to, get hold of Tony's Barb, she's an expert. Although lovely and sunny this morning, when I went up the street, - where the shops are, there was no sun, only a biting wind - everyone was huddled into themselves. A bit cloudy now though, sun is still around but so damn cold inside. .. Im told its going to be fine for the next few days which is good, as I'll be away. Tony - I been there I been there - wonder if the people you stayed with were the ones we had - I can't remember their names, but I couldnt understand them either. They told us of a pub to eat at just around the corner a bit -oh sure - about half an hour's walk later we were looking for this Pub 'The Leading Nun' - I think it was actually called 'The Lady Nairn' (couldn't understand their accent!) - but we also went to the place where the tattoo was held, walked right up to the top. They were placing the scaffolding out for the next Tattoo. Also - Edinburgh is the place to get all your bdm certificates - enormous place. I'm surprised you didn't go there. Or maybe you did - in a later msg?? Nice to see you back again Jood

Thanks for sharing Tony, - its on my to do list now! You sound like Ray - had a terrible time getting him away from the Armoury displays in Windosr Castle. I was starting to get worried that he was getting some ideas ! lol luv Laurie

We eventually got to the Castle and we suplied ourselves with the headsets given out, showing and telling the story of the Castle by pressing certain numbered locations on the headsets ( bit of a self guided tour )which explains all locations.The Scot military boys band were marching up and down all over the Castle playing Scottish songs. I was interested in the Armoury room, which was full of Swords, Hatchets,Battle-axes and medievil armour of battles gone by.It took us half a day to see everything, and we then headed back to the City do what everyone else does. ( Shopping ) Tony Oz...:>))

Arvo Wattlers. Just thought i would share a little of our trip with you when we were in Edinburgh, and will add a little each day of our Holiday in the beautiful Scotland Highlands, and some of the places we visited. Scotland...Edinburgh. What a great part of the U.K to visit. Edinburgh was our 1st night stay at a lovely B&B called 'Morar House' in Barnton, owned by Anne & Ian McClennan.We had found that Ian had relations in Melbourne at Hurstbridge ( which is not to far away from where we live ) They welcomed us with a smile and also a tray of Tea and Coffee and some bikkies bought up to our room when we arrived. The room was very clean and tidy. The bed was double size with an En suite, and potpourri, Pictures of Scotland, and small nick nacks dotted the bedroom. On each of our pillows waited a small chocolate each wrapped up as a kind of welcome gift, and after our long trip from Singapore it was a kind gesture. After a good sleep we woke to a typical full Scot brekkie, and i did try some fried haggis, and found it not to bad for my first taste. (Barb declined) At the Brekkie table there was fruit and also Bananas, as we explained about the wipe out of our Banana plantations in Oz. Ian's ( the owner ) ears pricked up and said he was going to increase the price of the B&B for Ozzie's if we ate them ( Jokingly ) We headed into Edinburgh city on a bus which stopped outside our B&B ( One Pound each ) and after a 20 min trip found ourselves walking the streets and popping into all the quaint shops along the way. Many pipers were playing at various locations around the town, as we headed for 'Grey friars Bobby' monument, as Barb had watched the show and read the book as a child. We entered the Grey Friars Cemetery ( Near Edinburgh Castle ) and just inside was the headstone dedicated by Disney to the little dogs memory. Up a bit further was the Headstone of John Gray, the master of Grey friar Bobby. We walked slowly through the graveyard with our jaws dropped as we read inscription's ( Very clear )and monuments on Crypts of people who had died in the 1600s aged in their 70s and 80s...giving them births c.1500s I Photographed and Videoed all i could find pre 1600 as the History alone that was written on some of these Crypts ( With Skull & Cross Bones & Gargoyles ) carved on them,was a sight i will never forget. Some Crypts were 15ft high and 12 ft wide and walled, and some with black wrought iron gates. Just standing inside some of them bought a shiver up my spine as i looked at the Skull & Cross bones carved into the Crypt walls. ( Real Pirate stuff ) Some Headstones were of People who had been beheaded or murderers that had been tortured, and i couldn't help myself but read as much as possible ( before it got dark )....hee hee. The shame ( unfortunately ) were the numerous destruction of some of the tombs and Headstones by teenage kids who hang around in groups in the Graveyard showing no respect for the History of a time gone by,and that they are destroying. ( little buggers ) We headed for Grey Friars Pub ( Just outside the Graveyard ) and had a bite to eat, and a Beer ( Luke warm ) O'h well..cant please everyone...:>))), but noticed the Men and Women adding ice cubes to the beer glasses, which you would be drawn and quartered if they did that in Oz. Watered down beer is blasphemy...lol We walked through closes and alley ways and eventually headed up the Hill towards Edinburgh Castle ( at the Rear ) and spotted numerous rabbit's eating and playing in the grass banks surrounding the Castle walls. Rabbit warrens everywhere. We climbed the steps and eventually came across the Entrance to where the Military Tattoo is held. The Castle was closed as it was late in the afternoon, so we walked down Castle Hill and the High street, stopping at various shops and locations along the Royal Mile, vowing to return to-morrow morning to enter Edinburgh Castle. Early the next morning we headed for Mary Kings Close on our way up to the Castle, and took a guided tour of the Close. Walking down the steps and back through history into the 17 and 1800s,in and out rooms down the tight dimly lit, smelly ,and damp alley-ways underground, was a great experience as the guide told the story of the people and Mary King, and tried many times to frighten us with loud banging on the walls and voices screaming off into the dark Closes and small lanes of this underground city.Ghostly figures and light shows were going on all around you. Barbs knuckles were white as she gripped the belt on my pants, and stood as close to me as she could get, but i was more interested at the Architecture of the building, and at one stage was reprimanded for not keeping up with the group. ( i wanted to inspect and touch everything )its a Geno thing....LOL

mumble mumble mumble . . . guess who had to change her plans for today . . . The lovely Ray went off and left his laptop and his mobile phone behind so I had to have a change of plans and be the messenger!! Going to make it very easy tonight to show him the shoes I found in the city yesterday (teehee) they were just begging to come home with me! Ah well, tomorrow is another day - well thats the plan anyway. Von . . . I know . . . I've been there! Touched the old city wall! If all pans out we will be going up the river Kwai on a houseboat with Indonesian friends for a couple of days. All depends on their sons health report from the Drs. Poor Anna - hard when they take the toys off you isn't it !! not long now . . Enjoy your long service Wilson - isn't it always the way the sickies come when your due to go or are on holidays. Must have let yourself get worn down too much. You will enjoy the warmer weather where you are going anyway. It amazing how a little thing like rain can alter a farmers disposition isn't it . . . Going to put old puter back together and see if I can find the info I am missing on there this afternoon - so catch you all later luv Laurie

Time almost up - there is a cheaper internet option but it is 5 mins away and is raining this morning :) Laurie, you should spend your two days in Chiang mai - It's really a nice place. See you all next Monday evening if i am awake - i was very tired after the trip here. this time i'll be travelling at night thought so might sleep. perhaps :) ~~~~~~~~~Vonny