Last year we spent Christmas with the Fletchcocks, with them travelling up to Edinburgh. This year we made the trek south to London.
A lot of the fun this year was that Jethro was fully into Santa Claus. Last year his understanding of the event was a little sketchy. He knew something unusual was happening, but didn’t really comprehend why it might be exciting.
This year, Xmas trickery installation is complete.
Fletcher frying
Tree decorating
Tree decorating continued
Prepping reindeer carrot snack
Placing reindeer carrot snack
Playing with a light
Lulu — the dog we looked after. There were cats too, but they hid all the time so no photos of them
Frances foot and tomato sauce splat. Tasty shoes!
The tree with icky flash
The tree without icky flash
Chrismas morning going down the stairs
Santa has brought some stuff
Unveiling of the scooter
Scooter testing 1
Scooter testing
Random tantrum
The nice people who spent Christmas with us
Michael and Lulu
Michael and Lulu
More scooter testing
Ok, that’s enough
The random photos of tofu have gone missing. I don’t think much of value has been lost though.
I also recorded some audio of the excitement. From a quick review of the 17 minute clip, it seems to be mostly the adults rambling on like idiots with the occasional exclamation of excitement from small child Jethro. Editing is required.
The nice thing about receiving rubbish news was that we had already booked a long weekend getaway to Oban. Or, more specifically, to Loch Melfort, about 17 miles south of Oban.
So we let it go and piled the family, the luggage, and the dog into the car.
Wait, we don’t have a car.
Fortunately it is possible to hire a car in Scotland. Angie finished off the packing while I caught the bus to Falkirk to pick up the rental car. I chose Mitchells Hire Drive, Scotland’s favourite vehicle rentals. Scotland must love low levels of service and product quality.
The next cheapest company was double the price of this bunch, so perhaps I expected too much. Most people probably don’t think they deserve to receive a clean car and full tank of petrol when they pay £40 a day for the privilege of using a Ford Ka. Yeah, it must just be us uppity immigrants. The dirty looks I got when I raised some objections. Sadly there wasn’t a lot of competition nearby, otherwise I would have walked out and tried to rent a vehicle somewhere else.
The beaten-up grubby car acquired, I travelled home and we loaded in all the gang.
Weather was our friend on this trip, and Scotland is a really beautiful place on sunny days.
The drive was beautiful. The place we stayed, Melfort Pier and Harbour, was beautiful. There was a tiny beach and Jethro loved splashing in the water. Bean had her first experience of a beach, and I had the impression that she approved. She seemed to say, “Surely, such holidays are fitting for a dog of my high status, and why have I not been treated to such things previously?”
We travelled a bit around the coast, visiting Oban and taking a boat ride around the seal island. Also got a look at some salmon farms up close.
Other short drives took us to the tiny villages along the lochside. Beautiful little spots like Craobh and Ardfern received our custom and appreciation.
Then we returned, and on the drive back we found a most wonderful spot for lunch. The pictures belong tell you more.
Bean’s first run on the beach
One of the views from our accommodation
One of many stones thrown that weekend
Throwing action
Throwing action
Pretty stuff we found on a walk
Pretty stuff we found on a walk
The lovely buildings in the village of Craobh. Too bad their restaurant wasn’t open for some reason.
A horse-drawn carriage, of which there were more than one
It’s the first Tuesday after the second Thursday in June, and everyone knows what that means.
What’s that? You aren’t familiar with the great significance of this day?
Admittedly, this is probably something that would never have mattered to me at all, had fate not sent me to live in the Ancient and Royal Burgh of Linlithgow. Such places are so old and steeped in history, that they are bound to develop eccentric mannerisms.
The particular oddity in this case is that it is a local holiday, all the shops closed, and people wished one another a “Happy Marches.”
Was this the inspiration for Lewis Carroll‘s mad March Hare? That is my theory at the moment, at any rate.
If you want to read more about the oddness, it is explained in detail over at the official Linlithgow Marches and Associated Madhatters website. If you click about a bit there are videos of previous years’ events to be found.
Alternatively, just have a look through the sample of the photos I took:
One of the marching bands — not marching.
Balloon purchasing
Marching Band standing and playing in one place
View of the Cross
Flaggy things in the sky
High population density of people in tophats and tails
Bands and tractors
Vintage Car. Maroon
Vintage car. White
Limo. Flags above. Reflections. Marching bands.
Bekilted persons bearing flag
Marching
Marching band closes-up
A horse-drawn carriage, of which there were more than one
People on the side of the road, looking towards the Cross
Toy Story Float
Jethro watching the procession. He is no longer impressed
Multiplying enthusiasm by age — this guy got the highest score for the day
When I let Bean off her lead as we went passed the palace, Jethro became very concerned that she would take her new-found liberation and run with it. And not stop running.
He charged after her calling out for her return. Of course this just encouraged her to explore at a greater distance. In the end, i managed to persuade Jethro that she would follow us if we just kept walking.
The Waffle Group 