Monday, October 30, 2006
London and Home
Still to come....!
Newton Stewart and Edinburgh
Jean holding her birth certificate outside the National Archives of Scotland.
It's the first time she has seen it and has discovered she was born at Stobhill Hospital in Denistoun.
Edinburgh Castle
Jean and Liz at the Walter Scott Tearooms in Romaine and Dawson's on Princess Street
Windsor Lodge on Windsor St at Newton Stewart is the house where Jean was evacuated to during the War. We were lucky enough to be able to get in and have a good look round as a private couple have bought it and are in the process of renovationg it. It was purpose built as a children's home
It's the first time she has seen it and has discovered she was born at Stobhill Hospital in Denistoun.
Edinburgh Castle
Jean and Liz at the Walter Scott Tearooms in Romaine and Dawson's on Princess Street
Windsor Lodge on Windsor St at Newton Stewart is the house where Jean was evacuated to during the War. We were lucky enough to be able to get in and have a good look round as a private couple have bought it and are in the process of renovationg it. It was purpose built as a children's home
Monday, October 23, 2006
Glasgow (a family affair)
We visited Bill Johnston from the Centre for Academic Practice and Learning Enhancement at Strathclyde University and he took us out for coffee. He described what their university (half the size of UniSA) is doing for first year students and there are many similarities. He will be out to Australia again next year so may be able to catch up with him again in Queensland at the First year Experience Conference.
Jean and I with Arthur and Pinky at their house after a delicious lunch. It was great fun to talk with them.
Arthur took us to see the world famous Burrell Collection and this is a photo of just one of the huge number of exhibits. Well worth a visit if you are ever in Glasgow
Part of Mum and Dad back to Grandma Borland's house where they were married. Our sister Patricia suggested that this would be a good thing to do and we did it with our cousin Arthur Kane and that made it really special!
This picture shows the type of tram (left) our mother drove during the war. It's funny because I always thought she drove a horse drawn tram for some reason but Jean tells me that one day a horse's head came through the front window of the tram. Shows how stories can become distorted
Grandma Borland's House The leadlight on the front door of Grandma Borland's house
Jean outside the door of 338 on the second landing (a trip down memory lane) but no-one was home!
Number 338 Duke Street
A Halloween display at tea rooms in Sauchiehall Street. We had lunch at the Willow Tea rooms on Sauchiehall Street yesterday. These famouse rooms were designed and appointed by Charrles Rennie Mackintosh who was a very famous Scottish Artist and Architect
Glasgow Youth Hostel
- a beautiful old building that has seen grander days
Jean and I with Arthur and Pinky at their house after a delicious lunch. It was great fun to talk with them.
Arthur took us to see the world famous Burrell Collection and this is a photo of just one of the huge number of exhibits. Well worth a visit if you are ever in Glasgow
Part of Mum and Dad back to Grandma Borland's house where they were married. Our sister Patricia suggested that this would be a good thing to do and we did it with our cousin Arthur Kane and that made it really special!
This picture shows the type of tram (left) our mother drove during the war. It's funny because I always thought she drove a horse drawn tram for some reason but Jean tells me that one day a horse's head came through the front window of the tram. Shows how stories can become distorted
Grandma Borland's House The leadlight on the front door of Grandma Borland's house
Jean outside the door of 338 on the second landing (a trip down memory lane) but no-one was home!
Number 338 Duke Street
A Halloween display at tea rooms in Sauchiehall Street. We had lunch at the Willow Tea rooms on Sauchiehall Street yesterday. These famouse rooms were designed and appointed by Charrles Rennie Mackintosh who was a very famous Scottish Artist and Architect
Glasgow Youth Hostel
- a beautiful old building that has seen grander daysThe Hebrides
A castle on Skye 
Fishing creels at Leverburgh
The Hebrides from Ullapool docks
The Hebrides were magnificent (pictures can't do them justice) and we spent the night in a bunkhouse at Leverburgh on the Isle of Harris (below) that was very comfortable and welcoming
Ullapool before the crossing- the ferry was a bit late so we had a great walk around the town
Fishing creels at Leverburgh
The Hebrides from Ullapool docks
The Hebrides were magnificent (pictures can't do them justice) and we spent the night in a bunkhouse at Leverburgh on the Isle of Harris (below) that was very comfortable and welcoming
Ullapool before the crossing- the ferry was a bit late so we had a great walk around the town
The Isle of Lewis was a great ferry - the trip took nearly three hours and it was really enjoyable!
Scotland
After two nights at Inverness we took the train to Ullapool to catch the ferry The Isle of Lewis
This is an ancient burial ground that we looked at -very close to Loch Ness. They barbecued the people in preparation for burial under these stones and twice a year a shaft of light would go through the centre of the tunnel to take the spirits of the dead people.
Two Heiland Coos!
Urquhart Castle
Leaving Loch Ness shores for a trip to the ruins of Urquhart Castle. This picture does not do it justice -it was really beautiful!!! The day was overcast and drizzly...dreicht I think they call it in Scotland!
Jean on the shores of Loch Ness....waiting for Nessie???
Next day at Inverness Castle
While walking from the train to the Edinburgh Youth Hostel we thought we were getting a welcome but it turned out to be for a wedding!
This is an ancient burial ground that we looked at -very close to Loch Ness. They barbecued the people in preparation for burial under these stones and twice a year a shaft of light would go through the centre of the tunnel to take the spirits of the dead people.
Two Heiland Coos!
Urquhart Castle
Leaving Loch Ness shores for a trip to the ruins of Urquhart Castle. This picture does not do it justice -it was really beautiful!!! The day was overcast and drizzly...dreicht I think they call it in Scotland!
Jean on the shores of Loch Ness....waiting for Nessie???
Next day at Inverness Castle
While walking from the train to the Edinburgh Youth Hostel we thought we were getting a welcome but it turned out to be for a wedding!
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Essex to Cornwall
It was sad to leave Reg in Essex on Thursday but we took a cheerful picture in the back garden.
On the train to Cornwall....
The Youth Hostel, Castle Hornbeck has been fine, with comfortable beds and a good breakfast each day
On Friday we went on a round trip to St Ives, Land's End, St Just, St Erth but we had lunch first on the Esplanade at Penzance
Who was the Hooded stranger discovered on the Hop on Hop off bus??????????
Can you tell???
The Scilly Isles were beautiful. A three hour ferry ride took us there and we stopped for 4 hours on the main island of St Mary's
This is the Star Castle on St Mary's which was built at the time of QE1 around
1700 and quite something. It is a really beautiful spot
Today we went to Mousehole which is a beautiful fishing village and had a Cornish pasty for lunch. They were huge so we had half each
Jean and I had a meal at the Pirate's Inn which dates back to the 1600's and the chef was a bit of a character (a bit Rick Steinish)
We have had three lovely days in Cornwall and will be leaving for Inverness via Edinburgh tomorrow.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
London, Oxford, Milton Keynes and Essex
London where we stayed at the home of Jim and Di at Rotherhithe
Day trip to Oxford
Milton Keynes - the Open University - Jean and I went to hear Howard Gardener talking about his idea of 5 minds for the future! He is the gentleman with the almost full head of dark hair and glasses by the way!
The Borland family left from this wharf at Tilbury Essex when they came to Australia from Scotland a very long time ago..
Jean and Jim just outside Tilbury Fort on the Thames
Tomorrow Cornwall where we are spending the night in a castle no less... courtesy of YHA of course.....!
Paris Retrospective!
AAAAAHHHHHH, Paris!!! We are here.
View from our apartment at the top of St Paul's Metro........................................
Inside the apartment
Jean and Lesley in the kitchen working out what we will have for dinner on the first night!
Early morning walk (next morning) to Notre Dame Cathedral.
Lunch time????
At Giverny... Claude Monet's garden and home!
Jean at Monet's water garden
Giverny
In sight of England... There'll be bluebirds over!
