Andrew and Elizabeth Caldwell's
Travel Page
Act III – Scene VI - Summer Holiday and Edinburgh Wednesday 1 May cloudy / thunder showers, 15°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:45, home @ 6:00 · Out for a walk @ 7:00, home @ 7:30 Thursday 2 May fine, cloudy, 15°C · Up @ 7:00, out @ 9:30 · Tube to Regents Park, went to Polish Consulate, applied for entry visa · Walked through town, met Liz for picnic lunch in Green Park @ 12:30 · Tube to work, arr @ 1:30 · Left @ 5:30, home @ 5:45 Friday 3 May fine / partly cloudy, 16°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr @ 9:15 · Left @ 5:15, tube to Leicester Sq, met Liz · Bought Europe mapbook (£ 10) and Caravan Club Europe books (2 @ £10 ea) · Walked to Leicester Sq, tea @ Pizza Hut (£15) · Tube home, arr @ 7:45 Saturday 4 May partly cloudy / shower, 15°C Up @ 8:30. Drove to Halfords and bought a multimeter (£12) and 4 way 12v socket (£6). Home and packed up van, left @ 11:00 Drove on A23 through Croydon (in the traffic) then lunch @ Little Chef on A23 @ 1:15. Left @ 2:00 and drove onto M25 around to A21 then south. Stopped at a couple of camping and caravanning shops then south on A2100 to Battle. Parked and walked along High Street, bought some groceries (pot noodles, sausages, bread milk etc) (£10) Back to van then onto the A271 to Normanhurst Court Camp (Camping Club site), Checked in and paid (£13 for pitch, 2 adults and electric). Set up then had tea @ 6:00 (pot noodles& sausages). After tea walked down part of the 1066 walkway to Catsfield @ 7:00 (1 ¼ miles each way, down hill there, up hill back). Bought jam and coffee in Catsfield. Back to camp @ 8:15. Coffee then bed @ 9:30 when dark. Sunday 5 May partly cloudy / breezy, 16°C Up @ 6:30 (sun-up). Had b/fast then when for bike ride on the roads to Catsfield then back up the 1066 walkway (3 miles). Packed up van, got gas bottle filled (£9.75 for 2.75Kg bottle at camp) and left @ 9:00 Drove to Battle, parked in pay and display then went to Battle Abbey @ 10:00. Napoleonic Battle being staged so entry fee higher than normal (£7.20 ea). Walked around Abbey ruins then out @ 11:00 Back to van and drove south on A2100 to A259 then to Pett and te Fairlight Wood Camping Club site (£13 incl elec). Offloaded bikes then drove into Hastings then along the seaside (thruough the traffic jam) to Bexhill. Went to PCWorld and bought speakers (Creative SW320, £40) for the van. Lunch @ McDonalds. Drove back to Hastings. Parked van and went up the East Hill Railway (funicular railway, 90p ea) to the top of East Hill. Back down and walked along the (pebbly) beach then to Hasting’s shops. Bought bulldog clips (to hold the curtains closed), small gas canister (Kovea / Coleman type, £4) and dish brush. Back to van then back to camp @ 3:30. relaxed, read books etc Out for tea to Pett pub @ 5:30 (Two Sawyers) and had roasts (£17). Back to camp @ 7:30, bed @9:30 Monday 6 May overnight rain / partly cloudy / drizzle / fine, 16°C Up @ 7:00. Had b/fast then packed up van and left @ 9:15. Drove through Hastings, Bexhill, Norman’s Bay to Eastbourne. Drove along waterfront then up Beachy Head. Parked and had scones then walked up to edge of the cliffs. Back to van then drove back to the A259 then turned off at Westdean. Drove north to the Long Man of Wilmington chalk figure. Drove to Lewes, walked along High Street then to Pizza Express for lunch. Left town @ 1:15. Drove through old part of town then north on the A275 to the A22 then onto M25. Stopped @ services to stretch our legs then around M25 to junction 3. Onto A20 and into London. Home via Lewisham @ 3:45 Tuesday 7 May rain / cloudy, 17°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:30, home @ 5:45 · Out for a walk @ 8:00, home @ 8:45 Wednesday 8 May cloudy, 16°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:30, home @ 5:45 Thursday 9 May partly cloudy, 15°C · Up @ 7:00, walk to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:30, home @ 5:45 · Out for a walk @ 8:00, home @ 9:00 Friday 10 May hazy, 14°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 9:00 · Went to Polish Consulate @ 12:00 and picked up entry visa (single entry for <30 days, £30) · Left work @ 5:30, home @ 5:45 Saturday 11 May hazy / partly cloudy, 16°C · Up @ 9:00 · Posted parcel to AC’s mum for mothers day (late). Contained t shirts, cd’s and newspapers (£30 postage) · Drove out to West Thurrock to AA workshop to get van looked at. · Drove over Dartford bridge (£1 toll) then to Bromley Motorcaravans to buy things (water carrier £3, polarity tester £10 and euro power adapter £3) · Drove to Thamesmead for lunch @ 12:30 @ Sainsburys café · Drove to Woolwich and across on the Woolwich Free Ferry then home via Tower Bridge. Home @ 3:00 · Tube to Kentish Town to hire DVD, none worth having so back home & got Hannibal from local shop · Home @ 6:00 · Pizza for tea (£10) then watched TV Sunday 12 May hazy / fine, 16°C · Up @ 9:00, watched DVD then drove north through Kings Cross, left @ 12:00 · Got held up past Archway then onto M1 @ 1:15 · Stopped for lunch & petrol (£30 for 37 litres) @ service point off M1 · Drove north to Milton Keynes, (in)famous for its town planning, arr 3:00 · Drove around then parked and walked around shopping centre, and looked @ indoors artificial ski area · Had coffee, left @ 4:30 · Strange place, bit sterile, like Disneyland · Drove south on A5 then onto M1, then round north circular and home via Liverpool Street · Home @ 6:15 · Out for tea @ Pommellers Rest (£13) @ 7:15 · Home @ 8:30 Monday 13 May rain, 15°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr @ 8:30 · Left @ 5:30, home @ 5:45 Tuesday 14 May fine / shower / fine, 16°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:30, home @ 5:45 · Out for a walk @ 8:00, home @ 8:30 Wednesday 15 May fine, 16°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:30, home @ 5:45 · Out for a walk @ 8:00, home @ 8:30 Thursday 16 May fine hot, 25°C · Up @ 8:30, drove van out to Belvedere to Bromley Motorcaravans, closed · Drove to Halfords @ West Thurrock, bought spanners (£5) · Drove to Essex Camping Centre, bought drain pipe, 12v socket, 500g camping gaz cylinder (£30) and ordered bike carrier for van (£120) · Drove home, arr 12:30 · Walked to work, arr 1:00 · Left @ 5:30, home @ 5:45 · Out for a walk @ 8:00, home @ 8:45 Friday 17 May fine / cloudy / rain, 20°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 10:00 · Left @ 5:30, home @ 5:45 · Out @ 6:30, bus to Globe Theatre to see Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, very good show · Finished @ 10:30, bus home Saturday 18 May cloudy / breezy, 16°C · Up @ 8:00 · Drove out to South Ockendon to Essex Camping Centre to pick up bike carrier for van (£120) and new leisure battery (£35) · Drove over Dartford Crossing, then missed the turn off, eventually found out way to Liz’s Aunty Wilma in Gravesend, arr 11:45 · Out for lunch @ pub in Gravesend then to promenade for a walk @ 4:00 · Back to Wilma & Ray’s, left @ 6:30, home @ 7:30 Sunday 19 May fine / cloudy, 17°C · Up @ 9:00 · Worked on fitting bike carrier to van · Out @ 12:00 to Tescos for shopping, then to Halfords and B&Q for bits and pieces. Lunch @ McDonalds · Home @ 2:00, more work on van · Out for tea @ 6:00 to JD Weatherspoons · Home @ 8:00 Monday 20 May fine, 23°C · Up @ 8:00 · Took van out to AA in West Thurrock for clutch and service. Left home @ 9:00, arr @ AA 10:30 · Got ride to Purfleet station and caught train to Fenchurch Street, arr 11:30 · Walked to work, arr 12:00 · Left @ 5:30, home @ 5:45 Tuesday 21 May fine / rain, 18°C · Up @ 7:00 · Walked to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:30, went to Battersea Park to play football with guys from work (in the rain). We lost · Went to Prince Albert pub @ 7:30, left @ 8:45 · Walked to Queenstown Road station caught train to Waterloo then tube home. Arr 10:00 Wednesday 22 May fine, 19°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 9:00 · Last day @ Tangram, had cakes shouted for afternoon tea · Left @ 5:30, home @ 5:45 · Out for a walk @ 7:00, home @ 7:45 · Liz unwell, being sick etc Thursday 23 May fine / showers, 16°C · Up @ 8:30, Liz to work @ 9:30 · Caught tube to Chancery Lane to look @ market @ 12:00 then to Kentish Town to visit Quaint Services · Looked around site and left @ 2:30 · Tube to Moorgate to EdenBrown, dropped off pressies then home by bus @ 4:00 Friday 24 May rain / fine / breezy, 16°C · Up @ 7:30, left @ 8:00 · Tube to West Ham, train to Barking then train to Lakeside, arr 10:30 · Walked to AA garage to pick up van after new clutch and service (£530) · Drove to Greenwich then to Halfords in Old Kent Road · Bought tarp etc · McDonalds for lunch (takeaway), home @ 1:00 · Packed flat, cleaned etc · Loaded van with stuff to be stored then left @ 5:30, drove through town to Liz and Howards in Hampton, arr 7:00 · Stored our stuff in their garage · Left @ 7:45, back to town to David and Selina’s in Holland Road, dropped of chest of drawers for them to have · Left @ 9:00, drove through town then to Pizza Hut for takeaway tea @ 10:00 · Home @ 10:45 Saturday 25 May fine / showers, 15°C · Up @ 7:00, packed van and cleaned flat · Put bike rack on the van · Leone from Hasting International came for the final inspection and hand over of flat @ 10:00 · Left @ 10:30 (now homeless), drove to Crystal Palace, lunch on the way @ Fox on the Hill pub, in Denmark Hill · Arr Crystal Palace Caravan Club site @ 12:00, checked in (£22 for 2 nights), unloaded bikes etc · Drove to Liz and Howards, arr 2:30 for engagement party · Left @ 5:45, back to camp @ 7:00 Sunday 26 May rain / showers, 15°C · Up @ 8:00 · Had breakfast then walked through Crystal Palace Park to train station @ 11:00 · Caught train to Clapham Junction then to Twickenham, arr 12:45 · Walked to rugby ground sat and waited · Game started @ 3:00 (Barbarians 29 England 54) · Left @ 4:45, walked back to station, train back to Crystal Palace, arr 6:30 · Had tea then organised for start of holiday Monday 27 May showers / clearing, 16°C - London to Ieper, Belgium Up @ 7:00, packed up the van then booked a ferry ticket (Dover Calais, return up to 18 July, through Caravan Club, £169) on P&O Stena Line Left camp @ 9:30, drove to A20 then onto M20 heading southeast to Dover. Arr @ ferry terminal @ 11:45. Got international driving permits from the AA (£4 ea) and got on boat @ 12:30, sailed @ 12:45. Bumpy crossing but not too bad Arrived in Calais @ 3:15 (eurotime), drove (on right now) to Dunkirque, arr @ 4:00. parked and looked around town. Bought Francforter (€4.47) for tea then back to van and drove into Belgium then off on the N8 to Ieper Drove around town looking for camp (got lost), found it @ 6:00 (€10.50/night incl power & showers). Parked and setup. Walked into town to get milk and cereal. Back @ 7:30. Tea (rice and francforters) then relaxed. Sundown @ 10:00 Camp: Jeugdstadion, Leopold III Caan 16 Tuesday 28 May fine / cloudy / rain, 15°C – Ieper, Belgium Up @ 8:00, booked another nights stay. Left @ 10:00, walked to Menin Gate then into town (Menin Gate is a memorial to British Soldiers of WWI). Walked through Grote Markt then to info centre, then to St Maartens Kathedral for a look inside. Went shopping for supplies then walked to “Reservoir Cemetery” to look at WWI graves, including New Zealanders. Back to main square then back to camp @ 12:00 Had sandwiches for lunch then relaxed for a while. Out @ 2:00 for a bike ride around town and outskirts then to the city Ramparts nd along top of walls to Menin Gate, then back to camp @ 3:30 Relaxed then tea @ 7:00, rain started later, with thunder and lightning Photo "T S Jacka, New Field Artillery, aged 24, Reservoir Cemetery, Ieper"
Wednesday 29 May fine / cloudy / windy / rain / fine, 16°C – Ieper – Middelburg, Netherlands Up @ 7:00, had breakfast, packed van and left @ 9:00. Drove out of town to find Messines, got lost then got instructions from nice old Flemish man. Drove south to Messines, found NZ WWI memorial, then back to Ieper, then east to Kortrijk and then north to Brugge. Drove round to camper parking area near the Railway Station, then walked into town, over canals then to Market Square and to Stadhuis. Went to info centre and got a map (€0.20) then to Belfry Tower. AC went up to the top (366 steps, €5) and got soaked @ top. Back to camper, via money machine and butcher (chicken fillets €5.26 for 400g). Drove round ring road then north towards Knocke, crossed into the Netherlands then went to Breskens for ferry to Vlissingen (20 minutes, €9) Drove north from Vlissingen to Middelburg, looked for camp north of town but couldn’t find it so went to one in town. Parked and set up van then rode into town centre @ 5:30, around nice old town, went to supermarket, then back to van @ 7:00. Chicken curry for tea. Camp: Camp Middelburg, Koninginnelaan 55 Photo "NZ WWI Memorial, Messines" Photo "Brugge from Belfry Tower" Photo "Liz Caldwell on Breskens Ferry" Thursday 30 May fine / breezy, 17°C – Middelburg to Amsterdam Up @ 8:00, packed up van and left camp and Middelburg :@ 10:00. Drove east then north on the N256 across Netherlands “sea’s” then east and north on N59, A29 then round Rotterdam on A15/A16 and A20. Stopped @ Gouda for lunch @ 12:00. Walked around Markt and shops then had hotdogs for lunch (€4). Pretty little town. Left @ 1:15, back onto A20 then A12 then A2 to Amsterdam. Of A9 (ring road) @ S116 then to Camp Vliegenbos, arr 2:30 Checked in for 2 nights (€48.30), set up then rode down to IJkanaal to look across @ Amsterdam centre. Back to camp @ 4:15. Out @ 7:00, walked to free ferry for Centraal Station. Walked up Damrak then thru Red Light District to Waal Gebouw. Stopped @ café/bar for a bier and vodka/lemonade, then carried on wandering. Saw lots of Ladys and lots of tourists! Back to Centraal @ 8:45, ferry back to north side of kanaal @ 9:00, back @ camp @ 9:15 Friday 31 May fine / breezy, 17°C – Amsterdam Up @ 9:00, had b/fast then left @ 10:30. Rode to free ferry, then ferry to Centraal Station. Rode east along canals through Jordaan district to Anne Franks house, arr 11:15. Queued then into museum / house @ 12:00. Looked through actual house where they hid. Very interesting. Had lunch @ museum (beef sausage sandwiches and coffee, €8) Left @ 1:00, bought tickets on canal cruise (€7 ea), got on boat @ 1:15. Went along outer canals to Rijksmuseum then to Amstel River to Bleuwbridge, then to Oostdock. Went past Maritime Museum and clipper then along to Centraal Station, then out onto the IJKanaal then back to Anne Franks house, arr 3:15 Walked to Westkerche Markt, got some money then had ice creams. Back to bikes then rode to Palace and Dam, then to internet café on Neuwendijk to check emails etc (€4 for 1hr and 2 coffees). Rode back to the station @ 5:00 and onto ferry Bought groceries on way (bread, milk, coke etc, €8), back to camp @ 5:30. Relaxed then had tea and went for a walk through the adjoining forest area @ 7:00 Photo "Anne Franks House and museum" Saturday 1 June, fine 20°C – Amsterdam to Harskamp, Netherlands Up @ 8:00, packed up van., left @ 10:00. Drove to A10 then to A1, then SE to junction 17, then south to camp ground, near Harskamp (near Otterlo), checked in @ 11:00 and parked van (Camping de Harskampdennan, large camp with pitches in groups between high banks and lots of trees, €15) Drove into Harskamp, bought wienerschnitzel, salami (metwurst), plums, bananas, plugin antimosiquito, €14, then bought 2 camping chairs (€18ea) and washing line and bread board and pegs. Back to camp for lunch @ 12:30. Out on our bikes for ride to Harskamp, got money (€100) then rode out through countryside then to Otterlo, rode to park then back to café on main road for coffee and icecream sundaes (€5) Rode back to camp, arr 4:00 (25km ride). Sat in the sun then had tea. Went for a walk around camp Sunday 2 June fine, 20°C – Harskamp, Netherlands to Koln (Cologne), Germany Up @ 8:00, packed up the van and drove south to Arnheim then to Nijmegen then thru Kleve and Goch to the A57 autobahn (crossed into Germany just out of Nijmegen). Stopped near Rheinberg for petrol and lead additive (blei-erzats) (€55), then McDonalds for lunch Carried on along A57 towards Koln, then on A1 then A4, crossed the Rhein then turned off @ Poll exit and drove to camp (Campingplatz Stadt Koln, €30 for 2 nights, small camp next to the Rhein), arr @ 1:30 Set up van then went for a ride up the Rhein looking for a swimmingpool. Stopped and had an icecream (eis) then back to camp (didn’t find a pool) @ 5:00 (15km ride). Relaxed then had tea, bought wurst, bread, milk and biscuits @ camp shop (€6) Went for a walk after tea over the Rodenkirchen Bridge over the Rhein, which is next to the camp then back to camp @ 9:00 Monday 3 June fine / sticky / thunderstorms, 23°C – Koln Up @ 9:00, breakfast etc then walked across the Rhein to the U-bahn stop (Marienberg) on Line 16, caught train/tram to Hauptbahnhof (main train station) (€1:90 ea/eachway), took about 20 minutes Walked across to the Dom, went inside then up the south tower (Liz to ¾ height, AC to the top, 500 steps) for view over the Rhein Valley and Koln. Back down @ 11:30, then to outdoor café next to the Dom for coffee (€5.80 for 2 coffees). Walked along the main shopping streets, Liz bought sporting sandels (€20), AC bought film (€3 for 2x36exp), 12v adapter for the van (€15) and Animal Farm book in german (lite reading!) (€5). Walked to House 4711 to see Cologne Fountain and 4711 shop (the real Cologne) Lunch @ Nordsee (Northsea) restaurant (€15) then walked thru Altmarket (old market) past Rathaus (town hall) to river front. Sat in the sun and people-watched then back to Hauptbahnhof & caught train back to Marienberg @ 3:30 then walked back to camp @ 4:00 Out for a bike ride to find supermarket, started to rain with lightning, did the shopping (packet pasta, cordenbleu chicken, bottled potatos, orange juice etc €13), pissed down while we were in the store, but stopped when we came out. Rode back to camp @ 5:00. Had tea then watched someone trying to throw themselves off the bridge next to camp, fire brigade were called and stopped them. Photo "View from top of Koln Cathedral, looking north"
Tuesday 4 June fine / hazy, 25°C – Koln to Eisenach, Germany Up @ 8:00, packed up etc and left @ 9:45, drove to A4 then round east side of Koln, caught in short traffic jam then east on A4 to A45, then SE to Geissen for lunch @ 1:00. Lunch @ outdoor café (“toast Hawaii”, cheese and pineapple on toast) (€8), bought shopping (jar of wurst, bread, fish fingers, coke €8). Back to van @ 2:00, drove back onto A5 then east to Eisenach, arr 3:00 (now in old East Germany) Drove around town (lost on the potholed / rutted / paved streets), then 10km south of town to camp in Oberellen (Campingplatz am Rennsteig, €16, small gravel camp in the car park of a health club, imagine tumbleweeds!) Relaxed and had tea @ 7:00, went for a walk through village looking at the half timbered houses. Wednesday 5 June hazy / smoggy / fine / breezy / windy, 26°C – Eisenach to Leipzig, Germany Up @ 8:00, packed up etc. Left @ 9:45, drove thru Eisenach, got petrol and lead replacement (2 bottles, €10), then to Castle Wartburg, parked van (€3) then walked up to the castle. Paid for tour (in german, €6, with English guide book). Interesting historic castle. Left @ 12:15, on to autobahn then lunch @ roadside restaurant @ 12:45 (€15, spaghetti bolognaise and bratwurst & potato). Back on the road @ 1:30, headed east on A4 to junction 55 then north on E49-51/A9 to Leipzig. Turned off @ junction 17 then east into Leipzig. Found camp (Campingplatz Auensee, northwest of town in Wahren district (€16.50 plus extra for power used), arr 4:00 Out for a ride to main road for shopping, bought tinned fruit, meat etc, €11. Back to camp. Out again @ 6:00, walked to main road (George Schumann strasse) and caught tram to hauptbahnhof (€4.90 for 2, return). Looked around hauptbahnhof (huge) then walked thru’ centre of town, then past Nickolaikirche and Marktplatz then back to train station @ 7:30. Tram back towards camp. Arr @ camp @ 8:00. Had tea and relaxed
Thursday 6 June cloudy / rain / hazy, 20°C – Leipzig to Dresden, Germany Up @ 8:00, packed up and on the road @ 9:30. Drove to A14 then east, turned off @ Grimma then south to Colditz. Drove up to castle. Took 11:00 tour (€5 ea) with a group of pom’s on a bus tour, had forgotten what they were like. Castle is still being restored but very interesting. Left @ 12:30, drove back to Grimma, parked and walked into town. Got money then went to internet café for lunch and internet access (€18) Left @ 2:15, back to van then back to A14, east to A4 then to Dresden. Off A4 @ junction 81a, found camp (Dresden nord, someone’s big backyard!, but ok if a little crowded, €14.30), arr 4:00 Set up then caught 81 bus to Liststrasse then the 3 tram (strassebahn) to Albertplatz (€6 for ticket for both of us for 24hours). Walked down hauptstrasse to Augustusbrucke, across to Altstadt then walked past 105m mosaic, Frauenkirch (being rebuilt after the bombing), Albertinium Museum, Palace of Electors. Looked around Zwinger and Semper Oper (opera house). Back across river then back on tram @ 6:30, back to camp @ 7:15 Had tea then out for a walk @ 9:00, starting to get darker earlier Photo "Altstadt from Augustusbrucke" Photo "Mosaic history of Germany" Friday 7 June rain / cloudy, 20°C – Dresden to Niesky, Germany Up @ 8:00, packed up and left @ 9:00. Drove to A4 then east to Gerlitz then north to Niesky. Drove round looking for camp, couldn’t find it, so went to info centre in town and got a pamphlet, then we managed to find it (Campingplatz Tonschachte, €12) outside of town in the forest. Checked in and parked by ourselves. Left the bikes then headed back into town @12:00. Found a supermarket and bought meat, juice etc (€12) then had lunch @ café (potato soup and a ploughmans type thing, €8). Drove into centre of town for a look around then went to info place to try to find internet café . Used internet @ info centre. Our holiday pay hasn’t gone in so rang our respective agencies. Ac’s in today, Liz’s next Friday. Back to camp @ 3:00, parked and walked around camp. Tea @ 7:00, read books while it rained. Photo "Van at campground in the woods" Saturday 8 June cloudy, 18°C – Niesky, Germany to Wroclaw, Poland Up @ 8:00, packed up and left @ 9:30. Drove south to A4 then to Polish border @ 10:00. Cleared immigration (AC gets another stamp for being a New Zealander, Liz gets nothing), then east into Poland. Drove northeast on E40, stopped @ Boleslawiec to change money (€70 = 250 zloty), carried on E40 to A18/A4 “motorway”. Dual carriageway but terrible road surface, bumpy, cracked, rutted, 80kph speed limit most of the way. Arrived in Wroclaw off E67 @ 1:30. Drove through town to Olympic Park campground (Olimpijski camp, 40zl / €10). Parked, setup and then caught No8 tram from outside camp (2zl ea/one way) to town (10 minutes) to Plac Dominikanski. Went into shopping mall (Dominika Galleria) for lunch (McDonalds) then did shopping (meat bread etc). Walked to Rynek area of town, past Ratusz (townhall), fountain, restored buildings etc. Bought “Polska” t-shirt for Ac’s mum (62zl) then back to tram and back to camp @ 4:00. Out for a bike ride @ 5:30 around old Olympic Park and into Botanical Gardens opposite camp. Back to van @ 6:30. Had tea then relaxed. Photo "Wroclaw old town centre" Sunday 9 June cloudy / fine later, 24°C – Wroclaw to Oswiecim (Auschwitz), Poland Up @ 8:15, packed up and left @ 9:45. Drove back through Wroclaw to the A4 then east. This section of motorway is new and good. Stopped @ Opole for petrol, then back on A4 to Gliwice (lots of roadworks just before Gliwice) found a Tesco’s @ 12:45. Did some shopping (veal steaks, 2 tiramisu and milk 17zl) and had lunch the café (2 cheeseburgers 10zl). Left @ 2:00, drove through Tychy to Oswiecim (Auschwitz), arrived @ 3:00. Got money in town then went to “camp” (carpark of a Christian retreat / education centre, 22zl per person / night. Set up, relaxed, sat in the sun and had tea Monday 10 June drizzle / cloudy / torrential rain / lightning / cloudy / rain, 16°C – Oswiecim Up @ 8:00, walked to Auschwitz Museum @ Auschwitz I camp. Booked in for guided tour @ 11:00 (50zl for 2), then waited till 11:00, then watched movie of camps liberation then met up with guide for tour of Auschwitz I, through brick buildings with displays and of hair, shoes etc from prisoners. Then to gas chamber / crematorium. Back to main building then bus @ 1:30 (raining now) to Auschwitz II Birkenau. Tour was shortened because of rain and lightning. Toured wooden huts then to watchtower @ main gate Back on the bus to Auschwitz I @ 2:45. Lunch @ museum then walked back to camp @ 4:00. Relaxed in the rain. Photo "Auschwitz II: Birkenau"
Tuesday 11 June rain / cloudy / fine, 18°C – Oswiecim, Poland to Zilina, Slovakia Up @ 8:00, packed up in the drizzle and left @ 9:00. Drove in the rain east on 44 then south on the 7. Stopped for coffee @ 11:00 at truckstop attached to petrol station, then on to the Polish / Slovakia border @ 12:00. Cleared through in 10 minutes, changed money (270zl = 3170 skk (Slovakian Krowns)) then drove thru clearing weather to Dolny Kubin for lunch @ 1:00. Had hamburgers (70 skk / £1) then bought chips and chocolate bars (40 skk / 50 p). Saw bottles of vodka priced @ 150skk (£2). Went to internet offices and used their internet (20skk for 20 minutes) after negotiating the language barrier (someone in their upper floors spoke English). Left @ 2:15 Drove to Zilina through a narrow gorge and on 12km south of Zilina to our camp (Camp Autocamping Sinecne Skaly, 230skk / £3.20 for 1 night!). Wild west themed camp, next to a river. Very peaceful and empty. Set up etc then out for a bike ride @ 5:00 to Rajelke Teplice to find pool, but it was closed so rode back (bought 1.5l coke and chocolate 61skk / 90p), about a 6km round trip. Had tea then relaxed Wednesday 12 June misty / fine, 26°C – Zilina, Slovakia to Vienna, Austria Up @ 7:30, packed up and left @ 8:30. Drove back to Zilina and went to Carrefour Mall. Bought shopping (6 pack of Pepsi cans (90p), 1 litre orange juice (40p), pasta packets,milk and a towel, 889skk / £11!). Filled up with petrol (1430skk / £20!) then drove west and south to to Trencin to motorway then on south to Trnava. McDonalds for lunch (130skk / £2) @ 12:30 Carried on south @ 1:00 to Bratislava and across then border into Austria @ 1:30. Drove on 50 to A4 then north to Vienna, and in to Camp Neue Donau, Am Kaisermuhlendamm @ 3:00 Set up then out @ 4:00 to find camping gaz refill. Drove round petrol stations then went to camp ground @ Laxenburg (15kms south of Vienna) and got replacement bottle (€20). Back to our camp @ 6:45. Had tea then out for a ride @ 8:00 along Donau (Danube) and Kanal. Back @ 9:00 Thursday 13 June fine / hot, 26°C – Vienna, Austria Up @ 7:30, left @ 9:00, caught bus 91a to Kaisermuhlen. Bought day ticket (€5 ea, all transport), then caught U1 line subway to Stephansplatz. Walked to Hofberg Palace / St Josephplatz @ 9:30. Queued for Spanish Riding School rehearsal tickets. Gates opened @ 10:00, tickets €11.60 ea. Liz had to leave after 10 minutes because of allergy to horses. AC left @ 10:30. Very impressive. Walked back to Stephansplatz, changed money (630skk = €10). Had a coffee in the sun and listened to Police Brass Band, then walked to Schwedenplatz. Caught #1 tram (circular route) to Schwartzbergplatz and walked to Schloss Belvedere, through the grounds then back down to the Ringstrasse and had lunch @ Acker Bakery (€9). Back on the tram @ 1:00 then round to the Rathaus. Sat by the fountain in the shade and cooled off till 2:00. Back on #1 tram back to Schwedenplatz then U4 line to Heligenstadt, then #38 bus up the hill to Kahlenberg in the Wienerwald (Vienna woods). Bought icecreams / drinks and looked out over Vienna. Back down on #38 bus then U4 to Schwedenplatz, then U1 and #91a bus back to camp @ 4:30. Bought frankfurters for tea, had franks and pasta, did some washing etc then relaxed Photo "View from Kahlenberg over Vienna and Danube"
Friday 14 June fine, 28°C – Vienna to Grein, Austria Up @ 7:30, packed up and on the road @ 9:45. Drove west on the A23 then to the A21 west out of Vienna then onto A1. Turned off @ exit 100 to Ybbs. Stopped for shopping (bread, milk etc and a pot, €23) Drove along bank of the Danube to Grein, arrived @ camp (Campingplatz Grein, €15) @ 12:30. Set up then had lunch. Relaxed then went for a walk, found a swimming pool then into town amongst old buildings. Liz bought a calling card then back to camp to find shade and relax. Walked to the pool for a swim @ 5:15 till 6:00, then back to camp for tea. Out for a walk along the Danube @ 9:00, back @ 9:30. Liz rang her mum Saturday 15 June fine, 27°C – Grein to Salzburg, Austria Up @ 7:30, packed up and left @ 9:45. Drove along Danube then up to the A1, then west past Linz, then to the edge of the alps and to Salzburg. Found camp @ 12:00 (Camping Kasern (€48 for 3 nights), checked and parked. Set up then went for a walk, had lunch @ outdoor diner (€12), then to supermarket for shopping, walked back to camp in the heat and sat in the shade @ van. Went for a bike ride @ 3:30 towards town then back @ 4:15. Had showers, had tea then relaxed, AC called mum Sunday 16 June cloudy / rain, 23°C – Salzburg, Austria / Eagles Nest, Germany Up @ 8:15, left @ 9:15. Drove through Salzburg then onto A10 then 305 into Germany then up to Obersalzburg and parked (€3) @ 10:15. Walked to parkplatz and bought tickets for Kehlsteinhaus (“Eagles Nest”) bus (€12.50 ea). Got on bus for 6.5km ride up the road to the top carpark (with cliff one side, drop the other), then into elevator to the Eagles Nest (now a restaurant) @ 10:50 Walked up to the summit of Kehlstein (1834m) then back down past Eagles Nest to the carpark for bus back down @ 12:15. Amazing views of the surrounding area including Salzburg in the distance, Konigsee and Bertchesgarten. Back down @ 12:40. Drove down to Konigsee (Lake), through Bertchesgarten, had lunch @ pub (€14) then walked to the lake. Liz bought zip off trousers (€30). Very pretty setting. Back to van @ 2:30 and drove Back through Salzburg to camp @ 4:00, in time for thunder storms. Out on bus to town @ 6:00 for tea @ “Wienerwald” restaurant (€30) then bus home @ 8:00 (bus €1.60 ea /each way) Photo "Kehlsteinhaus (Eagles Nest)"
Monday 17 June fine hot, 27°C – Salzburg Up @ 7:30, left camp @ 9:00. Bought “Salzburg” cards (discounted / free entry to things, €18 ea), then caught bus (free with card) to Marktplatz. Walked through Mirrabelgartens, past Schloss Mirrabell then across River Salzach on Mullnersteg Bridge, then along river and into Altstadt. Walked to Monchberg Lift and up to top of cliff, walked along through woods for view over Salzburg, then back to lift and down @ 10:30 Walked through altstadt to University Kirche, then past the Residenz to the Dom and Residenzplatz (looked through the door of the Dom, you have to pay to go in). Sat and watched game of chess with giant pieces then walked to the bottom of the cable car up to Hohesalzburg Castle @ 11:15. Cable car free with card. Looked around inside castle courtyards and looked at view all around, then back down @ 12:00. Walked through narrow streets and had lunch @ a café (€18) opposite Mozarts birthplace. Walked along river and sat in the shade and watched the world go by. Got on sightseeing boat @ 2:00 for 40 minute trip up the Salzach (free with card). Not a very exciting trip, didn’t go very far as the Salzach flow very fast. Back @ 2:40. Caught bus @ 3:00 for Tiergarten (zoo) @ Hellebrunn. Got lost and missed our stop, then upset the bus driver by staying on the bus for the trip back. Got to the zoo @ 3:45. Walked around zoo (free with card), nice setting, hot though. Liz walked into a park bench which jumped out in from of her (not). Left @ 5:15, bus back to town (still hot), arr 6:00. Did some shopping (milk etc) then bus back to camp @ 6:30. Had tea and relaxed. Short bike ride @ 9:00, back @ 9:30 Photo "Hohesalzburg, Salzburg and Salzach River"
Tuesday 18 June fine hot, 34°C – Salzburg, Austria to Munchen (Munich), Germany Up @ 8:30, packed up and left @ 9:45. Went to local hardware store (Baumaxx), bought fuses for leisure battery relay and thermometer (€2), and then to sports store to buy camping stove (colemans type ) canister (€8 for 480g) On to A1 and drove west @ 10:15, into Germany then off @ junction 106 to look at Cheimsee, drove round the lake to Gstadt. Parked van (€2.50) and walked to lake front for view of Fruenchiemsee Island. Bought icecreams then back to van @ 11:30. Drove through Rosenheim then back to A1 and into Munich / Munchen. Drove round to camp @ Thalkirchen (€15.80/night), on the banks of the Isar River, @ 2:00. Checked in and parked/setup then had sandwiches for lunch. Walked to river to watch surfers, kayakers, and rafts on a pressure wave @ a weir. Sat with our feet in the water till 5:00 then back to camp via local pool (for a look) Cooked tea @ 6:30 then out for a walk @ 7:30 to Isar Canal and then to river. Watched firemen practice then back to van @ 9:00 and sat outside (28°C) Wednesday 19 June fine / hot, 32°C – Munchen Up @ 8:30, caught bus to U-bahn station @ Thalkirchen (€7.50 for 1 day pass for 2 people) then caught u-bahn line #3 to Marienplatz. Walked through town to the Residenz then to Hofgarten, past Theatrekirche. Through Hofgarten to Englischergarten. Walked through, past the nude sunbathers then sat with our feet in cold stream. Went to Chinesischerturn (Chinese Tower) for a drink then caught #154 bus to Munchner Freiheit @ 11:30. Caught u-bahn #3 to Olympiazentrum and walked to BMW Museum and went in (€3 ea). Walked through museum then out @ 12:30. Back on u-bahn to Munchner Freiheit. Had lunch @ roadside café (€13) @ 1:30. Walked to u-bahn Giselastrasse and caught #6 to Marienplatz. Walked to internet café @ 2:45 (€2/hour), checked emails etc then back to Marienplatz. Did some shopping (potatos, wurst etc, €18) then #3 u-bahn to Thalkirche and bus back to camp @ 4:00. Unloaded stuff then went to sit by the river till 6:00. Went for a walk up stream then back along the road to the camp. Had tea then talked to an Aussie couple next door Photo "BMW Museum and headquarters"
Thursday 20 June fine / rain, 32°C – Munchen to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany Up @ 8:00, packed up and left @ 9:30. Drove south from Munich on A95 then through Starnberg and Weilheim, then to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Arr at camp, east of Garmisch-Partenkirchen @ 11:00 (Campingplatz Zugspitze, €22). Parked and setup then caught bus @ 12:45 to Grainau. Had lunch @ pub (Bananensplits!) then caught Zugspitzebahnhof (€42 ea rtn) @ 2:00 to Glacier below peak, up through the rock. The sun was shining when we arrived, but whilst we waited for the gondola to the top of Zugspitze (2964m) it started to cloud over. Caught gondola up to peak but couldn’t see a thing. Waited for Eibsee gondola back down, but it broke down so waited to go back down to top of Zugspitzebahnhof, but it broke down as well. A long walk down so we waited. If nothing started working then we would have to cross to the Austrian peak station and catch their one back to Austria and bus back to Garmisch-Partenkirchen! Eventually the gondola back to the Zugspitzebahnhof started up and we went back down. Caught the last bahnhof back down (they waited for us) @ 4:10. Raining at the bottom, got off @ Grainau, bought groceries and walked back to camp in the warm rain (3 km), arr @ 6:00 Had tea then rain and thunder stopped, out for a walk to edge of Garmisch-Partenkirchen @ 9:00 Photo "Zugspitze, top of Zugspitzebahnhof"
Friday 21 June fine / rain / thunder, 27°C - Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Fussen, Germany Up @ 8:00, packed up and left @ 9:00. Drove to Eibsee to look @ lake and take photos of mountains. Left @ 10:00 and drove through town to Olympic Ski jump area then north to Oberau @ 11:00. Turned off and drove on 23 then to Schloss Linderhof. Parked (€2) and walked to gardens and Schloss then watched the fountain startup @ 12:00. Back to the van and left, drove up the valley and over the pass into Austria. Had lunch @ Plainsee (€12.00) then drove on to 179, north thru Reutte and into Germany, then to Forgensee on 310. Went to campground on lake , too far from town so went to “carpark” for campervans (Wolnmobileplatz Fussen, €12 per night), 2 kms from town. Closed till 5:00, so drove into town. Parked and walked around nice old town centre, had coffee and eis (icecream) @ outdoor café (spits of rain) then walked through thunder downpours back to van @ 3:30. Drove back to camp and dropped off bikes, then went to shops adjacent to camp. Bought lamp from Obi (€20) and Liz bought 2 t-shirts (€4 ea). Drove to Hohenschwangau to get money (rain stopped) then back to camp. Paid for one night then set up. Went to Lidl supermarket and got groceries, then back to camp. Tea @ 7:00 then out for a ride to swimming pool (1 km) for swim @ 8:00 (€4 ea). Back to van @ 9:30 Photo "Schloss Linderhof and fountain"
Saturday 22 June fine, 30°C – Fussen Up @ 7:30, had breakfast then left @ 8:30. Drove to Hohenschwangau, parked van (€4) and walked to ticket office. Bought tickets for Neuschwanstein (€7 ea) and walked up the hill to the castle (20 minutes) then waited for 10:15 tour (English). Went through castle, very interesting but a bit OTT in terms of design, very heavy on the Wagner theme Out @ 10:50, walked up the hill to Marienbrucke for view over the castle and Fussen, then back down to Hohenschwangau, bought yodelling bear for AC’s mum’s birthday (€16). Back to van then then drove back through town to Lidl near camp, bought groceries then north to Obereinan on Forgensee, made crossants for lunch then walked down to the shore. Sat in the sun (got burnt) and went for a swim Left @ 3:30, bought icecreams then drove back to camp, parked and setup and sat in the shade. Had tea @ 7:00, out for a ride @ 8:00, down to River Lech and Forgensee, back to camp @ 8:45 Photo "Neuschwanstein from Marienbrucke"
Sunday 23 June fine, 32°C – Fussen to Lindau, Germany Up @ 8:30, packed up and left @ 9:30, drove northwest from Fussen on 310 to Nesselwang then onto road to Immenstadt. Drove through Immenstadt then up and over hills on 308, down to Bodensee. Got on the wrong road and headed to Friedrichshafen, then turned around and back to lake near Lindau to camp on lakefront (Parkcamping Lindau am see, €20), arr 11:45. Checked and parked / setup Had croissants for lunch then went to lake for a swim @ 1:15, out @ 2:00 and back to van to sit in the shade. Went out to the main road @ 3:00 for eis’s (€12) then back to shade @ 4:00. We both had a short sleep, then out on bikes @ 6:30. Rode along to Lindau Insel (island). Rode through town to harbour and looked @ Lion Tower etc. Then rode past railway station and off the island and a bit further west along the lake for photos. Back to camp then east of the camp across unmarked Austrian border (200m from camp). Back @ 8:00 for tea then walk around the camp @ 9:00 Monday 24 June thunder / showers / cloudy / rain, 25°C – Lindau to Valduz, Leichtenstein £1 = 2.3 Swiss Francs €1 = 1.5 SF Up @ 8:30, packed up in rain and left @ 10:15. Drove west to Friedrichshafen to find Zeppelin museum, found Zeppelin Halle (hanger) but not museum. Did some shopping for food then drove back through Lindau to Austrian border @ 12:00, then through Bregenz then south on 190 to Feldkirche stopped for croissants for lunch. Then across border in Leichtenstein. Bought vignette for Swiss motorways for 1 year (40 SF (£17 / €26)) and changed money (€80 = 113 SF) Drove south through Valduz then to camp 10km south of Valduz. Parked / setup then relaxed @ 3:00, checked in when office opened @ 5:00. Bought adapter for power lead for swiss plugs (10 SF), had tea @ 7:30 in rain Tuesday 25 June cloudy / fine, 26°C – Valduz to Zurich, Switzerland Up @ 8:30, packed up and left @ 10:00. Drove south through Leichtenstein then across Rhein and Swiss border, onto A13 and south then west onto A3. Drove past Walensee and Zurichsee (weather improving) then along south side of lake. Turned off A3 @ Wadenswil onto 3 then west to just before Zurich, to camp (Seebucht Zurich, 42 SF (€30)). Arr 11:45. Checked up and setup then caught 12:30 bus no 111 into town. Got off bus and walked up Bahnhofstrasse, past Gucci shops etc, to Paradeplatz, then to Talackerstrasse to café for lunch (40 SF). Back to Paradeplatz then to Fraumunster (church) to see stained glass windows then to the River Limmat, then across to other side. Walked along beside the river then back 1 block to shops. Went to internet café to check email’s etc. Walked to Bahnhofbrucke then back to Hauptbahnhof for toilet stop. Caught tram #7 through town to Wallishofen. Did some shopping then walked back to camp (15 minutes). Arr 3:00, relaxed. Sat by lake @ camp. Had tea @ 7:00
Wednesday 26 June fine, 26°C – Zurich to Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland Up @ 8:00, packed up etc and left @ 9:30. Drove out of Zurich on 4 then A4 past Zug, then A14 to Luzern, then A2 then A8 up valley and over Brunnig Pass. Then along past Briensee to Interlaken, then up side valley to Lauterbrunn. Arrived @ camp (Camping Jungfrau, 32 SF (€20)) @ 11:45 Set up etc then cycled to Lauterbrunnen town to look @ train to Jungfraujoch (highest accessable point in Europe) but put off by price (150 SF each!), so went up cablecar to Grutschalp, then train to Murren (19 SF ea), 5361 ft above sea level. Had lunch @ café (35 SF), then walked through town to cablecar up to Shilthorn then back to train @ 3:15, and back down. Cycled back to camp and relaxed beside the river behind our van. Out for a ride up valley to Trummelbach Falls. AC went up into falls cave (10 SF) @ 5:30. Lift up into waterfalls inside of rock face, quite erie and wet. Out @ 6:15, rode back to camp, had tea. Went for a walk to south edge of town @ 9:00 then back to camp along river
Thursday 27 June fine / cloudy / showers, 25°C – Lauterbrunnen to Titisee, Germany Up @ 8:00, packed up and left @ 9:00, drove to Interlaken then west past Thunsee, and northwest to Bern then north on A1 then A2 to Basel. Went though to Germany then north on A5, turned off @ Mullheim @ 11:30. Looked for camp then decided not to stay there (camp in industrial area), so headed east over hills on windy road to Schonau for lunch @ café @ 1:00 (€15). Bought groceries, left @ 2:00. Drove northeast past Feldberg to Titisee. Found camp on west shore of Lake Titisee @ 3:00 (Campingplatz Buhlhof, €18) Parked and setup then rode into town on shore of lake. Walked around town (a bit tacky, cuckoo clocks, witches and leathergoods). Lake ok but nothing special, just a tourist area for bus tours to see Black Forest (Schwartzwald). Back to camp @ 4:00 in spitting rain. Relaxed then tea @ 7:00 Friday 28 June cloudy / fine, 24°C – Titisee to Freudenstadt, Germany Up @ 8:00, packed up and left @ 9:30, drove west from Titisee then north on 500 through Furtwangen (near source of the Danube), then Triberg. Then north on 33 then east and north on 294 to Freudenstadt, then west 3 km to camp (Campingplatz Langenwald, €17). Checked in and dropped bikes then drove back to Freudenstadt. Parked on main square @ 12:30, walked around square, lunch @ café (€15). Walked around town then back to van @ 2:00. Drove to Panaramabad (pool) and went for swim (€4 ea) until 3:15. Drove around town and then found supermarket, bought groceries, then AC bought slip-on shoes (€30) then to Handelhof for more groceries (bottles of potato’s (Kartoffeln), €0.60 ea). Back to van and back to camp @ 5:00. Relaxed and had tea @ 7:00 Photo "Freudenstadt main square"
Saturday 29 June fine / cloudy / fine, 26°C – Freudenstadt to Luxembourg Up @ 8:00, packed up and left @ 9:30. Drove down from 800m above sea level through valleys to the Rhein, then across into France @ Strasbourg @ 10:45. Through Strasbourg onto A4, north then west (toll roads €6 and €5). Stopped for lunch @ roadside café, then carried on to Metz, and then north to Luxembourg City. Through the city (lost again) then south again to find camp (Kockelsheuer, €15). Checked in etc @ 3:00, then relaxed. Went for a bike ride @ 4:30 through surrouding woods then back to camp @ 5:15, relaxed more (Liz slept). Tea @ 8:00 Sunday 30 June fine, 26°C – Luxembourg City Up @ 9:00, left camp @ 10:30. Drove into Luxembourg and parked @ Glacis. Walked through gardens to old town. Had a drink @ McDonalds in Place d’Armes. Bought english paper (€4), walked to Place de la Constitution to look out over the Petrusse Valley from the old city walls. Walked down into valley then along past sculptures to Quirinus Chapel, in the side of the cliff. Walked to bridge over the Alzette River, watched the painters. Up lift to the top of the walls then walked through narrow streets to St Michaels, then to Bock Casemates (€2 ea). Walked through old tunnels and caves in the hill then back to square by the State Archives. Had lunch @ café (World Cup football final on Brazil vs Germany) (€10) Walked through to Grand Ducal Palace then back through Place d’Armes and back to van. Drove north through town and down into valleys then round to Alzette Valley and along and up to Airport. Drove back through new business district to Piscine Olympic (Olympic Pool) for swim but it was closed. Drove back through town to camp @ 3:30. Relaxed in the sun with newspaper. Tea @ 7:00. Out for a walk through woods @ 8:30, back to camp @ 9:30 Photo "City Walls and Alzette River valley" Monday 1 July cloudy / rain, 20°C – Luxembourg to St Quentin, France Up @ 8:00, packed up and left @ 9:30. Drove to petrol station for low tax fuel then onto A6 west to Belgium, then A4. Turned south @ exit 25 then N89 to France, then N58 to E44 to N43 northwest, then to Hirson for lunch @ 12:30 (McDonalds). Drove southwest to St Quentin @ 2:00. Found camp in town but deserted so drove out 10km south to camp in village of Seraucourt le Grand (camp: Le Vivier aux Carpes, €15) Parked and set up in rain then drove back toward St Quentin to do some grocery shopping @ Gauchy. Back to camp , played pool then read books while watching the rain. Tea @ 7:00 Tuesday 2 July cloudy / windy / rain / crap, 18°C – St Quentin to Calais to Folkestone Up @ 8:00, drove out of camp @ 9:30, drove to 940 then southwest to 937, northwest to N29 then west to A1. Went to Haute-Picardie TGV (train) station to watch 300km/h trains go past from Lille to Paris without slowing down. Wow! Left @ 11:00, drove up A1 to A26 then to Calais. Went to ferry terminal and changed tickets then back on A16 to Cite de Europe shopping mall @ 1:30. Had lunch then bought booze (6 cans of guinness (€5), Baileys (€18), wine (€2)). Went on the internet (€4.50) @ 4:30, read about plane crash @ Lake Constance. Left @ 5:00 Back to ferry terminal with the idea of camping in the carpark till 9:30am sailing. Too windy so changed to 8:00pm sailing. Drove through and onto boat. Left @ 8:30, very windy and wet. Into Dover @ 9:45, through customs etc, and drove to camp near Densole (Blackhorse Farm) and parked in late arrivals in rain Wednesday 3 July cloudy / rain / cloudy, 20°C – Folkestone to London, England Up @ 9:00, packed up van and left @ 10:30. Drove back to A20 then onto M20 then to London. Arrived @ camp (Crystal Palace, €13.50) @ 1:00. Set up then caught train to Victoria and had lunch. Then caught tube to Green Park, Liz went to UBS and AC walked around, bought Oasis CD then met Liz, and back to camp @ 5:00. tea @ 7:00 Thursday 4 July fine / cloudy / rain, 20°C – London to Leeds, England Up @ 8:00, packed up and left @ 9:00. Drove to M25 then round to A3 then into Hampton (busy because of Hampton Court flower show). Arr and Liz and Howards @ 12:00. Packed up the van with out things that have been stored there and left @ 12:30 Drove on M3 to M25 then round to M1, then north. Lunch @ service stop on route. Arrived @ Leeds @ 5:00. Drove to Headingly and found B & B near to cricket ground (St Michaels Towers (£43). Walked to High St for tea @ pub (roasts £12) then back to room @ 7:00. Watched TV for the first time in 1½ months. Friday 5 July rain / fine / cloudy / fine / rain, 17°C – Leeds, England to Edinburgh, Scotland Up @ 7:00, had breakfast and left @ 8:30. Drove to A1 then got caught in a traffic jam, 5 miles in 2 hours! Finally got moving @ 11:00. Drove up to Newcastle then onto A696, northwest through Northumbria and onto A68. Stopped for lunch @ café (£5) then on to Scottish border. Stopped for photos then on to Edinburgh. Drove round on bypass then to A8000 for Forth Bridge. Caught in a jam so turned off and got petrol. Back into queue then over bridge @ 5:00, then east to Burntisland, arr 5:30 @ Margaret and Edward Rogers (Liz’s cousin). Got mail from them and then had tea. Stayed the night there. Saturday 6 July cloudy / showers, 15°C – Edinburgh Up @ 8:00, bacon sarnies for breakfast, packed up then unloaded stuff from van to be stored @ Margarets. Left @ 10:00, drove into town and parked @ 11:00, looked for a post office to post AC’s mum’s birthday present, all shut. Bought Adpaper then drove to camp (Silverknowes) beside the Firth of Forth, northwest of town. Checked in and rang up about flats. Out @ 2:30 for lunch @ KFC then did shopping. Went to look @ flat in Polwarth @ 4:30, then one in south Edinburgh, then drove around suburbs then to flat in Gorgie. Nice flat. Back to camp @ 7:00 Had tea then rang and said we would take the flat in Gorgie (£400 per month, 1 bedroom). Out to money machine to draw cadh for deposit (5 weeks rent) and 1 months rent in advance. Back to camp, quick walk around then AC rang mum and dad, bed @ 11:30, just dark Sunday 7 July cloudy / showers, 16°C Up @ 9:00, caught bus to town (£1.50 ea for day ticket) @ 10:00 (took ½ hour), walked around looking @ shops. AC bought shoes for work (£30). Lunch @ Delifrance Went to internet café @ info centre. Bus back to camp @ 2:00, out to Margaret and Edwards @ 3:00 to get references for flat out of storage. Drove to Kinghorne then round to Kirkcaldy (pronounced Kirkordy) then along A92, past refinary to Forth Bridge and back to camp @ 6:00. Had tea then sat in rain. Out for walk along coast @ 10:00 Monday 8 July cloudy / fine breaks, 17°C Up @ 7:00, had breakfast then rang job agencies @ 9:00. Caught 10:00 bus to town, went to HSBC in Frederick Street. Banked cheques from landlord in London, Thames Water and BT. Got bus maps and Edinburgh A-Z for Liz. Liz went to agencies, coffee @ Costa Coffee. Liz went to Michael Page. AC printed CV off internet @ internet café at Railway Station, then went to Computer Futures. Lunch @ Bakers Oven. AC bought “Billy” (Connelly) book (£3.99). Caught bus @ 2:00 to Gorgie Road. Looked around shops, Liz bought pumice for feet. Coffee @ Gorgie Farm. Met landlords @ flat (Hilary and John Fairgreive) @ 4:00. Signed documents and paid £900, left @ 6:00. Bus 38 back to camp @ 6:30. Had tea and relaxed. New address: Flat 1f2 20 Wardlaw Street Gorgie Edinburgh EH11 1TP Photo "Living room, 20 Wardlaw Street"
Tuesday 9 July cloudy / showers, 16°C Up @ 7:00, went into town on bus. Liz had interviews @ 10:00 and 11:00 @ agencies. Ac had interview @ 10:00 with AndersElite. Back to camp @ 2:00. Packed up and left. Drove to Burntisland to get stuff then to flat @ 5:00. Unloaded stuff, did some grocery shopping and had tea. First night in flat Wednesday 10 July partly cloudy / showers, 17°C · Up @ 8:00 · Liz caught bus to town for interview @ agency · AC caught bus to town @ 10:30 (10 minutes by bus to Princes St) · Met Liz @ 11:30 · Went to Hays agency · AC met Caroline Darley and then lunch with Liz @ Pret a manger · Liz back to Hays for interview @ 2:00 · AC went to easyeverything · Met Liz then back to flat and relaxed · Out for a walk after tea Thursday 11 July partly cloudy / showers, 16°C · Up @ 9:00 · Out to Argos to get computer desk (£30) · Back home @ 10:30 · Had lunch then Liz went to interview @ Michael Page for Deutsche Bank · AC built desk · Relaxed then had tea · Out for a walk @ 9:00 Friday 12 July partly cloudy, 18°C · Up @ 7:00 · Liz went to town to interview @ Change agency @ 10:00 · AC went to Bonnyrigg for interview with Midlothian Council (waste of time) · Back home @ 12:30 · Went for a walk @ 12:30 · Liz registered @ doctors on Slateford Rd · Bought towels · Back home @ relaxed · Liz got job @ Deutche Bank, starting Monday, £12/hr · AC got job @ Wimpey Homes from Monday, £12/hr Saturday 13 July fine, 20°C · Up @ 9:00 · Walked to Jemma’s café for breakfast · Bus to town, bought bus passes (4 weeks =£30) · Set up standing order @ HSBC for rent (8th of each month) · Caught bus @ 12:15 to Holyrood then walked up Arthurs Seat (250m, ¾ hr) for view over Edinburgh and surrounds · Back down and along base of cliffs · Back to to Royal Mile and walked up to café for lunch @ 2:30 · Carried on up Royal Mile then down past Parliament to the mound then into Princes Street Gardens · Sat in the sun, bus home @ 4:00 · Takeaway fish and chips for tea Photo "Edinburgh from Arthurs Seat" Photo "Castle and Princes St Gardens"
Sunday 14 July cloudy / fine / cloudy, 17°C · Up @ 9:00, had breakfast · Drove to Leith, parked and rode bikes along to Portobello Promenade, and back · Drove to Ocean Terminal to have lunch and look @ shops · Drove to Crewe Toll to look @ Liz’s new work · Then to Barnton to look @ AC’s work · Back to Somerfields in Gorgie Rd to do shopping @ 4:00 · Back home · Out for tea @ 6:00 to Standing Order (£13) in George St · Bus home @ 7:15 Monday 15 July cloudy / fine, 19°C · Up @ 6:30 · Bus to work @ 8:00 (Liz caught bus to job @ Deutche Bank @ 7:40) · Arr @ Wimpey Homes @ 9:00 · Met Malcolm Tait and given site layout to draw · Lunch @ 12:30 · Finished @ 5:00, work ok back tomorrow for 1 months work · Walk to bus (10 minutes), Bus home @ 5:15, arr 5:40 · Liz home @ 6:00 Tuesday 16 July cloudy / fine, 18°C · Up @ 6:30 · Bus to work @ 8:20, arr 9:00 · Worked on Conglas site layout drawing (Office hours 8:30 to 5:00 (3/4 hr lunch) and 8:30 to 3:30 Friday (1/2 hour lunch)) Pay £12/hr · Left @ 5:00 · Bus @ 5:15, home @ 5:40
Wednesday 17 July cloudy, 17°C · Up @ 6:30 · Bus to work @ 7:50, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home via Haymarket Station, bought rail / entry tickets for the British Open on Saturday, £43 ea · Bus home · Out for a walk @ 8:00 · Home @ 9:00 Thursday 18 July cloudy / fine, 20°C · Up @ 6:30, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00 · Caught 41 bus to town then met Liz and 3 bus home. Arr 6:40 · Out to the shops @ 8:00, home @ 8:30 Friday 19 July fine, 19°C · Up @ 6:30, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 3:30, bus to town then home, arr 4:10 · Watched golf. Liz went to pub with workmates, home @ 7:00 Saturday 20 July cloudy / rain / windy, 15°C · Up @ 9:00, had breakfast then bus to Waverly Train Station · Caught 10:45 train to Drem then shuttle bus to Muirfield to watch British Open · Arr @ 11:30 · Followed Craig Perks (NZ) and Nick Faldo for 5 holes then had lunch · Sat in stand by 5th green and watched groups come through. · Got windier and then started to rain @ 1:30 · Waited for Tiger Woods to come through @ 3:30 then left · Bus to train then back to town · Bus home, arr 6:00 · Watched rest of golf on TV (Tiger shot 81!) · Got takeaway burgers / pizza for tea and got “American Pie 2” DVD Sunday 21 July fine, 20°C · Up @ 8:30 · Walked to McDonalds for breakfast then bus to Princes Street · Walked to Deans Bridge then down into Deans Village · Walked along Leith Walkway, through Stockbridge etc · Stopped for coffee @ 11:30 near Botanical Gardens then on along Cycle path to Leith · Walked along to Ocean Terminal · Liz bought socks · Walked to “The World” floating apartments · Bus back to Princes Street @ 2:30 · Had afternoon tea in coffee lounge then walked up The Mound to Royal Mile · Walked along George VI Bridge then down to Grassmarket · Walked along Cowgate then up to South Bridge and back to Princes Street · Bus to Somerfields on Dalry Rd, did shopping, bough cycle map · Walked home, arr 4:00 · Watched golf (Ernie Els won after playoff) · Had takeaway Chinese for tea Monday 22 July cloudy / fine, 18°C · Up @ 6:30, bus to work, arr 8:30 (Liz starting at 12:00 this week) · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:40 · Liz home @ 8:40 · Out for a walk @ 9:30, home @ 10:00 Tuesday 23 July rain / cloudy, 16°C · Up @ 6:30, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:40 · Liz home @ 8:40 Wednesday 24 July cloudy, 16°C · Up @ 6:30, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:40 · Liz home @ 8:40 Thursday 25 July cloudy, 20°C · Up @ 6:30, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, picked up ski holiday pamphlets on the way, home @ 5:40 · Liz home @ 8:40 · Watched Commonwealth Games opening ceremony on TV Friday 26 July cloudy, 17°C · Up @ 6:30 · Bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 3:30 · Bus to George St, walked to Inland Revenue @ Haymarket, got forms for tax review · Walked home, arr 5:00 · Takeaway pizza for tea, Liz home @ 8:40 Saturday 27 July cloudy / fine, 20°C · Up @ 9:00 · Out for breakfast to Stratford pub (£1.50 ea) · Picked up photos from Boots (6 of the 12 europe rolls) · Caught bus to Gyle shopping centre · Walked around shops then bus back into town · Walked along Princes Street, bought Sue’s b’day present · Caught bus to Newmarkets then walked back home along Union Canal tow path · Out for tea @ Pizza Hut @ 6:00 and then to Austin Powers: Goldmember movie @ 8:15 · Home @ 1:30 Sunday 28 July fine / cloudy / rain, 21°C · Up @ 9:00 · Had breakfast then rode to start of cycle route 1, then along cycle path to Crewe Toll (Liz’s work) then to the coast · Rode along promenade to Crammond (into wind) then up to Barnton (Andrew’s work) · Rode back home on cycle path, arr 12:45 (12 mile ride) · Went shopping then relaxed and watched Games · Caught bus up to Haymarket @ 6:00 · Tea @ Indian Restaurant (£25) then home @ 8:00 Monday 29 July misty / showers, 16°C · Up @ 6:00 · Bus to work, arr 8:30 (Liz starting @ 8:00 this week) · Left @ 5:00, home @ 5:50 Tuesday 30 July rain/thunder storms, 17°C · Up @ 6:00 · Bus to work, arr 8:40 · Left @ 5:00, home @ 5:40 Wednesday 31 July misty/ drizzle, 17°C · Up @ 6:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, home @ 5:40 Thursday 1 August cloudy, 18°C · Up @ 6:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, home @ 5:45 Friday 2 August misty / drizzle, 16°C · Up @ 6:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 3:30, went to Inland Revenue to pick up some tax assessment forms, home @ 4:45 · Into town for a walk around @ 8:30 · Dress rehearsal for the Tattoo going on · Had a coffee at the Festival office · Home @ 10:30 Saturday 3 August low cloud / drizzle, 17°C · Up @ 9:00 · walked to Stratford pub, watch NZ vs Australia rugby, NZ lost · picked up some meat at the butchers then home @ 12:00 · out @ 12:30, walked up Dalry Road, looking at shops · walked around New Town, looked at craft fair at corner of Princes St and Lothian Rd · walked along Castle Terrace then up Johnstone Terrace to Royal Mile · walked down Royal Mile, watched street performers · picked up tickets for Ewen Gilmor (£10 ea) and Bob Down (£13 ea) (comedy shows) · walked to North Bridge then caught bus home @ 4:00 · got takeaways for tea then watched “The Green Mile” on DVD Sunday 4 August misty / fine, 23°C · up @ 9:00 · walked to Somerfields and did grocery shopping · back home @ 12:00 · bus into town @ 1:00 · walked to Princes Street and found a spot to watch the Cavalcade from 2:00 to 4:30. All the Tattoo bands etc plus festival floats · bus home @ 5:00 · out for tea to Nepalese Restaurant near Haymarket (£23) · home @ 8:45 Monday 5 August cloudy / fine , 22°C · up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 (Liz working 9 to 5 this week) · left @ 5:00 · home @ 5:45 · out for a walk @ 7:00 to Saughton Park, home @ 8:00 Tuesday 6 August misty / fine / rain, 22°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus to town, picked up upgrade Nokia 5510 phone from Carphone Warehouse · Home @ 5:50 Wednesday 7 August cloudy / fine, 20°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:40 Thursday 8 August cloudy / fine / rain, 18°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:40 Friday 9 August cloudy, 19°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 3:30, bus home · Picked up van from Tynecastle Garage (£273 for exhaust and minor fixes) · Liz home @ 5:40 · Ordered in a curry for tea (£12) · Out @ 9:30, bus to Lothian Road · Walked to Cowgate, met Ewen Gilmour then walked up to Royal Mile and Castle · Back to Cowgate for Ewen’s show @ 11:00. Very funny. Left @ 12:00 · Walked to Princes St, caught 12:40 night bus home Saturday 10 August cloudy, 18°C · Up @ 9:00 · Bought meat from butcher, then walked to Royal Mail depot to pick up “Mein Kampf” book · Caught bus to town · Walked through New Town, then to Lothian Buses to renew bus passes · Walked along Princes St, AC bought new black suit from Bhs (£99). · Lunch @ Bakers Oven · Caught bus home @ 1:00 · Out for a drive in the van · Drove to Mortonhall camp to get gas bottle replaces then to dry ski slopes for a look · Drove to Ikea store for look around then drove through villages to Penicuik then back home · Van has oil leak so needs to go back for repair · Takeaways for tea · Out @ 9:00 to town, walked up to the Castle and in for the Tattoo @ 10:30 · Cramped seating but very good show and fireworks · Finished @ 12:30, walked to Princes Street and caught 1:20 bus home Sunday 11 August cloudy / rain / cloudy, 16°C · Up @ 9:00 · Left @ 11:00 bus to Haymarket Station, then 12:04 train to Glasgow (£7.50 ea rtn) · Arr Queen St station @ 1:00 · Walked around George Sq (in the rain), went to info centre, then walked up Buchanen St to Sauchiehall St (main shopping street) · Walked along Sauchiehall St, looking to shops etc then up to Hill St looking for Glasgow School of Art. · Sick of the rain so headed back to Sauchiehall St, Liz bought gold necklace (£27) · Walked back to station @ 2:45 and caught train back to Edinburgh, arr 3:50 · Got off @ Waverly Station and Liz went to Evans, then home @ 4:30 · Pizza for tea Monday 12 August cloudy, 18°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, home @ 5:40 Tuesday 13 August drizzle / fine / rain / fine, 18°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:45 Wednesday 14 August drizzle / cloudy, 17°C · Up 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, home @ 5:45 · Out for a walk @ 7:30, home @ 8:30 Thursday 15 August cloudy / fine, 21°C · Up @ 700, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, home @ 5:45 · Out for a walk @ 8:00, home @ 8:30 Friday 16 August fine / partly cloudy, 22°C · Up @ 7:00, rode bike to work, left @ 7:50, arr 8:20 (4½ miles) · Left work @ 3:30, rode home, arr 4:10 · Out @ 8:00, bus into town to see Bob Downe @ the Assembly Rooms. Very funny show. · Show finished @ 10:00, bus home Saturday 17 August fine / partly cloudy, 24°C · Up @ 9:00 · Drove to Tescos and bought vacuum cleaner (£29) · Took van back to Tynecastle garage with oil leek, booked in for Wednesday · Went home · Out on foot, picked up DVD (Lord of the Rings) then had lunch @ Koffee Pot café · Caught a bus to the Zoo, arr 2:00 · Went in (£7.50 ea) and walked around, and up the top of the Zoo to a lookout · Left @ 4:30, bus into town, bought some flowers then home · Chinese takeaways for tea and watched DVD Sunday 18 August 18 cloudy / rain, 18°C · Up @ 9:00 · Drove to the Airport for brunch @ 10:30 · Had a look around terminal then went to Ingliston Markets for a look around · Started to pour with rain so headed home · Caught a bus into town @ 2:00, walked around shops, Liz bought new trousers from Bhs · Walked up the Royal Mile (rain stopped) and watched some fringe performers then caught a bus home · Bought TV dinners for tea Monday 19 August cloudy / fine, 20°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:40 · Out for a walk @ 7:00, home @ 8:00 Tuesday 20 August cloudy / fine, 21°C · Up @ 6:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 4:00, bus to town · Walked to Holyrood for interview with Mivan @ Scottish Parliament @ 5:00 · Bus home, arr 6:30 · Out for a walk @ 8:00, home @ 9:00 Wednesday 21 August cloudy / fine, 20°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr @ 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, home @ 5:50 · Out for a walk @ 7:00, home @ 8:15 Thursday 22 August fine / cloudy / rain, 21°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:40 Friday 23 August cloudy / rain, 20°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 3:30, bus to town · Bought a computer game (Blue Shift £10), then walked to Haymarket · Bus home @ 5:00 Saturday 24 August mainly fine, 22°C · Up @ 8:00, packed van, left @ 9:30 · Drove over Forth Bridge then on A/M90 northeast through Dundee · Turned onto B974 over the Grampians to Banchory, arr 12:45 · Checked into Silverbank Camp (caravan club site) (£13.50) · Drove into Aberdeen, parked van and walked along Union Street, looking @ shops · Lunch @ KFC · Went into St Nicholas’ Church, then more shops · Back to van @ 3:30 · Drove past harbour then trough Torry out to Nigg Bay and Girdle Ness to look @ the coast and harbour and view of the city · Drove back through town, past main beach then round to the airport for a coffee break · Back onto A90 then A93 to Banchory · Stopped @ caravan sales yard for a nosey then back to camp @ 5:30 · Out for tea @ Simon Skinner pub (£20) Sunday 25 August cloudy / fine, 23°C · Up @ 9:00, packed up the van drove north @ 10:00 · Drove on A980 to Craigivar Castle for a look around the outside, then to Alford to look @ railway and get some shopping · Headed west on A944 then A97 to Kildrummy for a walk around the gardens · Drove to Strathdon for lunch @ pub (pancakes) then past Candacraig (Billy Connelly’s home) · South on the A 939 to Ballater then to Balmoral (closed) · Went to Braemar Castle (£3.50ea) for a look around then on to camp on south edge of Braemar · Checked in and setup camp then walked into town for look around and to watch Pipeband play · Back to camp @ 5:00 · Drove out @ 6:00. Drove to Linn of Dee for photos then back to camp @ 7:30, had tea then relaxed
Monday 26 August misty / fine, 22°C · Up @ 8:00, packed up van & left camp @ 9:30 · Drove south through the mist on the A93 past the Glenshee ski area then down to Perth @ 11:30 · Parked and walked around shopping area of Perth. Liz bought bra (£12) and shoes (£39) · Lunch in town, back to van @ 1:15 · Drove south on M90 to Edinburgh, arr 2:30 · Washed the van then relaxed · Chinese takeaways for tea (£10) then out for a walk @ 7:00, home @ 8:00 Tuesday 27 August fine, 22°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, home @ 5:40 Wednesday 28 August partly cloudy, 20°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, home @ 5:40 Thursday 29 August partly cloudy, 18°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, home @ 5:45 Friday 30 August rain, 16°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 (last day @ Wimpey Homes) · Left @ 3:30, bus to town, went to Anders Elite and signed up for Ltd Company Status · Bus home @ 5:00 Saturday 31 August mainly fine, 20°C · Up @ 8:00 · Breakfast @ McDonalds, bought meat then picked up parcel from Mum & Dad from Royal Mail depot · Caught a bus to town, got off on the Royal Mile · Walked to Market St, AC went to Art of Star Wars exhibition, Liz went to Harvey Nichols and bought NZ goodies (minties, tim tams cherryripes etc) · Walked down Leith Walk and went to Mela Asian Festival @ Pilrig Park · Had lunch there and a look around · Bus back up to Princes St @ 3:00 · Walked along Princes St, Liz bought socks · Sat in Princes St Gardens in the sun then bus home @ 5:00 · Takeaway Pizza for tea · Walked into town @ 9:30 for fireworks over Castle @ 10:30 (very good, 250,000 people) · Bus home @ 11:00 Sunday 1 September mainly fine/cloudy, 17°C · Up @ 9:00 · Drove to Falkirk Wheel west of Falkirk, arr 11:15 · Walked around the site where the Union & Clyde canals meet · Had lunch then went on cruise ride (£7.50 ea) to top of wheel @ 1:00 · AC bought T-shirt (£15) · Drove to Kincardine Bridge then through Airdrie onto M8 to Livingston · Went to new ASDA mall to do some shopping · Drove home on A71 · Into town @ 6:30 for tea @ Standing Order (£13) · Home @ 8:00
Monday 2 September fine, 20°C · Up @ 6:30, bus to work, arr 7:45 (first day for Mivan @ Scottish Parliament, £14.50/hour) · Left @ 6:00, bus home, arr 6:30 · Out for a walk @ 7:30, home @ 8:00 Tuesday 3 September fine / cloudy, 18°C · Up @ 6:30 · Bus to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 6:00, bus home, arr 6:30 Wednesday 4 September cloudy, 17°C · Up @ 6:30, bus to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 6:00, home @ 6:40 · Out for a walk @ 7:30, picked up drycleaning (1 pair trousers and 5 shirts, £8 (£15 in London) Thursday 5 September cloudy / rain / clear, 15°C · Up @ 6:30, bus to work, arr 7:45 · Went up the Royal Mile at lunchtime, bought wool coat from op shop, £30 · Left @ 6:00, home @ 6:40 · Out for a walk @ 9:00 Friday 6 September cloudy / showers, 16°C · Up @ 6:30, bus to work, arr 7:45 · Went to Edinburgh Tattoo shop @ lunch to buy clothes · Left @ 6:00, bus home, arr 6:40 Saturday 7 September fine / cloudy / showers / rain, 17°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 12:30, picked up by Liz · Drove through town then McDonalds for lunch, then onto M8 heading west · Turned off @ Livingstone then onto A71 through to Kilmarnock · Turned south on A77 through to Maybole · Arr @ camp site (“The Ranches”) @ 3:30 · Went for a swim @ 5:00 · Out for tea to “Welltrees” pub in Maybole (£20) @ 6:00 · Back to camp @ 7:30 · Cleared up then rained heavily overnight Sunday 8 September showers / fine spells, 17°C · Up @ 10:00, packed up the van and drove to Culzean Castle (pronounced Cul-lane), arr @ 11:00 (£9 ea) · Went into Farm shop & joined National Trust for Scotland (£37 for both for 1 year), and got our entry fee refunded · Walked to Culzean Castle and went on guided tour with a girl from Oamaru as a guide! Very nice stately home in a beautiful setting · Back to van and left @ 12:30 · Drove up the coast to Ayr then to Prestwick Intl Airport for lunch · Drove north on the A78 to Irvine the on A737 to join the M8 @ Glasgow then through to Edinburgh · Went to Tescos on way home @ 4:30 · Chinese takeaways for tea
Monday 9 September cloudy / fine /rain / torrential rain / drizzle / thunder storms, 15°C · Up @ 6:30, bus to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 6:00, home @ 6:40 · Liz home @ 8:40 (late shift). Liz bought tickets to Leuchars Airshow (train + entry, £20 ea) Tuesday 10 September fine / cloudy, 16°C · Up @ 6:30, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 6:00, home @ 6:40 · Liz home @ 8:40 Wednesday 11 September fine, 20°C · Up @ 6:30, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 6:00, home @ 6:30 · Liz home @ 8:30 Thursday 12 September , mist / fog (Haar), 16°C · Up @ 6:30, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 6:00, went to “The Tun” bar for a drink with people from work, left @ 7:00 · Bus home, arr 7:40 · Liz home @ 8:30 Friday 13 September cloudy / fine, 17°C · Up @ 6:30, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 6:00, bus home, arr 6:40 · Liz @ work drinks · Drove to Tescos to buy film and McDonalds for tea · Liz home @ 11:30 Saturday 14 September cloudy / fine, 18°C · Up @ 8:30, breakfast then bus to Haymarket to catch 9:15 train to Leuchars airshow · Arr @ Leuchars @ 10:15, walked to airfield · Spent the day watching planes of various types including Nimrod, Tornados and F16’s · Bought 2 camping chairs (£10 ea) · Burgers for lunch · Very enjoyable day in the sun · Left @ 3:20, caught 4:20 train to Haymarket, arr 5:20 · Bus home · Out to Dealto for tea @ 6:30, then to Insomnia movie · Walked home @ 11:30
Sunday 15 September cloudy / foggy / partly fine, 16°C · Up@ 10:00, left @ 11:00 · Drove to the Gyle Centre for brunch then headed west on M8 through Glasgow · Drove through Dunbarten to Helensburgh, arr 2:00 · Went to Hill House (Charles Rennie Macintosh), free entry with National Trust membership · Walked around inside and outside, very impressive · Left @ 3:30, drove to Loch Lomond then through Balloch and along A811 to Stirling then home on M9, arr 5:30 · Bus into town @ 6:30, Pizza Express for tea (£25), bus home @ 8:30 Monday 16 September cloudy, 17°C · Up @ 6:15, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 6:00, home @ 7:00 (Scottish Holiday so Saturday service on the buses) Tuesday 17 September cloudy, 16°C · Up @ 6:15, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 6:00, home @ 6:55 Wednesday 18 September cloudy, 17°C · Up @ 6:15, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 6:15, bus home, arr 6:50 · Out for a walk @ 8:00, home @ 8:45 Thursday 19 September cloudy, 16°C · Up @ 6:15, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 5:00 (finished early for a do @ 7:30) · Bus up Royal Mile, walked to Princes Street · Bought Toshiba Video Recorder from Dixons (£69) then bus home, arr 6:00 Friday 20 September, cloudy 16°C · Up @ 6:15, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 6:00, home @ 6:40 Saturday 21 September fine / cloudy, 16°C – Edinburgh to Oban · Up @ 8:00, packed up van, left @ 9:30 · Drove along M9 to Stirling then A84/A85, through the highlands, to Oban, arr 12:30 · Parked van and walked along shop / waterfront · Lunch in coffee lounge then walked to ferry terminal and around shops, along waterfront to north pier then back to the van @ 2:30 · Drove up to McCaigs tower overlooking town then out to Dunstaffage Castle (to look at the outside only) · Drove across Connel Bridge to camp @ North Ledaig (£11.00) · Parked and set up van · Went for a walk around the camp @ 6:00 then drove out for tea @ 7:00 · Went to Connel to pub for dinner (£31) then back to camp @ 9:00
Sunday 22 September mist / fine, 17°C – Oban to Edinburgh · Awoke @ 5:00 to the sound of drips on the roof, only to find that it wasn’t raining, but the mist was condensing on the roof and dripping off! · Back up @ 9:00, mist had cleared · Had breakfast, went for a walk around the camp, and packed the van, left @ 10:30 · Drove back along A85 / A84 to Stirling, arr 1:00 · Parked near info centre and went to the Thistle Centre for lunch · Liz bought a pair of boots (£50) for work · Left @ 2:30, drove on A905 to “The Pineapple” NTS site (summer house in the shape of a pineapple) · Drove over Kincardine Bridge then through Fife, over the Forth Road Bridge and home @ 4:00 · Unpacked the van · Out for tea @ 6:00 to Nepalese @ Haymarket (£26) then home @ 8:00 Monday 23 September partly cloudy, 16°C · Up @ 6:15, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 6:00, home @ 6:40 · Had “Blueyonder” broadband internet installed today (£30 per month) · Liz home @ 8:30 Tuesday 24 September fine, 16°C · Off sick with a head cold, got up @ 9:00, pottered around all day · Liz home @ 8:30 Wednesday 25 September fine / cloudy / rain / clearing, 15°C · Up @ 6:15, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Liz went home sick from work (cold) · Left @ 6:15, home @ 7:00 Thursday 26 September fine / cloudy, 16°C · Up @ 6:15, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Liz home sick all day · Left @ 6:00, home @ 6:30 Friday 27 September cloudy, 16°C · Up @ 6:15, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 6:00, home @ 6:30 · Liz home @ 8:30 Saturday 28 September cloudy, 15°C · Up @ 7:15, bus to work, arr @ 8:15 · Left @ 12:45, met Liz outside work, walked up Holyrood Road then onto Royal Mile · Walked to Grassmarket for lunch (£10) @ pub, @ 1:30 · Left @ 2:00, walked up and over the Royal Mile then down to Princes Street · Walked along and shopped · Went to Austravel and got info on Round the World fares · Liz bought shampoo and conditioner @ Boots and flowers from street vendor · AC bought Max Payne computer game (£20) · Walked along to the end of Princes Street and caught a bus home @ 3:30 · Out to get a DVD (“K-PAX”) and burgers for tea @ 6:30 · Watched DVD and other TV Sunday 29 September fine / hazy, 18°C · Up @ 9:00 · Packed the van then left @ 10:15, drove to bypass then east onto A1 · Stopped @ Dunbar for petrol then on to Berwick-upon-Tweed (in England), arr 12:15 · Parked in the main street then walked down through town to the river then around the city walls in the sunshine · Walked right round eastern side of town then back to the main street · Walked down to The Maltings to look @ the Farmers Market · Had lunch @ café then back up to van @ 1:30 · Drove across river and went to Argos, AC bought razor (£10) · Drove south on A1 then turned off to Holy Island · Drove across causeway then through the town to look @ the Castle · Back across to main land then looked at Haggerston Castle and Holiday Park (like Butlins!) · Drove north on A1 then onto A6105 west then A697 and A68 back to bypass then home through Colinton, arr 4:00 · Chinese takeaways for tea Monday 30 September fine, 17°C · Up @ 6:15, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 6:00, home @ 6:30 Tuesday 1 October fine, 17°C · Up @ 6:15, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 6:00, home @ 6:30 Wednesday 2 October fine / cloudy / rain, 16°C · Up @ 6:15, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Colin (boss) @ work got the boot, effective immediately · Left @ 6:00, went to The Tun for some drinks · Left @ 8:00, home @ 8:30 Thursday 3 October cloudy / rain, 16°C · Up @ 6:15, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 6:00, home @ 6:30 Friday 4 October partly cloudy, 15°C · Up @ 6:15, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 6:00, home @ 6:30 · Out for a walk @ 7:30, home @ 8:00
Saturday 5 October fine / cloudy, 16°C · Up @ 9:00, bus to Leith, brunch @ Debenhams · Went to Brittania (£7 ea), self guided tour around yacht · Finished tour @ 12:00, bus to town · Went to Austravel and looked @ round the world fares · Went to Costa Coffee for coffee & cake · Topped up our bus cards then walked along Princes Street · Liz bought foot powder from Boots · Caught bus to Fountainbridge @ 3:00, bought movie tickets for “One hour photo” · Walked home · Out @ 7:15, bus to Fountainbridge, had tea @ Pizza Hut (£17) · Went to movie @ 8:50, very good · Bus home, arr 11:30 Sunday 6 October fine, 17°C · Up @ 8:30, AC’s mum rang · Left @ 11:30, drove out to Ingliston Markets, Liz bought tissues · Drove across Forth Road Bridge and went to North Queensferry · Parked and walk into village, had lunch @ Queens Gait (£10) · Walked around then sat on the jetty and watched the incoming tide · Left @ 1:30, drove through Inchkeithing then out to Burntisland to Liz’s cousin Margaret’s house · Left @ 4:45 and drove home, arr 5:30 · Bus into town @ 6:00, tea @ JD Weatherspoons (£15), home @ 8:00 Photo "Forth Rail Bridge from North Queensferry" Monday 7 October partly cloudy, 15°C · Up @ 6:15, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 6:00, home @ 6:35 · Liz home @ 8:30, with laptop (HPzt1141) that we are buying (£500)
Tuesday 8 October fine / partly cloudy, 15°C · Up @ 6:15, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 6:00, home @ 6:30 · Liz home @ 8:30 Wednesday 9 October cloudy, 15°C · Up @ 6:15, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 6:00, home @ 6:40 · Liz home @ 8:30 Thursday 10 October cloudy, 15°C · Up @ 6:15, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 6:00, walked to Princes Street, along Princes Street, up Lothian Road looking for network cable · Caught bus @ Fountainbridge Road @ 7:15, home @ 7:30 · Liz home @ 8:45 Friday 11 October cloudy / rain / cloudy / rain, 15°C – Edinburgh to Inverness · Up @ 8:00, packed van and left @ 9:00 · Drove to PCWorld looking for network cable, couldn’t find one. Bought a laptop bag (£19) · Drove over Forth Bridge and then north on M90 to Perth then on A9 · Stopped @ Aviemore for lunch @ 12:30, lunch in café (£9) · Looked around the shops (mainly outdoor gear!) then carried on north on A9 to Inverness · Parked van and walked (in the light rain) around the High Street, bought bday card for PC, magazines, “Datsuns” CD. · Walked through Victorian Markets then across pedestrian bridge (bouncy) to Greig Street, bought network cable from computer shop · Back to van then drove to Camp @ Culloden, arr 4:30, checked in, £8 · Set up the van and relaxed · Out @ 6:30, drove to Balloch then Culloden, then back to Culloden Moor for tea @ “The Cairns” restaurant (£25, venison, pork fillet, Banoffi pie, chocolate mousse, coffees) · Back to camp and re-setup @ 8:30 Saturday 12 October cloudy, some drizzle, rain, clearing, 15°C · Up @ 8:30, packed up van and left @ 9:00 · Drove to Clava Cairns, 3 burial mounds and standing stones. Walked around and watched cows go past · Drove through Inverness then south to Lake Ness then on to Loch Ness monster centre (£5 ea). Went through 40 minute multimedia show about Loch Ness and the monster. Liz bought t-shirt for Luti (£7) · Left @ 11:30, then to Urquhart Castle (£5 ea), watched film on the history of the Castle then walked around the ruins then to the café for lunch · Left @ 1:00, drove south to Fort Augustus then on down the Great Glen · Stopped @ Aonach Mor gondola to see if it was worth going up the mountain, but cloud was too low · Carried on to Fort William, arr 3:00 · Parked and walked around High Street, Liz bought polarfleece top (£29) · Left @ 4:00, drove to camp @ Bunree (Caravan and Camping Club site, £10) · Set up van on the edge of Loch Linnhe, relaxed · Packed up and out @ 6:30, tea @ Onich Hotel (£18) · Back to camp @ 8:00 Photo "Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness"
Sunday 13 October fine / foggy / partly cloudy, 16°C · Up @ 8:30, drove out @ 9:30, got money @ Fort William then on to Aonach Mor gondola station @ 10:30 and up to top of gondola (2100ft, £7:50ea) · Walked to small knoll and watched paraglider take off. Amazing views over Great Glen and out to Skye (and over fog) · Back to gondola station, for a drink and a cake · Back down on gondola @ 12:00 · Drove back to Fort William then to Neptune’s Stair, 8 locks in the Caledonian Canal, watched some boat go up · Drove west to Glenfinnan to Glenfinnan Monument, had lunch @ 1:45 · Walked up monument and squeezed onto the top for a view over Loch Shiel · Back to van and west to Lochailort then south on A861, took photos of Rum, Eig etc then round past the south end of Loch Shiel, and back round to Strontian then through Glen Tarbert and to Carron · Took car ferry (£5.20) across the narrows then back to camp @ Bunree @ 5:00 · Set back up and relaxed, tea in camper Photo "View from Aonach Mor towards Fort William (south west)" Photo "Loch Shiel and Bonnie Prince Charlie Statue (Glenfinnan Monument)"
Monday 14 October cloudy / rain, 14°C · Up @ 8:30, packed up van and left camp @ 9:45 · Drove to Glencoe visitors centre, arr 10:00, looked around exhibitions and viewing platform · Left @ 10:45, drove up Glencoe and onto Rannoch Moor, then through to Tyndrum · Filled up with petrol then on to Lochearnhead, then on A85 to Crieff · Had lunch @ café @ 1:00 (£8) in Crieff · Drove south on A823 past Gleneagles then Knockhill to Dunfermline then over Forth Bridge and home @ 4:00 · Unpacked and relaxed · Chinese takeaway for tea Tuesday 15 October cloudy / showers, 12°C · Up @ 6:15, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 6:00, home @ 6:30 Wednesday 16 October partly cloudy / showers, 12°C · Up @ 6:15, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 6:00, home @ 6:35 · Out for a walk @ 7:30, home @ 8:15 Thursday 17 October partly cloudy / showers, 11°C · Up @ 6:15, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 5:45, home @ 6:20 Friday 18 October fine / partly cloudy, 10°C · Up @ 6:15, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 6:00, home @ 6:30 Saturday 19 October fine / partly cloudy, 9°C · Up @7:15, bus to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 12:30, bus to home, arr 1:15 · Had Liz’s cousin Margaret and Edward Rogers over for lunch · Walked them to Haymarket station @ 3:00 · Walked home, bought movie tickets for Red Dragon on the way · Bought USB network cable for the computer (£30) @ Maplin’s · Home @ 4:00 · Out for tea @ 7:00 to Dealto (£20) · Watched movie @ 8:30, very good · Walked home in the cold, arr 11:30 Sunday 20 October fine / frosty / cloudy,10 °C · Up @ 9:00, out @ 10:30, bus to town · Went to Waterstones and Ottakars and bought books on Singapore and Japan · AC returned suit trousers to Bhs and got them replaced · Walked along Princes Street, McDonalds for lunch @ 12:30 · Bus home, dropped off shopping then bus into town again · Caught bus down to Botanical Gardens (free) walked around, watched the squirrels etc · Coffee @ the Café in the gardens · Left @ 4:00, buses home, arr 4:45 · Takeaway curry for tea Monday 21 October rain, 10°C · Up @ 6:15, bus to work, arr 8:00 · Called into meeting with Declan and Claire Ennis, and got the sack for “attitude problems” and not producing enough work · Left @ 4:30 · Walked up Royal Mile, bought Doctor Martin shoes (£50) and then walked to Hays Montrose and met with Adam Smith · Bus home @ 6:00 · Liz home @ 8:30 Tuesday 22 October rain, 10°C · Up @ 8:30 · Liz went to work @ 11:00 · Out @ 1:30, bus to Scottish Parliament, got time sheet signed · Walked to AndersElite and left copies of old timesheets that I haven’t been paid for · Bus home @ 4:30 · Liz home @ 8:30 Wednesday 23 October showers, 11°C · Up @ 8:30 · Went out @ 12:30, bus to Leith, met with Kerri Steele @ TMP.Melville craig · Left @ 2:45, bus to town then home @ 3:30, picked up photos and drycleaning on the way · Liz home @ 8:30 Thursday 24 October fine / cloudy, 11°C · Up @ 8:30 · Liz home @ 8:30 Friday 25 October cloudy, 10°C · Up @ 8:00 · Liz home @ 8:40 Saturday 26 October fine / rain, 11°C · Up @ 9:00 · Left @ 10:30, drove over Forth Road Bridge then north on M90, turned off on A92 through Glenrothes, then onto A914, then A91 to Leuchars · Down from Leuchars to St Andrews, arr 11:30. Parked van then walked to Cathedral · Walked around cathedral ruins then up St Rules Tower (£2.20ea) for view over Cathedral and St Andrews · Walked along waterfront to Castle then back to shops for lunch @ Bakers Oven · Back to van then drove north through Leuchars to Tay Bridge to Dundee · Drove west along A90 to caravan shop, bought faucet for the van (£9) · Back to Edinburgh through the rain, arr 4:30 · Parked van (in the hail) · Takeaway burgers for tea and watched Trainspotting DVD Photo "St Andrews from St Rules Tower"
Sunday 27 October showers / clearing, 10°C · Up @ 9:00 · Caught bus to Cameron Toll, walked around the shops, had lunch @ food court · Bus back into town, then home @ 2:00 · Relaxed for the afternoon, then ordered pizza for tea (£13) Monday 28 October fine / rain, 11°C · Up @ 8:00 · Into town @ 2:30, went to Edinburgh Council to pick up application form for Building Control Surveyor role, they took my details and said they would send it · Met Liz @ Shandwick Place @ 4:30, went to optometrist for Liz to look @ contact lenses · Bus home @ 5:15 Tuesday 29 October cloudy / showers, 10°C · Up @ 9:00 · Out to B&Q @ 2:00, bought sliding pliers (£3) Wednesday 30 October fine, 11°C · Up @ 8:30 · Out @ 2:00, bus to town · Had interview @ Steven Limbrick Assoc, Canongate, through TMP.Melville craig · Bus home, arr 5:15 Thursday 31 October fine / cloudy, 10°C · Up @ 8:30 Friday 1 November cloudy / showers, 11°C · Up @ 8:00, did not a lot again Saturday 2 November fine / rain, 10°C · Up @ 9:00, bus to town @ 10:30 · Walked up Carlton Hill and looked at monuments · Back down and along to Lothian Buses to renew Liz’s bus pass and get tickets for bus to David Gray on 2 December (£7ea rtn) · Bus home, got pasty / sausage roll and buns from Greggs on the way · Out @ 2:00, walked to Fountainbridge cinema, got tickets for “28 days later” @ 8:50 · Had a coffee and people watched · Walked home @ 4:00 · Out and got takeaways for tea @ 6:00 (dark and raining) · Caught bus to Fountainbridge to see movie @ 8:30 · Finished @ 11:00, walked home Sunday 3 November fine, 10°C · Up @ 10:00, caught bus to London Road, walked to Palace of Holyroodhouse · Joined tour @ 12:30 (£6.50 ea incl guided tour), looked around inside for 1 hour · Walked up Holyrood Road and had lunch @ Beanscene @ 2:00 (£13) · Walked up to the Castle esplanade (without the Tattoo seating) then walked down to Princes St and caught bus home @ 3:30 · Out for Chinese takeaway @ 6:30 Photo "Palace of Holyroodhouse" Monday 4 November cloudy, 10°C · Up @ 8:30, pottered around · Got interview tomorrow @ Cooper Cromar @ 9:30am tomorrow Tuesday 5 November fine / cloudy, °C · Up @ 8:00 · Bus to Hanover Street, had interview with Cooper Cromar Architects, start work tomorrow, working on masterplans for Newhaven and Granton Harbours in Edinburgh · Bus home, arr 10:30 Wednesday 6 November fine / rain / fine, 10°C · Up @ 7:30, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Lunch @ 1:00, for 1 hour · Left @ 5:00, walked home, arr 5:30 · Liz home @ 8:30 Thursday 7 November fine, 9°C · Up @ 7:30, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 · Liz home @ 8:30 Friday 8 November fine, 10°C · Up @ 7:30, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, McDonalds for tea, walked to Scottish Parliament · Met James Carroll etc who I used to work with and went to the Tun (James and Steven were leaving Mivan), then to Pizza Hut (met Liz and had coffee) then to the Filling Station (Liz went home) then City Café. Bus home, arr 2:00 Saturday 9 November fine, 10°C · Up @ 9:00 · Went to butcher and bought meat then home for brunch · Caught bus @ 1:00 to Royal Mile, went to Tron pub to watch NZ vs England rugby (31 –28 to Eng) · Bus home @ 4:30 · Cheese on toast for tea, watched “Royal Tenenbaums” on DVD Sunday 10 November fine, 10°C · Up @ 9:30 · Had breakfast then drove to Granton then along coast through Portobello, Musselburgh, Aberlady and to North Berwick (Berrick) · Walked along then beach then to bird centre for lunch (£12) · Walked along breakwater at North Berwick Harbour then back to van · Drove back to A1 past Tantallon Castle, then back into Edinburgh · Went to Tescos in Colinton for shopping, then home @ 4:00 · Out to town for tea at The Standing Order, £16, bus home @ 8:00 Monday 11 November fine / rain / fine, 9°C · Up @ 7:00 (liz on early shift) · Bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, walked home, arr 5:35 Tuesday 12 November cloudy / showers, 10°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, walked home, arr 5:30 Wednesday 13 November cloudy / showers, 11°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 Thursday 14 November showers, 9°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, walked home, met Liz on the way @ Caledonia Baths, home @ 6:00 Friday 15 November fine, 9°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, walked to Shandwick Place, met Liz, bus home, arr 5:40 Saturday 16 November cloudy / light showers, 9°C · Up @ 9:00, bus to town, breakfast @ McDonalds · Walked around town, doing xmas shopping then up to the Castle and then walked down to Usher Hall · Bought tickets to Hothouse Flowers for later this evening · Bus home @ 12:30 · Did some house work then walked to Murrayfield @ 1:30, arr 2:00 · Sat in seats (almost on halfway, western side second row of balcony level) and watched Scotland beat South Africa 21 – 6 · Left @ 4:30, walked home · Out for tea to Pizza Hut on Lothian Road @ 6:30 · Went to show @ 8:00, very good “The Devils” on first then Hothouse Flowers · Left @ 11:30, bus home Sunday 17 November fine, 8°C · Up @ 9:00 · Drove to Ocean Terminal @ 10:30 · Did some more xmas shopping then drove west to M8 · Drove through Glasgow onto A736 then to Caldwell · Took photos of Golf Club, Caldwell Tower and Hall of Caldwell · Drove back through East Kilbride then to M8 and east to Livingston · Stopped @ 3:00 · Did more xmas shopping then left @ 4:30 and drove home in the dark!, arr 5:00 · Takeaway curry for tea
Monday 18 November fine, 9°C · Up @ 7:30, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, walked home, arr 5:40 · Liz home @ 8:45 Tuesday 19 November fine, 8°C · Up @ 7:30, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, walked home, arr 5:40 · Liz home @ 8:30 Wednesday 20 November fine / cloudy / rain, 9°C · Up @ 7:30, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 · Liz home @ 8:30 Thursday 21 November cloudy / showers, 9°C · Up @ 7:30, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 · Liz home @ 8:30 Friday 22 November fine, 8°C · Up @ 7:30, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, walked to New Street, met James Carroll, ex-Mivan · Had a few drinks @ the Tun with other Mivan guys · Left @ 8:00 and walked to Charlotte Sq, met Liz for tea @ Ryans Bar, £13 · Bus home @ 10:00 Saturday 23 November fine, 8°C · Up @ 9:00, bus to Ocean Terminal @ 10:30, finished xmas shopping · Bus back to Princes St, lunch @ Princes St Mall · Walked to Royal Mile, to Tron Pub · Watched All Blacks vs Wales first half @ pub then home and watched 2nd half at home. NZ 43 Wales 17 · Out @ 6:30, bus to town, tea @ Garfunkels (£26) · Bus to Ocean Terminal, saw “Changing Lanes” movie · Bus home @ 11:30 Sunday 24 November fine, 8°C · Up @ 9:00, walked to Fountainbridge then bus to Holyrood · Walked through Holyrood Park up the Salisbury Craigs for a view over the city · Back down @ 12:30, lunch @ Bean Scene · Left @ 2:00, walked to Princes Street, looked around shops · Bus home @ 3:00 · Out @ 5:30, got Chinese for tea £10 Monday 25 November fine / cloudy, 9°C · Up @ 6:30, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, met Liz, bus home, arr 5:30 Tuesday 26 November cloudy / showers, 8°C · Up @ 6:30, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, bus home arr 5:30 Wednesday 27 November fine, 9°C · Up @ 6:30, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, walked home, arr 5:30 Thursday 28 November cloudy, 9°C · Up @ 6:30, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, bus home arr 5:30 Friday 29 November fine, 9°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 · Liz out with work crowd @ 7:00, home @ 1:30 Saturday 30 November cloudy / drizzle, 10°C · Up @ 9:00 · Bus into town @ 10:30, walked around German Market and then around shops · Lunch @ Bhs @ 1:30, then walked around some more · Bus home @ 3:00 · Back into town @ 8:00, went to Pizza Hut for tea (£26) · Home @ 10:00 Sunday 1 December cloudy / rain / fine / rain, 9°C · Up @ 10:00, bus to Haymarket @ 11:30, train to Glasgow @ 12:00 (£7.50ea rtn) · Train arrived in Glasgow @ 1:20, clear and fine in Glasgow · Walked around George Sq, looked @ ice rink etc then to St Enoch shopping centre · Walked around then had McDonalds for lunch @ 2:30 · Walked along Argyle Street (started to rain) then up Buchanan Street to Body Shop, Liz bought lipstick · Went to Borders book shop and bought Tokyo map (£9), and to Poundstretcher and bought tissues and Photo box (£3) · Walked back to Argyle Street then to Central Station · Caught 3:55 GNER train through Motherwell back to Edinburgh, arr 5:00 · Walked along Princes Street (fine) and watched Santa Parade. All the floats lit up. · Walked along to Festival Sq outside the Sheraton and watched the end of the parade, Santa arriving and the fireworks · Walked home @ 6:45, went to Scotmid to get easy dinners · Home @ 7:00 Monday 2 December partly cloudy, 9°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, met Liz, walked to Waterloo Place · Caught bus for David Gray in Glasgow (£7 ea). Left @ 5:30 · Arrived @ SECC @ 6:40, went inside · AC bought T-shirt (£15) then sat down in our crap seats (far right of stage) · Turin Brakes on first then David Gray @ 8:45. Finished @ 10:45. Very good · Back on the bus and left @ 11:15 · Got off @ Murrayfield and walked home, arr 12:30 Tuesday 3 December cloudy, 8°C · Up @ 7:15, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, home @ 5:30 · Liz home @ 11:00 Wednesday 4 December cloudy / showers, 7°C · Up @ 7:15, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, home @ 5:30 Thursday 5 December cloudy, 6°C · Up @ 7:15, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, home @ 5:30 Friday 6 December cloudy, 7°C · Up @ 7:15, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:15, walked to New Street, met James Carroll · Walked to Q-bar, met other Mivan people · Left @ 8:00, met Liz @ Shandwick Place, bus home Saturday 7 December fine / partly cloudy, 5°C · Up @ 9:30, drove to Linlithgow, parked and walked around the Palace and St Michaels church · Walked through town then had lunch @ Four Mary’s pub @ 1:00 · Back to van @ 2:00, drove to Livingston · Walked around shopping mall and went to Asda, bought Xmas tree (£4) · Drove home @ 3:30 via Currie · Burgers for tea then out to movies (“Bowling for Columbine”) @ 7:30 · Walked home @ 11:00 Sunday 8 December fine, 4°C · Up @ 10:00 · Bus into town @ 11:00, walked past ice rink and fun fair in Princes St gardens then walked up to the Royal Mile · Looked at the area where the was a big fire overnight, 12 buildings destroyed in the Old Town · Walked down to Beanscene for lunch @ 1:00 · Left @ 2:30, bus home · Sat around and did nothing, takeaway curry for tea Monday 9 December cloudy, 4°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, walked home, arr 5:35 Tuesday 10 December cloudy / fine breaks, 5°C · Up @ 7:00. bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, walked home, arr 5:30 Wednesday 11 December cloudy, 5°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, home @ 5:30 Thursday 12 December mainly fine, 4°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, walked to Shandwick Place, met Liz, bus home, arr 5:50 Friday 13 December cloudy, 5°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Finished work @ 5:00 · Out with work for xmas do, went to “The Grog” then to Yo Japanese restaurant · Left @ 10:30, bus home, arr 11:00 · Liz home from her work do @ 1:30 Saturday 14 December cloudy / hazy, 5°C · Up @ 10:00, had breakfast then out @ 11:00, drove through Merchiston then to Observatory · Drove to Craigmillar Castle, walked around (£4:40) castle. Very impressive · Left @ 12:30, drove to Penicuik. Parked and had lunch @ café · Left @ 2:00, drove south to West Linton then through to Peebles and back up to Edinburgh · Home @ 4:30 Sunday 15 December cloudy / rain, 5°C · Up @ 10:00, bus to Holyrood and went to Queens Gallery to look @ Leonardo da Vinci exhibition (£4 ea) · Walked up the Royal Mile and had lunch @ Rabbie Burns then walked to Princes Street for shopping · Caught a bus home @ 2:00 · Out for tea @ 6:30 to Kurkuma Nepalese restaurant, home @ 8:00 Monday 16 December rain / cloudy, 4°C · Up @ 7:15, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 6:00, bus home, arr 6:30 · Liz home @ 8:45 Tuesday 17 December fine / frosty, 2°C · Up @ 7:15, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 6:15, bus home, home @ 6:45 · Frost on the cars @ 6:30 · Liz home @ 8:30 Wednesday 18 December fine / frosty, 2°C · Up @ 7:15, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 6:00, home @ 6:30 · Liz home sick today Thursday 19 December fine, 2°C (up from –2 overnight) · Up @ 7:15, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 6:00, bus home, arr 6:30 · Liz out @ work do, home @ 11:00 Friday 20 December fine, 2°C · Up @ 7:15, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Met guys from Mivan @ 1:00 @ Wee Windaes for xmas lunch (£14), back to work @ 3:00 · Left @ 6:00, bus home, arr 6:30 · Liz home @ 8:30 Saturday 21 December cloudy / rain later, 5°C · Up @ 10:00 · Out @ 11:00 to Wallyford (via Fountainbridge to get tickets to The Two Towers) to look @ our old computer that we sold, which is playing up · Left @ 1:00 (with pc), drove to Tranent for lunch. Started to feel unwell · Drove through Ormiston, then back into Edinburgh · Went to Cameron Toll to do some shopping then through town and home @ 3:30 · Takeaway pizza for tea for Liz · Bus to Fountainbridge @ 7:30 for movie @ 8:15, very good · Bus home @ 11:45 Sunday 22 December cloudy, 7°C · Up @ 10:00 · Out @ 12:30, drove to Kelso in the Borders for lunch @ 2:00 · Wandered around town then drove down to the River Tweed @ sunset (2:45) · Drove back through the mist on A68, home @ 4:00 · Out to Scotmid to do some shopping · Cheese on toast for tea Monday 23 December cloudy / rain, 9°C · Up @ 7:15, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Liz off work on holiday · Left work @ 5:00, bus home · Had tea then out to drop computer back to Ruth in Wallyford · Home @ 8:00 Tuesday 24 December cloudy / drizzle, 8°C · Up @ 7:15, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Finished @ 12:00, met Liz and bus home · Lazed around for the rest of the day · Liz rang her mum Wednesday 25 December cloudy / drizzle / fine spells, 9°C · Up @ 9:00, AC’s parents rang @ 10:00 · Prezzies: AC: guitar, architects figure from Liz’s mum, socks / calendars / Americas cup shirt / cap from AC’s parents and brother Liz: bracelet / cd’s, bag from her mum, katmandu shirts / socks from AC’s parents and brother · Out @ 12:00, drove to Burntisland for lunch with Liz’s cousin Margaret and Edward, and Mhairi and Keith (salmon, beef fillet etc) · Left @ 8:00, drove home, arr 8:45 Thursday 26 December cloudy / rain, 10°C · Up @ 10:00 · Bus into town @ 12:00 · Walked along Princes Street, Liz bought Friends DVD’s (series 5, £21) and body lotion from Bodyshop · Lunch @ Princes Street mall · Walked along North and South Bridges then bus home @ 2:00 Friday 27 December cloudy / rain, 9°C · Up @ 10:00 · Caught bus to town @ 11:00, AC went to guitar shop then walked home · Liz went to shops and bought more body wash from the Bodyshop · Liz bought train tickets to Newcastle (£20 rtn ea) for tomorrow, then bus home · Out for a drive to Falkirk @ 12:00, drove round areas that Liz’s mum grew up · Back home @ 4:00 Saturday 28 December fine, 8°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to Waverly Station for train to Newcastle (GNER) @ 8:30 · Left on time and arrived in Newcastle Central @ 10:10 · Walked down to the river and along to the Millenium Bridge and across to Baltic Mills building · Had a coffee and scone (£5) then up the building (free) for a view over Newcastle, then back down (with a brief look @ the art on the way) · Walked up to the town centre then caught the Metro from Greys Monument out to Wallsend (£2:20 rtn) · Went to Segedunum roman fort excavation and the east end of Hadrians Wall (£3:50 ea) · Walked around exhibition then up tower for a view over the site · Back down and walked back to Metro stop (100 yards) · Back into St James Park and walked down through Chinatown to Elsdon Sq shopping mall (huge and crowded) · Walked through mall then out into Elsdon Sq and to Monument Mall for lunch in foodcourt @ 2:00 · Walked around shopping area and had coffee @ Starbucks @ 4:30 · Walked around some more then went to Central Station and caught Metro to Sunderland (1/2 hour), over the Tyne and out through the suburbs in between · Got out for a walk around the (closing) shops of Sunderland then back to Central Station · Had tea @ Burger King and waited for train @ 8:10 · Back to Haymarket station and bus home, arr 10:00
Sunday 29 December cloudy, 6°C · Up @ 10:00, bus to town and went ice skating in Princes St gardens (£5.50 ea) and then on the ferris wheel (£2 ea) · Walked around shops and had lunch @ Bhs · AC bought computer game (McRae Rally, £5) · Bus home @ 2:30 then relaxed · Takeaway Chinese for tea Monday 30 December cloudy / fine, 5°C · Up @ 10:00 · Liz into town @ 11:30 to go shopping, home @ 1:30 · Liz out to Commonwealth Pool @ 3:00 for a swim, home @ 5:30 · AC stayed @ home doing work for Cooper Cromar Tuesday 31 December cloudy, 2°C · Up @ 10:00 · Drove to New Lanark @ 12:00, arr 12:30 · Walked down and around old mill town then back home through Biggar · Out for tea @ 7:00 @ Guru Indian Restaurant (£28) · Bus into town, walked up the Royal Mile to Ensign Euart pub for a few drinks till closing @ 10:00 · Walked down to the other end of the Royal Mile to Tollcross pub for more drinks · Left @ 11:45 and walked up to North Bridge to watch the fireworks @ 12:00 · Taxi home (£6) · Out for tea @ 6:00, walked across Tower Bridge to J D Wetherspoons pub for roasts · Walked home, arr 8:00
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