MY BETTER HALF...

This woman is cleverer, funnier and stronger than I am. So she can certainly kick YOUR ass...

LEAST ACTION HERO...

So many deadlines and dinosaur incursions, so little time...

JOURNEYMAN...

Lay back and think of the air-miles I'm earning...

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Archive for January 2007

Thursday December 28th:
I'm up for breakfast, which for anyone who knows me, is a major feat... especially when the sun has not yet risen. Frankly if the big ball of light at the centre of the universe can't be bothered, why should my heavenly body, either? The early sleep has made me bright-eyed and bushy-tailed by 7:00am. That's great if you're a squirrel, but Mosbys are less cute under such conditions. Yes, this is deepest (and currently darkest) Scotland and as I tuck into some corn flakes and toast, it's only just starting to get light outside. As it was already getting dark when we arrived yesterday, it's my first chance to see the landscape near the hotel. Through the damp weather and clouds it's possible to see the nearby hills, cloaked in mist. It's very picturesque, so the camera is quickly produced. This is a country that doesn't skimp on the scenery.

With Carmel and Nancye not due until various times after lunch, today is really a 'make plans' kind of day. The Australian contingent will be with us soon enough (probably) so Sue and I take a drive around the local area, not going too far, but allowing Sue to show me some of the nearer places she wants to show the others in the coming days. Within in a few minutes we're within about thirty foot of a pair of deer and there's quite the feeling of excitement. Urban boy that I am, I feel like I'm in the wild, depsite the fact I'm a few feet from the road. Later there's more sedate wildlife when we stop to photograph some completely unimpressed cows (yes, probably peach-flavoured if you're reading this, Shaleah). There's also an impressive view of the Glenfinnan monument and the local church, both of which we'll be returning to later.

We're back in plenty of time to the hotel, but misjudge Carmel's arrival. I'm standing outside the hotel and halfway across the road when I see her and her son Calum walkign up form the train station (about five minutes walk away). For what it's worth, I'm later told they see my puzzled reaction from a distance and just think I'm a drunk Scot standing in the middle of the road. I help get their luggage to the rooms and we sit down in the bar where we talk to owners Keiran and Ina. With a few hours to go until Nancye arrives we head down the road to the edges of Fort William (about 20 minutes drive) where Carmel and Calum buy some clothes to be going on with. There's no sign of their luggage arriving today and we can only cross our fingers it will arrive soon. Cpats and wooly jumpers are on sale at very reasonable prices and I make a mental note to spend some £ before I leave next week.

Nancye arrives, tired and flustered but ever optimistic, heavy suitcase traling behind her at around 5:00pm. It's already dark and so we all decide not to do anything too dramatic. We eat in the bar again...Keiran's award-winning food proving to fill us all up. Then it's off to bed with Veronica again, after I download the pix I've taken so far to my laptop. Tomorrow is another day... Friday if my memory isn't totally frazzled.

In the spirit and format of the now legendary 'Biarritz or Bust' blog entries, there will be following a series of 'Dear Diary' about my week in Glenfinnan. Naturally you'll have the first blog at the lower point and have to work upwards. Equally traditional, Net access was minimal, so these entries are being uploaded on my return. The wonderful thing about brain and blog is that they allow time-travel...

Wednesday December 27th:
I didn't bother going to bed as, by the time I'd done three quarters of everything I needed to do before leaving, it was already after 2:00am and I had to get down to the train station to catch the 6:05am train. No rest for the wicked. I pack like a girl (huge compliment) and ultimately the only thing I kick myself for forgetting to check was the digicam power cable, so there's minimal moving imagery in the days to come as a result. Miraculously the train is on time and continues to stay on schedule for the trip across the Pennines to Preston where I'm being met by Sue who's 4x4 will be getting us to Glenfinnan. 4x4s can look a bit renundant in urban settings, but it'll prove its worth once we get into more Highland flung territory.

The plan is to meet Carmel, Callum and Nancye in Glasgow and then get us all to Glenfinnan. This would involve hiring another car as the luggage is already mounting up (I thought I was being sad by bringing my laptop, but Sue's brought her whole desktop so that she can do some web-work in quieter moments). Those who know my trips, those who recognise that Carmel's travelling schedules are flexible (tm.pending), or those who simply realise that destiny bitch-slaps my holidays whenever it can, will not be remotely surprised to know that things didn't go according to plan.

All travelling on stand-by status, Nancye's had to catch the flight a day later than Carmel and Callum and she won't arrive until late on Thursday. Sue and I make cell-phone finally contact with Carmel at Heathrow and establish that while they've made it, their luggage apparently hasn't. Subsequently they've missed their connecting flight to Glasgow while they try and sort it out. The plan is that Sue and I will head on to our destination and everyone else will follow as quickly as they can. We make good time and arrive at our choice of residence (The Prince's House) at around 4:00pm. Given the time of year and location, we set off in darkness and arrive at the dying of the light. It'll be several hours and many texts before we establish that there's no connecting late train for Carmel and Callum to catch, so they'll sleep in Glasgow and be with us by midday Thursday. Nancye will be about five hours behind her.

After curling up into bed (reasonably early after the long day) I watched several episodes of Veronica Mars. Mark Peyton over at Millarworld.net has been screaming its qualities and I finally gave in. For the uninitiated it's about a schoolgirl who helps her PI dad in her spare time. It's better than it sounds. Sharp dialogue, pop culture references and an evolving murder-most-foul back-story. Think Buffy without demons. 9021Noir if you wish. The room was warm the bed was comfy and I drifted off to sleep with images of cheerleaders and killers running through my head. Typical Thursday really.