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.
