Edinburgh
I got back from Edinburgh yesterday afternoon, but I didn't get chance to update about it because I spent so long catching up on e-mails and my flist! I'm not going to write what I did every single day, that would be boring, instead I'm just going to pull out the interesting bits. It'll probably still be quite a long entry so you'd best get comfy now.
Edinburgh Castle
I've been to the Castle before with Craig, but we were meeting his friend for lunch and so we didn't really get chance to see everything. This time, I made sure I saw the lot! Mind you, I wasn't going to spend £9.50 entry fee and miss stuff! I joined the 10.45 tour which seemed to be made up entirely of Americans (no surprise there, most of the accents I heard were American and not Scottish). One of the first things the guide told us was about the Esplanade leading up to the Castle; apparently hundreds of years ago, it was where they killed witches. I'd actually read that in the guidebook which was left in my hotel room: witches were tied up and thrown in the swamp, while wizards were executed at Castlehill! How strange that they were killed in different places and by different methods!
The tour lasted half an hour and then we were free to explore on our own so I made sure I saw every inch of it. The only things I skipped were the military museums - when your dad's in the Army, you kind of have your fill of military stuff. Besides, when you've seen one, you've pretty much seen them all. I did see the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny which sounds a hell of a lot grander than it actually is. I remember seeing something about it on Blue Peter many years ago, so I already knew some of its history.
I got deafened by the one o'clock gun going off as I'd just that second come out of the Castle bookshop and the gun was right by it. I even heard the gun on other days when I was right at the other side of the city!
History stuff
I thought that the Old Tron Kirk sounded rather interesting: the only church with a 16th century street inside. It wasn't quite as fascinating as I thought it would be, it was mainly a short cobbled path, an archway, some steps and the usual series of small walls. The best bit was reading all the guff, "Here you can see a cupboard, and the fireplace in the north wall..." Erm, no, I can see a hole in the wall and an archway.
Gladstone's Land was just as disappointing. It was a 16th century house showing exactly what it would have looked like in those days. I was quite impressed by the people stationed in every room who had vast amounts of knowledge about it. I wasn't impressed by the fact that it cost £6 to see 6 small rooms. That's a pound a room! It was the National Trust though, they're always expensive.
The Camera Obsura
I've been to one of these before, in Dumfries but it wasn't anywhere near as good as this one! That was just the camera obscura, this one had four other floors of things to look at too, including holograms, photos taken with Coke cans, magic eye pictures, Europe's largest plasma ball, kaledoscopes, those mirrors that you see at fairgrounds and all kinds of fun stuff! I highly recommend it. There were also fabulous views right from the top too. I spent a fortune in the gift shop, mainly because they had miniature zen gardens for just £4.99 so I bought one for me and another for my sister's Christmas present.
Scott's Memorial
When I'd been in the Camera Obscura, the bloke that was showing us the city pointed out the Memorial and said that you got fabulous views from the top and if you climbed all 287 steps up to the top, you got a certificate. Well, when I walked past it, I tried to figure out exactly where the steps were because you couldn't see any. So Saturday morning, when I was going past the back, I saw a little hut attached to the back so I went in and asked. The steps were inside and it had four different levels to climb to make up the 287 steps. It was only £2.50 and I've climbed the monument in London which commemorates the Great Fire so I though I could manage this.
It wasn't so bad to start off with. The stone steps were a bit worn and I was thankful that I've only got small feet as they weren't very deep. It was a spiral staircase but there was a handrail so that was fine. I got up to the first level no problem. Then the second level was a different matter. It was narrower so there was no rail and it didn't have any lights either, just whatever came in the little slit windows. That was slightly claustrophobic, something which doesn't normally bother me! I was glad to get out on the second landing but then I realised that I'd have to go back down! The third level was better because it had a handrail again and the windows were bigger so I could see where I was going. Then the last flight of stairs was worst. Again, no handrail and just light from the windows, but it got steadily narrower and narrower until right at the top the steps were so small I had to go sideways to get through the door! I had a good look at the view from the top there, took a couple of pictures, got seriously frozen because it was blowing a gale up that high and managed to convince myself that I was a big boy and if I took it slow going down, it'd be okay. I was concerned about getting dizzy with just going round and round and down, especially in the semi-darkness with no handrail. I didn't want to slip! I ended up going down with one hand on the join in the middle of the staircase and the other running down the wall, taking one step at a time the way that kids do. I had to keep stopping because of getting dizzy, but I eventually made it out to the third level and after that it wasn't so bad! But yay me for doing it!
The Stand
I found out that the Evening News had a really good entertainment section, it gave a full rundown every night of what there was to do, including the cinemas, theatres, comedy clubs and gigs. On the Wednesday night, The Stand comedy club was doing an improv night something along the lines of the tv show Who's Line Is It Anyway? I used to love that show because as well as the fact that it could be really funny, I've done some improv in my time (though I can control it) and can be quite good at it, so I can appreciate how difficult it is. It was actually a really good show, I was crying with laughter at some points. There was a moment that was made a bit funnier by the inadvertant Eddie-ism: one guy was supposed to be doing a Jamaican accent, but actually got sidetracked into Welsh! He said it was okay, he was of mixed parentage.
Wildlife
I'm not just referring to the Scotsmen here, though I did see quite a few wandering around in kilts! I wonder when the hunting season for Scotsmen is? When I was walking home from the Stand, I was crossing over a road and saw something pale out of the corner of my eye. I thought it was just a carrier bag blowing along, but then I thought it was a cat. It wasn't till it came quite a bit closer that I realised it was a fox! It crossed the road about a foot away from me, walked right across my path and then trotted off up the street! I was amazed that it didn't seem at all bothered that I was there! I know foxes are getting more common in towns and cities now because they can find food easily but that's still not something you see everyday!
Pathways
I got a call on the Wednesday from Pathways because I'd phoned them on Friday and Tuesday trying to find out what was happening with my referral. The location manager called me back, assuring me that I'd not been forgotten about, but they were struggling to find a Gender Clinic to send me to. Apparently Dr Williams had written to Lynn Webster and she was trying to find somewhere too. I mentioned Guys Hospital and Edinburgh again, so got told that they'd look into those for me. It's rather depressing thinking that they're having such problems finding somewhere to refer me. It can't be that difficult can it?
Trans stuff
I was a good boy while I was in Edinburgh and didn't chicken out from using the Gents on a single occasion. The only time I didn't use them was when I went to the pictures, because I had my hands full and needed to find my ticket which was in my pocket somewhere! I ended up going in the disabled one cos it was nearer and had space for me to put stuff down.
It was a bit disheartening on the Thursday because I thought I was looking really good but I was in a museum when this woman said to a kid "Mind that lady" and was referring to me. It was the only time that I was aware of being read as female, so I don't know if I was passing well the rest of the time or not. I just wanted to be able to say "Excuse me?" so that the woman would look at me and realise her mistake. Mind you, if I was able to do that, then I probably wouldn't be read as female in the first place.
All in all, it was a good time, I saw lots of things and spent a fortune! I did get a bit bored with my own company towards the end though. Spending five days with no one to talk to is a bit much. Still, it was nice to get out and see a new place. I've now got another week off work but I think I'll just be spending that at home. My wallet - and my feet! - need the rest.
Edinburgh Castle
I've been to the Castle before with Craig, but we were meeting his friend for lunch and so we didn't really get chance to see everything. This time, I made sure I saw the lot! Mind you, I wasn't going to spend £9.50 entry fee and miss stuff! I joined the 10.45 tour which seemed to be made up entirely of Americans (no surprise there, most of the accents I heard were American and not Scottish). One of the first things the guide told us was about the Esplanade leading up to the Castle; apparently hundreds of years ago, it was where they killed witches. I'd actually read that in the guidebook which was left in my hotel room: witches were tied up and thrown in the swamp, while wizards were executed at Castlehill! How strange that they were killed in different places and by different methods!
The tour lasted half an hour and then we were free to explore on our own so I made sure I saw every inch of it. The only things I skipped were the military museums - when your dad's in the Army, you kind of have your fill of military stuff. Besides, when you've seen one, you've pretty much seen them all. I did see the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny which sounds a hell of a lot grander than it actually is. I remember seeing something about it on Blue Peter many years ago, so I already knew some of its history.
I got deafened by the one o'clock gun going off as I'd just that second come out of the Castle bookshop and the gun was right by it. I even heard the gun on other days when I was right at the other side of the city!
History stuff
I thought that the Old Tron Kirk sounded rather interesting: the only church with a 16th century street inside. It wasn't quite as fascinating as I thought it would be, it was mainly a short cobbled path, an archway, some steps and the usual series of small walls. The best bit was reading all the guff, "Here you can see a cupboard, and the fireplace in the north wall..." Erm, no, I can see a hole in the wall and an archway.
Gladstone's Land was just as disappointing. It was a 16th century house showing exactly what it would have looked like in those days. I was quite impressed by the people stationed in every room who had vast amounts of knowledge about it. I wasn't impressed by the fact that it cost £6 to see 6 small rooms. That's a pound a room! It was the National Trust though, they're always expensive.
The Camera Obsura
I've been to one of these before, in Dumfries but it wasn't anywhere near as good as this one! That was just the camera obscura, this one had four other floors of things to look at too, including holograms, photos taken with Coke cans, magic eye pictures, Europe's largest plasma ball, kaledoscopes, those mirrors that you see at fairgrounds and all kinds of fun stuff! I highly recommend it. There were also fabulous views right from the top too. I spent a fortune in the gift shop, mainly because they had miniature zen gardens for just £4.99 so I bought one for me and another for my sister's Christmas present.
Scott's Memorial
When I'd been in the Camera Obscura, the bloke that was showing us the city pointed out the Memorial and said that you got fabulous views from the top and if you climbed all 287 steps up to the top, you got a certificate. Well, when I walked past it, I tried to figure out exactly where the steps were because you couldn't see any. So Saturday morning, when I was going past the back, I saw a little hut attached to the back so I went in and asked. The steps were inside and it had four different levels to climb to make up the 287 steps. It was only £2.50 and I've climbed the monument in London which commemorates the Great Fire so I though I could manage this.
It wasn't so bad to start off with. The stone steps were a bit worn and I was thankful that I've only got small feet as they weren't very deep. It was a spiral staircase but there was a handrail so that was fine. I got up to the first level no problem. Then the second level was a different matter. It was narrower so there was no rail and it didn't have any lights either, just whatever came in the little slit windows. That was slightly claustrophobic, something which doesn't normally bother me! I was glad to get out on the second landing but then I realised that I'd have to go back down! The third level was better because it had a handrail again and the windows were bigger so I could see where I was going. Then the last flight of stairs was worst. Again, no handrail and just light from the windows, but it got steadily narrower and narrower until right at the top the steps were so small I had to go sideways to get through the door! I had a good look at the view from the top there, took a couple of pictures, got seriously frozen because it was blowing a gale up that high and managed to convince myself that I was a big boy and if I took it slow going down, it'd be okay. I was concerned about getting dizzy with just going round and round and down, especially in the semi-darkness with no handrail. I didn't want to slip! I ended up going down with one hand on the join in the middle of the staircase and the other running down the wall, taking one step at a time the way that kids do. I had to keep stopping because of getting dizzy, but I eventually made it out to the third level and after that it wasn't so bad! But yay me for doing it!
The Stand
I found out that the Evening News had a really good entertainment section, it gave a full rundown every night of what there was to do, including the cinemas, theatres, comedy clubs and gigs. On the Wednesday night, The Stand comedy club was doing an improv night something along the lines of the tv show Who's Line Is It Anyway? I used to love that show because as well as the fact that it could be really funny, I've done some improv in my time (though I can control it) and can be quite good at it, so I can appreciate how difficult it is. It was actually a really good show, I was crying with laughter at some points. There was a moment that was made a bit funnier by the inadvertant Eddie-ism: one guy was supposed to be doing a Jamaican accent, but actually got sidetracked into Welsh! He said it was okay, he was of mixed parentage.
Wildlife
I'm not just referring to the Scotsmen here, though I did see quite a few wandering around in kilts! I wonder when the hunting season for Scotsmen is? When I was walking home from the Stand, I was crossing over a road and saw something pale out of the corner of my eye. I thought it was just a carrier bag blowing along, but then I thought it was a cat. It wasn't till it came quite a bit closer that I realised it was a fox! It crossed the road about a foot away from me, walked right across my path and then trotted off up the street! I was amazed that it didn't seem at all bothered that I was there! I know foxes are getting more common in towns and cities now because they can find food easily but that's still not something you see everyday!
Pathways
I got a call on the Wednesday from Pathways because I'd phoned them on Friday and Tuesday trying to find out what was happening with my referral. The location manager called me back, assuring me that I'd not been forgotten about, but they were struggling to find a Gender Clinic to send me to. Apparently Dr Williams had written to Lynn Webster and she was trying to find somewhere too. I mentioned Guys Hospital and Edinburgh again, so got told that they'd look into those for me. It's rather depressing thinking that they're having such problems finding somewhere to refer me. It can't be that difficult can it?
Trans stuff
I was a good boy while I was in Edinburgh and didn't chicken out from using the Gents on a single occasion. The only time I didn't use them was when I went to the pictures, because I had my hands full and needed to find my ticket which was in my pocket somewhere! I ended up going in the disabled one cos it was nearer and had space for me to put stuff down.
It was a bit disheartening on the Thursday because I thought I was looking really good but I was in a museum when this woman said to a kid "Mind that lady" and was referring to me. It was the only time that I was aware of being read as female, so I don't know if I was passing well the rest of the time or not. I just wanted to be able to say "Excuse me?" so that the woman would look at me and realise her mistake. Mind you, if I was able to do that, then I probably wouldn't be read as female in the first place.
All in all, it was a good time, I saw lots of things and spent a fortune! I did get a bit bored with my own company towards the end though. Spending five days with no one to talk to is a bit much. Still, it was nice to get out and see a new place. I've now got another week off work but I think I'll just be spending that at home. My wallet - and my feet! - need the rest.