Still kickin'
I'm sorry its been so long since I've updated. We've been so busy here that my head is spinning!!
Last Wednesday, I went on my first FAM trip for my job. Basically, its when places do a show around and treat the travel trade to things they want us to sell to our clients. So along with VisitScotland, two hotels and a cruise company entertained about 20 of us from different companies.
We met in Edinburgh to board a nice motorcoach for the day. I don't like coaches (buses) - I went on one with Friend C in '98 on a day trip to Orkney and said I'd never do that again. And I won't. At least for fun anyway - this was "work" ... ish.
We were taken to a five-star hotel/spa/golf course (under construction), near Glasgow Airport and treated to coffee-flavoured tea (unintentional, I'm sure). Then a show round - VERY impressive. (Don't want to insert name here for obvious reasons.) We spent about two hours there and then headed a wee bit north.
This place rolled out the red carpet for us - nearly literally!! When we arrived, they had literally a dozen of their staff welcome us at the door. They took us into a study-type room where we were all served a nice warm dram of Glenfiddich Single Malt. We were split into two groups and toured the hotel. W.O.W. I was blown away!
This was in a room called The Great Scots Bar - where they have photos of famous Scottish people all over the walls - they've given Rod Stewart a spot anyway, especially since he claims Scotland as his adoptive home.
We were shown rooms that were just breathtakingly beautiful and lush - comfortable and way too much space for two people to be practical - but that's the joy in it, isn't it? Lovely views onto Loch Lomond. Absolutely beautiful. We took a nice leisurely walk to the boathouse restaurant where we were treated to a fantastic three-course lunch.
Afterward, we boarded the coach again, and were taken to their famous golf course. Again, we were split into two groups. Our group was taken via golf carts to their famous 14th hole. I was put on the back of the cart and nearly fell off a couple of times. It was so worth it, though - look at this view!
I made sure to ride in the front on the way back!!
After we returned, we traded places with the other group, who'd toured the spa first. O.M.G. I could live there! They had the hydro-therapy area, where you move from one room to the next and the temp gets increasingly hotter. It gives you the amount of time to stay and where to go next. You finish off in the hydro-bath. Yum. Afterwards, you can get treatments like massages, facials, nails done, all that stuff - and get pampered to bits. To top it all off, there's a very exciting hot tub that overlooks Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond - outside. Its just lovely!
We were shuffled away where a boat waited for us. We were welcomed on board to a floating function suite with glasses of champagne and canapes. Once we set off on Loch Lomond (my first time actually on the water here) I braved it and went outside. I can't tell you how amazing that was. I wanted to shout "I LIVE HERE!!" but it may have made me look just a wee bit suspicious. ::grin::
Ben Lomond shrouded in a low-hanging cloud
I felt great - the cold wind off the water was hitting me square in the face but I didn't care. It was an amazing day!!
We ended the trip being transported back to Edinburgh. I was exhausted. I took the train back home from Edinburgh - well, not "home" - just to Dunfermline but P picked me up!
Saturday, we went shopping. Friday was payday (YAY) and we finally had some cash again! A needed a belt and a haircut. T needed shoes and so did P. C needed a backpack. I needed a bra (sorry fellas) and we needed groceries. It was a very, very busy day. We ended up relaxing with some Marks & Spencers food (my American friends think if Dillard's did groceries!) and a bottle of wine.
We had another run-in with Evil Ex but I'm not going to ruin this post by saying much more than he'd gone more than three weeks without talking to A or T. He'd spoken to C but "didn't have time" ... but I digress.
Today at work, I took a walk after lunch. I was walking around Dunfermline Abbey. I saw some leaves dancing around in an invisible column of wind. I was drawn to it. I walked right into it. For a moment, I was transported back to a more innoscent time of dustdevils and just for a spolit second I hadn't a care in the world. Lost in time. But just for a second.
I love this time of year. Fall is settling in. I love the colours. The smells. Wrapping up in a scarf and jacket, feeling the crispness of the air as it brushes past in an autumn breeze. The light is even different this time of year. It casts a golden glow as it filters through the silvery clouds above.
The coming season will hold a lot for our family. W's coming home (and yes, I mean here in Scotland home) for Christmas. I have never wanted Christmas to come so fast in all my life!!
Tidbits:
*We're getting a dog at the end of the month. We're after a small dog and I really just cannot wait for it!!
*We've decided to go visit Orkney for a week in April (spring break). We're going to stay overnight in a hotel one night, then take the ferry over and stay in a self-catering chalet for a week, right on the water, within walking distance from the Italian Chapel. I'm over the moon about these plans! We're getting a fantastic deal, too! About half of the cost we've been seeing in other places!!
*I've only been in my job for two months yet I'm actually going on holiday (from work anyway - we can't afford to go anywhere) the second week of the boys' fall break. They're out two weeks in mid-October. We were going to use that time to train the dog, but we won't be able to get him/her until after payday in October. Drats!
*Landlady today broke the news to P that she's putting the house on the market next summer. Which means we'll have to move - although we really wanted to move anyway. Well, sort of. We're sort of settling in to the village now. Getting to know the neighbors and all. She said she'd give us first option to buy but I don't want that and I'm sure she's going to be just as greedy as she has been with the rent.
*We're having our first guests over for dinner on Wednesday night! Friends M & R are coming over. They've been to the house but it was just a show-round before we went out back in July for my birthday. I'm very excited about it!
*We've been invited over to M & J's house on Friday for dinner. I'm kinda excited about that, too - this is our first "real" out-to-friend's house since we've been here!!
*I have to pay my road tax tomorrow. Ick. I hate how much it costs to keep a car on the road over here! Yikes!
Anyway - I'm going to scoot off here - I've given you enough to digest for a few days! ::grin::
Last Wednesday, I went on my first FAM trip for my job. Basically, its when places do a show around and treat the travel trade to things they want us to sell to our clients. So along with VisitScotland, two hotels and a cruise company entertained about 20 of us from different companies.
We met in Edinburgh to board a nice motorcoach for the day. I don't like coaches (buses) - I went on one with Friend C in '98 on a day trip to Orkney and said I'd never do that again. And I won't. At least for fun anyway - this was "work" ... ish.
We were taken to a five-star hotel/spa/golf course (under construction), near Glasgow Airport and treated to coffee-flavoured tea (unintentional, I'm sure). Then a show round - VERY impressive. (Don't want to insert name here for obvious reasons.) We spent about two hours there and then headed a wee bit north.
This place rolled out the red carpet for us - nearly literally!! When we arrived, they had literally a dozen of their staff welcome us at the door. They took us into a study-type room where we were all served a nice warm dram of Glenfiddich Single Malt. We were split into two groups and toured the hotel. W.O.W. I was blown away!
This was in a room called The Great Scots Bar - where they have photos of famous Scottish people all over the walls - they've given Rod Stewart a spot anyway, especially since he claims Scotland as his adoptive home.
We were shown rooms that were just breathtakingly beautiful and lush - comfortable and way too much space for two people to be practical - but that's the joy in it, isn't it? Lovely views onto Loch Lomond. Absolutely beautiful. We took a nice leisurely walk to the boathouse restaurant where we were treated to a fantastic three-course lunch.
Afterward, we boarded the coach again, and were taken to their famous golf course. Again, we were split into two groups. Our group was taken via golf carts to their famous 14th hole. I was put on the back of the cart and nearly fell off a couple of times. It was so worth it, though - look at this view!
I made sure to ride in the front on the way back!!
After we returned, we traded places with the other group, who'd toured the spa first. O.M.G. I could live there! They had the hydro-therapy area, where you move from one room to the next and the temp gets increasingly hotter. It gives you the amount of time to stay and where to go next. You finish off in the hydro-bath. Yum. Afterwards, you can get treatments like massages, facials, nails done, all that stuff - and get pampered to bits. To top it all off, there's a very exciting hot tub that overlooks Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond - outside. Its just lovely!
We were shuffled away where a boat waited for us. We were welcomed on board to a floating function suite with glasses of champagne and canapes. Once we set off on Loch Lomond (my first time actually on the water here) I braved it and went outside. I can't tell you how amazing that was. I wanted to shout "I LIVE HERE!!" but it may have made me look just a wee bit suspicious. ::grin::
Ben Lomond shrouded in a low-hanging cloud
I felt great - the cold wind off the water was hitting me square in the face but I didn't care. It was an amazing day!!
We ended the trip being transported back to Edinburgh. I was exhausted. I took the train back home from Edinburgh - well, not "home" - just to Dunfermline but P picked me up!
Saturday, we went shopping. Friday was payday (YAY) and we finally had some cash again! A needed a belt and a haircut. T needed shoes and so did P. C needed a backpack. I needed a bra (sorry fellas) and we needed groceries. It was a very, very busy day. We ended up relaxing with some Marks & Spencers food (my American friends think if Dillard's did groceries!) and a bottle of wine.
We had another run-in with Evil Ex but I'm not going to ruin this post by saying much more than he'd gone more than three weeks without talking to A or T. He'd spoken to C but "didn't have time" ... but I digress.
Today at work, I took a walk after lunch. I was walking around Dunfermline Abbey. I saw some leaves dancing around in an invisible column of wind. I was drawn to it. I walked right into it. For a moment, I was transported back to a more innoscent time of dustdevils and just for a spolit second I hadn't a care in the world. Lost in time. But just for a second.
I love this time of year. Fall is settling in. I love the colours. The smells. Wrapping up in a scarf and jacket, feeling the crispness of the air as it brushes past in an autumn breeze. The light is even different this time of year. It casts a golden glow as it filters through the silvery clouds above.
The coming season will hold a lot for our family. W's coming home (and yes, I mean here in Scotland home) for Christmas. I have never wanted Christmas to come so fast in all my life!!
Tidbits:
*We're getting a dog at the end of the month. We're after a small dog and I really just cannot wait for it!!
*We've decided to go visit Orkney for a week in April (spring break). We're going to stay overnight in a hotel one night, then take the ferry over and stay in a self-catering chalet for a week, right on the water, within walking distance from the Italian Chapel. I'm over the moon about these plans! We're getting a fantastic deal, too! About half of the cost we've been seeing in other places!!
*I've only been in my job for two months yet I'm actually going on holiday (from work anyway - we can't afford to go anywhere) the second week of the boys' fall break. They're out two weeks in mid-October. We were going to use that time to train the dog, but we won't be able to get him/her until after payday in October. Drats!
*Landlady today broke the news to P that she's putting the house on the market next summer. Which means we'll have to move - although we really wanted to move anyway. Well, sort of. We're sort of settling in to the village now. Getting to know the neighbors and all. She said she'd give us first option to buy but I don't want that and I'm sure she's going to be just as greedy as she has been with the rent.
*We're having our first guests over for dinner on Wednesday night! Friends M & R are coming over. They've been to the house but it was just a show-round before we went out back in July for my birthday. I'm very excited about it!
*We've been invited over to M & J's house on Friday for dinner. I'm kinda excited about that, too - this is our first "real" out-to-friend's house since we've been here!!
*I have to pay my road tax tomorrow. Ick. I hate how much it costs to keep a car on the road over here! Yikes!
Anyway - I'm going to scoot off here - I've given you enough to digest for a few days! ::grin::