The Garden Fence - proper Old Style support and chat!

wondercollie

I'll join Monnagram in the Cinzano and Lemonade club.

It's still freezing here. Today's high was -9. At least it's not snowing.

And the good news is, my best pal and I have actually got it together and are going to Scotland in October! Plane tickets bought, car rented and first and last night's hotel sorted. We are going to be tourists and see all the sights. The joke here is our families moved to Canada the same year from different areas of Scotland and we met on the first day of high school. Trips back always involved relatives and maybe a trip to one historical site. So as she so delicately put it, the old ones are dead and why bother visiting cousins who haven't kept in touch?

She's right of course. It's like a generation of people migrated in the 60s and lost their relatives. Phone calls were expensive, as was travel and airmail could be erratic. So people just didn't keep in touch. We both have cousins that we wouldn't recognize if we passed them on the street. From the 80s onwards the only time my parents heard from their siblings was to find out if they would put up their travelling children at no charge.

So Edinburgh Castle, Stirling and Culloden are on the list. Good bakery and chippie recommendations are welcome

monnagran

LW, Single malt eh? I hate it myself, would rather drink meths, but I once had a man friend who loved it. I used to give him a bottle of Famous Grouse every Christmas - don't you love that advert? So hilariously understated.
I've just read that through again to check for tablet malapropisms, and I feel I must point out that I have never actually tried drinking meths, (or met us!) its just a turn of phrase.
PHEW! Glad I've cleared that up.

Silver-oldie, I hadn't realised that your mother had already passed her centenary. I know a few of those too. One dear lady died last year at 105. She lived in her own bungalow till the end. She wrote me a furious letter a couple of years back saying that her niece was trying to persuade her to go into a home. Mind, she was riding her bicycle into her nineties and finally gave up driving at 96, much to everyone's relief.
However, she was lovely, not cantankerous at all.

Softstuff, delightful though it would be for us Southern nutters (I can read strike throughs) to actually meet you in person, I really don't think you could stretch as far as the Sunshine Isle. As for us coming to meet you.............you obviously have never met any Caulkheads (native Isle of Wighters). Any journey over 3 miles necessitates Thermos flask, blanket, torch and Kendal mint cake. As for making the perilous ferry crossing to the mainland, or North Island as we prefer to call it, or England, as an elderly gentleman of my acquaintance calls it, well............Anyway, my passport is out of date.

I'm with you on the oven cleaning. I was very afraid that when scraping away at the oven floor, I would eventually hit the kitchen floorboards.

Hi Wondercollie. Scotland in Autumn....gorgeous. I was up in Thurso a couple of years ago and it was glorious. I didn't even need the pith helmet my anxious Island friends had insisted I take.

Back to dream land I think. Millie is snoring away on her bed on my floor, twitching and moaning occasionally. She's obviously dreaming of the seagull she nearly caught today.

mrsmac10

wondercollie wrote: »

I'll join Monnagram in the Cinzano and Lemonade club.

It's still freezing here. Today's high was -9. At least it's not snowing.

And the good news is, my best pal and I have actually got it together and are going to Scotland in October! Plane tickets bought, car rented and first and last night's hotel sorted. We are going to be tourists and see all the sights. The joke here is our families moved to Canada the same year from different areas of Scotland and we met on the first day of high school. Trips back always involved relatives and maybe a trip to one historical site. So as she so delicately put it, the old ones are dead and why bother visiting cousins who haven't kept in touch?

She's right of course. It's like a generation of people migrated in the 60s and lost their relatives. Phone calls were expensive, as was travel and airmail could be erratic. So people just didn't keep in touch. We both have cousins that we wouldn't recognize if we passed them on the street. From the 80s onwards the only time my parents heard from their siblings was to find out if they would put up their travelling children at no charge.

So Edinburgh Castle, Stirling and Culloden are on the list. Good bakery and chippie recommendations are welcome

Ok I am only a lurker here but that is lovely news I totally agree about distant relations and the fact Scotland is lovely I am just outside Glasgow

My town boosts the best Indian restaurant in Scotland if you are passing my way plus there is a 2 Michelin star afternoon tea in a restored castle Not cheap but the settings are WOW

Let us know if we can help I am sure Mar knows all the best sweetie shops and I make Scottish tablet that I love to share

Enjoy your trip

Islandmaid

Monna 3 Miles :eek: I have been packing for my trip today to the metropolis (Newport) for 6 months, all these people we see with backpack and tents aren't of to a festival, they are off to the post office on their annual pilgrimages.

Okay I have checked 3 times now, visa, thermos, nammet, spare pair of socks, emergency flares - all set for my trip to the opticians :T wish me luck, maybe I should have asked the BBC to film my journey.......

monnagran

Quite so Islandmaid. These people who set off for 5 mile trips in the car without as much as alerting the police and without adequate spare clothing are just asking for trouble.
I, myself, am off to the main centre of commerce hereabouts - chemist and farm shop, in order to collect my prescription. I make this trip once a month. Twice if I have to make a separate trip to the hairdresser. I have to (prepare to be amazed) WALK. A whole mile there and, after a suitable period of recovery, a whole mile back again. Hiking boots and stout stick are waiting by the door and bottle of water and glucose tablets packed ready, together with a powerful torch in case I'm not back before nightfall.

Do you think anyone actually reads this rubbish?

I'll now retreat to the shadows, leaving you with THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Some things take insane bravery, but after that you will be free.

Islandmaid

For those uninitiated, the Island, it has been said, is slightly behind the times - in a charming way, obviously.

This is why it's not safe to travel after dark - actual footage



(Before the Island tourism board send in the heavies, the above was when some 'wag' decided to move a few of our beloved dinosaurs)

ivyleaf

Wondercollie it's great that you're coming over :j You really deserve a complete break.

Softstuff, I'm really not expecting you to come all down here x

Islandmaid Are those dinosaurs from Blackgang Chine? I seem to remember seeing dinosaurs during a Sunday School outing from Gosport! And garden gnomes.....

Softstuff

We have dinosaurs here too! A billionaire decided it would be a good idea to plonk them on a 5 star resort and championship golf course. Said resort closed not long after.

I am curious about the island. I think a good tour of the whole UK is in order in the future, just me and hubby. That's if you'll let us in without some sort of quarantine .

Islandmaid

Ivyleaf it was in Godshill, the Blackgang Chine Dino's are much better behaved

Softstuff When we do our OS cruise, Monna and I will arrange for special dispensation for a group visit x

juliettet

Wondercollie, put Glasgow on your list. The People's Palace is a must.