Posted June 25th, 2008
by Amelia Burton Health and Fitness
L.Muck told me yesterday that she had confirmed the Hydrogen balloon order for the wedding. I've been very busy creating signs similar to below...
Personally I would have preferred Helium, but my dear mother is a woman who knows what she likes and is quite sure she specifically asked for Hydrogen.
I've been busy this first week helping out with a few errands too. There was a spider awaiting rescue at our holiday apartment. It was sitting in one of the sinks and had seemingly been in there for quite a few days as L.Muck "already knew about it". The removal scene for the spider involved myself with a cup, and L.Muck preparing the way. This involved opening all doors, removing all trip hazards, and thus creating a safe direct route to the patio. I was also given a brief talk on why I should not fall over with the spider in my hand and knock myself out (as the spider would then escape). I kid not..
Actually, it was first mentioned that I just clobber the spider. I hate to do this. The clobbering L.Muck suggested was enough to imprint the spider into the porcelain forever. The spider was humanely removed and I did as L.Muck requested, to free said spider into the neighbours garden 5 houses down.
I've really not managed to do anything touristy this week, however next week I hope to visit both
Cairnpapple Hill, an ancient holy site with evidence of activity dating back 5,500 years and
Linlithgow Palace, a ruin situated in lovely surroundings by a Loch. Both of which are very near Edinburgh. There's nothing quite like standing in a ruin or area of land dating back hundreds to thousands of years to bring out ones spirituality and clear the head a little.
The Glasgow hen night out is tomorrow and all I'll say is this..
What happens in Glasgow, stays in Glasgow.
1st L.
Posted in Travel
Posted June 22nd, 2008
by Amelia Burton Health and Fitness
The well known, the infamous, the notorious 1st Lady of Blog arrived in Edinburgh on Friday met by the myself, the dowager Lady Muck.
Making sure that I did NOT miss her at arrivals this time, I took up my position on a seat facing the Arrival screen and also within sight of the gate. My eyes were glued to the screen from when the first 'due to arrive' came on right through to 'has landed' but I was still staring at the information when I got a glimpse of my daughter sailing past. I had nearly missed her again due to the fact that 'has landed' had appeared only seconds before 1st lady appeared in the lounge. Cheesh. Airports!!!
I am glad to report that she is in fine fettle and we have happily laughed and chortled our way through 2 days already.
She has
mentioned that I took her a
wee walk only a couple of hours after she and the kidlings had arrived, but she did want to get some exercise after the flights.
The walk up Corstorphine Hill was just marvelous and the 180 degree view ranging from Berwick Law to the islands in the Firth of Forth was stunning. I have fallen in love with that walk and look forward to discovering more of Corstorphine Hill in the future when we actually remember to take the camera with us!!!
After about only 5 minutes walking up the path my young grandson said "How long till we see the castle on the hill?" Castle? Castle on Corstorphine Hill? I was just about to say that there was no castle when 1st Lady whispered " I told him there was a castle or he wouldn't want to go" Then, totally unaware, the wee lad said " I mean, why would anyone just walk up this hill for nothing except to walk down again?" A well he found out eventually but by then he was enjoying the view and was totally pre-occupied by listening out for wild animals from the zoo. ( yes, one nasty grandmother had mentioned that the rabbit droppings we saw lying all around
could actually be from lions)
The highlight of our Saturday was when I had taken the 2 kidlings away to the amusements to gamble and 1st Lady had gone to do some shopping and we were to meet up at Pizza Hut.
She was supposed to arrive before us but when we got there the waiter said that she had not come in yet. The 3 of us got a table and I text Astra to say that we had arrived. I got a text back saying she had arrived too. The only thing was she was sitting in Frederick Street Pizza Hut and we were in Hanover Street. I tell you I am going to put a set of baby reigns on that girl.
It only took her 5 minutes to join us ( thankfully neither of us had ordered our meals yet) and we laughed our way through dinner. ( helped on by a glass of white wine)
From now on I will be too busy to Blog for a while as she has a list of 'things to do'and 'things to see' that will keep us busy until I escape for the wedding!!
Edinburgh watch out!!! the 2 Ladies are oot and aboot!!!
Posted in Travel
Posted June 22nd, 2008
by Amelia Burton Health and Fitness
The plane flight was uneventful, apart from the fact that halfway to Heathrow, just as I was having a nap, an announcement was made asking if there was a doctor onboard. A fellow sitting next to me seemed to be the only doctor and he was gone for a good 45mins, rushing to and fro to his carry on bag always looking for something. Never did find out what was wrong, or what he was looking for.. maybe he was just ensuring I hadn't taken his wallet... do I look that shifty?
Heathrow was surprisingly pleasant especially compared to Dulles, which seemed more unwelcoming than usual. Heathrow employees were all quite friendly and although there's still a trek between gates, the transfer bus, security, immigration, and the new biometric security were all calm and quiet. Wonderful surprise! Especially for June... and Mavis.. and Gertrude..
Edinburgh is always a delight to land into or leave from. It's really so stress free when you compare to major international airports. The taxi situation for all our luggage was actually very easily dealt with too. Basically we followed the signs for Taxi and ended up in a minivan taxi, same price as a regular car and only £12 for the lot of us into Murrayfield. It's handy to experience these situations as we then pass on this information to our Edinburgh visitors.
L.Muck had kindly ordered a grocery delivery direct to the house and so we had food waiting. One of the items had a buy 1 get 1 free, and when the order had arrived, the free bottle wasn't included, so L.Muck called up Tesco to ask about the missing free item and she was told that to get the free bottle, you had to put 2 in your online cart, well, that just doesn't make sense, wouldn't one think that if you put 2 in your cart, then you would get 4 bottles in total? Surely if you placed 2 bottles in your cart, you would be charged for 2 too?
Anyway, here is what was waiting for me in the fridge...
Next time I may make sure that she wears her glasses before selecting quantitys. If anyone has a recipe for cider milk cheese pancakes with lemon drops I'd really appreciate it, I'm getting a little bored of my milk cheese cider with lemon drops pancakes, and the cheese cider milk with lemon drop pancakes turned out a bit runny...
I'm leaving L.Muck to tell you about our short walk up a big hill..
1st L.
Posted in Travel
Posted June 19th, 2008
by Amelia Burton Health and Fitness
The Royal Highland Show starts today. I'm hoping the sheep and other farm animals have already arrived as there's nothing quite as annoying as sitting next to a chatty cow on the plane.
This 4 day country themed event is located on the outskirts of Edinburgh. I've been going for a number of years now and hope to go either Saturday or Sunday, weather depending. L.Muck has said she may, just may come too (I promise readers to take a photo if she wears her cow print wellies)! Read about L.Mucks reasons and fears on why she hasn't been to the RHS since she was a child
here. Reading that old post I notice JohnW has disappeared, I must chase him up, he kindly was one of our first commenters who stuck with us until the blog got going. He has an interesting Blog called
Travellers Tales from the Scottish Highlands. Give him a visit, he'll like the hit count... How's things John?
I'm trying to decide whether to pack my Barbour coat or not. Last year I didn't, and the weather was rather wet. My suitcases are already close to their limit and the last thing I want to do is to be overweight at check in. If only L.Mucks inflatable enhancers didn't take up so much room...
Back to the show. I always spend a bob or two at the craft stalls, of which there are plenty. Its not all agricultural, there's hundreds of stalls selling everything from original watercolours to highland cow footstools**, some high street retailers are there too, fine examples of traditional Scottish craftmanship are on exhibit, food courts offer samples and there's much more. I do avoid the machinery part, with all the tractors and 'things that farmers use'. Last year I bought a couple of pieces of art from an artist B. Black, both depicting simple Scottish scenes. A house by a loch, and the other a town and beach which reminded me of the West coast village of
Shieldaig, where I spent a few summers.
And now I must stop blogging and finish packing, prepare for a long day ahead.
Until Edinburgh,
1st L.
** Highland Cow Footstools are footstools made in the image of a cow, with wooden legs and face. These are not footstools made for Highland Cows. Highland Cows dont use footstools because if they did, they'd be standing, they prefer to watch TV sitting down, Highland cows prefer to use cowches.
Posted in Travel
Posted June 17th, 2008
by Amelia Burton Health and Fitness
Scotland is to welcome me back this Friday, bags n all. Now normally I would pick up a rental car at the airport and just drive into town with all my suitcases, however this time I'm not picking up a car until Monday.
So, we have myself, L.Muck and 2 wee uns, plus 5, possibly 6, checked bags, and our carry ons to transport into town. There are a few options that L.Muck and I have discussed. Firstly, we could try a taxi, and if we dont all fit in, then L.Muck offered to take the bus. 5 checked bags and the bus? Well, I thought that was far too kind of her really.
Secondly, we could load our luggage onto the airport shuttle (#100 bus) which leaves for Edinburgh city centre every 10 mins or so. There's a #100 bus stop not too far from our place, so we could follow in a taxi and stop the bus at our stop. Thus travelling in comfort and avoiding the per person bus fee. Neither L.Muck or myself have seen any signs posted in the bus stating that passengers must accompany luggage, and since the bus only charges for passengers, the luggage should be ticket free. Brilliant?
However, if this fails (as we are not quite sure how the taxi driver will get the bus to stop without involving quick braking and possible police incident), there's the 3rd option.
L.Muck, a bike, 3 sidecars, and a ball of string...
Stay tuned...
Posted in Travel
Posted June 15th, 2008
by Amelia Burton Health and Fitness
Those who know me also know that I possess one of the scariest, weirdest and down right craziest imaginations on the planet ( and probably further. For all I know the Martians are totally void of non factual thought)
I would like to find out though if there are others ( apart from my children who have all inherited similar healthy imaginations) who can identify with my latest crazy thought.
I have actually had this thought for some time now but the feeling is getting stronger.
Now you know how busy it can get at many street crossings with a line of people at either side just waiting to cross?( the roads leading from Princes Street are where I got this idea) And then we all kind of meet in the middle of the road? ( with me so far?) WELL, to me it seems exactly like being at a Scottish Country Dance and I want to grab my opposite numbers arm and swing them around singing "Take your partner round and round, lift his feet right off the ground ...etc etc"
Now this picture is scarily getting stronger and stronger and I am wondering what TV programme could arrange this for me. ( or will I just go for it one day and be carted off by men in white coats?)
Am I the only one to be able to picture this, and should John be saved from a life with me? or are there other like minded individuals out there?
I am almost scared to ask.
Posted in Travel
Posted June 13th, 2008
by Alfred
LONDON (Reuters) - A parliamentary panel will on Tuesday join in the debate on why oil prices are at record levels above $145 a barrel and whether speculators have played a role.
The UK Treasury Committee will grill economists, executives from electronic exchange ICE Futures Europe (ICE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and officials from the UK regulator the Financial Services Authority.
The hearing illustrates growing pressure on politicians to take action over record oil prices, which have caused protests from consumers around the world.
In the United States, there is already a raft of bills in Congress seeking to limit speculation in oil futures markets that some blame for driving up prices.
The U.S. commodity market regulator, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, has taken steps to extend some of its rules to a contract in U.S. crude oil traded on ICE Futures Europe, which is regulated by Britain’s FSA.
“We have agreed to have U.S.-style regulation of that contract,” said a spokeswoman for the ICE. She said this still had to be approved by the FSA.
The CFTC rules would impose trading limits on the U.S. crude oil contract traded on ICE’s electronic platform.
This contract has been described in the United States as the “London loophole,” because it allows trading in U.S. crude oil futures to take place outside U.S. rules.
But some, including the International Energy Agency, see blaming speculators for high oil prices as an easy solution that avoids hard choices countries must make to boost supply or curb demand.
Others in the futures industry warn against interfering in markets.
“We need to be extremely careful about being drawn into knee jerk reactions based on populist politics,” said Anthony Belchambers, chief executive of the UK-based Futures and Options Association.
He warned against excluding legitimate financial interests from using futures markets, saying this would undermine their liquidity and make it difficult for commercial users to hedge.
Those giving evidence to the Treasury committee include: the chairman of ICE Futures Europe, Bob Reid, Chairman and Chief Operating Officer David Peniket and director of regulation, Dee Blake.
Also giving evidence before the panel chaired by Labour Member of Parliament John McFall will be the FSA’s markets division’s director, Alexander Justham, and Jonathan Hill, a technical specialist for commodities in the division.
Posted in Finance
