the long way home » Scotland

Photos from Scotland

glennji — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 09:23:41 +0000

Most of you know I was in Australia in February, and when I came back we took a short trip up to the Highlands to get away from it all. We stayed in Glasgow, then on Skye in a beautiful little hotel. On the way home, we got stuck in the worst weather Scotland has seen for years — heavy snow, frozen lochs & very chilly coos.

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Haggis

glennji — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 10:06:05 +0000

I awake fully clothed, sans shoes, face down on a mattress of calico stuffed with porridge, my drool-patch soaking in nicely to combine with the drool-patches of a thousand backpackers before me. In a foolishly provident move I attempt to lift my head — the action sends my body back to the porridgy embrace of the well-worn mattress, whilst simultaneously dipping my raw brain into a nearby lava-pool. My own heart-beat, pulsing traitor, ticks out the eternity of my agony in a syncopated thumping in my temples — ba-BUH, ba-BUH, ow-OW, ow-OUCH.

I’m never drinking again.

Such was the first night of the Haggis bus tour — purportedly three nights of fresh air, awesome mountains and clean living in the Scottish highlands. Loch Ness, the Isle of Skye, Glencoe, Aberdeen … all with a bus load of strangers and two Aussie friends, both from the old Uni daze/days; one a wild-eyed mountain man, exploring Europe on the company dime with a guitar strapped to his skinny back, the other a talkative australitaliano technorati who turned down an offer to be Google’s new CEO so he could spend more quality time with his share-house full of nurses, nannies and strippers (and who can blame him?).

In reality it was three nights solid binging, with many hours a day dedicated to sobering up enough for the next evening’s revelries. Everyone fell asleep on the bus at least once; everyone told themselves to take it easy next time at least once; nobody took their own advice. I certainly didn’t.

The adventure commenced with a leisurely – and early – walk down to the Haggis office. We boarded our bright yellow starship and sat waiting, alone and disconnected, for take-off. Now Haggis employ, as most bus tours do, a driver and a guide. Sometimes these are the same person, but because we had quite a few people we got Colin and

Kilted Aussie – almost!

glennji — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 23:24:36 +0000

It’s Friday at last, and I couldn’t be happier. Well, actually I could – I’m technically on “backup” this weekend, so there’s a slim chance that I’ll be called to work. It’s not going to be the easiest thing, since I’m going to Glasgow for a ceilidh (is that how it’s spelt?). Lots of drinking, dancing and kilt-wearing. Even better, it’s for Dee’s work so I don’t care if I make a complete fool of myself!

I’ve hired a kilt and all the trimmings – I’ll post a photo once I collect it tomorrow. Fun!’, ‘It’s Friday at last, and I couldn’t be happier. Well, actually I could – I’m technically on “backup” this weekend, so there’s a slim chance that I’ll be called to work. It’s not going to be the easiest thing, since I’m going to Glasgow for a ceilidh (is that how it’s spelt?). Lots of drinking, dancing and kilt-wearing. Even better, it’s for Dee’s work so I don’t care if I make a complete fool of myself!

I’ve hired a kilt and all the trimmings – I’ll post a photo once I collect it tomorrow. Fun!