Over The Wall

For some reason my iPad blogger App didn't want to post anything while I was away 'Over the Wall' in Scotland so I now have to do the posts all over again. Fortunately for you, my readers it will be a more concise version of events as I have probably forgotten much of what happened over the week.

Like the walk up the hill on the first night, and the photo's that are still in the camera which needs recharging. It was just a walk, you don't need photos do you?

Other days we went to various places around the Borders, Galashiels several times due to the fact that there was a skatepark, a Tesco Extra and a Ceramic Experience where Alexander and I painted a mug and money box, which was fired and collected a couple of days later.

There was no internet or 3G anywhere near the cottage, so we felt the need to drive to places where we could check email and the other social networking apps we can no longer live without. Places like the new Weatherspoons in Hawick, Baxter's (soup people) in Selkirk and McDonalds were good stop offs!

My favourite part of the drives here and there were seeing all the new lambs in the fields, something so heartwarming about them, until the moment you realise you may end up with one of them on your plate one Sunday lunchtime.

We did however see these on one of the drives out.... Don't think Asda or Sainsbury's sell them in their meat sections

One day we went down to see my favourite castle. Hermitage. It's nothing fancy like Bamburgh or Edinburgh, but it's so remote and stark and well, impressive! If only Miller Homes built houses like this... This castle has been here hundreds of years and apart from a few bits of mortar and stone added, hasn't changed at all. Well on the outside - there's not much left on the inside but you can see where things would have been.

Here is hubby and Little Dude discussing the carved graffiti on the stonework.
This is the view from the guest room... it was a sunny day but the wind fair whistled through the window, you would need more than a pair of nets on this one!
On the way back from Hermitage, we took a couple of detours to random graveyards along the way looking for Armstrong's (as we always do) and a fresh cream scone. Seems cream tea's aren't commonplace around here so we decided to stop off at this place...

Actually Fairy Hill was across the road from this....

No, you wouldn't expect to see a Tibetan Monastery while driving along a narrow road near Eskdalemuir would you? It was a nice sunny day and they had a tearoom and more importantly toilets so we stopped and had a wander around the grounds, which were peaceful and welcoming.
We made a donation and tied ribbons to this tree
and then had a fantastic cappuccino and hot chocolate in their tearoom, welcomed by monks and students who appeared to pop in and out to get various refreshments.

I didn't take pictures of the most fascinating part as I didn't feel it was appropriate to photograph the wall where urns containing the ashes of relatives and pets were displayed, along with personal messages and offerings. Hubby though it all a little morbid, but it was obvious that people were celebrating the lives of their loved ones and wanted to leave them somewhere special.

Today we arrived home to a miserable day and the Royal wedding. Big Dude had made an attempt to clean the house after his week alone but of course I had to 'clean it properly' between the service in the Abbey and other wedding proceedings. I now feel happy and content in my own home again.

I think I'm getting old. I do enjoy being in my own house.