London, Edinburgh and West Linton – 21st – 26th August

Slainte’ from Scotland.

After our extended relaxing stay in Bruges, we grabbed the old coach from the bus station and within an hour we were on the France/England ferry. We pulled into Dover and two hours later we were disembarking at Victoria Station. We were late to get to Eva’s but we finally got to Worcester Park around 9pm and had a delicious Spanish omelette and salad. It was great to see Eva and the very grown-up Kimberley out of the Clapham ghetto and styling in their own house in funky Worcester. Very cool.

The next day we had a sleep in before grabbing two trains to check out Camden markets. We LOVE Camden markets and they were even more rad than two years ago. We bought some tres’ cool Chrissy pressies and Jen acquired a very rockin’ green leather jacket!! We feasted at the street markets and walked for hours before we did a reccy at The World’s End pub. I love the wood panelling and wallpaper in there and I took numerous pics. We had a few drinks back at Eva’s before we crashed and bid the London fam adieu.

We also had wonderful news that Jake and Tymina welcomed baby Lylee in to the world on 22nd August. Jen-Jen and Grand Dude can’t wait to meet her. We bought her a little London teddy bear to remind her just how jet-setting (and trend-setting) her grandparents are.

The next day, we were up at sparrow’s – trains to Victoria – all day to Edinburgh on the Megabus – got into West Linton around 9 (again) and headed back to “The Heddles” to see Anna, Graham, Thomas and James. We had amazing food – as always – played LEGO and wandered around the beautiful village of West Linton. We had a great time here in 2015 and the extension that Graham is building is a fantastic addition to their sick house. The boys are some of the craziest, smartest, most polite little boys that we’ve ever met and playing LEGO was the bomb – even though I lost every robot battle. L

We then jumped the bus back into the ‘Burgh and hit Badger and Erica’s.

I always love coming back to my old home and as soon as we hit the streets, the smells came flooding back and the endorphins started – a rushin’!! LOVE EDINBURGH!!!

Anyway, Daz met us and we strolled around Carlton Hill, the Bridges – got me a new kilt!! – Princes Street, Belushi’s, Cockburn Street etc… Was great to see both Badge and Daz and the rest of the day/night descended into a booze filled catch up all over the city. Erica and Finlay came home and it was great to see how much he had grown – a proper wee man now. We also met Darren’s beloved, Caroline and had a drink in their groovy pad.

Well as to be expected, the next day was hangover central, but we pulled through, grabbed some dinner in a local pub and watched a classic NZ vampire mockumentary called “What we do in the Shadows.”

We were up at sparra’s the next morn and Badger drove us to the airport – legend.

Our Scottish jaunt was too brief but we hung out with the Edinburgh fam and strengthened the bonds that already existed, we ate and drank like lords and left feeling grateful. Cheers Scotland – you never let us down.

Off to Ireland for a 6 day bus trip now – cannae wait.

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