Scotland#1 (or the allusive search for cold water)

Excuse my writing today, this keyboard is a bit doggy!!! I am continuing my search for cold water in the UK. My cousin Anna didn't believe me that there was a lack of cold water, and thought it was just barbaric England that didn't have cold water, but wales would DEFINATLY be better, we went to the cafe at St. Fagin's ( the Welsh Life Museam), in Cardiff, and tried to get some cold water, and i grabbed a bottle (that was in a cooler), but NO GO!!! Anna asked the clerk if she had ice or something good.. no go. so i drank my warm water :) This morning, i saw a Starbucks, so i thought, YES for SURE they will have cold water, | may have had to spend 3£ for it, but I got cold water :) Ahh.. it has been a wonderful holiday. Really, i have to say i am having a grand time!! Yes Peter and Emily i scored you a mug, one from england, and one from Scotland, didn't come across Starbucks in Wales.. sorry!

After i left you in England, i did go to a pub, had fish and chips (yummers - who knew that serving fish and chips in newsprint is illegal now?) well i certainly didn't so after i got over my initial dissapointment, i quite enjoyed them! I then went to the National Museam and REAlly got to see Van Go (excuse my spelling, i am a Canadian you know), |Monet, Duggat, etc. etc. it was AMAZING, and i felt so privileged to see each brushstroke, and yes, even a few mistakes and bad compositions :) Then i popped on the train and headed out to Abergavaney to meet my cousin Anna & her new hubby Martin. Had a grand time with them, Martin is a sweetie (is having his 30th birthday next week). On Monday, Anna and | (Martin went out on his truck), went to Cardiff to a Welsh museam. Mom, i thought you would have really enjoyed it. It was like Kings' Island, but for welsh history from BC to present day!! IT was cool for Anna kept filing me in on Veevers (my family name) history along the way, even to the WWII backyard bomb shelter. (yummy BLT was just placed in front of me, forgive my munching). Then on Tuesday, we spent the day at a retirement home for horses, Anna had to take her horse to the chiropracter's.. yes they have chiropracters for horses, so i went with! Then we went back to Abbergavany to an appointment, and i went shopping in search of .... you guessed it... cold water.. none was to be found however, but i DID find a toffee crisp (my fav. chocolate bar).

Yesterday was a grand day, we went to Beudley England to see my great Auntie Elizabeth (Great Auntie Kathleen came with us). We went to the St. George (very posh), hotel for lunch, and i had lamb. (lamb believe it or not was the cheapest thing on the menu!). Anyway, then they drove me to Sturbridge station to catch the train to lancaster. I stopped in Birmingham ( Nasty little city, felt much like a big american city - yelk), and then on the transfer sat next to a really interesting bloke from Lancaster, (very strange), anyway, had a great time chatting it up, and then Roddie met me in Lancaster. Had a great night with the Lambies and Sarah, and then today jumped on a train at 6:00am for Edinborgh, which is where i am right now!! ;) I saw the Edinbergh castle (how do you spell that?), a Scotch Whiskey distillery history place, and the palace of holyroodhouse (the queen's residence here in Scotland) This is SUCH an amazing city, can't wait to show you my pictures. Scotland is like coming home for me, i feel very comfortable here!!

:) Well this keyboard is nasty, and i need to eat ( haven't had a bite yet today). So here are my "Quirkey Brittish Observations" for today...

Besides the "normal" strange words they use... (ie. loo for bathroom, flush for toilet) .. i have discovered a few others... way out not exit, toilets that are locked are called engaged not occupied.. a transport truck is a lorrey....windshields on cars are screens, and a DIY is like home depot (stands for Do it yourself stores)..

Okay.. that's a brief observations by Michelle. I've met some neat people today, a guy from Toronto (teacher on holiday), a man from Colorado, a couple from Virginia, and this yummy guy who juSt made me a BLT sandwich.. (why does it always come back to a yummy guy??)..

Ha ha.. love you all!! I'll see you soon!!!

Michelle