Author: leanagallagher

Our final day before travel. Where did the time go?

No big breakfast today. The Vacirca’s headed off to a restaurant they wanted to try before meeting Kirsten at Culzean Castle. I finally made Brad soft boiled eggs with buttered soldiers. But the boys had Krispy Kremes!

Kirsten took her first long drive and managed swimmingly.

Brad and I headed to the Maritime museum in Irvine, which was really interesting, and the building was a Victorian gem brought down brick by brick from Glasgow. Did I mention it was pirate day?

We headed to get a cup of coffee and ended up going to the same place Jenn had found for them to have breakfast! Best desserts ever!

The kids made it to Culzean Castle and Kayla got to see her Scottish cattle — a real dream come true.

They had a great day inside the castle and out. Brad and I headed to West Kilbride to see the Craft Town, and Brad ran into a painter that has worked in Newport and who knew John McCray. Small world. I, of course, stopped into a butcher and made fast friends with the family.

We stopped by a local golf course just to check it out, and saw that they had a driving range, but you bring your own balls and pick them up yourself!

We met everyone in Largs, a little seashore town like Hampton Beach, and had fantastic fish and chips.

Kirsten and I did a long walk around the property, then met the Vacirca’s and did s photo shoot all over the grounds. Such a sweet way to end this terrific trip.

Oh yeah, we finished the Aladdin puzzle!

Our fourth day with the kids. We decided to split off today, so all the kids went to Edinburgh and Glasgow and we went to Prestwick to play golf.

They tried Scottish Porridge this morning with roasted apples. Sorry to say, bacon and eggs is their favorite, or absolutely anything with maple syrup.

The train ride was s highlight, but the city was spectacular. Castles, double decker buses, and of course a fabulous lunch.

Who needs the grand parents anyway? We are so glad they are all having such fun together. Memories forever.

Brad and I played golf in several kinds of weather in one round with a great caddie who met us for a beer in a local pub after. He knew everyone in the Pub and introduced us around. Always fun talking politics with the locals. The shell of the stone building in the background is the old church of St. Nicholas dating from 1200. Very interesting oceanfront Scottish town, and the course is the home of the British Open. How appropriate we were there as they are playing the Open this week in Northern Ireland.We were supposed to have dinner at a Michelin restaurant tonight, but we both felt like a night at home. I went for a walk all through the grounds. . I feel so at home here. There is something about Scotland that just suits me.

A salad and quiche were the perfect end to the day.

Day Five with the kids was a rousing success (almost). Jeff and Kirsten and the boys went golfing at Turnberry.

Jenn and the girls took the train into Glasgow, and Brad and I went off to do some ancestor hunting. We drove to Ayr where we had corresponded with a historical librarian at the Carnegie Library, Tom Barclay.Tom had sent us some great information and maps of the area where Brad’s fourth great grandparents lived. He took us on a stroll and explained what the town was like in the early 1800’s. The town was coal miners and linen weavers, and Brad’s family were the later. There are many buildings dating from the early 1800’s, and it was great to be able to see what they saw.We walked over a bridge they traveled on we walked down the streets they walked, and what is in the corner of their block? Life is so funny. Could 4th great grandfather Daniel have imagined that his grandson would return 220 years later? He died leaving his family in “distress”, and his wife, Flory, died 40 years later in the workhouse. And we return on an airplane, renting a castle to visit their ghosts. What a morning. We found their church (closed for over 70 years) we found what might have been their home (or more likely rented room) and we hold them and their story in our hearts.

After an emotional morning, we went to hear about another Scottish family, the Dalrymple’s, Earl of Dumphries. The Earl was building this mansion (that Prince Charles’ trust owns) while Brad’s grandparents were starving. Amazing to put it into context.j

We also toured the garden Now this is a vegetable garden!

Amazing property, fantastic tour guide, and a proper British lunch.We got back to the house and Jenn had had quite a time with the girls. They had been great all week, but decided to act out in Glasgow and drive her to distraction. She was ready for a proper drink by the time we got home!

Speaking of proper drinks, we had drinks in the main house with the owners, Sallie and Charles. Lovely folks.

We came home to all the kids in the game room watching golf.

So the Vacirca’s went off to Stirling to see the Castle there and decide how it compares to our humble abode.They took in the countryside on the drive. Everywhere you turn your head is another gorgeous vista.The Castle was amazing and very child friendly. The girls dressed up as princesses and learned a bit of Scottish history.Off to the animal park which was full of sub Saharan African animals. How Scottish! The kids totally loved it. It was a wonderful family day, followed by our great meal together. The cousins are getting along really well. I think the girls are in love.

A good night’s rest and a misty morning. We woke up and gathered in the kitchen as the smell of bacon and sausage wafted up the stairs. It’s a big group, and they like their breakfast.We split into two groups today. The V’s left for Stirling, to see the castle and the animal park, and the rest of us went off to golf.

First course on the tour was Western Gailes. It’s a Scottish links style course that’s truly difficult and more popular with the British than Troon or Turnberry. It hasn’t been Americanized yet, and that’s just how we like it.It’s a modest clubhouse that faces the Firth of Clyde. The wind blows, the rain stings, the gorse is tall and eats balls (just ask Michael) and the caddies have been there for a lifetime. Paul won the round by 4 strokes and had a real taste of golf in its truest tradition. We came in, had a beautiful lunch and our first Sticky Toffee Pudding. I’m truly sorry I didn’t photograph it, but we ate it very quickly and with gusto! We came back to the manse, after a detour to Royal Troon, and collapsed for a bit. Seven miles of walking in the Scottish rain and sticky toffee pudding did us in.

Another post will show the Vacirca’s at play at the Animal Park and Stirling Castle, but we call met for dinner at “The Blair” in Kilwinning.A beautiful little restaurant very close by (down a rural track that we’re getting very good at driving on). As soon as we all arrived, the place cleared out — was it something we said? Who cared, the food and staff were terrific!No one make a pie crust like the British! We are all back in bed once again, dreaming of sticky toffee pudding…….

Big day! We all slept well and woke up early and had a full Scottish breakfast.Sausage, bacon, eggs, pancakes, crumpets, Scottish strawberries, coffee and tea for 9. That’s a lotta eggs!

We trotted off to play a bit of warm up golf and to Kelburn Castle Country Park for the wee ones.Then we were off to Cowan’s Law to learn to shoot clays with the fabulous Jay Steele. Air rifles, archery and clay shooting. Great family sporting day in the Scottish countryside.After a little rifle practice the girls learned to groom a pony and ride one. This lucky pony’s name is Comet. Onto dinner in Robert Burns country. Such a beautiful town. Let’s not stop here — off to a Cricket match! Great guys in a perfect setting. We made some new friends.

Truly let the games begin. Jeff and family flew from LA to JFK and met Kirsten and the boys and they all flew to Glasgow, picked up cars and made their way to the Estate. No one slept much, but they arrived in good spirits!

We made the most out of the day, exploring the house,

walking the grounds, driving endlessly in circles looking for a golf practice range before heading to Lime Tree Larder for a chocolate lesson and tasting.We decided to have dinner at home to ease the jet lag and just hang around the grounds. Lovely day, relaxing evening, long bath. Can’t wait for tomorrow!

Good long day. We woke up in our European sized room (Brad calls it, excuse me, pardon me, room) and made for a quick breakfast before a Scotch whiskey tasting. When in Rome!Our guide at the Oban distillery was very precise, and we learned a lot. Like Oban is part of a huge conglomerate (Diageo), and that they buy their barley “mostly” from Scotland, and they make a sweeter version for the American market. Not as quaint as a small distillery from 1792. Just another link in the chain. Still it was great to see.

Alan picked us up in the beautiful port side village of Oban and drove us to the airport to pick up our rental car. We chatted about life, took in Loch Lomand and arrived in time to get our left sided driving vehicle. We found our way to the Estate and were ridiculously delighted.

Dropped the bags and headed out to the food store to provision the house. By the time we got home, we were toast. We also realized that we hadn’t eaten all day, so we promptly made a drink!Drinks on the lawn, with a cheese plate to follow and a walk on the grounds amid the cotton tail bunnies. We are nestled into our baronial bedroom with crisp Italian linens and the kids on the way. Tomorrow should be epic, but tonight we sleep in peace.

Coming into Oban has been delightful, but the difference between Skye and Oban is dramatic. Lovely here, and great walking about a city and being stimulated by many things, but it only shows how mystical Skye was. The vastness of it. The lack of “things”. The ghosts of the past that lurk in every abandoned Croft. The majesty of the sky and sea.

And the people we met. Steve, who goes to Romania annually to help the Roma children, Ali and Shaz who have created a slice of heaven in the old Croft on the water, Stuart, our race car driver whose family runs boat tours to a land locked loch between the mountains. They are unique people in a unique place who gave us a magical time we hold in our hearts forever.

Here are some photos Steve took (did we mention that he’s a photographer and web designer also?)

We got on our much anticipated and long reserved Jacobite Steam train. It was a total snooze. You win some, you lose some.We were picked up by Phillipe once again from Elecar, and had a lovely drive and chat along with a pit stop to see a lovely little castle.We checked into civilization. Oban is a busy port town, and the hotel is like a Kimpton. We were delighted to find a “lift”!We took in the shore, then walked up 20 flights of outdoor steps (if Apple Health tracker is right), to McCaig’s Tower. It’s an abandoned coliseum structure that has views of the harbor and outer islands. This port town always has so much beauty.

We found a little local’s pub and had our first fish and chips and ale. Chatted with the bartender (a delightful Glaswegian) and walked home in the lovely sunshine at 9:00 PM.Gotta love Scotland.