Keep up at the back!

We think we pack in plenty of activity when we’re travelling, but spending time with Edward reminds us that actually, a 27 year old works at an altogether different pace.  Here’s a snapshot of our two days in the city.

Leaving St Giles, we paid a visit to the Castle, finding our English Heritage membership gained us access to Historic Scotland properties too – what a bargain!

Hot chocolate and Tunnocks Teacakes in the cafe hit the spot!

First thing Saturday, we headed out to Rosslyn chapel which was fascinating (and none of us are Dan Brown afficionados at all)

Next, Blackness Castle on the Forth, with stunning views.

Back into the city, to the other end of the Royal Mile and the Scottish Parliament

to see both inside and out

and then over the road to Holyrood Palace.

Still with me?

To the newly refurbished Stirling Castle on Sunday morning

which was rather surprising, even if we had no idea what to expect.

Visiting places like this in January is great – we usually were the only visitors in any particular place at one time, and in the case of these newly reopened Kings Palace it meant we could get up close and see the remarkable new tapestries in detail.

Having seen the originals whilst with Jordi in New York, we really enjoyed learning more about these newly made masterpieces, made with colourfast wool this time. 

The highly decorated rooms, painted with bold and colourful patterns gave a great impression of how the castle would have looked when new and if you get the chance to visit, then we would all agree that it should be top of the list.

Even the kitchens have been well interpreted, presenting the information and historical background in an attractive and accessible format, even for non-historians like me!

Back in Edinburgh, late Sunday afternoon, the birthday boy decided he wanted to explore the area around Calton Hill whereas we, his weary parents favoured the Portrait Gallery. 

Rounding off our time in the city with a supper of haggis, neeps and tatties, we all agreed, Edinburgh had been a great choice for a January weekend.  Thanks Edward!!

Black Pudding and Angels

Given his choice of a European city in which to celebrate his birthday, Edward was in no doubt – it was to be Edinburgh.

Well, that was easy, wasn’t it?

We drove up on Thursday, spending a night half way at The Star – well, any excuse to visit one of our favourite places, we thought.

We (almost) had the place to ourselves, settling in for a cosy afternoon by the fire, followed by a waistband-testing supper that night and a hearty breakfast the following morning.  Oh my, how do people come here for a whole week?!

We did think that perhaps next time, we should bring a few friends with us – that table seats at least 16.

Driving north on Friday morning was bliss – the weather was perfect and the countryside full of colour and texture.  We’re lucky to live in a beautiful landscape, but this magnificent scenery is truly breathtaking.

We were heading up the A1 when one or other of us muttered something about the Angel of the North – no sooner had we said it than the sign appeared.  Oooh…we’ve wanted to see that!

We’ve both seen photographs of the figure and had clear impressions in our mind of it standing high on a hillside, looking down from a lofty place upon the world below.  Sadly, we were disappointed.

OK, I’ll admit, it’s a dreadful photograph, snapped through the windscreen at who knows how many miles per hour.  But even so, I was sad to see the Angel didn’t quite live up to my expectations.  Next time, perhaps we’ll be better prepared and take a detour to the vantage point and take time to get a more considered view.

In no time, we were in Edinburgh then.  I’d planned to be there first, to greet the birthday boy with a helium balloon or two as he got off his train, but it wasn’t to be.  We’d kept in touch throughout the morning and it was clear from fairly early on that his train from London was going to outpace our shorter, slower journey slightly.  Never mind, we all arrived in plenty of time to enjoy an afternoon in the city.

We started with the Royal Mile and headed uphill to begin with.

Of course, being with an historian, I got to see things like this stool, which apparently was instrumental in the start of the civil war – or so I learned from the birthday boy himself, who chose to go immediately to St Giles Cathedral.  He’s working on Civil War-related things right now, so was keen to see some of these things for himself.  Whilst he and his father discussed such things, I meandered about taking photographs and nodding in agreement here

admiring beautifully designed and made chairs

and simply stunning stained glass windows.

In the Chapel of the Order of the Thistle, we marvelled at the ceiling and stood for a while, spotting one of the Angels with Bagpipes up there.

Just as we were about to leave, we spotted the second one, there in the carved panel by the door

Quite appropriate that, because we had a table booked for supper at the restaurant of the same name!

Nostalgia

Well, for those whose memories won't quite stretch:

200g butter, 200g toffees, 200g marshmallows and a standard packet of Rice Krispies.

I warned you that it was challenging;-)

Birthday cake

27 years to celebrate today, so a cake was required.  The thing is, the birthday boy lives and works in the midst of everything his heart desires where food is concerned, so I didn’t feel inclined to attempt any patisserie challenge on this occasion.  And anyway, there are some things Mummy can make that no amount of money can buy…

The ingredients are few, but in the case of plain and simple toffees, harder to find than one might expect.

 

The process is straightforward enough and beloved of every five year old friend who comes for the afternoon.

Stirring is very important and has to be done with great concentration.

Just when you think the butter will never melt, the marshmallows are going to stay all puffy and the toffee is going to be stuck to the bottom of the spoon forever, it all comes together in one sweetly scented pinky beige mass.

Even though it appears impossible that a whole packet of Rice Krispies will go into that pan, somehow it can be done.

More stirring is needed to make sure every single Rice Krispie is as sticky as the rest.

Then it can be emptied into the lined baking tin and pressed into shape.  After a couple of hours in the fridge it’s ready to be cut into squares and packaged up for the journey.

The bag might suggest that it came from a posh London store, but actually, it’s way more exclusive than that.

The birthday boy will be thrilled, I know.

And best of all, there might be a few trimmings for his proud parents to share on the way to meet him

New York New York

No, I haven't teleported myself there overnight (shame!) but reading today's Martha Stewart Craft blog did make me wish that I could just drop into two of my favourite shops: M&J Trimmings and Toho Beads, featured in the article. Wonderful places, both and if the other addresses included in the feature are anything like as good, then I think my next visit will result in one or two additions to my little black book.

Maybe my favourite New Yorker will be tempted to scout them out in advance? Or maybe she'll just add them to the ever increasing list of things to do/places to go. Like we might ever be stuck for ideas...

(I'm also experimenting with posting to my blog from my iPad. Haven't quite worked out how to include a link yet, so will simply copy the Martha Stewart link here: http://thecraftsdept.marthastewart.com/?p=16846 I think including a photograph needs further thought, too, since all my pics are on my pc! Oh my, there's always something new to learn)