Good Morning All
Our trip to Scotland was absolutely outstanding.
Family and friends gave us a wonderful welcome and showed us a fantastic time. We were fortunate to enjoy some excellent weather too, which made the experience even more memorable.
It's difficult to choose the highlights because there were so many.
The Johnnie Walker Experience in Edinburgh is a must-visit, while Edinburgh Castle and the city's many historic sites make it one of the world's great destinations.
We also spent time in Stirling, which felt like a miniature Edinburgh and very much Bob's territory. Day trips to Pitlochry, Bridge of Allan, and both North and South Queensferry were equally enjoyable.
We even crossed the border into England, staying in the historic town of Bamburgh. A visit to Holy Island was another highlight – provided you make sure the tide is out! I couldn't resist shouting "FREEDOM!" as we crossed the border.
One particularly special part of the trip was revisiting Coldingham, where we spent our honeymoon 52 years ago. Remarkably, both the village and the local pub seemed almost unchanged.
The years may have passed, but the memories remain. The old caravan park has certainly evolved, with modern mobile homes replacing the humble two-berth caravan we stayed in all those years ago.
I've taken countless photographs and videos to help preserve the memories.
The food was exceptional throughout the trip. We enjoyed some top-class restaurants and sampled Scottish, Indian and Chinese cuisine on numerous occasions.
The nightlife was fairly low-key, but our Motown evening at the Miners Club was first-class entertainment.
There were also some emotional moments. We finally watched the wedding video of a family celebration we had unfortunately missed and it was touching to hear our names mentioned as absent friends.
There had been many other family gatherings and festivities planned for us, but unfortunately the mystery virus put life on hold for a while.
If you ever get the opportunity to visit Scotland, I would highly recommend it. The only warning is that converting South African Rands into Pounds Sterling can make for an expensive holiday! Fortunately, we were blessed with some very generous family members. 🙏
Saying goodbye was undoubtedly the hardest part of the trip. It was sad leaving family and friends, perhaps for the last time, although we remain hopeful that some of them will make the journey to South Africa in the future.
As for Hearts' season, it ended in heartbreak for the loyal supporters. There were plenty of twists and turns along the way, and despite a valiant effort, it wasn't to be. Hopefully they can continue challenging the Old Firm in the seasons ahead.
To round off our travels, we experienced one final piece of drama. After enduring a seven-hour wait in Heathrow Terminal 5 on our arrival, our return journey produced more delays.
This time, however, we were compensated with a five-star overnight stay at the Sofitel Heathrow Airport Hotel. Unfortunately, it still included another five hours in the dreaded Terminal 5 — surely one of the busiest places on the planet.
The seat on plane also felt smaller on way back? Possibly the 5kilo gain 😢
I wasn't in much of a position to do any gambling during the trip, but I did notice that the bookmakers are everywhere and often attached to local pubs, ensuring a steady stream of customers.
Now our attention turns to the Durban July build-up. I've been studying the Gold Challenge and it looks an extremely competitive race.
At this stage, I'll stick with See It Again and Andrew Fortune, who could move right back into July contention with a big performance.
Across the water, I fancy O'Brien and Moore to capture another Derby with Benvenuto Cellini and further enhance their remarkable record.
For me, Calandagan looks the best bet of the day.
Meanwhile, World Cup fever is gathering momentum. South Africa are available at 1000/1 and Scotland at 250/1 to lift the trophy.
The Scottish slogan remains: "No Scotland, No Party" and the atmosphere is building nicely, despite some awkward kick-off times.
I'll try to post some pictures from the Scottish shop I visited.
South Africa face Mexico in their opening match and should find it a stern test, while Scotland will fancy their chances against Haiti.
Until next time, good punting — and as Simply Red once sang, let's keep trying to "Hold Back the Years".
Good Punting 👍
Topic Author
9
