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Published: January 4th 2008
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Hooray! We finished our jobs on Friday the 21st December, what a feeling to be unemployed and free again. We decided to avoid the projected 9million people on the roads on the infamous 'Black Friday' before xmas and leave late that night for our Scottish adventure.
After last minute seat belt instalments the night before in the cold, Clancy was ready and raring to go... whilst somewhat slow, Clancy tackled the night journey well and provided ample space for all our gear and room to stretch out and try to sleep. The fifteen hour drive that followed proved to test our skills at staying awake at the wheel...aided by lots of chocolate, cokes and a little singing with Madonna, we made it to Glasgow in the wee hours of the morning and managed to get suitably lost in the city before finding our way onwards to Drumnadrochit. So started off our christmas bingeing on sugar, alcohol and all other things bad for your liver function.
The morning drive was very scenic with the surrounds completely frosted over and winter-like. Only drawback was the icy roads making driving a somewhat scary task, but of course we
made it in one piece to our lovely abode in Lewiston just next to Drumnadrochit (unlike the four cars we passed on the way which had managed to run off the road). We had stopped on the way in Fort William to jostle with half of the Scottish Highlands, in an effort to stock up on supplies for xmas, filling our trolleys with yummy treats, a few Scottish traditional items (Haggis and Whisky) and the all important winter warming wines and beers.
The next week was spent doing not much apart from eating, drinking and kicking back, what else at xmas time..? We unfortunately didn't get the white xmas we had hoped for but totally enjoyed our relaxing holiday. Many books were read, the boys tried to master the 'enjoypad' games (it costed £10 so you can imagine the amazing graphics!) and topped off with some board games, cards and the deadly battle drinks game we were more than content.
Tourist wise we were pretty lazy, it was dark from about 3 30pm till 9am though, and still pretty cold, so inside did have an allure.. We did manage a trip up to Inverness,
a visit to the Loch Ness museum (which pretty much excluded any remote possibility of Nessies existence) and a trip on the Nessie Hunter boat trip viewing the well situated Urquhart castle. Our driver George Edwards 'wowed' us with stories of sightings of the amazing monster. Over the many years he has been cruising around on his 'Nessie Hunter' he has had many sightings and even managed to get one (somewhat dubious) photo (Kirst bought the postcard just to keep the dream alive). We managed to squeeze in a meal at the local and attempted to drink some Whisky Drams Scottish style...ie. straight up. Needless to say we still need some practice or should I said hardening up!
All in all, a good xmas was had, a little bit homesick but the stolen wi-fi internet in the toilet (the only place the signal was strong enough) allowed us to phone home to chat with family!
We left our lovely little cottage behind and took Clancy on the road again to travel down from the Highlands to Edinburgh. Passed some fantastic rugged ranges on the way with many comments about how we'd have to come back
again and explore more, before a stop-off in Stirling to pay homage to the great Sir William Wallace. The William Wallace monument was very interesting and gave lots more insight into his story. Kirst was very keen to point out that the man himself features in her family tree a long long long long time ago.....only by marriage through his sister but that's enough!
Next stop Edinburgh for New Years.......
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