Blogs from Ross and Cromarty, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe

If we had stopped for every view that we marvelled at then we would still not have arrived at our accommodation. A drive of 3-4 hours took us 8 plus. It’s a cruisy holiday. It was a matter of appreciating the moment(s) and taking a few snaps for memory’s sake. We are staying at the entrance to the Isle of Skye in our own huge apartment located on the shore of Loch Alsh … enough for a family of six!... read more

This is my third blog about my ancestral visitations to Scotland. I recommend reading my previous two blogs at and before reading this one. My destination today was Tain, Ross-shire, where my Ross ancestors lived. According to my DNA, I'm 36 percent Norwegian, 32 percent English and Northwestern European, 27 percent Scots and a bit of Welsh and Swedish. Linda is 16 percent Scots, but as mentioned before, we share many Scottish ancestors. My grandmother, Anna Elizabeth Weaver's parents were James McGee Weaver and Anna Elizabeth Ross. The Weavers were from Germany with Johannes Weber (5th ggf), a Moravian who immigrated to Pennsylvania in the early 1700s to avoid religious persecution. In this line I found Anna Elizabeth Luther (12th ggm), the sister of the Reformer Martin Luther, making him my 12th great granduncle. My Ross ... read more

Here we go again. Last touches to the backpacks before saying goodbye to Dougal, and the chilly winds and first hill snows of winter in Scotland. Provided that the Ecuadorian President keeps his recent promises to the long suffering indigenous population, then hopefully the rioting, curfews, and teargas of the last few weeks will remain in the past and we will arrive in Quito in 3 days time. Its been a bit of a guessing game over the last month, with all trips canceled during the declared state of emergency, and gov travel advice saying 'only if journey necessary' . Only got green light 2 days ago ! Keeping an eye on the sparse snippets of Ecuadorian news available on internet. Very exciting. Tracy and David have, possibly somewhat recklessly, offered to look after our beloved ... read more

Well here we go again! Backpacks packed, weighed, emptied, repacked, reweighed again, until below the magic 15Kg mark. Mozzie repellent and Immodium packed in industrial quantities, along with the statutory 'Dr Livingston I presume' khakis. Dougal off for his Spa day tomorrow prior to his holidays with bestie, Hendry, and his feedy /walky people Emma & Jane. Better have plenty poop bags! Only 3 more sleeps! Best check that weight again...... read more

The adrenalin from attending the Tattoo last night was still pumping in the morning when we woke and it will be a performance and experience that we will never forget. Although we had just a bedroom with ensuite at the Royal and they did not have a restaurant downstairs we still managed an OK breakfast with our usual muesli, fruit and yogurt and croissants rather than toast to follow with coffee. We haven’t bothered to buy another toaster since we arrived in the UK which is probably just as well for us and the nearby Fire Brigade of Cumbernauld after the toast incident of the BBA V2 which resulted in the Travelodge we were staying in being evacuated when I burnt the toast and set the smoke alarm off! The weather wasn’t that great as we ... read more