The Land of No! - Day 25

Gordon often refers to the whole of Scotland as Clan McWilnae (pronounced will-nee).  We "wilnae do this", we "wilnae do that".  Or, "that wilnae work!" Or "you wilnae be wanting that"  Or how 'bout - You cannae do this, you cannae do that.  As in "you cannae get that job" - "you cannae buy that here".

Generally it seems the Scottish people are negative.  They tend to say "no" first to any question.  Here's an example.  Today Gordon went down to the local thrift store to look for a small piece of luggage for us to take to Paris.  Apparently you cannot carry large pieces of luggage on Ryanair...the airline we are flying.  Anyway he walks  in and starts looking around.  The very nice sales lady asks if she can help.  "I'm looking for a small piece of luggage", asks Gordon.  "Do you have any?"  "No", says the very nice sales lady.  "Oh, what's that there?" asks Gordon looking at a small piece of luggage.  "Well, yes, that's a small piece of luggage."  She brightens!  Then he spies other luggage sitting up high which looks more to our liking.  "How 'bout that luggage?"  "No, we have our Christmas decorations stored in there and I'd have to get them down and empty them."  Oh well.  So Gordon pays 3 pounds for the luggage they didn't have and leaves.

We have examples of this pretty much every day we go out and converse with the Scottish folk.  It's like they're programmed to negativity.  I personally think it's the weather.   Gordon likes to blame the English like any good Scotsman!  I know I'm making generalizations and we are not supposed to do that....it's just an observation.

Today it is raining - not hard but steady.  It's a typical gray Scottish day.  The sky is gray, the homes are gray, the streets are gray and the people are gray.  Another example.  Gordon is at the Deli today to get me a small piece of parmesean cheese to grate with our dinner. Are you sensing he's running my errands so I can stay in my pj's today?  You would be right!  The Deli, called Harvest Time, is a wonderful little space owned and operated by a nice couple who live just outside of town.  He's a bit of a dry jokester, chauvinistic kind of guy and she does all the work!  Julie is a baker and everyday except Sunday she bakes fresh scones, quiches, stone cakes, all kinds of wonderful, delectable goodies.  They open at 10:00a.m. and generally speaking there's a queue out the door for her baked goods.   We love her cheddar cheese scones.  They also have delicious and flavorful local cheeses and deli meats to slice.  Their store is stocked with canned products; jams, curds, pickled stuff, etc and they have lots of whole grains and fresh eggs.  It's a GREAT shop and we visit almost daily for our cooking needs.

Anyway, back to my story.  Gordon is waiting at the Deli and the owner (can't think of his name right now) is helping the guy ahead of Gordon.  The guy is a sheep farmer who is complaining that he's had to sell his entire flock saying he can't afford to feed them because there's too much rain.  Hmmmmmmm, this strikes me as odd but I'm not a farmer.  If you go back and look at the pictures I've posted on previous blogs you will see that the hills are green and lush with grass.  Miles and miles and miles of grass.  Don't sheep eat grass?  It seems like any sheep in Scotland would be thrilled to live and eat grass here.  If you brought his sheep to California they would probably die of fright just looking at the brown, sorry, golden hills and not a pond in sight.

Does it sound like I'm being derogatory about Scottish people?  I don't mean to be.  I love the Scots!  It's just that we've been coming here every year since 2004 and Gordon was raised here.  It feels like nothing ever changes here and that's part of the charm of Scotland.  It also feels like the country could do better for itself if they'd be more positive....have a positive outlook!  Again, I think it's a weather thing.  When the rain is lashing down and the wind is blowing you have to have your head down.  If you have your head down often enough then your shoulders slope and before long you are stooped and see a very narrow view of the world.  Now not all Scots people are negative or dour obviously.  Our friends here in town are quite the opposite.  They live in lovely homes, have lively, fun friends and either get out and walk regularly or travel a lot of the time or ride their motorbikes.  They are involved in their community and do charitable work.  They sample all the new local restaurants and shops and think very positively about the world. They do not let the weather stop them and somehow they have escaped that dourness associated with Scots people.

Here's a recommendation for you.  Travel to Scotland.  You couldn't ask for more scenic countryside, friendlier people, wonderful food or fun, livelier pubs.  The Highlands are grand, rugged, majestic and mystical.  The cities, Glasgow and Edinburgh, are bustling with loads of shoppers, beautiful architecture, museums and galleries and delicious food and bars.  The west coast is rugged and windswept with lovely fishing villages.  The borders region has quaint little villages with ancient pubs and inns dying to be explored.  Abbey's, cathedrals and monuments abound in all of Scotland.  Golf is huge here...after all it was invented in Scotland and there are courses everywhere.  AND, one of the things Gordon and I love most, you can walk forever.  For miles and miles.  You can lose yourself in the hills, and, as long as you close the gate behind you, nobody cares.  Doesn't that sound like a good vacation?

Here's what's happening currently:

So along the lines of a vacation in Scotland, Gordon and I have been contemplating the future use of the home in Moffat.  We have considered selling it or renting it long or short term to tenants.  We are just not ready to sell it or give it up on a yearly basis to people who may move in with children or animals that could mess up the lovely interior.  So we are considering putting it on VRBO (Vacation Rental By Owner) so our friends on both coasts could go and use it with their friends.

Here's how conveniently located we are.  Both Glasgow and Edinburgh, the two major cities in Scotland, are located an hour to an hour and one half away.  The Lake District in England is located one and one half hours away.  Day trips to the west AND east coasts are within an hour and one half.  Kelso, Selkirk, Dumfries (birthplace of Robert the Bruce), Lockerbie (sight of the plane crash), and Peebles - all lovely villages - are between a half hour to an hour away.  You can catch the car ferry to Ireland in under three hours.  London is just down the motorway, which runs next to Moffat, between four and five hours.  Both airports are one hour and an half away.  Golf and walks are located in this little town of Moffat.....

.....excuse me but here's what's happening now......about 30 minutes after the first movie!

If you don't like the weather just wait 20 minutes.  Didn't I tell you that?  Scotland is remarkable.  Think about a journey to this ancient, historical, diverse, delightful, amazing place.  You might feel like you lived here in a former life too.

Because the weather cleared up and I hadn't been out of the house, we decided to have a pub night tonight just the two of us.  So we headed down the teeny-weeny path to the north end of the High Street to go to the Stag Hotel which we haven't been to this trip.

The Stag

Turns out I'm the only woman.  A lot of working men in this pub.

But a pint and one half anyway!

This is the Moffat House Hotel.  A Best Western hotel.

The Balmoral - a favorite of ours for a pint.

The bar at the Balmoral.

A pint and one half!

A fish tea is a dinner of fish and chips, bread and butter and a pot of tea!  Not tea made out of fish!

The Annandale Arms.  Never had a drink here because every time we go in there's nobody there! Not typical of a Scottish Pub.

The Famous Star Bar.

Gordon's favorite beer - Criffel.  A locally brewed beer.

Our pint and one half!

Another day comes to and end and it has been very peaceful.  I got caught up on laundry and colored my hair in preparation for France!; made the pasta sauce even though we ate downtown; started the packing process and worked on this blog.  Also watched a little TV and relaxed.  All in all another great vacation day.

No dourness or complaints here!