Nerida Blok, Saturday, September 23.

When I first mentioned to a colleague at my newspaper back home in Australia, who was also a Rotary GSE team member some years back to the States, that we were going to provide regular updates of our Scottish adventures via this blog, he laughed in my face. "Good luck," Lindsay said with a knowing grin that only now can I relate to.Yes, I must admit, Lindsay was right.

We're three weeks into our four week trip and the overwhelming hospitality of the Scots have meant we've had very little time for blogging on websites.So apologies for this belated update but please find below a wee list of places and experiences we've been on so far: -

Bothwell and Uddingston (Sept 3-5)
-Day trip to Edinburgh where we did city bus tour around the beautiful and historic city. A highlight of the day (apart from souvenir shopping up the cobblestone streets of the Royal Mile) was the guided tour of the new Scottish Parliament building. A very impressive building that has proved a highly contentious issue here in Scotland due to its rather substantial budget blowout. - Tour of Bothwell Church and centre.- First taste of haggis on the night of our first Rotary presentation - no where near as bad as made out to be!- Vocational day at Real Radio (commercial radio station in Glasgow) and then afternoon with sports writer from Sunday Mail (national Sunday tabloid based in glasgow). Having never had radio experience before I found my time at Real Radio very interesting and was able to go out with reporter and follow the story about the breast cancer drug herceptin being edited back at studio and then aired on radio during lunchtime broadcast.

Eastwood Rotary (Sept 6- 9)
- Glasgow City bus tour- Hunterian Museum/Art Gallery- Mackintosh House- Peoples Palace- Vocational day at The Herald (National daily broadsheet based in Glasgow). Managed to get two by-lines in the following day's Saturday's paper, one of which based on interview with BBC1's Jonathon Ross' chat show house band, 4 Poofs and a Piano. Great fun and fabulous work experience. The other story was to do with a national Active Schools program.- Ten pin bowling and out for a late night curry dinner.- Kelvin Grove Art Gallery and museum.- Shopping in and around Glasgow city centre.- Trail horse riding in Ayr before handover to Ayr Rotary Club.

Ayr Rotary (Sept9-12)
-Robert Burns memorial and house of birth- Relaxation after lunchtime Rotary presentation at gym with spa, swim and sauna.- Day of shopping and exploring picturesque Ayr.- Vocational day at Gaiety Theatre. Seamill Hydro Resort (Sept 12-14)
- Rest and relaxation

Irvine Rotary (Sept 14-18)
- Vocational day with local weekly publication The Irvin Herald and Killwinning Chronicle. Helped local journalist Lorraine Howard, also a former GSE team member to the States, by writing up her weekly page based on our Rotary trip and team. I think they called the page 'Writer's Blok'.
- Ferry ride across to the lovely Isle of Arran where we did tour of Roderick Castle. Had lunch in pub with members of Arran Rotary Club.
- Braehead Shopping centre for retail therapy and then picked up by hosts Ian and Louise where we drove across to Dunbar and spent the night at their second house. Following day spent in Edinburgh - tried to talk way into The Scotsman unsuccessfully. Off to St Cuthbert's Church to see where ancestors were married.

Kirkintilloch Rotary (Sept 18- 21)
- Glasgow City Chambers tour - morning tea with Deputy Provost (a real character who made lighting sound exciting).
- Vocational day spent inside BBC Scotland's new fabulous multi-media building. Spent day with TV news team as well as speaking with the team who produce the online BBC news. Was able to go inside gallery when lunch time news bulletin was done. Extraordinary to see what goes on behind the scenes. Also able to see one reporter put together her story in an editing suite just prior to going to air. all going well until an error in voice overlay ocurred mid broadcast which upset the journalist. (At least pleased to see errors do occur in the big media too).
- Thoroughly enjoyed dinner that night listening to host Bob Tomlinson's stories from his amazing journalism career.
- Stirling Castle and William Wallace Memorial
- Canal tour up the Firth and Clyde.
- Saw Loch Lomand and Ben Lomand on way to Dunoon club.

Dunoon Rotary (Sept 21- present)
- Just back from River Rocket Ride in the Firth of Clyde - beautiful day with the sun shining - perfect. Must get ready now for a tour of garden and then tonight's presentation!.....to be continued...