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...
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Catherine's Journal
I begin this tale setting the scene in Brisbane Airport. Imagine 5 women, several tonnes of luggage, teary relatives a great deal of excitement in the air. We managed after some small dramas with overweight luggage to get ourselves on the plane to London. We had a quick and bleary eyed stop in Hong Kong and eventually landed in London 25 hours later with slightly less enthusiasm than we had left with.
London
Not wanting to waste a minute of our time we caught the train into the city, dumped our bags and headed of to sight-see London was great and the thing that really hit me was the history that was to be found in one city. After a busy day on the double decker tour and at Portobello Road markets we attempted to fight the jet lag and sleep. It was up early again the next morning for a walk in Hyde park and the next round of sigh seeing. Jane, Nadia and I had a great trip to Buckingham Place, The British Museum and Harrods. We returned to our hotel around lunchtime and went off to the airport again to catch our next flight to Glasgow.
Glasgow
On arriving at Glasgow airport we were given a warm welcome by DG Drew Hughes, Geraldine O'Donnell (Rotary Foundation) and Harry Marsh (GSE leader). We checked in to our hotel and had a lovely dinner with our District 1230 hosts. The next day it was up early and off for a day of sight seeing in Edinburgh. We had a great tour around the city and spent the afternoon touring the new Scottish Parliament. That afternoon we were transferred to our first host families in Bothwell and Uddingston. My hosts were Linsay and Marlyn.
Bothwell and Uddingston
In Bothwell and Uddingston Jane and I had an interesting visit to two local Primary Schools and were introduced to the structure of the Scottish education system. We found that there were many similarities between the Scottish and Australian education Systems. Our first presentation went well, without too many teething problems and we encountered our first haggis! We also had the opportunity to visit the ruins of Bothwell castle and shared a wonderful evening with Nerida's hosts Roy and Margaret on out last night.
Eastwood
After a few days in Bothwell we prepared to move on to our next club Eastwood. On our last day with our Bothwell hosts we went into Glasgow and visited the Huntarian Museum and Kelvingrove gallery. That night we were handed over to our Eastwood hosts and whisked of to our second presentation. Friday was our second vocational day and Jane and I visited Hucheson Grammar, a large independent school and Mearns Primary a new state primary school which was one of the largest in Scotland. That night we had a ten Pin Bowling night and dinner at a local Indian restaurant. Saturday came and we went into Glasgow again to visit the art gallery and museum. that afternoon we went shopping in Glasgow and had the interesting spectacle of rowdy soccer supporters in kilts parading and singing down the centre of the mall area on their way to the Scotland vs Lithuania match. That night my hosts Alistair and Roslyn had a dinner party to introduce me to their neighbours before it was time to move on on Sunday to Ayr.
Ayr
Sunday we travelled to Ayr and went horse riding with Eastwood club before handing over to out next hosts Ayr. My new host were Jimmy and Helen and we spent the afternoon sightseeing around the town. That night I met Jimmy and Helen's son and daughter who had both lived in Australia and were keen to swap stories about Australian life. Monday began with a walk along the beach before heading to Ayr's lunchtime rotary meeting and our 3rd presentation. In the afternoon we visited Cazden castle and on the way home had a look around some of the farming land surrounding the town. Tuesday was our 3rd vocational day and for a change of scene I visited the local cattle market. I had an enjoyable day learning about the process used to sell cattle in Scotland. That night we had a group dinner at the home of Nadia and Nerida's host family Don and Ludmilla.
Seamill Hydro Hotel
After two weeks going flat out we had two nights at the Seamill hydro for rest. Very little to report over this time except a massage swim and sleep!
Irvine
On Friday we were collected from Seamill and taken straight to out 4th vocational day in Irvine. Jane and I visited Glebe Primary school for the day. That night my hosts Jim and Maired took me out to dinner with Margaret and her hosts to a cute little Scottish pub near the sea. Saturday brought a trip on the ferry across to the island of Arran. We visited Brodick castle, the mini brewery and did some shopping in Brodick village. We also had lunch with some of the Rotary members form Arran.That night had dinner at the Rotary president's house. Sunday we went to Braehead shopping centre and that night had dinner with our host families. On Moday we went for a walk alonmg the beach and lunch at the Golf club and spent the rst of the dya with our host families.
Kirkintilloch
Tuesday we were transferred form Irvine to Kirkintilloch. We travelled into Glasgow and visited the museum of religion and Glasgow cathedral. That night we had our fifth presentation. I was staying with Janet and Ian and it was great as they had four horses. Wednesday we had our vocational day and Jane and I visited two special needs schools Campsie View and Craigharbour. That night was dinner at home with host families. On Thursday Nerida, her host Bob and I travelled to Stirling to visit the castle. We saw where the battle of Banockburn took place and climbed the national monument to William Wallace. Dinner that night was at president Sandy's house.
Dunoon
On Friday we travelled to Dunoon via Loch Lomond and spent the rest of the day relaxing with our hosts. Nadia and I are staying were Kenneth and Marjory. On Saturday we went on the river rocket in the morning and walked the botanic gardens in the afternoon. that evening we completed our 6th presentation. Sunday we spent the morning catching up on emails and then headed to the pub to watch the rugby.
London
Not wanting to waste a minute of our time we caught the train into the city, dumped our bags and headed of to sight-see London was great and the thing that really hit me was the history that was to be found in one city. After a busy day on the double decker tour and at Portobello Road markets we attempted to fight the jet lag and sleep. It was up early again the next morning for a walk in Hyde park and the next round of sigh seeing. Jane, Nadia and I had a great trip to Buckingham Place, The British Museum and Harrods. We returned to our hotel around lunchtime and went off to the airport again to catch our next flight to Glasgow.
Glasgow
On arriving at Glasgow airport we were given a warm welcome by DG Drew Hughes, Geraldine O'Donnell (Rotary Foundation) and Harry Marsh (GSE leader). We checked in to our hotel and had a lovely dinner with our District 1230 hosts. The next day it was up early and off for a day of sight seeing in Edinburgh. We had a great tour around the city and spent the afternoon touring the new Scottish Parliament. That afternoon we were transferred to our first host families in Bothwell and Uddingston. My hosts were Linsay and Marlyn.
Bothwell and Uddingston
In Bothwell and Uddingston Jane and I had an interesting visit to two local Primary Schools and were introduced to the structure of the Scottish education system. We found that there were many similarities between the Scottish and Australian education Systems. Our first presentation went well, without too many teething problems and we encountered our first haggis! We also had the opportunity to visit the ruins of Bothwell castle and shared a wonderful evening with Nerida's hosts Roy and Margaret on out last night.
Eastwood
After a few days in Bothwell we prepared to move on to our next club Eastwood. On our last day with our Bothwell hosts we went into Glasgow and visited the Huntarian Museum and Kelvingrove gallery. That night we were handed over to our Eastwood hosts and whisked of to our second presentation. Friday was our second vocational day and Jane and I visited Hucheson Grammar, a large independent school and Mearns Primary a new state primary school which was one of the largest in Scotland. That night we had a ten Pin Bowling night and dinner at a local Indian restaurant. Saturday came and we went into Glasgow again to visit the art gallery and museum. that afternoon we went shopping in Glasgow and had the interesting spectacle of rowdy soccer supporters in kilts parading and singing down the centre of the mall area on their way to the Scotland vs Lithuania match. That night my hosts Alistair and Roslyn had a dinner party to introduce me to their neighbours before it was time to move on on Sunday to Ayr.
Ayr
Sunday we travelled to Ayr and went horse riding with Eastwood club before handing over to out next hosts Ayr. My new host were Jimmy and Helen and we spent the afternoon sightseeing around the town. That night I met Jimmy and Helen's son and daughter who had both lived in Australia and were keen to swap stories about Australian life. Monday began with a walk along the beach before heading to Ayr's lunchtime rotary meeting and our 3rd presentation. In the afternoon we visited Cazden castle and on the way home had a look around some of the farming land surrounding the town. Tuesday was our 3rd vocational day and for a change of scene I visited the local cattle market. I had an enjoyable day learning about the process used to sell cattle in Scotland. That night we had a group dinner at the home of Nadia and Nerida's host family Don and Ludmilla.
Seamill Hydro Hotel
After two weeks going flat out we had two nights at the Seamill hydro for rest. Very little to report over this time except a massage swim and sleep!
Irvine
On Friday we were collected from Seamill and taken straight to out 4th vocational day in Irvine. Jane and I visited Glebe Primary school for the day. That night my hosts Jim and Maired took me out to dinner with Margaret and her hosts to a cute little Scottish pub near the sea. Saturday brought a trip on the ferry across to the island of Arran. We visited Brodick castle, the mini brewery and did some shopping in Brodick village. We also had lunch with some of the Rotary members form Arran.That night had dinner at the Rotary president's house. Sunday we went to Braehead shopping centre and that night had dinner with our host families. On Moday we went for a walk alonmg the beach and lunch at the Golf club and spent the rst of the dya with our host families.
Kirkintilloch
Tuesday we were transferred form Irvine to Kirkintilloch. We travelled into Glasgow and visited the museum of religion and Glasgow cathedral. That night we had our fifth presentation. I was staying with Janet and Ian and it was great as they had four horses. Wednesday we had our vocational day and Jane and I visited two special needs schools Campsie View and Craigharbour. That night was dinner at home with host families. On Thursday Nerida, her host Bob and I travelled to Stirling to visit the castle. We saw where the battle of Banockburn took place and climbed the national monument to William Wallace. Dinner that night was at president Sandy's house.
Dunoon
On Friday we travelled to Dunoon via Loch Lomond and spent the rest of the day relaxing with our hosts. Nadia and I are staying were Kenneth and Marjory. On Saturday we went on the river rocket in the morning and walked the botanic gardens in the afternoon. that evening we completed our 6th presentation. Sunday we spent the morning catching up on emails and then headed to the pub to watch the rugby.
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