A Scottish fling

Just back from a whirl wind UK trip.  The seven days flew by and I didn't do half the things I had hoped to, but a whole load of fun was had by all.

Our base was in Tring, Herts to stay with Huzz's brother and his family for the week.   A lunch for 23 family and friends on Easter Monday was so much fun with all ages from 17 months to 85 years, enough food to feed the whole street, and more chocolate eggs than Woolworth's used to stock!

Halfway through the week I did a moonlight flit up to Scotland for 2 days. Well, actually it was all planned with precision, so not really a moonlight flit at all!  Huzz and kiddos stayed south, whilst I headed north to attended the wedding of a very old friend (she's not old - our friendship is - about 35 years actually).  My lovely friend married her man at the beautiful 15th century Comlongon Castle in Dumfries on a sunny spring day (these kind of days are few and far between in April in Scotland so they were really blessed).  The wedding ceremony took place high up in the grand hall that was reached by climbing a stone spiral staircase up and up and up, with views over a river with Highland cattle grazing alongside.   Candles, open fire, warmth, families and old friends, champagne - what a great beginning to their marriage.

We celebrated the wedding of our friends in full Scottish style - kilts, bagpipes and Celidilh (pronounced Kay-lay) dancing.  What fun that dancing is after a few glasses of champagne, with the father-of-the-bride swinging you around with one hand whilst he's trying to hold up his kilt with the other!  Laugh - I nearly fell over that's for sure!

A late night for me and a lie-in the next day (unheard of these days), followed by the a full Scottish breakfast.  Perfect.

Wishing the new Mr and Mrs Ryan much love and happiness for their future together.