Flaming Torches!

New Year's Eve eve (or Hogmanay Eve?) is the night of the Torch Parade in Edinburgh.

We signed up early enough to be two of 8500 people carrying torches.  

Thousands of people carrying flaming torches in a crowded street?  Yes, please!!!

 According to the paper people started lining up two hours before the event.  We got there about 30 minutes early and ducked into a take away shop to grab a quick bite because we were peckish.  It was clear we were going to be in the back anyway so we might as well not be hungry.  

To take our place at the back of the parade we were walking down that corridor on the left - - the people to the right of that barrier are the parade participants.  We took that shot after already walking a couple blocks!  I think there must have been well over 10,000 walking the route since there were plenty of folks not even carrying torches who came along for the stroll.

 There was a bit of standing a round at first…We couldn't see what was happening but slowly the fire was making its way to us. 

 Yay!  Here comes the fire!!!

 They just passed it down the parade crowd - - you would light your torch from someone in front and turn to light someone behind you.

 We were chatting with these folks while we were waiting…in a crowd of 10,000 people we wound up standing next to a family from Cambridge, MA.  When we said we were from Newburyport they said that was where they went for their last vacation!  The father asked us, "Would you imagine trying to do this at home?  We must be breaking at least 10 different codes just standing here!"

 Getting ready to walk...

 Here we go!!

 Looking in front and behind you just saw a sea of flames.  But when we came around a corner we could see the route winding in front of us - quite a pretty sight.

The front of the parade started at 7pm but I don't think we started walking until at least 7:20 or later.  I read in the news that there were 100 pipers from 6 different pipe bands and a squad of vikings at the front of the parade.  That was so far in front of us that we had no idea.  It didn't matter though - we were happy in the crowd, chatting with strangers, and trying not to light their hair on fire. 

 Bill kept trying to take a shot that looked like we were on fire.

The parade route ended at Calton Hill with a fireworks display.  It was good timing - our torches were burning down to the handle but they had water buckets lining the street to dunk your candle and throw the stick away.

A very fun night and a great way to wind down the year.   I highly recommend that every one takes to the street with torches at least once a year.

Eating, Shopping, and Eating in Edinburgh

This is the outside of our flat.  We are on the first floor (that's the second floor in America).   Our building on it's own doesn't look like much but we are part of Dean Village which is an adorable little enclave on the Water of Leith.  I've posted similar pictures of this area before because my friend Andrea  has her flat here but it was such a beautiful day that I decided to take more.  Hopefully you aren't sick of these views yet...

Andrea's place is in the yellow building.  It's too bad she isn't here for Hogmanay as well - it would be fun to have a neighbor while we were here!

We went out to a new Mexican place for lunch - clearly we were having too much fun to stop and focus the camera.

 Then we did a little shopping.

 And the next thing you know, it's time for dinner.  The table over Bill's shoulder had me fascinated.  I was trying to figure out how they were all related.  It looked like a father and his kids but was the girl his daughter or was she the girlfriend of the oldest son?  And where was the mother - were they divorced and this was their time with Dad?  He kept drawing my attention since he was fairly loud for a Brit and made some sort of pronouncement against Americans that I didn't quite catch. I can see why his wife left him.

My dinner included a haggis starter and venison for my main.  It would be hard to be a vegetarian in Scotland when there is so much good meat!  I need to get my haggis fix while I can.  And, Chris, I bought 3 sausages of black pudding to take home with me!  It will be black pudding month in London this January.

Edinburgh MiniBreak

This is our little flat for the next 5 days.  The place I usually rent was already booked but this has turned out to be a perfect substitute and a bit quieter since we are in Dean Village and not right on a busy street.

 A day on the train doesn't make for a very exciting blog post.  But we got here in time to go walk around the Christmas festival.  Basically it's the same rides, food, stalls, etc that are going on in our own backyard - Hyde Park.   Do we have amusement parks set up at Christmas time in the US??  I don't seem to recall something like this for Christmas at home.

 As you can see from Bill's scarf and hat above, it's cold out.  Now imagine being cold AND being flung around on a string by this contraption.  I wonder if anyone ever throws up on the people below.

 Ahhh…this is more my speed.  We stopped for a drink at the Devil's Advocate and stayed for many more.  The bar is tucked down one of the steep narrow stone stairways that runs up to the Royal Mile.  Something about stone walls and candle light that make for a great ambiance.  If I ever open a restaurant I this is how I will decorate.  (My restaurant would only serve food I could order in from another restaurant since I can't cook.)

Our mini break is off to a good start!

Heading North

We are headed to Edinburgh this morning for Hogmanay!  However, we just learned of some chaos at the train station due to engineering works with trains leaving early and arriving late…so we need to scoot!  No time to give you a real blog post like yesterday's fascinating monologue on beans.  

Here's a shot I took several months ago when there were still leaves on the trees…Walking in Kensington Gardens in the rain has its rewards.  We'll be back soon reporting from Edinburgh!

All about beans

I think there are only two food stuffs that we  firmly maintain are better in the States:

Pizza and Baked Beans.  

We ate pizza several times but for some reason we only took a picture of baked beans - probably because we gobbled the pizzas like cookie monster with a pile of oreos , no time for photos!  

This was breakfast at the diner our first morning.  (On a side note the diner's name is Angie's Food.  I never really thought about it before but what kind of a name is that?  It sounds so generic.  If I ever open an eating establishment - which I think we all know would be ludicrous - I will be sure not to use the word Food in the title.  Every one knows there will be food, let's think of some other attribute to boast about.)

Anyway, back to beans…the difference, I think, is that the Brits eat their beans in a tomato-based sauce while the US (and I'm assuming this is not just a Boston thing since B and M Beans are available across the country, right?) can ours with molasses.  I read an article that said Americans like food to be  sweeter (vs Brits) and you can definitely taste that in the beans.  

It's Saturday morning and we just arrived back in our London flat.  Bill packed half a dozen bags of sugary cereal to prove my above point (Pops, Lucky Charms, Smacks, Captain Crunch).  He is ready for January.  

Christmas on the Beach

Most people in our town hit the beach on Christmas.

 We went a little later in the day than most - there were other people there although none of them seemed to make it into our photos.  

It's amazing how different the beach looks every time we go.  The erosion really changes the landscape.

It was over 50 degrees but we still bundled up.  The wind was fierce and we have history of under dressing at the shore in winter.  I was determined not to make that mistake again.

 Despite being semi albino I really love the beach.  It's like having an aisle seat on the continent.  I think of it as a case of geological claustrophobia - too landlocked and I get nervous.

 After the beach we drove through town.  It was deserted.  The only place open was The Thirsty Whale.  If we didn't already have food and drink at home that we needed to dispose of I would have been in there with the locals.  

Some of our favorite shops have closed since we left.  In a town like ours there is a lot of turn over on the main street.  It's hard to maintain a steady business all year round and it's frustrating to see the chain stores come in or hear about development plans for the waterfront.  But today, the town was quiet, peaceful, and beautiful.

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve day started with a visitor.  Laura has been dog sitting our neighbours puppy.  Piper is Jen's dream dog.  It's a girl (no testicles on the coach, she says), it's in her colour palette, it's in the beagle family and it is already named one of Jen's top two names.  (The other is Cooper, but I'm not a fan).  Piper, however, reminded Jen why she cannot have a dog.  Jen is allergic to dogs and Piper's affection left Jen itching.

Later in the afternoon it was off to Mother's for Christmas.  I wore my festive smoking jacket.  Bret usually goes with the flow in terms of putting up with my outfits.  This one, however, I don't think he could figure out.  

 The holiday is no reason for Malikai to alter his 'no normal picture' stance.

 Bret carved out a cool ornament for my Mom.  He gets his whittling from my Dad, I think.  The only thing I've ever whittled away on is our savings .... here all week, thank you.

To quote Hugh Grant in 'About a Boy', 'I have to hand it to him.  He could get excited about some real crap gifts.'  (Just kidding about this gift... it's a lovely shirt and jumper combo.

 The kids underwear did not go well.  Wrong kind.  Not the wrong superhero on them.  The wrong style.  They like boxers......

 But the overalls went over better.  Only Bret would point me to The Farm Store for fashion items.  The overalls were giant on the kids, but they didn't seem to care.

Ohhhh.  So close to a classic family photo.  Nice job, Malikai.

 Since he cannot be beaten, I decided to drag the whole family down with him.

 I asked the boys to fill in the colour for the two drawings I did of Allie and Zoe.  There were times during the painting that I thought that I'd made a terrible mistake.  Malikai was mashing the paint brushes, while Wyatte painted two dark eyes on Zoe.  The kind of picture you see in the hideaway of a serial killer who marks his victims.  When Wyatte painted 'poo' over Zoe's head, I was in trouble.

But the watercolors smoothed out, I covered up the poo and the paintings were a hit.

The lesson as usual is not to rate the process, but rate the end result.

 Jen scared the kids by telling them how much she missed them while maniacally sobbing.  Nothing says Christmas like unstable emotional behaviour to scare the children.

Very cute picture.  One of my favourites of the day.

 These rugby songs are truly awful, dirty, and not in the spirit of Christmas.  Well, not in the spirit of some sad family's Christmas.  But definitely in the spirit of our Christmas!

 Churchill toby jug.  Jen and I exchanged similar Churchill pottery.

 I may have overdone the scarf shopping in India.....

Zoe, if you are reading the blog, here is a hint about the present we got you.

 Playing old, miserable Victorian women.

 Mom loved the calendar Jen made of her.  She particularly loved/hated the pictures of herself pretending she was a donkey.

 Jen made the mistake of telling me she's always wanted to tap dance.

Now she has to learn how with her new tap shoes.  She actually sounded pretty good in her first wearing.

 

 A monkey hat is always appropriate for any occasion.

 Winner of the best grumpy face award, three years running!

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Hope you and your family had as much fun as we did.