I
can’t wait to write about the Scotland trip. So many things to look forward to.
“How
was the trip future Ed?”
“Brilliant.
You can read my diary entries when you eventually catch up to my point in
existence.”
“Read
some of it please?”
“Not
yet my boy. I can only make sure that you are able to write your
experiences. But I shall say that the future version of your diary is a fitting
tribute to all of your experiences.”
Why
can’t you read it to me? The Ed from one second ago has given me all of the
diary entries that I had written from the 18th February to now. He’s
generous.”*
“Well
if you like one second ago Ed so much then why don’t you marry him?”
“Only
joking.”
“I
know. I WAS YOU!”
27th
April 2014.
Just
waiting for Kiran to drive his car over. He will probably be here by 11am. Just
about fully packed, with plenty of reading material stashed.
Such
a shining day.
Sat
in a service station called ‘Tebay’, with a black tea in front of me and an
empty plate of chilli con carnie and chips on it. The window to my left has a
wonderful scene- a duck pond and beyond that a wide expanse of mountainous
wilderness just like you picture when you think of the romanticised Scotland-
Clans and kilts and rebellions against the Romans and English.
Kiran
is drinking/ eating soup with a spoon. Kiran thinks he looks like a young
offender, dressed all in grey. Don’t know what he is talking about- well I do
but no one will think that he looks like that.
On
the way here we decided to take turns at picking songs from our music devices
and playing songs on the car stereo. Also we chatted a bit and faffed about.
This is the third station we have stopped at- the first two times, in order to (edited out) – which lead to about two minutes humour.
Just
waiting for Kiran to finish his soup and take a picture of the scene outside
(his soup is now cold).
28th
April 2014.
We
got to the hostel by about 8pm (yesterday) and settled into the room.
There
were four bunk beds with only one other person in our room using the lower half
of the bunk beds, with only one other person in our room using the lower half
of the bunk bed at the end of the room (just looked down the room and saw that
it was actually the top half). We took the bunk bed nearest the door- Kiran on
bottom and me on top.
After
unpacking and making the bed, Kiran and I popped out to get some food from the
local chippy. Haggis and chips for Kiran, cheese burger for me. Went to the
local co- op. I bought a four pack of cider, Kiran bought three posh looking
beers and that vodka with tiny golden shavings in it. I can only guessed what
he was perceived as when the lady at the counter took his money with Kiran’s
standard English accent and thick- rimmed glasses (“Oh aye, from Eton are
ye?”).
We
got back maybe half nine and went to the lounge area. We put down some
scrabble, I clicked open my cider, Kiran put a shot of his gold vodka into his
coke.
On
the other table was a group of four: three boys and one girl who were playing
Monopoly. An older couple were sitting behind me on the comfortable seating,
reading I think. The four on the other table kept going in and going out,
presumably to smoke, leaving their unfinished game with them.
Eventually
the older couple left to go to their rooms and the four emigrated to the
comfortable seating. We played our game until I won by default (ain’t no
thang). We then joined those four folks in the comfy seating and played a few
games of poker with Monopoly money.
They
were from Leeds, all of them wore black t- shirts and piercing on their lips or
eyebrows type of people. Had a nice chat.
(just
a little bit of the diary edited out.)
By
this time we were ready for bed so we went. A shut up snore came from the other
end of the room so we quickly got into bed and fell asleep after a few minutes
of creaking.
Woke
up today at 9:45am and was told by the man behind the desk that we had to be
gone from the hostel by about 10am and back any time after 5pm. After Kiran had
come back from the shops, we got ready and were out on the road towards Merrick
(the mountain).
We
parked just where the pathway started. Before going up the pathway to climb
Merrick, we went to see the stone that was dedicated to Robert the Bruce. We
looked at the spectacular scenery behind the stone- a wide expanse of loch,
dottings of trees and one big mountain (that wasn’t Merrick). Breathed in the
smell of nature and we were on our way up the Merrick path.
We
continued for perhaps an hour or so through some beautiful wilderness. We
decided to head back after we saw Merrick obscured by cloud. Another day,
perhaps tomorrow. Kiran wanted to go up when we would be able to see
everything.
We
ate some sandwiches and went for a forest drive. – two in fact- but we had to
head back from the first one because of logging and some sort of
‘refurbishment’ down the road.
Came
back to the hostel which was about 7:30pm and went into the local village to
get some food. We decided to eat out at the Chinese. I had Pork Chow Mein and a
cider. Wonderful stuff.
Finally
came back to the hostel. So grateful to sit down, get my book and relax. Kiran
had been chatting a lot. Stomach filled and sat down now, contented and happy
and thinking about today’s events. Now I can read and let all the wonderful
memories settle into my mind. Still haven’t learnt the name of the village- I
learnt it but I forgot**
I
also remember that we stopped at a very out of the way pub just after the first
forest drive. We sat outside. Certainly feel that I have not wasted my day at
any point.
29th
April 2014.
Just
sat in Kiran’s car, have just attempted and succeeded in walking up Merrick
mountain. Woke up from the hotel, got out and travelled to the start of the
trail by 9:30am. Had a small chat with the people who had just parked by us.
They had gone up several times. The man pointed out that I had inappropriate
footwear (which I did) but my old trainers were all I had at the time when I
left. He was with his wife so we chatted a bit to her as well.
Started
walking immediately, swiftly went by the place that we stopped yesterday and
on, forever on, we went.
We
stopped at an abandoned house with no door, completely empty inside apart
from a few logs on the floor. Charcoal
and wood were the lovely smells that had made their home in the house. We stood
there for a while exploring it. There was a cairn just outside the house and a
trickling river.
We
set off again, upwards into a forested area, possibly my favourite part of the
journey. The moment you were in the forest you were in another world, the faery
world.
“Hello
Thomas the Rhymer.”
“Get
on with your journey Ed.”
We
stopped for a rest just outside the forest. We were maybe about 1/3 of the way
by that time, as Kiran told me. My back was like a waterslide and soaking into
my shirt.
We
carried on up, mumbling to each other or in silence- And we reached the top by
about 11:50am.
Kiran
looked around to see if you could see Arran (the island) or the coast of
Ireland. We saw both***
We
stayed at the top for perhaps an hour, looking around and attempting to take
pictures.
(Just
a little bit of the diary edited out.)
We
were back down again by about 3pm. I had a sandwich which I had left in the car
(the first think I had eaten all day) and started to write. We are going off to
the pub for a meal- the out of the way pub we went to yesterday. Hallelujah!
30th
April 2014.
We
got back to the hostel yesterday, sat down and chatted to two polite Scots for
a while after both having showers. Learnt a lot. They were locals who were
cycling all around the place. Friendly folks. At about 10:30pm we decided to go
out to the place where we parked, just below Merrick to look at the stars. The
hostel manager said that he would have the latch off for when we came back but
we had to be quiet.
So
off we went. We decided to stop on one of the country roads and have a peer
upwards. Awe inspiring stuff. Must have seen at least two shooting stars. So
strange to be on an empty country road at night, no lights, no nothing.
We
set off again and got to our destination. We looked and saw that there were
much more stars, all bright and beautifully vivid. We walked with our torches
to the Robert the Bruce Memorial stone and sat down. The animal part of my
psyche imagined all manner of things: beast jumping and attacking me in the
dark, someone with a knife unsuspectingly jumping in front or behind me and
slitting my throat. These thoughts made me look down every few seconds to
protect my neck. But the night sky was beautiful- I saw another shooting star
while I was there.
We
headed back to the hostel, locked the door and clambered into bed as quietly so
as not to cause a disturbance.
Woke
up in the morning, got ready and went out for a tea and a bacon cob- or bap as
they say around here. Had a lovely time. Headed to what might be referred to as
the ‘activities information centre’. There was a bar in there and a few locals.
We looked for some activity info and then went into the tourist shop. I bought
a pen with a Scottish flag on it and some seaweed soap for Ma.
I
can’t remember names when writing but we visited the town- and I mean THE town
in Scotland, famous for the large amount of books that are sold (seen as the
book capital of Scotland). We went into three shops, one had a cafe with a
lovely gay guy behind the counter. Bought books and sat down to lunch of salmon
pate, salad and crackers with Earl Grey to drink (Wigtown was the name of this
town). The two books I bought were ‘Mysteries and Secrets of Magic’ by C.J.S
Thompson and ‘The Hermeticum’ by (duh) Hermes Trismegistus/ Timothy Freke and
Peter Gandy. Such a relaxing place.
After that went to a few shops, attempted to go down to where there was a river or loch but then thought it would take too long and then left to visit Whithorn, a beautiful coastal village (where the man that works at the hostel lived)...
After that went to a few shops, attempted to go down to where there was a river or loch but then thought it would take too long and then left to visit Whithorn, a beautiful coastal village (where the man that works at the hostel lived)...
We
ate ice cream and explored. Went up to the lighthouse and sat down to look at
the scene. Breathed in and felt healthy.
The
ruins of St Ninian’s church was also on the hill and we checked that out. The
modern church was being refurbished when I quickly peered into the door so not
much to look at there. We walked along the road and then decided to travel back
to the hostel.
Now
sat down and about to flick through the books that I bought. Planning to ear at
the hostel and then try one of the pubs in town, maybe two.
1st
May 2014.
Went
into two pubs last night, the Cree in and the hotel just by the hostel. Got
back about 12ish ad went to sleep. Woke up about half nine...
(Just
a little bit of the diary edited out.)
We
set off on a journey to the castle that existed nearby, Lochdoon Castle. On the
way we saw a hamlet that was merely two houses opposite each other on the road,
in the middle of wilderness. Got to the castle and found it smaller to what I
had imagined. Looked at the history- It used to be on top of the island in the
middle of the loch nearby, but through the waters rising through the building
of a hydroelectric dam nearby, it was moved brick by brick and reconstructed
just on the side on the loch during the 1930’s.
The
area experienced a dark day in their fights with the English. The English had
attacked and they attacked back- with a lot of messy results.
Went
back on the road and went to the nearby deer park. We walked for two minutes
until we saw a hut in the distance where we were able to see all the wildlife-
not a single deer to see. 60 lived in the park but naught there. Hills, hills
everywhere, but not a deer to see.
It
was just 3pm by the time we left. I was knackered at this point but Kiran drove
us to the Kirroughtree Park. Kiran saw an orienteering trail, so I grabbed my
opportunity and said that I would stay at the visitor centre while he did his
walking, have a tea and write in my diary. I can now give my thoughts their
time and have that wonderful time in my head that I love to have.
Kiran
came back an hour after I had sat down and then we went for a slow 45 minute
walk. I was feeling ready to sit down with a book by the time we got in the
car. I needed my ‘alone in my own head’ time.
Got
back to the hostel after just quickly popping to Sainsbury’s. Ate dinner, sweet
and sour. Then had half a pizza. After this I was given a membership card for
Scottish hostels. Sat down and read a chapter. Kiran asked if I would like to
go out to the pub- said yes and then continued to read. I might just have one
drink. I want to have a relaxing time and don’t want to be out too long.
Last
night (I forgot to say) we got talking to a Geordie bloke in the hotel who had
a dog- it was nice that the hotel allowed dogs. It was rather nice. He
told us that he got the dog from around here so he was taking him/ her back for
walking around in his/ hers birthplace. Dog was well behaved... and apparently
allowed to sleep in the same room as the bloke.
Just
waiting for Kiran to get out of the shower so we can go out. I wouldn’t mind
staying in as well and reading a few more chapters, but since this is the last
night...
2nd
May 2014.
Sat
right now at the Tan Hill Inn, the highest pub in England. 500 metres above the
sea level- right in the middle of no where.
Just
had a hearty meal of lovely veg curry and sipping a pint of lovely Somerset
cider called Sheppy Cider. Kiran is still eating.
Got
up, packed and out of Newton Stewart hostel and off we went by 9:30am. We had
decided to go to the Tan Hill Inn long before holiday. Kiran had gone
there/here many times as a kid and I told him that I wouldn’t mind going- and
that is why I am writing this now in this lovely pub. Gorgeous open fire, food
and good company- and what else does one need apart from reading material.
Back
in old England, contented and might have another one of those pints. Good music
playing in the background too, folk.
3rd
May 2014.
Left
Tan Hill Inn and got back home by about 8pm. After a chat he left and I said
hello to Leicester again- (by ‘he left’ I mean Kiran left my house to go to his
house.
Just
looked through the diary. I have become future Ed that first made himself known
on the 26th April 2014.
*I have regularly been keeping a diary
since the 18th February 2014. At this point I have written about 1 ¼
diary volumes (if that is of vague interest to you).
**The
town was called Newton Stewart.
***We
later found that it may not have actually been Ireland that we saw.
