A Grand Day Out

An early start, off before 7 to drive to Balmaha, supporting #1 son to restart the WHW.  The girls came too as WH was working all day.  After breakfast in the cafe and a discussion with the ducks, in the drizzle, it was off to Stirling Castle.

Parked in the P&R which meant we got a hurl almost all the way up the hill in the bus and we were in the Castle before 11.  It was a sunshine and showers day but it didn't get in the way.  There was a lot to see and do, and the girls enjoyed doing siege snakes and ladders and other stuff.  They both had a go at dressing up, though I put Olivia's dress on back to front. There was one worrying moment when the alarm company phoned about a possible 'intruder'.  I reckoned it was #2 son coming to collect his clubs and leaving the back garage door open  (I was right!!) but luckily Y was able to go in and check the house.  Thank goodness for neighbours. 

We skipped the Military Museum and the tapestry display as there was already a bit of rebellion about lunch.  The queue out the cafe was huge so we walked down the hill and had a sandwich overlooking a garden just outside the Castle.

Then to the Falkirk Wheel.  We managed to see it rotate twice and the girls enjoyed trying out all the wheels and handles in the water part of the part. And there was also the obligatory ice cream.

Last stop was the Kelpies.  Not as interesting and we just had a quick walk round as by that time it was nearly and of course we got caught in the rush hour traffic so it was 5 before we got home.

There was a lovely smell as we entered the house: WH had made fried rice for dinner.  I had quite a lot!

Changed and then off to the Festival Theatre for 'Make it Happen' starring actor Brian Cox.  As I was drinking my pink G&T spotted fellow blipper Four story so we had a quick catch up before the show.

I was sitting much further forward than I usually do but it was a great seat and a great night out.  I didn't realise it was a play with music but it was great fun, very funny and brought back lots of memories of Fred the Shred and the 2008 crash.  How close we came to total meltdown. Caught up with Y and G at the interval.  They were in the back stalls.  They are cancelling their BBQ in respect for Stewart and Martin. 

Being at the front does make it longer to leave but there was an X62 at the stop and a longer wait for the Lothian Buses so on I hopped.  Didn't get far though. The bus crashed into a car (car's fault) at Bernard Terrace.  I was thrown forward against the top of the stairs which wasn't too bad but the guy behind me had a drink and I ended up with a soggy bottom.  After a bit I got off and walked to the next stop and got the bus I would have got if I'd waited at Nicolson Street.  Y and G were on that bus too having walked to Cameron Toll so we walked up the road together. 

By now well past 11.  Did think of a nightcap but I was too tired so ended the day with a throbbing knee and worrying about how I reply to a tricky, and unexpected, WA message.