We're Here!
We left St. Paul on Tuesday evening and arrived in London around noon. Neither Gerry nor I were able to sleep on the plane (damn!) so the long, long drive up to Scotland seemed to take forever!
We came armed with a few magnetic bumper stickers to alert folks around us that we're from that place where they drive on the other side of the road. Fore warned is fore armed.
We cancelled the bike rental and just hit the road immediately, stopped and had a lovely meal and continued on. Unfortunately because of some rain, some traffic, some construction and bad cell phone connections we had crossed wires and didn't arrive in St. Abbs until 10:00 pm!
But Louise was up and waiting for us, with a very nice cup of tea and a beautiful room with a big, soft bed! I don't think Gerry and I have slept so well since - well - since I don't know when. When we woke up, here was our view!
We visited Woolfish in the morning, a lovely shop which seemed to get a nice amount of foot traffic! I think it's because it's a holiday weekend here, but there seems to be SO many great yarns and interesting bits of things to see in such a compact space!
Louise's daughter, Trudi, helps her in the shop and they both share a very sharp wit. We had a very fun visit - I'll be back to day to speak to some of her customers and show them cabling without a cable needle! (Prince Charming makes an appearance in the UK!)
Louise showed us the cool trick of Arm Knitting (some fellow showed her the basics and she expanded on them) and she can knit up a lovely felt-able bag in just minutes. A very cool trick!
We then drove down to Eyemouth (wouldn't it be funny to be an Ear, Nose & Throat doctor in Eyemouth?) for some prawns by the docks - feeding very fat seals - and a stop at the lovely cafe Questo with WIFI!! Yippee!! (BTW, WHO is Willie Spears, and doesn't that sound more than a little like a Porn Star name?)
Gerry pointed this sign out to me. We both feel it's a bad sign that all the meat products are named, "Donner" - but perhaps this is more of an American joke...?
I'm downloading Skype so I can chat with the kids - using our cell phone is insanely expensive, and I have leftover Skype time from last year, anyway! We just had a wonderful 10 minute call for 50˘ - well worth the trouble (and the kids could hear us wonderfully!)
We're off now - I'll hopefully find another cafe or hotel with some wifi and blog later!
We came armed with a few magnetic bumper stickers to alert folks around us that we're from that place where they drive on the other side of the road. Fore warned is fore armed.We cancelled the bike rental and just hit the road immediately, stopped and had a lovely meal and continued on. Unfortunately because of some rain, some traffic, some construction and bad cell phone connections we had crossed wires and didn't arrive in St. Abbs until 10:00 pm!
But Louise was up and waiting for us, with a very nice cup of tea and a beautiful room with a big, soft bed! I don't think Gerry and I have slept so well since - well - since I don't know when. When we woke up, here was our view!We visited Woolfish in the morning, a lovely shop which seemed to get a nice amount of foot traffic! I think it's because it's a holiday weekend here, but there seems to be SO many great yarns and interesting bits of things to see in such a compact space!
Louise's daughter, Trudi, helps her in the shop and they both share a very sharp wit. We had a very fun visit - I'll be back to day to speak to some of her customers and show them cabling without a cable needle! (Prince Charming makes an appearance in the UK!)
Louise showed us the cool trick of Arm Knitting (some fellow showed her the basics and she expanded on them) and she can knit up a lovely felt-able bag in just minutes. A very cool trick!We then drove down to Eyemouth (wouldn't it be funny to be an Ear, Nose & Throat doctor in Eyemouth?) for some prawns by the docks - feeding very fat seals - and a stop at the lovely cafe Questo with WIFI!! Yippee!! (BTW, WHO is Willie Spears, and doesn't that sound more than a little like a Porn Star name?)
Gerry pointed this sign out to me. We both feel it's a bad sign that all the meat products are named, "Donner" - but perhaps this is more of an American joke...?I'm downloading Skype so I can chat with the kids - using our cell phone is insanely expensive, and I have leftover Skype time from last year, anyway! We just had a wonderful 10 minute call for 50˘ - well worth the trouble (and the kids could hear us wonderfully!)
We're off now - I'll hopefully find another cafe or hotel with some wifi and blog later!
Feed me, baby!
11 Comments:
Welcome to the UK! You seem to be visiting some pretty out-of-the-way places on your travels! Hope all goes well in St Andrews and onwards!
Squeee! A working vacation with Gerry! You must be soaring on happiness and jet lag right now. Wish I could be there for your classes -- all the British yarn mags have been promoting them!
Please, do get some local to explain why all those dishes have "Donner" in the name! Too bizarre to someone who grew up hearing about the Donner party.
-- Gretchen
OHMYGOD!
that sign cracked me up. the Donner party is a fact of my life...I grew up on 'Donner trail road' (my parents & inlaws still live there) and swimming in Donner lake and was in my mid twenties when I realized that not everyone likes a good cannibalism joke...
All that to say, everyone I know from my home town is getting that image emailed to them....
Your joke about the Donner meat is funny, but I happen to know that "donner" means revolve or revolving in another language (Turkish?) and refers to meat that is cut off a revolving hunk for sandwiches like gyros. There! now you don't have to ask a local. (Unless you've never had a gyro.) Have a great trip. It's fun traveling vicariously with you.
I think "donner" is just a misspelling of donair (aka shawarma or gyro). Looks like shaved meat in the sandwiches.
Remember skype to skype calls are free. There is a text chat option for lower bandwidth, or full voice/video if you have a good connection and a camera.
Have a good trip!
Lisa in Toronto
Funny that! Must be a brand name, still odd. Donner is most definitly not a Greek or Middle Eastern name at all.
In defense of the UK I've talked to some non-Westerners who don't understand the Donner party.
The one's who stand out the most in my mind was the folks with the RV who were calling the Road Side Assistance call center that I worker at. Their emergancy? Their RV was stuck in a snow drift right out side the Donner's Pass Museum in California!!!
To funny!!!
Tina (who in the 5th grade had to write a report... or something re. the Donner Party!!)
Donner is probably a corruption of dšner kebap, which is Turkish for spinning meat. Kebabs are traditionally lamb, but the meat content has varied over the years. I definitely recommend giving them a try -- they're tasty! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%B6ner_kebab
What a cool concept: showing people how knitting works on such a macro level. Could definitely demystify the process and un-intimidate some interested-but-leery folks. Thanks for sharing part of your trip with us!
I believe Donners must be Donairs here in Canada (or at least in Ontario.
Have fun. Glad your trip is going well.
Gillian
I'd like to see that arm knitting trick in full. Do some learnin' and you can teach a new class back here in the US of A!
I haven't been to Scotland since I was in high school so I am very envious!
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