So on the 31st it was back to the airport again after 6 hours sleep or so.. and flew down to Co. Cork. 23 euro for the flight on the way down – 53 euro for the train… hmmmmmm.

My friend Mairead kindly collected me from the airport and drove me to Clonakilty. Really fun times catching up with friends from college I’ve not seen in years. Ben I’d not seen since he headed off to the Antarctic to do research for two and a half years

There were many games played – quite enjoyed cranium, articulate and upwords. Mairead had procured some deadly fireworks from the North, and we set them off on a beach at midnight. Good times!

Headed into Edinburgh early the next day. Well, ish, it was nice to have a bit of a lie in.

First impressions of Edinburgh were really positive. It has lots of windy streets, cobblestones and green spaces and generally just looks old and well kept. Course I could be wrong, but that’s how it seemed to me.

We headed up to the castle, and then walked the royal mile to the queens residence at the far end – and finished up with an open top bus tour.

The door is where Robert Louis Stevenson (treasure Island author) grew up. There was a nice quote along the lines where his mother came down one evening to see him looking out the window watching the lamp lighter at work. She asked him what he was doing – and he replied ‘watching the man make holes in the dark’.

Had a couple of pints in a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde themed pub (the man it was based on was from Edinburgh)

Far too soon time to head back to Dublin (though Ryanair did their best to keep me in Scotland by delaying the flight until 00:15 – which was really thoughtful of them). So thanks to Mhairi and her family for giving me a brilliant introduction to Scotland. The weather was kind – beautiful skies every day ;)

The next morning we drove down to the family home in Kirkcaldy via the home of golf (St. Andrews). I must admit, I’m not a golfer, but I did think that St. Andrews (where prince Williams goes to college) was a really lovely old town. Castles and cathedrals all over the place!

The bridge that I’m on is called the Swilkin Bridge, and players walk across it before moving onto the 18th Hole.

The drive down was stunning – with all the trees covered in snow. This beech hedge is in fact the tallest beech hedge in the world (Meikleour Beach Hedge) planted in 1745 and is over 120 feet tall at the highest point… so there!

Then a lovely run along the coast through fishing and tourist villages before arriving in Kircaldy.

Up and about early enough the next morning – though it was hard given the amount of food consumed the night before (we’d had Haggis – which Mhairis father performed the address to in fine style). Went off for a walk around the hills surrounding Braemar – and I’ll just put a few pics up in no particular order.

I’m completely useless I freely admit at remembering place names (unless I write them down).. but the story behind the hole in the rock in this picture – is that one of the clan chiefs called a gathering to muster forces for an attack on some enemy.. and filled the hole with whiskey – which they all drank from. Twould be quite the quantity of uisce beatha.

Aberdeen airport has a really short runway. Really short. Still, ryanair got me there in one piece. There was snow on the roads as we flew in over Aberdeen – which was pretty much what I was expecting (and hoping for) from Scotland.

I feel slightly ashamed to admit that it’s my first trip to Scotland, but I’m quite sure it’ll not be the last – very scenic outdoorsy kinda country. I like it!

So, Mhairi and her father (Ian) and brother (Gavin) and his girlfriend (Jen) picked me up from the airport, and we drove to their cottage in Braemar (via stopping off for lunch)

Really really pretty drive up into Braemar.. saw the gates (and turrets) of Balmoral – which is the queens getaway when she’s up this way.

That evening there were songs sung and music played. Mhairis Aunt Katie is really incredible on the piano – can pick up any old song and play it. Also had musical Christmas crackers to add to the mixture.