Glasgow to Easter Kinkell

First off I’m going to vent, you don’t have to read. 🙂

I’ve become very familiar with a new disease, FDD. It can cause people to continue conversations despite being confined in an Airport Departure Lounge so all and sundry know, amongst other things, “Dad is knackered”. Even when lines are breaking up the person is unable to switch off and continues to repeat the same phrase at increasingly loud volume.

The disease can also cause serious disruptions to sleep. Instead of gently rousing to the morning’s rays or the dulcet tones of James Galway on his flute they can be shattered awake by what appears to be a demand to Salsa. A complication of the disease is caused when the caller and called are in vastly different time zones. Exposure to someone suffering from FDD can cause serious irritations. Consecutive days of exposure make this inevitable.

Inability to recognize their illness make those with FDD unable to respond to anything less than extreme treatment measures. It is hoped that researchers are working overtime on a vaccine to prevent more suffering caused by Fone Disconnection Disorder.

Now for the day. Although we only travelled 170 miles or about 270 kms it took us all day! We picked up our hire car about 9:00 and headed out towards Erskine. The car is fitted with a GPS but it soon became obvious it’s set to ensure you don’t miss a single “point of interest” so was giving non-stop intsructions. We ignored the cyborg and found our own way but it took us all day because of road “scenarios”. Each scenario meant only one direction of traffic could move at any one time. Sometimes we had to wait for a “pace car” to lead the other traffic through then do a 3 point turn before leading us past the obstruction. Scenarios included stoppages because of road resurfacing, tree cutting, massive accident between two trucks, oversized vehicles and finally a rock face being covered with wire mesh!

The scenery was great – water falls, moss covered stone walls, castles, cottages, lochs, glens, snow dusted hills, wild Daffodils and Jonquils.

Click on an image if you want to see the captions in a slideshow.

One of the day’s obstructions – no idea what it is.

Traffic lined up over the bridge, view of the hills beyond.

Wild Daffies

The old and the new – car recharging point and pub where we had a lovely lunch, Crianlarich.

Framed

Many bottoms have sat on this bench so people could enjoy the Falloch Falls,

Wee Peter – Loch Lomond

The story of Wee Peter

Where am I?

 

Dubai to Glasgow

We were woken by a phone call at about 4am, someone who hadn’t taken into account the different time zones consequently we were packed and out on the street before 8 o’clock. We went to find a cafe where we’d had delicious food before but it wasn’t open so we walked to the big supermarket, Carrefour. On the way back to the Abras or water taxis we tried to avoid the traders in the souks, Alex was over their moustache fixation but we saw lots of closed doors so I think we were too early anyway.

Our flight was supposed to leave at 2:35 but was over half an hour late, that was an omen, we just didn’t realize it at the time. It certainly wasn’t an enjoyable flight.

Glasgow welcomed us with rain so the sandals and lightweight clothes have been put back into the cases and it’s on with the jeans, jumpers, jackets and sneakers.

You can see the captions if you click on an image.

Fresh fish at Carrefour

Last look at the river from our balcony

Brilliant engineering, old style home air conditioner.

Beautiful clothes in the market

Come on Aussies, personalize your utes like this.

Hand stitched and embroidered shoes

Can you see me on the balcony?

Dubai – Day 2

ITHINKTHISTABLETISUNLIKELYTOSURVIVETHISTRIP!s.

 

Last night we had a lovely meal at the Fish Market Restaurant, they give you a basket and you put your raw food into it then they take it away, weigh it and work out the cost then prepare it in the way you choose. The waitress deshelled our prawns using a fork and spoon. The prawns were gigantic, tougher than the ones we usually get and had a taste not unlike Moreton Bay Bug

Today we’ve spent travelling the city in a Big Red Bus, it’s always a great way to see an unfamiliar city.

Our favourite parts are still the older areas rather than those covered in skycrapers no matter how fancy their designs.

We finished our Big Red Bus tour with a jaunt on a dhow down the Dubai Creek.

Uber drivers have diversified.

Aquarium in the middle of the Dubai Mall

Getting around a shopping centre in style.

Choose your dinner, no way could I choose a living creature.

Custom mobile phone cover, gold with etched images.

The “very, very good moustache”.

On the boat we had a delicious icecream made with camel milk and saffron.

 

If you click on a photo it SHOULD take you to a slideshow where you can see the images full size.