Day 12: Tuesday 14th July 2015

Tuesday

It feels that time is really getting short now, tomorrow we begin the long journey south, although we are going to break it into three pieces, we are already thinking of the return to work next Monday.

By eight, our appetites are sharp, so it was good to smell breakfast cooking as the fine smell made its way up the stairs. Fried egg, two sausages, tow rashers, a potato pancake and a round of black pudding was just perfect, all with a pot of strong coffee. Set for the day. Now I have the internet back again to distract me, we do not leave the hotel until half nine; we did have to find somewhere to stay for Wednesday night, so with that done, we were free to explore. And explore Edinburgh, deciding to travel in by train and so avoid traffic and parking costs.

It was quite some walk up to the station, and we were blowing bubbles by the time we got to the start of Station Road and the half mile walk to the station itself. The up the ramp and over the footbridge to the other platform; and we had done it, joining the families for the first cheap train into the city.

Once in Edinburgh, I did nearly get arrested. Well, I had a run in with a jobsworth over whether I should be taking photography. I argued the toss, argued the toss with a BTP office and again with Network Rail. Both the police and NR had sympathy, and NR gave me a badge to wear so I could go about snapping. But I was angry, snapped the roof of the waiting room before we walked off, cocking our noses in the air at jobsworths everywhere.

It is eleven, and so time for morning coffee, and opposite there is an old pub which has been done up; we go in and find it covered in wonderful tiles, which I snap as I drink lovely strong coffee.

Opposite is a tram stop, so we buy a ticket and hop on the tram just about to depart for a trip to the airport. And back. There is something satisfying about riding on a train running over the streets. Even a very expensive to build, late delivered but sleek modern tram.

Out through the suburbs, a business park to the airport. Then back. Lovely.

It was then nearly one, and clearly, lunch time. With food outlets everywhere, where to eat, or what to eat was difficult. We go to a pub, order some good pub food and good pub drinks and settle down to wait its delivery.

Outside the sun breaks through and it all gets much hotter and more humid. But after lunch, I feel enthused, and opposite is a fine church, one of the Scottish churches run it, don’t ask me which one, or what the difference is, but the church is delightful, full of light and all-inclusive, just as The Word should be.

I take my shots, speak to the warden and am in a fine mood.

It is now warmer than warm; hot in fact, so we go down into the park and buy an ice cream, before checking out a footbridge over the railway into the main station. Many years ago, I stood here with my Dad on another holiday watching trains come and go; one of my best memories. No Dad this time, just a couple of toddlers in love with trains, and their strained parents as the time comes for them to leave, but then there is one more train. Isn’t that the truth.

We are hot and bothered, and my back is playing up, so we walk to the station to find a train is waiting; we board it and wait the ten minutes until it roars out of platform 20, which is next to platform 11, obviously, and the 20 minute trip back to Queensferry and the hotel.

We take the steep footpath from the station, under the bridge to the promenade, and then along through the centre of town to the hotel, where a wonderful cool room was waiting, still with its wonderful views.

After a couple of hours laying in the cool of the early evening, we decide that we would try the local chippy. It was just a ten minute walk away, and we could smell it before we could see it. Now, what we did learn this evening is what ‘supper’ means north of the border. Down England, sausage and chips would get you a sausage and chips. Probably battered sausage. But fine. But what we got for sausage and chips twice was two sausage suppers: which was two battered sausages and lots of chips.

Neither of us managed to finish the meal, but I did eat both sausages at least, but was stuffed. Jools did just over the one sausage, but we can say they were wonderful chips.

We walked back to the hotel, watched the sun set over the Firth, then headed to bed, shattered once again as clearly, relaxing is tiring stuff.