Our conference was super busy but we all did really well. Our symposia was really successful, I had fun chairing and the conference civic welcome in the city hall provided an opportunity for Selpie O’Highland dancers. Hey Gretch we really need Selpie lessons.
I was excited as the conference closed as we were visiting the Childsmile team the next day. They picked us up early on Friday. It was sort of like a Mr Bean episode, with three Aussies who had been munching on Scottish shortbread, hence with expanding waistlines, crowded into the backseat of a small Scottish car. We visited a couple of schools and I must admit I was desperate to steal very cute Scottish 5-year-olds. We walked into one classroom and were met with an excited gaggle of the cutest, Glaswegian speaking wee ones who yelled out ‘hello Australia’. We were treated like royalty and the kids were so excited that their poor teacher had massive trouble controlling them. Vanessa, I did think of you. They wanted to talk about great white sharks, snakes and spiders and were totally intrigued by us. Even the little ones were asking ‘do you know my cousin in Australia’ – again, we couldn’t understand a word they were saying but oh my goodness they were very cute. Their teacher told us she liked the tooth brushing programs as it was the only time they were quiet for the whole day.
Our train trip to Auld Reekie was again easy, and it was nice to have a wee rest before we braced ourselves for the cobblestones and climb up to meet William and Robert at the gates to the granite fortress that dominates the Edinburgh streetscape. Today we have walked 500 miles and it isn’t over. Virginia isn’t convinced she even likes ghosts but you seriously can’t come to Edinburgh and leave without one poltergeist sighting – we are drinking buckets of good builders tea, stuffing chocolate in our mouths and getting rugged up ready for the terrifying covenanters prison. I keep telling Virginia it isn’t scary … but of course … I lie !!!!
Sleeping under the stars 