Summer hols 30 day challenge - Days 11, 12 & 13

Okay, okay, this is not going to plan at all!!

Spent Monday and Tuesday in Edinburgh visiting Bethany and her boyfriend Liam.

You round a corner and.....wow!

 We did save money on our rail tickets by buying them in advance. Also Bethy's new flat has a spare room saving us a small fortune on hotel costs (especially during Festival week!)

One major drawback to my challenge though - we ate (and drank!) out the whole time we were there!! I know, I know, but we hadn't had a break away for years and never been away without children for nigh on 22 years. It was so good not having to think about making (and carrying) picnic stuff as we have done so often in the past.

Anyhoo we had a whale of a time. We spent quality time with Bethany and Liam rather than money on stuff in shops that we don't really need. We also spent quality time just the two of us, wandering through the streets of Edinburgh's Old and New Towns, soaking up the history, enjoying the Festival vibe and following in Rebus' footsteps. 

If you're an Ian Rankin/John Rebus fan you will be pleased to know that we whiled away a 
couple of hours at The Oxford Bar with some of the regulars - and the barman was not curmudgeonly at all!! 

Outside the Omni Centre

Wednesday was spent recovering from all that walking, boy were our old legs stiff and sore. Still it kept us in the house rather than being out and about spending more money. Oh, and ordering a new telly as ours is on the blink!!!

Surfing seal!

Check out this surfing seal off the coast where I live!

A grand day out!

Last week Malcolm and I took our youngest son, Tom, to his favourite day trip destination - the National Railway Museum in York. I have lost count of how many times we have been here over the years, with toddlers, teens, parents and grandparents, such is its appeal to all ages. What I'm sharing with you here is only a fraction of what's on offer so please check out the website (I'm not being sponsored) it really is worth it....

......and best of all it's free!! 

A frequent attraction at the museum has been the Mallard, the A4 class locomotive that set the world record for steam locomotion back in 1938. At 126mph that record still stands!

As part of the 75th anniversary of this amazing achievement 3 more of the 6 surviving A4's were on display alongside their sister locomotive.

Bittern on the turntable.

Malcolm and Tom get a closer look at Mallard.

 

Dominion of Canada repatriated from her home museum in Canada.

Dwight D Eisenhower all the way from the US.

It was fantastic to see them all together!

There is so much more to see if these monsters don't float your boat if you'll excuse the travel connection! I love peeking inside the royal carriages including those of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII.

                

                        

A glimpse into the past. Hogwart's anyone?

Even the Warehouse and The Works (where Flying Scotsman can currently be seen under restoration) are fascinating areas to visit.

Husband and son both wishing they could get down into that workshop and get their hands dirty!!

A glimpse into the future too.....

......but wasn't Drax a Bond villain?!!!

Peace, love and marshmallows!

Louise x