The Six Month Mark

Today, officially, I have been in Scotland for exactly six months. 

Six months and a  day ago, I said goodbye to my dear family in Vancouver Airport.

It felt a bit surreal then, but yes, I actually boarded a plane and flew over the great Atlantic Ocean to the United Kingdom.

I am now over halfway through my stay here. 

I say over halfway because I will be going home before Christmas (yay!!), not staying until January 5th, 2013. 

So I guess the actual halfway mark of my trip was a few days ago...

Hmmm... 

Well, I don't have anything more to say about this.

Just figured it might be a good idea to notice the milestone.

Oh, and happy half-birthday, Josie!

:)

Falkland Palace with Mr. and Mrs. C

One sunny Tuesday in May, Esther's parents, who were visiting for the week, very kindly took me to Falkland Palace! 

Before going to the palace, we had tea at this little place in Falkland called The Hay Loft. 

It is actually in the loft of the building, but the hay is all gone. 

Instead, they have tables and chairs and scones and tea and bacon sandwiches. 

Falkland Palace was the royal residence of the kings of Scotland.

It is also where Mary, Queen of Scots lived when she returned from France. 

Inside the actual palace photography isn't allowed, 

so unfortunately I haven't got any pictures to show you of the interior. 

It was pretty cool though! 

Much of it was restored in the 1800s because after Cromwell's troops burnt part of it down, it was neglected and fell into further ruin.

There are loads of portraits - especially of Charles II, who looks like Captain Hook. 

My favourite room was the library.

(Some of you may or may not be surprised at this.) 

It had shelves to the ceiling, lining all the walls. It even had a ladder to reach the books on the top shelves, like in Beauty and the Beast.

But the BEST part was the secret room behind the secret bookshelf-door.

It was just like something out of a mystery novel. 

One day, I shall have a library like that. 

Approaching the Palace.

Part of the Palace was destroyed in an "accidental" fire set by Cromwell's troops.
The guides didn't actually use air quotes, but they certainly gave the impression that they didn't think much of Mr. Cromwell and his men.

Their Royal Majesties :)

A giant game of draughts.

Tchoolips

The Palace seen from the gardens. 

In the gardens.

I love the red tree.

The fancy-dancy hothouse and beds.

Orchids inside the hothouse

The oldest "Real" (or Royal) Tennis court still in use today.
Real tennis is different from what we (I) think of as tennis.
You use the walls and the roof of the viewing gallery as part of the game, as well as the net.
And those lines on the floor have something to do with it too. 

Afterwards, we went to The Bruce for lunch. 

I really liked it. 

They played old music, which Mr. C tried to sing along with until Mrs. C told him to stop.

I also learned that back in the day, some places didn't allow dancing, so young people would kind of just bop around in their seats.

I also got a demonstration :)

Tea & Tractors: Auchtermuchty and the Fife Show

One day, my friend Marissa and I decided to visit the village of Auchtermuchty.

(The [ch] is pronounced like "Och, aye," or "gezellig." For my non-Dutch friends, click here for a definition of the latter.)

Something you should know about Marissa is that she is a connoisseur of tea rooms. 

So, the reason we decided to trek to this slightly remote little village (~45 minutes away by bus) was because she once saw the sign for this tea room on her way through Auchtermuchty to Falkland and had wanted to visit ever since. 

Her enthusiasm for tea rooms is infectious. I don't pretend to have as much knowledge of them as she does, but I have definitely learned to love them. In short, I was a willing partner in... tea-ing...?

Our objective.
There was a car parked in front of it, so I didn't get a better picture.

Marissa! :)
Inside, the Tannochbrae tea room was decorated to look like the 1940s.

This is Sir Jimmy Shand.
He was a famous accordion player who played traditional Scottish songs.
He grew up in Auchtermuchty, so they like to brag about him.
They played accordion music in the Tannochbrae tea room :)

 The following pictures are from around Auchtermuchty.

War memorial.

photo creds: Marissa

After tea and poking around a bit, we caught the bus back to St. Andrews. I got off in Cupar because the Fife Show was happening and I wanted to check it out. Plus, the Howies were there, so I could get a ride back home with them.

Marissa continued on to St. Andrews because she had a friend's soaking to go to.

Soakings are a St. Andrews tradition.

After a student has completed all of his or her exams, their friends gang up on them and pour water all over them.

I think we should institute this as a tradition at UFV.

Anyways, the following pictures are from the Fife Show.

The tractor show :)

The fancy dress class!

The Cat in the Hat with Thing One and Thing Two.

My favourite: The Licorice All-Sorts pony :)

The Queen and her Royal Guards.

I really liked this horse.
He had the prettiest, most flowy, gracefullest trot ever.

Apparently, these parade through the town of Cupar to the fair grounds at the beginning of the Show.

<3  :)