Och eye the noo,

After 20 years of Australia, and the last 5 years returning there for my holidays, I am actually booked on a holiday in Bonnie Scotland. In all my 54 years of being British I have only visited Scotland twice,

1st visit, 1976 yes the hottest of years, drove with my ex husband ( a trial at the best of times), and in laws from Malaysia in a huge ford station wagon hire car up to Loch ness, stayed in a B&B run by a very nice couple from GERMANY! My in laws refused to go out because the 'sun is too hot'! my 18month out son hated the heat and grizzled most of the way, except for a trip on the loch.

2nd visit, 2003 visiting from Australia and on way to visit relos in Belfast navigated my sister up to Glasgow airport park&fly, after driving through some of the most distressing industrial wasteland, we arrived at some run down railway building, this could not be the place could it? Yes it was! a small , shabby Scotsman came out and spoke in some intelligible accent eventually gesturing us to go into the building, took the car keys and drove off in my sisters car! Well that's the last time we were going to see that I thought! entering the building we were asked to wait in a small room, I've see nicer rooms in Australia, and we call them bush dunnies, but a quick visit to the toilet was even more horrific, there was a fungus growing in there which was half way evolved to a full grown adult! A hair raising trip in a mini bus that I doubt could have passed an MOT ( none of the seat belts worked) with a couple of Americans who were in such a state of shock they were white faced and silent! We arrived at the airport in time and had a great trip to Northern Ireland, on the trip back my sister was not happy that I wanted to bet on whether she would get the same car back, but despite all the worries, it was returned safe and well!

So now I only have to wait for September to see just what Sctoland can really offer!