Brenda

July letter to the Community

Greetings fellow bloggers. I hope you’re all doing well and have a great start to the new month. I’ve got a busy month ahead and am looking forward to my long summer break. I hope you’ll enjoy some of the things I’m planning to share in Curiosities, Castles and Coffee Shops over the next 4 weeks or so.

I’m so excited to get started that I’m actually writing this on the train as I head through to Edinburgh for the day. Yes, another trip through to Edinburgh! Our plans for the day are a visit to the Museum of Scotland and, in particular, an exhibition where they have The Declaration of Arbroath itself on display. We’re celebrating the 700th Anniversary of this important document. Given this was signed a few years after the Battle of Bannockburn to support the claim on the Scottish Crown by Robert the Bruce and as a separate country in its right, I need to go to Bannockburn too over the summer – so I’m looking forward to sharing that with you, possibly in August.

I don’t see why the train journey can’t also be part of my day out – so here’s a photo of my delicious but less than healthy breakfast – a cinnamon bun. I also had a good coffee, but takeaway mugs can be quite boring so no images.

We did have a little entertainment though when a passenger handed over a pair of shoes to a member of the train crew that someone else had left behind. I hope they changed into something more suitable for the rain rather than going barefoot in Glasgow.

What have I been up to in June

I had 2 great weekends in Edinburgh. It was supposed to be just 1 weekend but there was a little confusion over theatre dates, so I ended up with 2 weekend breaks and had a lot of fun. we ate so much, but sorry, I was too busy feasting to take photographs – well there were one or two exceptions that I might share here. For example, an amazing Nepalese prawn dish served in a Papaya- one way toensure Iger my 5 portions of fruit and veg. I think it was the first time I’d tasted this fruit fresh.

I’m glad to say that my hand is slowly improving, but as I write, I am still awaiting my fracture clinic appointment. Hopefully, my wrist is repairing as it should. I’ve given up trying to work with voice transcription, working now instead with handwriting recognition. It seems more accurate and quicker – it’s not fighting with a Scottish accent 🤣 It also feels more natural to write, even if its directly onto my tablet rather than in a notebook.

During the month of June, I visited Edinburgh for 2 consecutive weekends, so in the coming month I’ll have lots to share. We’ve already shared the story of Greyfriars Bobby, but I’ll return to explore Greyfriars Kirk and Kirkyard, including a bit of Scottish history looking at the Covenanters, the Scottish Reformation, and the Scottish Enlightenment. I’m really looking forward to digging backwards into the history of this wonderful country. I also found out some interesting facts about one of my hotels located in The Surgeon’s Quarter, so look out for that too.

Our theatre visit was to see an Opera Production of Carmen, which was different but really enjoyable. The ice cream during the theatre was, as ever, delicious.

Plans for July

Once the rain stops, its forecast to rain in Glasgow for the next fortnight more or less daily. On a dry day I plan to make a return visit to Bellahouston Park (where I fell and broke my wrist) to finish exploring the whole park so I can then write a feature about the history of the park and how it is used currently. Now I’m wondering if I should snap the culprit area where I fell?

Now we’re into July I’m definitely on holiday for the summer until early August. There are no plans to go away, but I will be doing lots of exploring to share on my blog. In addition, I’m looking forward to catching up on some reading and developing my creative writing skills. I guess I will also need to give some time to more boring domestic stuff too

Visiting The Museum of Scotland today, I’ll share some photographs in a post soon, but I’ll also share a post about the Declaration of Arbroath in the next week or so. There is also a new Exhibition opening on 1st July inspired by Coco Channel and her little black dress, so another trip to Edinburgh, but that might not be until September/October time, after the festival season. Can’t spoil you with too many treats all at the one time. 😆

I do have some plans beyond return visits to Edinburgh – Paisley Abbey and Glasgow Cathedral together with some museums and weather permitting, a few parks and gardens. Banksy also has an exhibition running in Glasgow until the end of July. We are also planning to have afternoon tea at a very special location in Glasgow. So you can see I’m going to be busy bringing you a wide range of entertaining and informative pieces.

I hope you’ve enjoyed catching up.

Love Bx

If you haven’t already signed up for my blog, this would be a good time to do it so you don’t miss out on any of my upcoming posts.

42 comments

  2. Funny episode on the train! Maybe that person is like me, I always travel with a spare pair of shoes because I might need to change them during the day 😃

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  5. 🙂 First of all, it is nice to know that you are writing again.

    I have always encouraged bloggers to learn to blog on all devices.

    And, it is nice to see that you are putting your tablet to good use.

    I hope that you did not pass your stop when you were writing this blog post.

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  6. Great to here your past, current and future news and plans. Also the improvements to now be able to use alternative means for writing. Thank the heavens for new technology. Look forward to reading. Cinnamon buns rock and roll whatever time of day. All the best.

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  7. Lots to look forward to from you Brenda! So glad you have some free time and that you are sharing it with us, thank you!

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  8. Love, love, love all of this! Vicarious travel is a joy…for this girl who has Scottish ancestry. I hope to travel to many of the places you’ve written about…will be writing about…but in between? Oh my! Such a delight. And I’m thrilled that you’re doing well, health-wise. Keep it up! Lastly…the cinnamon bun? Yum! I hope it was every bit as delicious as it looked. 🥰

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    • I’m glad you enjoyed the post Vicki. You must promise to let me know of you ever visit Scotland. The cinnamon bun was just as tasty as it looked … but it was a very generous portion, so next time I’ll make sure I have a picnic knife to cut it on half – either to share, or for later.

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      • Definitely — I would let you know! And sometimes treats are wonderful – no matter the portion size. Me? I love eating a cinnamon bun from inside out. So glad you’re traveling and enjoy, Brenda! Much love! 💕

  16. Thanks for allowing me to travel ‘with’ you to places I’ll never see in person. Sounds like a lovely summer break in store for you, glad your wrist is improving! 💞💞💞

    Reply

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