SCOTLAND

FESTIVAL WEEK

The main purpose for us arriving in Scotland at this time, Friday 22nd July 2011, was to take part in the Festival Week to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the modern "Honest Toun Festival".

Musselburgh aquired the title of "Honest Toun" in 1314 when the townsfolk nursed until he died after the Battle of Bannockburn, the Regent of Scotland, Randolph Murray (The Regent acts on behalf of the King of Scotland, a child at the time). Donald, Earl of Mar, his successor as Regent, in praising the townsfolk of Musselburgh said: "Indeed you are a set of Honest Fellows".

Wilma and Jimmy Raitt host a party of friends to celebrate the start of Festival Week.

The three muscateers Cathy, Wilma and Helen. All went to school together.

In Wilma and Jimmys back garden. L to R: Alastair, Wilma, Brian, Liz, Helen, Bill, Rae, Cathy and Robin (Photographer - Jimmy)

Next day, Cathy dressed appropriately for "The Kirkin" (All those formally associated with Festival week go for a service at Inveresk church).

Honest Lad, Scott Nisbet, and Lass, Julie Durham, for 2011, at front of lineup on Musselburgh Town Hall steps (The assembly point). The ones in robes at the rear are Town Councillers.

 Three past Honest Lasses, Janie Patterson (nee Hall) (1966), Cathy (1965) and Sylvia Stillie (nee Gifford) 1964, outside the Town Hall.

This years Honest Lad and Lass then lead a procession through town to the church.

Past Honest Lads walk together.

As do the Past Lasses, Cathy included.

Jimmy and Wilma outside church.

Cathy with former folk singing partner Jackie Powell (Honest Lad 1967) and Sylvia.

Cathy with her Honest Lad of 1965, Rob Hardie.

The spire of St. Michaels church, Inveresk, featuring high walls leading up to it.

DUNKIRK TO SCOTLAND

Leaving Dunkirk.

 Couldn't help thinking about the 500,000 Allied Servicemen who were evacuated from here in 1940.

Ship anchored in the middle of The English Channel or La Manche as the French call it.

The beach at Deal

From the end of the pier.

My first pint of English beer being pulled by a barman of "The Kings Head", who had spent the Australian summer touring around with "The Barmy Army"!

 Good it was too!

Standing in the doorway of Rosabels cottage in Deal where we stayed. Rosabel was a schoolfriend of Cathy.

We stopped over at Chalgrove, near Oxford with Elsie, Cathys" sister and husband Ian. Very comfortable with an excellent Fish and Chip supper from a travelling Romanian (?)"Chippie" washed down with an Australian Chardonnay.

Crossing the Scottish Border.

View from "our" bedroom at Wilma and Jimmys'

Poppies in a field of wheat behind the house.

and Rose Bay Willow Herb colonising the verges.



The River Esk with Monkton Hall golf course behind.

The Roman Bridge in Musselburgh. Edward II of England fled over this bridge after his defeat at Bannockburn. It played its part in the Battle of Pinkie and was crossed by the armies of Cromwell and Bonnie Prince Charlie. In 1597 the Old Scottish Parliament passed an Act for its repair.

Cathy lived in the Street in the background, Inveresk Road, up to the age of 7.

Peaceful today.

Bus outside Musselburgh Town Hall.

DEPART FRANCE

Some final pictures from Guemene.

 Steps added to mezzanine floor.

Wall between front and second house now fully pointed.

Dormer window added to attic in second house.

Many Crab apples forming on tree to front of house.

Poster bringing back memories of last year in Sweden. Now in TV room.

Mezzanine over main bedroom close to completion.

Floor in atic of second house 80% complete. Light from left is new window. Panel in back wall also has a window fitted before we left.

Wood burning heater installed in second house.

COMPLICATED STORY

Cathy attended French classes in Hornsby, Australia. One of her fellow learners, Judith, announced she was planning a trip to France and Cathy invited her to visit us in Guemene.

Judith's mother was an Australian "Silent screen" movie actress in Australia and went to England to advance her career before war broke out. She married a Squadron Leader in the RAF who flew Spitfires in the Battle of Britain and was involved in a lot of "cleaning up" work after the war which took them to Paris for two years where Judith and her 5 years younger sister Susan attended school. The family purchased mother's, sister's orange orchard in Arcadia, Australia (Just a short distance from us)and migrated. Not long after arrival Judith married her English boyfriend (There's was the first marriage at the Monastry in Arcadia). The boyfriend was not happy in Australia and they returned to England and set up home near Kingsbridge, in Devon leaving her 15year old sister Susan with mum and dad. Susan followed her boyfriend to Seattle USA where he had found a job with BOEING. That relationship didn't work out so she "escaped" to Vancouver, north of the border in Canada where she has lived for over 40 years working most of the time in the Forestry Industry.

While living in Kingsbridge Judith and husband took in a 14 year old French exchange student, Jean Louis Bizec, for a month. Later on a second student who was having a hard time with another family (called Barker!) joined them, and the boys returned several times in the next few years. Judith and Susan stayed with this second fellow who has a farm (specialising in Goats cheese) in Southwest France for a week before coming to us.

You have probably noted how many connections, if a bit loose, they have with us. Now comes "The Spooky" bit. They told us that after Kingsbridge, (we dropped them off at the ferry in Roscoff yesterday) they were going to stay with a cousin in Bristol. "Oh, whereabouts?" we asked. In a place called Hanham!! That's the small place I spent the first 14 years of my life!!

Judith and Cathy admiring selection of cheeses brought from SW France.

Judith with Susan at Josselin.

Judith meets Jean Louis, the first of her exchange students whom she lost touch with 25 years ago. He is now head of the Oncology Department at Vannes hospital, specialising in lung cancer patients.

This is what Jean Louis arrived in with his son (no room for mother, she had to come in the VW!).

When JL was staying at Kingsbridge as a boy with Judy's family a doctor arrived in a Morgan and he made up his mind there and then that that is what he wanted to do. Become a Doctor and own a Morgan!!

At the Restaurant.

Lunch is served! JL's son Bastien, wife Elyain, Susan and Cathy and three big plates of Moules and Frites (Mussels and chips)

Nearby were a table of French people all dressed up who'd had a few and took no persauding to strike this pose!

Cathy has a go in the Morgan. An old boyfriend had one of these! It's been added to the list of priorities!

Off to Roscoff for Judith and Susan to take the ferry to Plymouth.