Grand Tour of Scotland: Arrival Day: 11 August 2019

I finally finished up with our first day in Edinburgh and is busy with day 2… I still have not decided how I am going to post it because there are thousands of photos and I would really like to share them all with you…

Now just to let you know, every evening I made notes on my phone about the day we had all the ups and downs all the interesting facts we learned but due to the theft of my phone all that information is gone along with the photo’s of our rooms, decor and selfies of dad and myself. I am just glad I posted a few photos on my blog so you will see some of them again to fill in the gaps of our days.

When we landed in Edinburgh the rain was really coming down hard and I realised that my planning for day 1 won’t be possible… But I was positive that maybe it will stop and we could at least see something on day 1.

Sarah from Nordic Visitor arranged a driver for us from the airport to our Guesthouse. I started stressing when our flight got delayed by nearly an hour. What if the driver had other appointments and had to leave…. But as per usual I stressed for nothing.

After collecting our luggage we head to the arrival hall and there he was. Unfortunately I can’t remember his name lost that information too… Neatly dressed in his black suit, white shirt and black tie. Well this is not something you see in South Africa only if you hire a limousine maybe.

He was really enthusiastic about his city and the history behind it. He asked me what our plans was while staying in Edinburgh I told him all about my research and the places I would like to see. He then said if we are not in a hurry he will show us some of the places and also a few more. I  was overwhelmed hoping I remember all the places and streets. He gave us an information overload and I started taking notes like mad. I have a good memory but between the information, traffic rules and beautiful buildings I knew I would forget some of it.

Funny how a person’s memory works, While I am busy editing some information comes back and some  I just can’t seem to remember.

Our driver dropped us off at Ben Cruachan Guesthouse and we were received by our hostess…. Oops I forgot her name now….  Well hopefully it will come back to me.

This would be our home away from home for 2 nights. Well our room was so beautiful and had a nice view of the garden. It was really coming down and dad and I first had some coffee and relaxed before we decided to go for a walk in the rain in Edinburgh.

 

We put on our rain jackets, took the umbrella and of course I took my camera…. We changed our plans a bit we were just going to explore some of the streets around the Guest House….

While walking and taking photos it started raining very hard and we saw a Pub that is open and we headed in for a nice dinner and hopefully it will have stopped raining when we were finished.

Bushwick Pub and Grill was very cozy but not very busy. The waiter gave us a window seat. I think he saw the camera and knew that I would like to take some photos. Dad ordered a draft and I ordered a Banana Milkshake….. When the waiter put down the milkshake in front of my my jaw dropped I did not expect a mega mega Milkshake…. I could not even finished it… So sad though it was delicious and I will definitely go there again if I am ever in Edinburgh again. That is if they are still there of course. We also ordered a burger and chips and when the waiter put it down in front of us dad and I just looked at each other and right there we decided that the people at Bushwick don’t believe in normal they go big…..

Well needless to say I could not finish my dinner. I ate my chips and drank my milkshake as far as I could. I asked if they can put my burger in a takeaway container so that I can enjoy it a bit later.

It stopped raining and dad I headed back to the guesthouse I took some more photos and when we got “home” I took a nice hot shower and had a glass of sherry to keep me warm.  After my shower I tackled my burger and I could not finish it….

We were very tired after the flight and went to bed just after 10 pm.

Thank you for exploring Scotland with us. I hope you enjoyed our first day just as much as we did.

 

“If you can dream it you can do it.” Walt Disney

 

 

 

It’s been a while…..

Good day everyone,

Well I am back….  It’s been quite a roller coaster ride for me since October 2015.  But I am in a good place now.

Over the past few weeks I started editing photo’s of the last holiday my Mother went with us. Must admit I still get very emotional when I  work on the photo’s. Miss her so much but I know she is watching over me every single day.

Here are just a few of the over 4000 photo’s I took on our trip to Pilanesberg Nature Reserve in July 2015. Believe me there is still allot on it’s way.

 

My Photo someones Quote: #187

 Doen vir ander alles wat julle graag wil hê hulle vir julle sal doen.

Matteus 7:12

199

Thanks for stopping by.

Coreen

My Photo someones Quote: #186

Time only seems to matter when it’s running out.

Peter Strup

195

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Coreen

My Photo someones Quote: #185

The truth is more important than the facts.

Frank Lloyd Wright
188

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Coreen

My Photo someones Quote: #183

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.

Colin Powell187

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Coreen

My Photo someones Quote: #184

Goals help you overcome short-term problems.

Hannah More186

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Coreen

My Photo someones Quote: #182

Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities.  Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.

Gloria Steinem
185

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Coreen

My Photo someones Quote: #181

The results you achieve will be in direct proportion to the effort you apply.

Denis Waitley184

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Coreen

My Photo someones Quote: #180

You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.

Margaret Thatcher183

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Coreen

My Photo someones Quote: #179

The ability to convert ideas to things is the secret of outward success..

Henry Ward Beecher182

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Coreen

My Photo someones Quote: #178

It is never too late to be what you might have been.

George Eliot181

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Coreen

My Photo someones Quote: #177

Courage is grace under pressure.

Ernest Hemingway180

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Coreen

My Photo someones Quote: #176

Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.

Albert Schweitzer179

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Coreen

My Photo someones Quote: #175

Age is of no importance unless you are a cheese…

178

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Coreen

My Photo someones Quote: #174

To live you must experiment, to experiment you must have confidence, to have confidence you must be loved, to be loved you must love…
177

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Coreen

My Photo someones Quote: #173

When there is more gratitude, there is less distrust.

Cheng Yen175

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Coreen

My Photo someones Quote: #172

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,

the author & perfecter of our faith,

who for the joy set before him endured the cross.

Heb 12:2174

Thanks for stopping by.

Coreen

My Photo someones Quote: #171

Never lie to someone who trusts you, and never trust someone who lies to you.176

This is something that lies very close to my heart. Being lied to by my so called best friend for how many years. I trusted her with my deepest secrets just to find out she had a hidden agenda and pretended to be my friend…

Thanks for stopping by.

Coreen

My Photo someones Quote: #170

The best and most beautiful things in life cannot be seen, not touched, but are felt in the heart.

Helen Keller173

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Coreen

My Photo someones Quote: #169

Every scar has a story. Don’t be afraid to tell it.

172

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Coreen

My Photo someones Quote: #168

God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

171

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Coreen

My Photo someones Quote: #167

Every struggle in your life has shaped you into the person you are today.

Be thankful for the hard times, they can only make you stronger…

167

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Coreen

My Photo someones Quote: #166

A happy life consists not in the absence but in the mastery of hardships.

Helen Keller166

This is very true. I have found in my own life I had two choices. I can either sit behind my knees and mope (I tried this for a while with not so good results) or I can take what is happening and use it to help me grow and move forward. I promise you this is not easy but it’s the best way. Yes you will get your up and downs, you’re happy and sad days, the days you wish you never met the people involved in your situation but remember there were good times also….

Thanks for stopping by.

Coreen

My Photo someones Quote: #165

If we really want to love, we must learn how to forgive.

Mother Teresa165

Good day everyone,

I know I have not been posting lately, but my life took a very unexpected turn. Now I must learn how to forgive and move on with my life. It is not easy but I know with the help of my Heavenly Father I’ll be able to move forward and live my life to the fullest in His name.

One of my New Year’s resolutions is  to remove all the negative out of my life. I have been busy doing just that.  May everybody have a very positive 2016.

Thanks for stopping by.

Coreen

My Photo someones Quote: 2015 #164

What God intended for you goes far beyond anything you can imagine. Never lose hope and hang on to God’s hand.170

My Photo someones Quote: 2015 #163

Your value does not decrease based on someones inability to see your worth.

Unknown 169

My Photo someones Quote: 2015 #162

A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself.

Jim Morrison
168

My Photo someones Quote: 2015 #161

Every struggle in your life has shaped you into the person you are today. Be thankful for the hard times, they can only make you stronger.167

My Photo someones Quote: 2015 #160

A happy life consists not in the absence but in the mastery of hardships.

Helen Keller166

My Photo someones Quote: 2015 #159

If we really want to love, we must learn how to forgive.

Mother Teresa165

My Photo someones Quote: 2015 #158

Faith goes up the stairs that love has built and looks out the window that hope has opened.

Charles H. Spurgeon163

My Photo someones Quote: 2015 #157

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow.

Helen Keller162

My Photo someones Quote: 2015 #156

Everyone needs someone to make them feel like tomorrow is more than just another day…
161

My Photo someones Quote: 2015 #155

Something that’s of common interest to every man, woman and child on the planet must surely be the notion of “Peace”.

Annie Lennox160

My Photo someones Quote: 2015 #154

God understands our prayers even when we can’t find the words to say them.159

My Photo someones Quote: 2015 #153

Believe in yourself you can do it!!!

158

My Photo someones Quote: 2015 #152

157Everything is possible for one who believes….

Mark 9:23

My Photo someones Quote: 2015 #151

Today my life begins…..156

My Photo someones Quote: 2015 #150

It’s never too late….

Never too late to start over.

Never too late to be happy.

Jane Fonda155

My Photo someones Quote: 2015 #149

One bad chapter doesn’t mean your story’s over…154

My Photo someones Quote: 2015 #148

People cry, not because they’re weak, but because they’ve been strong for too long…153

My Photo someones Quote: 2015 #147

151“There is so much about my fate that I cannot control, but other things do fall under my jurisdiction. I can decide how I spend my time, whom I interact with, whom I share my body and life and money and energy with. I can select what I read and eat and study. I can choose how I’m going to regard unfortunate circumstances in my life – whether I will see them as curses or opportunities. I can choose my words and the tone of voice in which I speak to others. And most of all, I can choose my thoughts.”

Elizabeth Gilbert

My Photo someones Quote: 2015 #146

150

I never regret anything, because every detail of my past is what made me into who I am today…

@InspowerMinds

My Photo someones Quote: 2015 #145

149If  you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything.

John Wooden

Exploring South Africa town by town: Victoria West Part3

 

On our road trip from 1 to 11 July 2015 we passed through many towns. I tried to take photo’s of each town but due to a time limit I was only allowed 10 minutes per town.  We entered Victoria West just after sunrise and everything was still very quiet. Only here and there someone was walking in the streets. I just love the old houses and the country feel to these little towns. It is sad though that the roads are in such bad shape.

Here is some information about Victoria West gathered by my Dad Ivan de Bruyn in preparation of our  road trip. Dad used different books and articles to compile all these information pieces for us.

VICTORIA WEST en route to this town the N12 crosses the Visgat River. At the one of its kind Victoria Trading Post there is also a museum dedicated to the legendary Mannetjies Roux the famous Springbok rugby player. A museum in the Main Street adjacent to the Library houses a large collection of old cameras and film projectors as well as medals of Group Captain P.H. Hugo a Battle of Britain [1940] fighter pilot who was born on the farm Pampoenpoort about 40km north west of the town and educated in Victoria West. His nickname in the town was ”Piet Khaki” but to his companions in the Royal Air Force he was ”Dutch Hugo”.

Victoria West was founded in 1843 when the Dutch Reformed Church decided to establish a new congregation in the far off northern areas from Beaufort West. The farms Kapokfontein and Zeekoegat was purchased to lay out the town. The church council named the town Victoria in honour of the ruling British monarch. The ”West” was added to the name in 1855 when another district in the Eastern Cape was also named Victoria. The town is in the vicinity of the Kapokberg Mountain with its blanket of snow during the winter months.  During 1904 to 1910 the town was represented by John X Merriman in the Cape Parliament who in 1908 became the Prime Minister of the then Cape Colony. He also played an important role in the compilation of the constitution of the Union of South Africa which was established in 1910. During the night of 27 February 1871 a disaster similar to Laingsburg in 1981 struck the town of Victoria West when flood water in the Brak River,normally a dry sand bed devastated the town. The death toll was never established,but more than 60 bodies were found and was buried in a mass grave,the people who passed away in the flood is honoured by a granite memorial.

July2015_8333 July2015_8334 July2015_8335 July2015_8336 July2015_8338 July2015_8340 July2015_8341 July2015_8342 July2015_8343

 

 

My Photo someones Quote: 2015 #144

Behind me is infinite power, before me is endless possibility, around me is boundless opportunity.

@Quote_Spoup148

My Photo someones Quote: 2015 #143

Stay strong and make them wonder how you’re still smiling….147

Exploring South Africa town by town: Victoria West Part2

 

On our road trip from 1 to 11 July 2015 we passed through many towns. I tried to take photo’s of each town but due to a time limit I was only allowed 10 minutes per town.  We entered Victoria West just after sunrise and everything was still very quiet. Only here and there someone was walking in the streets. I just love the old houses and the country feel to these little towns. It is sad though that the roads are in such bad shape.

Here is some information about Victoria West gathered by my Dad Ivan de Bruyn in preparation of our  road trip. Dad used different books and articles to compile all these information pieces for us.

VICTORIA WEST en route to this town the N12 crosses the Visgat River. At the one of its kind Victoria Trading Post there is also a museum dedicated to the legendary Mannetjies Roux the famous Springbok rugby player. A museum in the Main Street adjacent to the Library houses a large collection of old cameras and film projectors as well as medals of Group Captain P.H. Hugo a Battle of Britain [1940] fighter pilot who was born on the farm Pampoenpoort about 40km north west of the town and educated in Victoria West. His nickname in the town was ”Piet Khaki” but to his companions in the Royal Air Force he was ”Dutch Hugo”.

Victoria West was founded in 1843 when the Dutch Reformed Church decided to establish a new congregation in the far off northern areas from Beaufort West. The farms Kapokfontein and Zeekoegat was purchased to lay out the town. The church council named the town Victoria in honour of the ruling British monarch. The ”West” was added to the name in 1855 when another district in the Eastern Cape was also named Victoria. The town is in the vicinity of the Kapokberg Mountain with its blanket of snow during the winter months.  During 1904 to 1910 the town was represented by John X Merriman in the Cape Parliament who in 1908 became the Prime Minister of the then Cape Colony. He also played an important role in the compilation of the constitution of the Union of South Africa which was established in 1910. During the night of 27 February 1871 a disaster similar to Laingsburg in 1981 struck the town of Victoria West when flood water in the Brak River,normally a dry sand bed devastated the town. The death toll was never established,but more than 60 bodies were found and was buried in a mass grave,the people who passed away in the flood is honoured by a granite memorial.

July2015_8316 July2015_8317 July2015_8318 July2015_8319 July2015_8320 July2015_8325 July2015_8327 July2015_8328 July2015_8329

 

 

My Photo someones Quote: 2015 #142

I reached deep within myself and I called out to God, and I was amazed at what power I found…. Such strength is only revealed when you are seriously tested…146