John, Maureen & Sheila’s Excellent Adventure #2

September weekend Monday. Usually we go away today for a day trip. Usually we go down the coast to Largs. Usually its mobbed.

Planning ahead as normal, I checked accuweather.com – which is an absolutely amazing weather forecast site. Our experience of it is that it is 100% correct, down to postcodes though it sometimes gets it wrong by an hour either side but miles better than BBC or any of those sorts of forecasts. Anyway, the whole of Scotland today was destined to be cloudy but our chosen destination was rain between 10 and 12 and then between 4 and 6 so it was perfect for us. Outside of those times it was just going to be cloudy.

So, we picked up Sheila at 10.30 and off we went tootling down the motorway unburdened by typical Monday traffic – it’s a holiday!  The sky was cloudy and the rain intermittent and light, and non-disruptive. Turning off the motorway eventually we motored down through and past Johnstone, Beith and other small villages. After only a few minutes into the journey, I could feel the vibes in the car; like some kind of telepathic message reaching my brain; they became stronger the longer we drove and the deeper into the country we went, the worse it got; the guilt grew in my brain.

” Ok”, I said, “who could go a scone and a nice cup of tea?” Sheila was first to pipe up (she’s 83!) ” Oh that would be very nice”. We pulled into a new place (well its about 3 or 4 years old) called Graze. It’s got no website so I can’t help you any more with that. Its nice, a bit clinical kind of furniture and bright yellow walls. The scones were big and warm and the tea generous and just under £3 per head.

By the time we went back out the rain had stopped (it was just after 12pm) and after a discussion about microgeneration – remember, I’m almost an expert now! – we took the long hill (must be about a mile and a half) down into Saltcoats. Saltcoats’ name is derived from the town’s earliest industry when salt was harvested from the sea water, carried out in small houses along the beach known as ‘cots’.

The girls got out and went to amuse themselves in the town. I decided to go for a walk and add to my target for the month. I set off briskly and returned past the Beach. The wind was curiously warm despite blowing at 40 miles per hour and launching sand at my face like I was a piece of rusty metal being sandblasted. It was actually enjoyable being buffeted by the late summer breeze!

After a while we drove South to Prestwick for an early dinner. We often go to the Toby Carvery (Now it’s called the Carlton Hotel) and while the hotel is undergoing something of a facelift, the carvery is tired and service is dreadful. I had to complain today about the vegetables being just lukewarm; was referred to as he/ that guy there in the course of the waitress dealing with my complaint, and when one of the chefs asked another “How did this happen?” (meaning allowing vegetables to go lukewarm, the other just looked at his watch, muttered something about 3.30 and retired to the kitchen). Never got an answer yet and got nothing off the bill either so avoid this one if you can – we will in future. I suspect they should either have checked them or changed them at 3.30 and didn’t.

It was almost dark by the time we finished and so we headed North and homewards but managed a small detour past Coia’s cafe in Duke Street. Check it out here.

So here we are back home, ice cream now finished.

Blog written and watching Corrie.

A perfect end to a perfect day.

JohnF

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it’s….

We headed down to Ayrshire yesterday.

We’ve had our caravan at Craig Tara for as long as I can remember now and we’ve pretty much decided to move it. Craig Tara is great for kids and those who want a beer drinking, nightclub-by, dancing and partying sort of holiday. Hang on though, I’m not saying that everyone who stays there does any or all of those things but that’s the kind of facilities that they offer and which we end up paying for as part of the annual site fees whether you want it or not.

We don’t, so we’re thinking of moving. We love Ayrshire now so we want to stay in the “shire” by the sea and we’ve found what could be the ideal spot – no holiday lettings; friends and family only. I’m not telling you what it’s called – I don’t want you getting there first! I promise though, when we move to let you into the secret.

Anyhow, on the way back up to Saltcoats to get a new bed for Moscow, our Big Black Daft Russian Terrier, we noticed, as we passed the big roundabout at Ayr on the A77, cars stopped in every lay-by, people out standing on the grass verge in our beautiful summer rain. Every slip road, country lane, every nook and cranny was filled with cars and people looking to the sky.

Maybe Airforce 1 is due to land at Prestwick (or as it’s known, Glasgow Prestwick International) Airport? Maybe the alien invasion is starting? Maybe our troops are coming home from Afghanistan?

We eventually pulled in at the next big roundabout and Maureen, my wife, got out and asked a person standing with his eyes, ears and binoculars all trained at the grey, low cloud that was Ayrshire on Saturday, 5^th September 2009.

“We’re waiting for the new Airbus 380. 500 seater. Can you imagine it”, he said, “a 500 seater?”

I couldn’t. But I didn’t have to wait too long: it flew over us a few minutes later what seemed like just 500 feet up in the air, did a major left hand turn over the airport and another loop round before flying off towards Northern Ireland. I think it had escaped from the Airshow at Portrush we’d heard about on the BBC Ulster travel report earlier that day. Since you missed it, here’s it’s picture in Emirates colours we saw it in Airbus colours.

500 seater, you know….!

JohnF