Day 1469 train trip to Edinburgh to The Willow Tea Rooms ☕️🧁

I’m on the train!! 🚆 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

I’m heading over to Edinburgh to meet my Mum and Auntie Marion. We have afternoon tea booked at The Willow Tea Rooms today.

I have always wanted to go to the Willow Tea Rooms…. There’s always been one in Glasgow but the one in Edinburgh seems to be new. Well it is to me anyway. They are designed around the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. I’ll hopefully have a bit more info once I’ve been.

Wide awake at 6am and out for a run with Rachel two doors down, at 7am.

It’s a beautiful morning but bitterly cold for this time of year!

Here’s my favourite gate… it’s been a while 😂

We went into Spiers Old School grounds and the lighting was lovely.

I found the run quite hard this morning, more my legs than the breathing.

We did it! About 2.5 miles this morning. I am very red!!

So back home and had to queue for the shower…. 😂 Craig had a really early job today.

What to wear on a day that’s freezing cold in the shade and warm in the sun?!?!

Here I am at Glengarnock in the sun!

Walking through Glasgow Central. This looks black and white but it’s taken in colour.

So I cross Glasgow to Queen Street, sit down on the train and read that my lovely FB friend passed away this morning as a result of her fight with cancer. I’m on a crowded train. I know it’s coming but it takes my breath away. Her lovely daughter messaged to tell me. So very kind of her.

I manage to hold it together for the whole trip.

Just to recap, I have never met this lady. I’m a joint admin on a FB group called After Dry January, where we share our sober journeys. I “met” June over 5 years ago and she has been an amazing support. She saw something in me that I couldn’t see anymore. She sent me gifts, cards and lots of positivity. I wasn’t the only one she supported. I hear stories from the other members, she did similar things for so many of us.

What a very special woman. I hope she can rest well knowing how much she was loved and what an impact she made on our lives.

I did a post for her a few week’s back, on our group, so people could express their gratitude while she was still with us, rather than waiting until she was gone. She got to hear what she meant to everyone.

We all need to be more June. ♥️

The sun is still shining as we pull into Edinburgh Waverley station. 🚉

I hop off the train and Mum can tell straight away that something is wrong. I finally let a few tears flow.

We grab a quick coffee in Cafe Nero and then head up to Princes Street.

Looking over Princes Street Gardens to Edinburgh Castle

The Willow Tea Rooms are on Princes Street directly opposite Edinburgh Castle. It’s only been open for 2 months but has been a in Glasgow for over 60 years.

I love that it says “ people might be able to enter and enjoy without relying on the inebriating effects of alcohol for entertainment” she sounds like my kinda gal!!

(You can get alcohol there now for those who are interested!!)

Hide the Primark bag!!!

It was quite quiet when we went in at 1pm but it filled up very quickly.

Mum took this arty shot.

My view.

The lovely art on the walls.

What a stunning view from the tea room, out to Edinburgh Castle.

Mum and Auntie Marion.

Keek! I actually ordered the vegan sandwiches. They were so good. Avocado with tomato, humous with chargrilled peppers and cucumber.

We also got a scone with cream and jam… not vegan obviously and a cake of our choice and we all went with the strawberry tart.

The teapots and cups are all willow design.

Here I am listening intently to Mum!

It was really lovely and cost us £22 each with the 5% service charge added in. Mum very kindly bought mine as a treat! She’s a keeper!!

It as still beautiful when we got out and a weeeeee bit warmer. The blossom is out in full force.

I felt like a tourist in my home city. I ooohed and aaahhhed over buildings like this in Rome yet fly past them here in Edinburgh, on my doorstep. This is the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art.

Even walking into Waverley station looks really pretty in the bright sunlight.

I feel like I am seeing everything through rose tinted glasses today. The new iPhone photos are so vibrant.

Here’s my current view from the train!

It’s cloudy now I’ve got to Glasgow… all 17 stops later 😂😂

So I hope you all have a lovely weekend and I also hope we see some more sunshine. I also hope that it is warmer 😂😂 I don’t want much.

I also want everyone to be more June ♥️

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1371 ladies wot lunch in Edinburgh 🚆🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🌨️❄️

I’m on the train to Edinburgh again.

I love the train!! 🚆

We’re having a family ladies lunch today with Mum’s side so I’m meeting Mum, Auntie Marion, mum’s cousin Joyce (who is always called mum’s cousin Joyce!) and my sister in law, Gill.

I had another great sleep and woke up at 6am. It has snowed again over night. By the time I got up, the rain was pouring over the snow and creating black ice 🧊

I got a notification from the Trainline app to say that there was potential disruption on the route for today so I left early, to make sure I got there in time. Here comes the train!

The platform is super icy. They always say “please mind the gap when alighting from the train”… please mind the ice as you try to board the train would be more appropriate!

I don’t get any decent photos from the train as it’s raining and misty most of the way in.

Here’s Glasgow in the rain though.

Me with my hood up. My hair was nice and straight when I left the house… maybe not so much by the time I get to Edinburgh 😂

I got the train from Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh and we were only held up for a bit outside Polmont station. They said there was a technical fault that they were currently fixing.

I met a lovely American family on the train on their first visit to Scotland. Their daughter is starting Glasgow Caledonian University. I of course became the tour guide on the train whether they wanted it if not. I was buzzing for them to see Edinburgh for the first time 😂

Joyce met me in Edinburgh Waverley. The Americans went off to find their Mary Queen of Scots tour…. Who knew that was a thing?!?

We were booked into The Botanist in Edinburgh.

It’s through the new St James’ Quarter.

What a beautiful place.

It’s so pretty inside. It’s such a lovely atmosphere. It’s in the centre of Edinburgh but it’s like sitting in the middle of a jungle.

It feels very natural.

The food was exceptional too. It’s a really good menu.

Joyce and I shared the Red Thai Prawn Kebab and the Grilled Halloumi Kebab.

We got one with coconut rice and one with chips.

It was so good honestly, super tasty, really good quality food. Only cost is £22.62 a head as well which I thought was really good.

Here’s the seabass.

And the sweet potato Katsu curry.

Even the oat milk DECAF! latte was really good.

I really loved it, I would go back in a heartbeat. It’s great to catch up with all the family ladies too and hear everyone’s news.

It’s been a lovely, cold day in Edinburgh.

I took a few shots before I headed back down into Waverley station.

I literally missed the Glasgow Queen Street train by two minutes. They wouldn’t let me through the barrier as the doors were just closing. Dammit…. 😂 I headed round for the Glasgow Central train which stops at hundreds of stations but gets me into Glasgow only 7 minutes later than the Queen St train so I figured it would do me just fine. I’m also seeing a hundred Scottish stations, most of which I didn’t even know existed!!! Who knew 😂

Still an hour of travelling to go but that is fine. It was a lovely day and yet another mini adventure and new experience!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Stay safe everyone ❄️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🚆

Day 1312 a lovely day trip to Edinburgh Castle with Mum & Dad 🏰

A super frosty, foggy early start this morning, catching the train to Edinburgh to meet Mum and Dad for the day.

It’s 8.51pm and I’m already north of Glasgow on the train. The freezing fog still hasn’t lifted. It’s like pea soup. 😂

I’m half an hour early I think, but I booked my ticket through Trainline. Last time I travelled to Edinburgh it was £41. This time it was £25.90 because I booked in advance. I also upgraded to allow me to take any train today. I think that was an extra £3 or so. It was well worth it… hence the being half an hour early.

And just like that the sun burns through the fog just outside Falkirk. If you zoom in you can see a bank of fog in the distance. It’s going to be a beautiful day… didn’t bring sunglasses either. 😎

You can see the heavy frost in the foreground of this photo.

Crossing the viaduct.

I have arrived!

I went for a wander as I was a half hour early. It’s the most beautiful day now.

I met Mum and Dad up the top of Cockburn Street.

We decided to head straight up to the castle.

It’s so nice to see it without the Edinburgh Tattoo scaffolding on the Esplanade.

Edinburgh is so much quieter than the last time mum and I were here during the Festival.

I say that and there were a LOT of people I the Castle during the middle of the day.

Looking down to the east end of Princes Street and the Wallace Monument.

The one o’clock gun!

St Margaret’s Chapel.

Mons Meg.

When we were wee this was kept inside. It’s obviously been preserved enough to bring it back outside.

We stood up here to watch Edinburgh’s 1o’clock gun go off. Even when you know it’s coming, you still get a fright.

This is fired every day except Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas Day, to let ships in the Firth of Forth know what time it is.

Here is Arthur’s Seat and Salisbury Crags… the crags aren’t particularly visible due to the sun but if you zoom in you might see them.

I’m sorry but does this gold roof not remind you of something?!? 💩

You can see they are setting up for the Christmas Markets down in Princes Street Gardens. Think it opens next weekend.

I have so many more photos but I think I might break WordPress. 😂

I love this shot of us leaving the castle… the longest legs in the shadows!

We were SO lucky with the weather. It’s been very cold but a beautiful day. It’s so lovely to make these memories together, rather than sitting around inside a house.

I even got a nice shot in Edinburgh Waverley.

It’s dark now and I’m just north of Glasgow again where the blog started.

Thanks to mum and dad for such a lovely day.

Happy weekend!

Stay safe everyone ♥️🏰🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Day 1235 a lovely wee train trip to Edinburgh to meet Mum! 🚝🫶🏼🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Another full nights sleep last night. Just bliss…. Up bright and breezy today to get my toes painted and eyebrows done before heading off to Edinburgh to spend the day with Mum.

Mum doesn’t need me to have my eyebrows done and toes painted 😆 but the girl I go to only works a Thursday and Friday, so I’m restricted to those days. She changed my 9.30 appointment to 8.30 which was really lovely of her. We have another wedding on Wednesday night!

So I’m on the 9.12 train from Glengarnock, North Ayrshire to Edinburgh Waverley, via Glasgow Central. It’s been a long time since I got the train and the ticket was £41.40!!! On the grand scheme of things, it’s not that much but I think I expected about £25 😆 times are changing!

For those of you who don’t know, I’m an Edinburgh girl. I was born in Edinburgh at the Simpsons Memorial Maternity Pavilion (I’ve always loved the lilt that has) and grew up in Penicuik about 10 miles south of Edinburgh. I went to Napier University in Edinburgh so it was always my old stomping ground.

Thinking on it, even back then I felt bit different. When everyone was obsessed with going out, partying and drinking, I’d much rather have stayed at home. I did go out but I never really enjoyed it. I think that drinking helped me relax and forget my discomfort and there the story begins…

So back to today, sadly the forecast is pretty wet. It was sunny when I got on the train but spotted this 🌈.

And now it’s raining!

So into Glasgow Central.

Had to hot foot it across Glasgow to Queen Street Station for the Express Train to Edinburgh. It only take 50 minutes.

Nelson Mandela Square a bit wobbly while crossing the road!

Honestly Glasgow feels so alien to me now. We are never in the city anymore. There are people everywhere, obviously. Jeez that’s a bit of a scary selfie in Buchanan Street.

The Edinburgh train is heaving! It’s lovely to see loads of tourists heading to Edinburgh.

I am so excited to be on the train. It feels like a real adventure. I feel like I’m on holiday. This is the station from a bridge above it later on in the day.

Met mum and we walked up Cockburn Street!

Made famous by the Avengers movie.

When I was a teenager I used to get lots of my stuff out a shop at by the bottom called Cockburn Market…. It’s not there anymore 😂😂

We turned up on the Royal Mile and headed up towards Edinburgh Castle. That’s St Giles Cathedral where the Queen lay in state in Scotland before flying back down to London.

This is Deacon Brodies pub that I used to go to in my student days.

Looking back down the Royal Mile. Blue sky!

Thought this was a lovely building almost up at the Castle. The Scottish Whisky Experience.

I didn’t think the Castle Esplanade would be open to the public as the Edinburgh Tattoo scaffolding is all set up. It was but we didn’t get in to the castle as it was fully booked. Never realised that it could be but I guess during the Edinburgh Festival, that would be obvious!

Never going to get a photo without lots of people but thought I was pretty lucky with this!

Looking back down the castle esplanade to the Tattoo seating!

It got really dark!

And then the heavens opened!!!

This piper was really good.

Heading down the Mound to Princes St Gardens. This is the Bank of Scotland…. I want to say Head Office. If it’s not, it should be.

Walking down the steps towards the National Gallery and Princes Street, in the pouring rain.

Lovely view of the Sir Walter Scott Monument.

Think this is the best photo of the day as there were no people in it!

Mum took me to the Scottish Cafe and Restaurant for lunch. It was a lovely treat!

I had a buttery with wild mushrooms and soft cheese. It was really lovely.

Looking over Princes Street Gardens. This is where the Christmas Market is held every year. It’s nice to see it uncovered and green.

The Balmoral Hotel looking very imposing on the East End of Princes Street.

The new St James Shopping Centre… it’s streets ahea of what it was when I was a kid. More designer shops that anything else. It’s a lovely shopping centre but I’m not sure I’d feel the need to rush back.

There’s a lovely view from it, down over Leith and looking out to the Firth of Forth.

We popped into Harvey Nichols… way outta my league! We just did a tour of the escalators. The one pair of trainers I looked at were £595 😳 didn’t like them that much!

Mum headed off to the bus station to catch the bus back to Penicuik and I headed back down to Waverley for the Train to Glasgow Queen Street. It was so lovely to get to spend the day with her and do something different!

I passed the Royal Bank of Scotland on St Andrews Square. It’s been there since I was wee… and obviously a long time before that!

Crossing Princes Street looking west. It’s still really quite dark but dry.

Here’s a tram passing.

Back into Edinburgh Waverley.

It was such a lovely trip. I love being on the train and I’ve enjoyed exploring today almost as much as being on the PS Waverley. 🚢 it was lovely to see Mum as I can’t remember the last time we did something like that.

The train trip went really quickly writing this. I should have been a bit more present in the moment.

Back in Glasgow! So many cities!