Daily Archives: July 18, 2011

It wasn’t my idea… honest!  I generally don’t like to shop but apparently the teens would have us traipse through the town and after what we put them through at the pub yesterday, we owed them.

So we tried to get up and out early (hah!) and managed to actually get downtown before lunchtime.  Of course the first thing we had to to do was stop for a coffee and thanks to my trusty Cafe Nero card (which has been slowly collecting stamps over the years), we got one of the mochas free.  Yippee!

Then it was off to the charity shops – I think we managed to hit 6 of them – as well as used book and record stores.  We weren’t as successful as we’ve been in the past there, however.  We even window shopped at a few estate agents offices to pick out a house or flat to buy to use when we visit and then to retire to.  It’s one of our favorite past times and we’ll chat with our friend Jenny the mortgage advisor (again) about how we might manage (again) and then we’ll likely forget all about it (again).

Then it was off to the Thistle Centre shopping mall… sigh… We did accomplish two important things:  we got a Celtic strip from my nephew in Seattle and we finally replaced the moo phone.  About 8 years ago we bought a cheap mobile and have occasionally had to top up or replace the sim card but the phone always works and we can always find it.  Once upon a time, the ring tone was set to moo like a cow so it has become known as the “moo phone.” It is quite annoying now as technology keeps moving along and the moo phone is now really antiquated and difficult to use. So we lashed out a whole 12 pounds for a new style phone that is easier to use – even though the phone is new and the ring tone more mainstream, it still seems to have retained the moniker “moo phone.” If you ever want to get a hold of us on a British mobile, let me know and I’ll send you the number.

After a quick lunch of jacket potatoes, the teens went to town: Top Shop, New Look, and loads of other “high street” retailers that cater to their tastes.  They  procured a few tops and jeans that were on sale while Frank and I sat and people watched – one of our favorite past times! Eventually we were all shopped out and then it was off to Gran’s for tea (and biscuits!) and to hear all about the revelry that we missed last night – or should I say this morning!  It was a good thing we headed home when we did…..

We had a final farewell dinner with Therese and the kids before they head to Portugal tomorrow and Jim joined us when he got off work.  Therese  offered to buy  a round of drinks and queried Duncan for his choice.  He skipped the usual British-18-year-old choice of lager or cider and said “whiskey and lemonade please! ” What I would give to have a photo of her face when “the bairn” asked for quite the grown up drink – same as his gran was drinking actually!  (He enjoyed it he said.)

Then off to annoy the other Cannon brother and his family.  Tom had finished work and most of the family was home so we had more tea (and biscuits) and had a great chat with Una, Nikki and Amy while Duncan and Gillian played Wii with Ross.  We even played “Ask the Economist” and discussed the possible fall out of a sovereign default in Europe!  It was a lovely visit and we’re looking forward to spending more time with them – hopefully we can find some time when Tom is off work and the weather is dry. (We’ve stopped looking for a sunny day – dry will do, thank you very much!)

Now it’s off to bed as we’ve got a big outing to Oban planned tomorrow:  castles, distilleries and probably more shopping as it’s one of Gran’s favorite activities as well.

Three things we noticed today:

1. Designer fixtures are not always functional.  This flat is very nicely kitted out but the designer sink in the master bath is about two feet wide by 6 inches deep – which isn’t really deep enough if you want to wash your face.  I couldn’t figure out why my feet were getting wet…
2. Current fashion for young women in Scotland seems to be shorts, tights and brogues.  No red skinnies and Hammer pants like in Spain but the shorts and tights don’t always look right as worn by local teens.
3. The price we pay for British chocolates (like Flakes and Crunchies) at home is not as exorbitant as we thought.   Today I paid 75p for a Flake in WH Smith which is around $1.20 so the $1.50 or so we pay at World Market at home doesn’t seem so bad.