Saturday & Sunday, May 4-5 -- Henry is 4! Spidey & Dragons Everywhere!

Once we tested negative for like the 20th time, we headed down to Decatur for Henry's birthday party.  Katie & Russ had already done so much work to get things ready.  We went to Ragining Burrito and ate outside then to Jeni's ice cream--where Henry totally enjoyed his.  No pool-time this trip as Henry needed to get to bed to be ready for the party. 

The Holly plant that Henry picked for me on the Square:

Next morning, we arrived and Henry had breakfast in the chair with Pepe while they watched cartoons.

  Then he played with the pop-up camper I'd brought him:

Then he cuddled up to me to show me a Spidey & Friends cartoon:

...while Russ & Pepe had their "Pivot" moment, setting up last minute tables for the 55 people that were to arrive soon.

The bouncy castle & the 18 ft. inflatable slide were big hits.  Here are Henry & Alina showing us how it's done:

Katie and Russ had all kinds of fruit--including dragon fruit, referencing the book Henry loves, "My Father's Dragon"--and snacks.  Pepe was in charge of hot dog preparation while I was in charge of watching Henry.  I got the fun part!

Then the cake arrived and Katie drew the map from "My Father's Dragon" onto the cake free-hand, in just about one minute, finishing up with palm trees and dragons.  

Spidey Balloons covered the backyard and there were endless activites for the kids to enjoy.

Henry asking Otis is he wants to try the slide:

Here are two videos of Henry & his best friend, Otis, enjoying the slide and Henry explaining "The Rules" that were printed at the top of the slide.

Watch how Henry runs back to hug Otis once he comes down the slide:

We had a great time and so did Henry!

Thank you, Katie & Russ, for making sure evveryone had a wonderful day!

Wednesday, June 1 -- Our Long Way Home

 On Wednesday, June 1, we took a taxi driven by the wonderful Adfinad from Iraq to the airport.  It was such a long slog home.  We wore our masks from 8am Scotland time (which would be 3am EST) until we got off the last of 3 planes back in Asheville at just before midnight.  And I have to wear a silk mask under my N95 because if I don’t, my sensitive skin breaks out.  Another 21 HOURS DOUBLE-MASKED!!!  I was so glad to finally get in our rental car going home. 

Photos from the plane from Edinburgh to JFK:

The three bridges over the Firth of Forth:

Inchcolm Island:

Oveer Long Island near JFK:

 

Monday, May 30 -- Yummy Treats & Haunted Room & Tuesday, May 31 -- Going to the Clinic

 Okay, I know I didn't do it this time--this blog is scrambling my posts, so I'm having to compensate by combining days.  UGH!!!!!

On Monday, May 30, after breakfast at the Booking Office (Wetherspoons) on Waverley Bridge as we did every morning here:

...we walked around Edinburgh and I tried to get a Cookies & Crème Cupcake from Mimi’s Bakery, but they had none.  So I got a Vanilla Confetti one.  Yum!  And my favorite store—Cranachan & Crowdie—is now closed!  We bought a duffle bag to bring home the sleeping bags in.  Turns out they are too nice to throw away. 

I got cookies from Ben’s Cookies—Macadamia Nut/White Chocolate.  Also Yum!  Their motto includes: Baking with CHUNKS not chips since 1983. These are World-famous cookies from Oxford, England, freshly baked on the day in locations all over the world.  Helge Rubinstein founded the company and coined the name after her son Ben (that’s him in their logo, drawn by her good friend and renowned illustrator Sir Quentin Blake—I knew I recognized the drawing style!  He was the illustrator of 18 of Roald Dahl’s books!

Everywhere was crowded and no one was wearing a mask, so we didn’t feel comfortable squeezing into World’s End Pub for dinner or going to Bella Italia or even to our Diner for breakfast—which, btw, has been painted grey now instead of recognizable red. 

My blue police box bakery stand that had no croissants when I went by & the Turkish guys wasn't there either:

We made a cursory search through St. Cuthbert’s Kirkyard for the grave of my ancestor, Robert Scott—born & died in St,.Cuthbert Parish, 1645-1706.  But we were unsuccessful. This part of the graveyard was especially creepy:

Sites from around Edinburgh:

Universoty of Edinburgh's Divinity School:

Scott Monument (Uncle Walter):

Edinburgh Castle:

Scotsmen Hotel steps made of different colors of marble from all over the world:

Zebra Crossing at Waverley Bridge & E. Market Street:

Warriston Steps (that lead to the Royal Mile) as seen from Waverley Bridge:

Balmoral Hotel where J.K. Rowling spent 6 months finishing up the Harry Potter series:  

St. Giles Cathedral with David Hume statue & one of a Scott ancestor, the Duke of Buccleuch:

Wojtek, the Polish Bear that served in WWII then retired to Edinburgh Zoo.  Statue in Princes Street Gardens:

Winner of the best dressed doggie:

I love taking photos of Scott Monument from Advocates Close.  Here are my tries:

2022:

2013:

2019:

2011:

Rooftops behind our hotel from the glassed walkway to our room:

I truly believe our hotel room at the Hub is haunted, for every time Ray leaves, it turns off the air conditioning and the lights.  I began to wonder if I was a ghost! 

On Tuesday, May 31, our minds were on the Covid Tests we have to take that afternoon at the clinic.  If we didn’t pass, we wouldn’t be allowed to fly home tomorrow.  Ray was especially concerned.  If I tested negative, and he was positive, he was insisting that I go on home.  If he was negative and I was positive or if we were both positive, we’d have to cancel our flight home and need to make plans for staying somewhere in Scotland until we tested negative again.  Such a worry.  But we both tested negative and were all set to fly home tomorrow.  Packing everything was a chore, but we got it done.

Pharmacy for the tests:

***Naturally, 10 days after we were home, the US lifted the requirement for testing to reenter the US.