“Happy Birthday McD”
Gemma was our destination for Diana’s birthday dinner on Wednesday night. The drive took about an hour, and we commented that if we were in Austin it would have been a 5 minute Uber ride. The food was worth the wait with delicious baby octopus and trumpet mushroom appetizers.
The owners worked in restaurants in Napa valley prior to moving back to Dallas to open Gemma. The lighter California touch on French and Italian recipes is very pleasant. Diana enjoyed a generously sized pork chop and I had an excellent papardelle with braised rabbit.
Fortunately the drive home was much quicker. We needed some sleep before packing up and heading to Scotland on Thursday afternoon.
Both flights were smooth and on time, resulting in a lunchtime Friday arrival in Glasgow.
Our taxi driver down to Stewarton was quite entertaining with stories of the Christmas gifts he had organized for his family members. He also made me laugh when he reminded me of the “Horsey Huts”, where I attended primary three.
We had a very nice time relaxing with my Mum and Dad on Friday evening. I had to find a guide to the Quality Street chocolates for Diana, so that she could identify the Orange Cream. Can you guess what colour the wrapper was?
Saturday started with my favourite breakfast delicacy – Stornaway black pudding. Where is Stornaway? Here it is on the map – in the very North West of Scotland on the island of Lewis. You can also see Aberdeen (where we’ll be spending Christmas) on the North East coast. I wonder why the black pudding from way up there is so much better than any other that I’ve tasted? Could it be something about the water?
Diana entertained herself by “helping” (she actually did quite well) with my Dad’s jigsaw puzzle. It’s a Lowry painting, and very challenging.
David showed up on Sunday and was a good helper, while BP kept a watchful eye on the proceedings from atop Geoffrey the giraffe.
We were treated to a live view of the “crampons” that my Mum and Dad use to walk in the snowy and icy conditions. Still not what we’re viewing as a great idea, despite all the locals siding with my parents.
Sunday’s outing was to the Eden garden center in Dundonald. We enjoyed lunch in their cafe. I was trusted to drive there and back – only once cautioned about my speed in a 20 mph zone, and fortunately the passengers didn’t react too negatively to me not noticing the road humps or “sleeping policemen”.
We perused the merchandise while waiting for a table in the cafe, and Diana thought she was funny pointing out the sign on the right hand side of this picture, until I pointed to the one on the left.
My Dad seemed to have a fun time at lunch:
We have certainly eaten very well during our first few days in Scotland – fresh Pittenweem salmon from the Friday fish delivery man, stuffed chicken breast, and my Mum’s special steak pie were all delicious.
The pictures from my company Christmas party were published and here’s one of us that we like:
Even with flying time and jet lag interrupted sleep, I still wasn’t able to finish a book this week. I’ll try to be better next week.
I read that the Boomtown Rats, popular when I was in high school, and led by Bob Geldoff (famous for planning Live Aid in 1985), were performing in Glasgow next year. That reminded me of this song (you haven’t lived until you’ve heard my brother in law David playing the intro):
Since the blog comes to you from Scotland this week, here’s one from our most famous band, Runrig: