Hedge Funds To Hedgerows

I think I had a visit from aliens last night. I go to bed in England and wake up in Australia. Did I get teleported back home during the night? I drove from the town of Newquay to Fisteral Beach and I really could have been in Australia. Sand, surf and sun…and quite an impressive beach it was too. The swell wasn’t so great today so there was a lot of just bobbing up and down on boards but it was a bit too cold for me…being the Atlantic and all. Next time I’ll pop the wetsuit into the suitcase. Next it was up the coast to the little fishing port of Padstow. It’s nothing like the Sydney version. Luckily! Padstow is very cute and quaint and has seen monks and Vikings before today’s tourist raids. The nearby craggy cliffs bring to life the thought of pirates and those of you who went to Brazil with me know that I have a bit of a pirate thing going on. Hey Tom? So many perfect hiding spots for tall ships where cargo could be secretly unloaded and taken inland, perhaps resting on the way at Jamaica Inn!! Ok Rebecca…back to present day reality. There are some great little walks around the village, along the cliffs and beach and then you can later dine at Rick Stein’s restaurant. I’m figuring that’s impressive if you’re a foodie. To be honest, I think Rick Stein has purchased the whole of Padstow. He has restaurants, fish and chip shop, patisserie, cafe, hotels, bistros, seafood school, deli and a gift shop scattered throughout the little town. Nothing like a bit of overkill, huh??!

Ok…it’s not funny anymore. I’m manifesting the sun from here on in. South West England is supposed to be like “another country”. That’s what they tell me. Someone forgot to tell the weather!

Question of the day is what does the title mean? The hint is that the secret location was Greenhead, which is the perfect starting point from which to see Hadrian’s Wall. “Ecce!! Hadrian’s Vallum!” Ok…so my year 7 Latin isn’t what it used to be. First stop was the Roman Army Museum. They’ve done a really good job of it and there is a great little film about the wall commissioned by Emperor Hadrian in the 120s. He did visit the place once, but only during the construction. The rest of the time he was busy travelling his Empire with his toy boy. He had trimmed the empire back a bit and even here in Britannia he pulled the northern boundaries south a little. The crags in this area have proved the saviour of the wall in these parts today as it was too rough for the locals to come here and steel the stones to build churches etc, so it’s quite well preserved. It was originally timber and stone with milecastles every mile (funnily enough!). Most of it was built and manned by auxiliary solders (you couldn’t have your precious legionaries out here surrounded by barbarians!) However, contrary to being a lonely a desolate place, villages popped up around the forts, a major one being Vindolanda. This is a brilliant archaeological site today and just 7miles east of the museum. I highly recommend a visit. It’s extensive, well laid out and they’re still making finds. A lot of textiles and leather shoes etc have been found here. It’s very unusual to find such things after 2000 years, but the anaerobic soil in these parts has been a blessing. The most famous find to date was been wooden writing tablets now housed in the British Museum.

The morning started with the purchase of the local tipple…Deeside Water. It’s supposed to have healing properties so I got a couple of bottles from the service station. I mean, you can’t have too much of a good thing. I’ve had so much “healing water” on this trip, I must be super human by now! It was then off to Balmoral, making our way through the blizzard of snow. Ok, so it wasn’t a blizzard, but it definitely was snowing. I probably wouldn’t go racing back to Balmoral because, although it is very pretty and set in such a gorgeous landscape, £8.00 just to see the ballroom is a tad steep in my book. How many dead animal heads can you fit on a wall??? The grounds were lovely and the actual building is beautiful but I wish the Scottish would stop calling any old house a castle. It reminds me of that favourite Australian movie. Just because you consider it YOUR castle, doesn’t actually mean it is one! Balmoral, by the way, is a hunting lodge. Next it was off to Edinburgh and although we were sure we were travelling the same road as yesterday, the sat nav told us differently and we really were going south to the capital rather than back to Inverness. Edinburgh reminds me of Ireland for some reason, though I think they could do with giving the place a good scrub. The castle is something to behold….and yes, this one really is a castle! At last!! There’s been a castle on this spot since the 12th century and this castle was occupied until 1603. It later became a military base and is today still officially in the hands of the Ministry of Defence. After wandering the streets for a while, it was off to a “secret location”, where we arrived at about 11pm, luckily right at the steps of a hostel! Thank you Universe!

I should have done this a week ago, but forgot. Norbert will not be happy. Norbert is my travelling companion. I’ll let him introduce himself….

I can’t work out why they wear kilts up here in the wilderness. Why no undies????????? I mean, you could have your clan’s tartan printed on thermal long johns. Surely! Having been to a school where the uniform was black watch tartan and tamoshanter, I was keen to find out the history. It turns out the was also known as the government tartan and patrols were sent out in the highlands to protect against unsociable behaviour so to speak, including cattle thieving…also know as the black market. Basically they were the highland police. Now, as everyone probably knows, they are an army regiment. So, I guess the question is what is a private girls school in Australia doing with it???? Oh well, it’s pretty I guess.

I awoke (not that much sleeping has had) to the words in my head, “I am Spartan!!” I always find that a good battle cry when things get a bit tough….namely the cold in this situation. However, it turned out to be the right mindset with which to start the day as the UK’s highest peak had to be conquered! Some people plan and train for this sort of thing, but sometimes I think that ignorance is bliss. And I think in this case it was! Mind over matter. If you want something badly enough, you find that the mind is all powerful and will pull you through. I could be over dramatising things a tad though. Ben Nevis is a good and challenging climb but it’s hardly Everest. And with so many charity groups racing up and down with Scafell Pike and Snowdon yet to climb in the next few hours, it makes your efforts seem a tad feeble. The going was quite rough and with a full cover of snow on top and reaching the destination in trainers and in 2.5hrs (most people take about 3-4), it was worth the memorable photo moment that was had. And even though it wasn’t Everest, it bet the views from the summit were no less impressive. Glorious, rarefied place on the planet!

They really do! Sometimes I think I’m in a non-English speaking country! The kiddies sound cute, though.

I couldn’t decide on the title for this one, so I gave you a choice of two. I think I prefer the second one! There’s a wee prize for those who can tell me what “Failte” means.

Sorry I’m a bit behind but it seems electricity sockets and wifi are in short supply up here in Scotland!

Wednesday saw me meet up with Serena in Glastonbury for the start of our road trip. Thelma and Louise, eat your heart out! If only we could now just find Brad Pitt. Serena’s married, so I guess that leaves him all for me! I love Glastonbury. Maybe it’s because I resonate with the weirdos that inhabit the place. But then, even I’m not that weird. I love the energy and I love the shops. Me and anything “new age”. What can I say? (and they have a brilliant health food shop….lots of raw goodies. Sorry all you normaltons, I just had to throw that in!). We went to The Chalice Well and drank the supposed healing waters (a bit like Bath). Legend says that Jesus drank here and planted the nearby thorn bush. Joseph of Arimathea also hung out here, and you can bet your bottom dollar that King Arthur had a swig or two from the well also. Basically, it was the place to be. We drank a couple of bottles of the water which is supposed to link one to the devine feminine…if you’re a Pagan (The nearby Thor being the male aspect), so we were complete goddesses by the time we left! We then marched up the hill to The Thor to balance ourselves out. It’s always sooooo windy up there, but the views are wonderful. Love watching everyone partake in their rituals too. Good people-watching.