Royal mail through the Royal Mail

I am fairly certain that most everyone knows that I am a Royalist.  I am a big fan of the monarchy and was really excited when the Earl and Countess of Strathearn* announced that Kate was expecting. Shortly after the birth of their wee son George, I sent a wee card and pair of hand-knit booties to Kensigton Palace congratulating the couple.  My big surprise came a few weeks later when I received a very Royal reply through the post!  I hadn't expected any thank you in return so it quite made my week.  :)

*The Scottish titles for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

The booties and card I sent to Kensington.

I nearly had heart failure when I saw this awaiting me on my return from work.

I know it is a bit blurry, but the seal says Buckingham Palace!  And I now have their post code!

This is William's personal cipher.

The thank you note was written on the back of this photo.

The text of the thank-you reads:

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

were most touched by the thoughtful gift

you so kindly sent on the occasion

of the birth of their son,

Prince George.

Their Royal Highnesses have been

overwhelmed by all the wonderful messages

and gifts they have received and send you

their warmest thanks and best wishes

HRH Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge

22nd July, 2013

Creeping through Corstorphine

One of my favourite Edinburgh neighbourhoods is Corstorphine.  It has a very different feel from the city centre, with a mixture of cute cottages, and grander homes set back from the road.  I wanted to see all the quaint parts of this village-within-the-city, so a friend and I did a walking tour, again from 24 Great Walks in Edinburgh.  Below are some of my favourite shots of the delights we found.

Corstorphine Old Parish Church

The discovery of a ball in the churchyard is a beautiful thing!

Is it just me, or is everything just a wee bit crooked in the churchyard?

Green Man tombstone!

Tombstones make the perfect picnic spots.  :)

Another exciting grave marker.

Corstorphine Doocot (Dove cot) is all that remains of the former Castle.

I think I would like a bright, sunny door like this someday.

Corstorphine Museum

Windy Wanderings

On the windiest day I have ever experienced, and perhaps ever will experience, Catherine, Whitney and I foolishly and adventurously went up and over Arthur's Seat before making our descent into idyllic Duddingston.  How windy is windy, you may be asking.  Quite right.  I shall quantify.  Edinburgh Castle was closed to visitors (it never closes).  There had been wind warnings all over the radio and internet weather sites.  

Not the best of days for two just-barely-over-five-feet girls to go wandering about on one of Edinburgh's highest rock formations.  Luckily, we had Whitney to tether us down in case of any unauthorised journeys in the direction of cliff edges. All-in-all we had very few casualties (there was a bit of difficulty involving my attempts to get back upright after our lochside picnic.  I may have been knocked to the ground thrice in a row... *ahem*), and did have a great deal of fun in the sun! 

We followed the walking route as set out in the Frommer's Guide '24 Great Walks in Edinburgh'.  A very good library find indeed!  The highlight of the walk for me was when we finally got to the kirk and got to see a set of jougs and a loupin' on stane, neither of which I'd seen before.  Pictures below!

Up and over we must go!

Whitney contemplates our beautiful surroundings (or perhaps the likelihood of being blown off the edge of our surroundings!)

We poke around the ruins of St. Anthony's.

We did a little al fresco dining with a view over Duddingston loch.

A first view of Duddingston.

I feel that this shot with flying hair/ bundled-up-ness and slight expressions of misery does a good job at conveying the sheer magnitude of the wind.

Descent into Duddingston.

We had a wee tea at the famous Sheep's Heid Inn.

 We had Dr. Neil's Secret Garden all to ourselves.

I really quite liked all the purple amidst the dry stone wall.

Tower of Duddingston Kirk.

We poke around the grounds of the kirk.

A most excellent tombstone.

Whitney demonstrates the jougs and Catherine demonstrate the loupin' on stane.

A last look.

The road home.