Scotland – Curious Bystander

Tomintoul, Highlands, Scotland – A quick hot chocolate

I’ve been here in Tomintoul before several times; one after seeing a cheap deal on Wowcher or Groupon, and the second time, when I did the Speyside Way with friends, and used the youth hostel here for several nights accommodation. Well worth it!

Whilst there in the youth hostel, I was told that not only did the village have many more people years ago, but that it was a Gaelic speaking one. He also noted that the pronunciation should be, “DAW men dowl”. Finally, he stated that many of the existing houses are now AirBnBs, and the village tends to come to life in the summer when more people are living there.

It’s an interesting place, with not only a distillery for Tomintoul whisky just before the village, but it also has a very basic, grid street system.

We came here for a quick hot chocolate after seeing that the hotel we had stayed at years ago, the Richmond Arms, was not only open, but was advertising their wares with a street sign.

I noted that the village square is still there, and has a “designer” hotel, a village shop, pub restaurant / hotel, The Glenavon, and a tourist info / museum building, that provides much needed info on this area.

For those interested, there is the nearby Glenlivet Estate (yes, the same name as the whisky!), where a myriad of activities take place.

Yes, you can ski in Scotland – A trip to The Lecht ski resort, Aberdeenshire

Since living in Scotland the last few decades, I’ve only been skiing two or three times, the last at the Glenshee Ski area in north Scotland. The snow was a bit wet in late March, but the skiing at the top was perfect and it was sunny.

Ditto that for a recent trip this month to The Lecht ski area in northeast Scotland. Whilst I am still recovering from a recent illness, the other half took full advantage of the conditions (and it seemed that EVERYONE in Aberdeenshire also did!); the place was packed!

The conditions were sunny, slightly windy, with a temperature of about 0 – 2 degrees – perfect.

I stayed predominantly in the café; a typical, dreadful one, with the usual suspects of food – stale sandwiches, God-awful chips, and something that looked like chili? And with a side order of a queue of 30 minutes, as there were only about two people serving & cleaning, I had an awful time. Though when I finally found a seat with my egg sandwich, I was just fine.

As I get annoyed just so quickly nowadays, I noticed the typical behaviour of dreadful families, who only consisted of two or three, who were not only hogging a table for eight, but had also brought their own food! I naturally was furious; but PLEASE patrol this Lecht staff, as it is completely not on!

With more snow falling in north Scotland whilst I write, who knows, maybe in the next week or two, I’ll do some sliding.

Jordanhill, Glasgow – the Prancing Stag – Restaurant

Have you ever walked, biked, carred, etc, by a place, and still never have gone there? This happened to me with the “Stag“, so after needing car repairs, we finally decided to pop in here; a place that has had numerous name changes over the years – I’ll be back.

As the name indicates, it has a Scottish / Scottish Highlands type of vibe going here, with food to match. We were brought out a free Aperitif that was a delight, particularly the butter, if that is what it was. I then ordered the Venison to share – a perfect mixture of meat and fruit.

The menu had a variety of meaty, fishy, and even non-meat dishes, that all were true to this theme and also to many other, “modern” restaurants in Scotland, particularly in the West of Scotland / Highlands.

Pork Belly & Chorizo and the Fish (x3) special on the evening

For the mains, we chose the crispy pork belly, that was perfect; crispy but at the same time, the meat melted from itself. My partner in crime simply loved the fish, it was also devoured.

This was both classical stuff and modern. They pulled it off perfectly, and a quick glance at the numerous reviews on TripAdvisor, will only confirm this.

The dessert was perfect, a parfait, with that new thing called “soil” – merely a crispy bit of crumbs, in this case chocolate.

In addition, the knives are this new type of design, where they can stay “standing up”, if laid on a flat surface.

5/5

The Mela, Glasgow, Scotland – Last Weekend

Once again, or at least for the first time since 2019, the Mela was on, that celebrates south Asian culture here in Scotland, and it was packed!

Fabric / Clothes shops at the Mela

We were only there for about 90 minutes, but as usual, there was a good vibe and multiple music tents – I believe there was even a ceilidh going on, as well as live music. I happened to see an experimental jazz, Asian fusion brigade. The leader, even said hello to his Ma and Da there!

Music Bandstand

There were even charities and self-help groups, complete in their stalls, handing out information and soliciting donations. One, the Vision Again Foundation, looked at the vital need for eye operations in the 3rd World, that can be done for as little as £20 in order to restore sight; I’ve already donated.

More shots of the Mela

Well worth a visit again, in the oncoming year.

As I left, there were more stalls, and even a “wall”, where one could write opinions on a variety of current affairs.

Back after an American excursion, more later, another Cafe’ – The Hyndland Fox, West End, Glasgow

Will soon report back on my recent forays to the Highlands, Lisbon!, and America (the last 2 weeks).

So went for a walk the other day, and in my effort to have 10,000 steps per day, bumped into the delightful, Hyndland Fox, that also (it was a Sunday), had a bi-weekly comedy club that we’ll check out soon.

I honestly didn’t know that, but who knows, maybe everything is getting back to normal finally?

I’ve been here before, and the one thing they’ve done, is to serve a more, minimal, fish and chips – let’s be honest, I can never really finish an entire, normal portion – with it usually being top-heavy with batter.

This is could handle easily. The pal’s food, was a more and more typical dish, with a red sauce being sent out with mussels. Though, I would normally prefer the white wine sauce, this was interesting.

Costello at the Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow

As for the week, we went to see Elvis Costello last night, a review tomorrow!

More street art from Glasgow, this time from the Southside

More wonderful pieces of street art, that border on modern murals.

The “hand”!

The attention to detail and the meaning, that escapes me, does the trick.

By the artist @FRODRIK on Minard and Pollokshaws Road, Southside, Glasgow

This week; Birnam, Scotland (Beatrix Potter land) and other observations, cafe’s, etc.

What a week, more being in the hospital recently, but it makes you even more grateful when you are not there!

Birnam Hotel, Birnam, Perthshire, Scotland

Had another Perthshire trip in the bag, this time to the sister “city” of Dunkeld, Birnam. Maybe it’s the poorer little relation, but still has something, particularly the home / place / whatever of Beatrix Potter, author of the Peter Rabbit books.

The hotel was right out of the 19th century! I love these type of things and I came across a “floor light” or whatever it’s called? I’ve never seen one of these things. But if you looked above it, to the roof, maybe it was a proto-type skylight? Who knows?

Skylight from the 19th century?

Also, there seems to be a little bit of money in this place, as various rooms looked completely up to date, which can only be a good thing.

Various shots

And it was only opposite, where there were various Potter types of elements, and also a theatre, museum / café dedicated to her memory.

Various things a la Beatrix Potter

Where the attendant was nice enough to let us have a look, even though they were officially closed.

This week, and amongst many things, a look at the “art” scene in Dunoon . . .

More blogging about my trips to Bavaria and Dunoon, more cafe reviews(!) and maybe something else.

But it was interesting to see that even in good, ole Dunoon, there is some form of an art scene. In this case, they had a film / presentation about 500 years of black culture in Scotland, and I will “review” it shortly for all to see!

In addition, the “art house” that housed it, had a brilliant café as well, and naturally I’ll review it also.

Also this week, I will start a series, of looking at just how good (or bad) supermarket cafe’s are! I’ll begin with Morrisons in Partick. If I survive the food, I’ll blog about it. . .

Dunoon – Part 2, the High Street, etc

Following on from the boat trip from Gourock, the High Street is short, sweet and with the sun almost idyllic. And thought, as the screen shot below from Google Maps shows, that there is a preponderance of Churches! With the above, Cowal Kirk – High Church, being the most impressive.

After this, we meandered down the High Street, or should say correctly, Argyll Street, where there was everything one would want on a short day trip; cafe’s, restaurants, sights (the Churches, Promenade), etc.

Argyll Street (the High Street)

And we found some “cute” things, such as mini-kilts for your wine or whiskey bottles, and some “designer” tea pots!

Equally, we also entered a “modern” type of tourist shop, which had an affinity for both Tunnock Tea Cakes and the Scottish artist JoLoMo.

Worth a visit.

And even though it’s April, found a Christmas shop, presumably open year round?!

Worth it.

Dunoon trip and other things this week

What a day it was this last Saturday, so decided to take a trip to the lovely city(?) of Dunoon on the West Coast of Scotland.

We decided not to drive, due to the distance, but instead to take the passenger only ferry from Gourock, on the West Coast also.

At Gourock port

From here we had a lovely walk at the pier, that appears to be in a state of renovation, though am not too sure. If it is, then in the sun, this would be a sensational place to have a high tea or meal.