The Marcliffe at Pitfodels Aberdeen

Okay, I know I've been boring. I'm sorry! Basically I've been trying to get used to the bits and pieces of university before embarking on significant journeys. Can't blame me for that :P There have been the odd trips to random castles etc but I have no interest in random small town castles, lived in the Isle of Man for WAY too long to be interested in them! Hoping for a trip down ...

... way in the future, and found a particular little gem - the opportunity to spend 2 weeks in and around any major city in Australia, doing whatever they need me to do, for just under £450 with food and accomodation. I mean yeah, relatively fixed tour-type thing, ew. But most of my friends know that going down under has been a big dream for me since I was half the age I am now, the country as a whole has always fascinated me. It's so far away ...

... not really a good time of year up in the Highlands to go aimlessly romping around :P

In December I'll be heading home quickly, nothing special - but then I have 2 big breaks coming up.. So many choices!

So no, I haven't died.. I'm just at university!

[also - having some problems with java because my university internet doesn't like me. sooo pics will come. eventually.]

Well I have finally begun my journey!!! It seemed like it would never actually happen, but as I boarded that plane reality began to sink in....As we all know, i have no idea when Ill be home, where ill go next, what Ill see or who Ill be spending time with....which makes it so much more exciting for me. Now i have only been here for half a day and have yet to settle, but once that ...

... in a 30 ltr something backpack. The photo here is what I've settled on so far plus the camera (minus the router of course). One really important item i realized i've forgotten till today is toilet paper.Thats in the red and white plastic bag so easy for me to find in case of emergency. The string if you're wondering is in case I need to wash my own clothes so at least I have something to hang the clothes from. Also a mini french dictionary for Syria ...

I made it back to Stonehaven today. Amazingly, the sun was out in full force, a complete contrast from yesterday. I walked along the North Sea for a bit, enjoying a Cornish pasty, and then made the roughly three-mile hike up to Dunnottar Castle, also overlooking the sea. The hike was amazing, but largely uneventful. The photos say more than I could hope to.

I leave for the U.S. tomorrow morning around 8:30 a.m ...

... a BBQ in the evening together before Dad and I headed out for some beers in town. The rest of the week was spent relaxing with Mum and Spencer - lots of long walks with far too much good home cooked food and nights out as well as the requisite alcohol to go with it... Thursday night saw me out at the pub with a few of the boys to have a wee catch up - very well-behaved and home before 12pm - who'd've thought, eh? Friday came around really ...

... fold, and add an accordian) which "knocked me for six" (an english saying which references cricket, means knocked me out, i think). I was wheezing and wiping sweat from my forehead after the first dance!! I felt like I had been transported into a Jane Austen novel in a big dance hall with lively music and fances dresses with people swinging their partners round and round (rima, i know you'll appreciate the stretch it ...

... 6th January 1692. Maclain returned to Glencoe believing his signature was accepted. It was however decided to punish Maclain. Campbell of Glenlyon led a group of some 128 soldiers who stayed with the MacDonalds for some 12 daysand then turned on their hosts in the early morning of 13th February, killing 38 of them whilst some tried to escape into the snowy hills. The infamy of ...

... to choose the best and then uploading them, is taking forever. Also we've started another travelogue named 'scotlandpod' as we embark on our quest to discover all that Scotland has to offer and uncover all the hidden gems here on our doorstep. We've got loads of plans and hope to have many more forays quite soon so keep an eye out and we'll keep you posted. Until then, S & K