Glenrothes, Scotland Was Next

We arrived in Edinburgh and then Glenrothes on our first Anniversary. It wasn't the most romantic way to spend the day, but we'll make up for it next year when we aren't traveling around for someone else's wedding. Our trip from Nice was torturous. We had to connect through Heathrow which made what could have been a short trip in to a very long journey. Somehow, we survived again. Rowan was very tired of being constrained by this point and we made an effort not to use the stroller the last leg of the trip. In fact, it was a very good thing we packed the Ergo baby in our carry on luggage because even though we took the stroller to the gate in Nice, it was checked right through to Edinburgh and we would have had to carry Rowan in our arms through what was the most insane security process I have ever seen in my life in Terminal 5-Heathrow. John and I are always commenting and complaining about the completely arbitrary security rules that airports have these days, but this took the cake so to speak. I am not kidding when I say that if we hadn't known any better, we would have sworn we were in line in a third world country instead of in what boasts to be a civilized country. We were funneled into a line that was about 10 people deep and it bottled necked at a point where we all had to get on to an elevator to take us to the x-ray area. The person at the bottom of the escalator was watching a person at the top of the escalator who was responsible for deciding when the next heard of angry travelers was permitted to go up to the next level. Kind of like a flag person in a construction site but with less intelligence. After about 30 minutes we made it up to the security screening level which turned out to be just as chaotic. We were no longer 10 people deep, but the line ups were so long and the security people so incredible dense that it took us another hour or so just to get through to the other side. We watched this Indian woman in a wheel chair take out I would say, 4 cans of baby formula (could have been old person food), syringe after syringe and many other weird medical instruments and concoctions in one line up. She some how was allowed to get through with all of this stuff but I had to throw out Rowan's fruit cup because it was over the 100ml limit and if I had tasted it on the other side (which they will let you do SOMETIMES), we had no way of sealing it up. I actually had packed a container anticipating that this might happen but in the thick of it all, I forgot about my brilliant planning and just instructed the airport ape to toss it.

Thank God we had a 3 hour lay over because we would not have made it to our connecting flight.

We pulled in to Glenrothes by hired car (this was our first long trip without a car seat and I felt immense guilt about that) around bed time. Our hotel was in the middle of nowhere but unlike the rest of the wedding guests from Canada, we at least had our own restaurants and bar to frequent. The rest of the crew stayed at the Travel Lodge in the middle of an industrial park. They were not all that pleased. But it worked out well for us because they came to have lunch and dinner at the Balgeddie House with us. We had many lovely dinners and relaxed because there was simply nothing else to do. I loved our king sized bed and Rowan loved the dark and quiet of his baby cot set up in the bathroom (Ana: you've had it backwards all along!). John used the men's room in the lobby just in case you were wondering how we managed. I, however am a camel and didn't even notice the lack of a loo. Anyway, preparing meals for Rowan was a little bit of a challenge. We ate greasy and heavy Scottish food for a few too many days and I think all 3 of us put on weight. Oh and we had birthday cake for my 35th which seemed to pass rather slowly and quietly. I am used to being with my whole family and I missed them that day especially. John and Rowan gave me a lovely perfum from France and the gang remembered to bring me a card too which was sweet. I guess it is just as well that we didn't make a big deal of it this year because to be honest, turning 35 is a little freaky and I am not too happy about it.

Anyway, the wedding day arrived and by this time, we were all ready to go home. John left us around 11am. We had packed everything up in the morning and all I had to do was feed Rowan and get us both dressed and to the church. It went very smoothly and if it wasn't for the boon that exploded on the church floor during the ceremony, I'd say it was pretty near perfect. The bride and groom (Joe and Suzanne) were very cute and seemed to have really enjoyed the day. The location they chose for the reception was gorgeous and the meal was delicious. Rowan ate half of mine and loved every bite. He made it to the end of the speeches and then I took him home to bed. He slept very well despite the late bed time and even managed to get in an extra half hour before the hired car picked us up for our long trip home.

And here we are. Back safe and sound and all the more appreciative our of beautiful new home and the wonderful life we lead in peaceful, cool, sunny and reasonable Canada.

Here is a picture of Rowan in his Italian outfit, purchased in a little boutique in Florence. He looked adorable the day of the wedding. More photos to come.