On the coach at 9.30am for city tour with Tricia then to the 'Book of Kells'. This was an ancient book of bible written (in latin) around 500-500AD very intricate and neat with lots of pictures very well preserved. Then had a walk around on our own and found a pub for lunch then went to the university museum very interesting, time just disappears when you are in places like that. Dublin is a very pleasant city, seemed clean and well organised. Hurling is a local ...

Back on the bus at 8am, Mark not good, not eating very uncharacteristic of him! Drove from Chester down through Wales where all the names of the towns are weird and difficult to pronounce, but it is lovely to hear the language spoken, it sounds very musical. Had a short stop at Betws-y-Coed, then headed through Snowdonia national park, popular area for climbing/hiking. Had lunch at a place called Caernarvon, then over the Britannia bridge to the Isle of Anglesey ...

Back on the bus at 8am, Mark still not well, through the lowland hills, through the Lakes district (quite different to our Lakes district) popular area for hiking, walking and camping holidays. Stopped for lunch at Gretna green, lovely little place. Stopped at Grasmere (some familiarity with names between here and home) home of poet William Wodsworth, arrived in Chester much later than anticipated due to traffic accident had to detour through Liverpool. Mark w...

Onto the bus at 8am for a city tour with local guide Richard interesting history about Mary queen of Scots then to Holyrood palace where the royal lived, and where Princess Zara recently got married a few weeks ago. Got to walk through the palace, then back on the bus and drove the 'Royal Mile' from the palace to Edinburgh castle, had a tour of the castle, great views. Saw the crown jewels etc. The canon went off at 1pm, had a look through the war museum at th...

On bus at 8am, off to Culloden battlefield then on the whiskey trail to Glenlivet. We had a guided tour and samples, Debbie liked tour more than the whiskey!!! Drove past Balmoral Castle, the Queen was in residence but no invitation to tea - much to Debbie's disgust. Had lunch at Breamar - home of the Royal Highland Games - looks much like Arrowtown. Mark getting worse not better. Got to Edinburgh about 4pm, stayed at the plush George Hotel. Got our number ones o...