Relatives. 26/04/09-10/05/09
This has been a big time of meeting family I didn’t know existed!!! It started with leaving London wasn’t too bad got out all right. We then spent that night in a small village called Melham, it was set in the Dales. This was nice and we saw a huge natural amphitheatre. The next morning we set off in the rain for Glasgow. When we got to Ann and Dunc’s place we relaxed and introduced ourselves. A little while later our cousins Matthew and Hannah arrived they are 10 year old twins. Later their mother Gail arrived we had dinner. We spent 4 days with them. They took us to The Falkirk wheel, 10 pin bowling, Glasgow museum with a doctor who exhibition!!!!! and to Loch Lomond. We bought most of our camping gear in Glasgow and also met Scott, who has been to NZ before and his partner Laura. They were very nice.
We then headed up to Inverness making a stop at dads birthplace Kingussie along the way. We were staying with my great Aunt and Uncle, Maureen and Alistair. They lived in a small town 30mins from Inverness called Evanton. We went to Novar’s folly and saw a royal naval ship that was anchored at Invergordon port. We got to have a look round the ship which was exciting. That night we went and had dinner with Dad’s cousin Alan and his wife Mary. 2 of their kids were there, they were Kay and Aila and their partners Aaron and Craig.
Our next visit was a quick call in to great Aunt Helen. We then visited Catherine and George. We had afternoon tea with them then back to Helens for the next 2 nights. We went to Culloden battlefield while we were there. We spent three hours looking round the centre and battlefield. It told of the story of the Jacobites and the Hanoverians. We found our clan stone on the battlefield. Our family clan fought with the Jacobites for Bonny Prince Charlie!! But he wasn’t so bonny and made lots of mistakes to lose the battle that only lasted an hour. Flora MacDonald then smuggled him to France where he was kicked out of the country and then got deserted by his wife and kids, became an alcoholic and died alone. We are part of Clan Donald and Clan Ranald. our family is the MacDonalds.
The next day we headed back to Glasgow on the way we stopped and had lunch with Ian, Patricia and Katie. This was very nice. This was the day of my birthday!! While I was getting something from the car Katie ordered me a slice if cake with a candle. It was lovely!! Uncle Ian paid for the whole lunch only later did I find out that he is extremely rich. Liam was disappointed he didn’t have his Jaguar car with him.
It was then back to Ann and Dunc’s. They had a birthday tea for me and the room was decorated with ribbons and balloons it was great. Had cake and yummy dinner even though I wasn’t particularly hungry after lunch!!
Left Ann and Dunc’s and had a night in a hotel in Nantwitch. Next day we went to Milton Keynes looking for the Aston Martin factory that no longer existed. Then went to Will and Lia’s...... mansion!!!! We got there and were greeted by them I had never met them. Spent time with kids Kendall, Mitchell and Fiona. Their nanny was keeping them entertained her name was Vicky. They took us down to this HUGE rope swing it was fun. Will came down and joined in on the swing. We did 2 people sitting on it at once. When Will first went the string was too long and he hit the ground. We also went swimming in their inside pool it was very nice!! Will took Liam for a drive in his Aston Martin DB9 Liam was very excited and loved it!!! Went 120 miles an hour that’s nearly 200kms on a 100km road!! Had lovely bbq tea! Stayed up late talking and adults drinking Will had only come home that morning from New York!! Their house is incredible Liam and I shared a room on the 3rd floor!! or top floor! They have a big garden! The next day we had a nice casual breakfast and then went to the country fair. It was mainly a dog show we did this football dribbling comp I got the quickest time!! 13seconds!! We got some ice-cream then there was a Dakota plane which came down and swooped low over the fair grounds! Went for another rope swing were doing all sorts of tricks Kendall and I managed to stand on it together which was quite amazing!! Their dog also found great amusement in grabbing the rope blow the seat and swinging the person round!! I talked to Ian, Wills brother on web cam when Will was talking to him. Their web cam is super fast and upmarket!! Ian had just got a tattoo on his back it was huge! Had fillet steak for tea and again sat around talking and went in pool, I cut my foot on the pools floor. Will took me for a drive in his Aston Martin to get carrots, haha. Coila came round for dinner. Was nice to meet them, Kendall was very cool and so were the other kids we got on well and it was good to have some younger company instead of adults all the time!! Said goodbye that night and got up early and sneaked out for France!!!!! I hope we get to see them again maybe they will come to NZ! ( when we get home ). All in all we met 27 relatives during this time!!! That is a lot!!