One quick question...

turned into an acre of rainforest in leaflets and brochures within 5 seconds of walking through STA Travel's doors.

I went in today to ask if they accepted Virgin vouchers and if not, is that company alright to book with. Half an hour later we've gone through various route options, the best way to get a visa, how long my jabs will last (I'm hoping some of my old India jabs will still be valid - especially the polio one, ouch!) and advice on insurance.

The outcome is: They don't take Virgin travel vouchers but that's the company they'd recommend since I'm not a student or under 26 anymore and I can still annoy them with loads of question about my trip after I've got my ticket.

How good are STA Travel?

The ones I don't mind sharing

I have just set up a flickr account to let all you lovely people see what I'm getting up to on my journey. I've uploaded some oldies but goodies (I think) to get us started. The settings have been set so everyone can comment if they like (again, I think) just as they are on this page.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/susanelena/

The Shakira Showdown, Glen from Glen Coe and the Honesty Bar

Well the weekend away with The Boy started not so far away on Friday night at a party in Blairdardie (lower Drumchapel for those of you not familiar with Glasgwegian localities) with The Boy's friends where I was greeted with 'Oh you must be Susan' more times than I can remember. Clearly The Boy doesn't introduce many girls to his friends, either that or they're all called Susan. Being rather sensbile and grown up we decided to head home at 1.30am since we had a long drive ahead of us on Saturday, this lead to the most irritating taxi driver in Glasgow being put in his place, completely unintentionally, by The Boy.

The taxi driver (now known as Jonathan King due to his musical trivia knowledge and his creepiness) spent the entire journey banging on about how great pop music is and encouraging us to listen to Aztec Camera and Prefab Sprout as they are both under-appreciated (not in my book they're not). Anyway, The Boy remembered he needed milk so asked Jonathan King to pull over at a garage which was fine and while he was out the car Jonathan put on Shakira's single which apparently is fantastic and I should really listen to the album as it's great, the next single is outstanding, she's really creative and did you know she normally sings in Spanish?! I did my best job at hmm-ing in all the right places until The Boy gets back to the car and announces...

Oh no! Not Shakira - she's pish!

Not so much a showdown as a sniper shot to the back of Jonathan King's head.

Incidentally after deciding to be sensible and leave the party early we still managed to stay up until 4am... oops.



Next afternoon we made the trip up to Glen Coe with The Boy rather impressively directing us there without hesitation or a single glance at the map (makes me wonder just exactly how many times he's been here before, hmm?). Upon arrival at the Guest House we were shown around and introduced to the Honesty Bar. The idea being you take whatever drinks you like and fill out a little form saying what you've had so they can add it to your bill when you check out. We did exceptionally well at stifling our sniggers even if I do say so myself. Although we did collapse into fits of laughter as soon as our bedroom door shut.

Honesty Bar - Aye Right!

Later on that evening we took a short walk (ie 3 steps) across the road to the local Bar & Bistro to have some dinner. £8 a head lighter for some frozen scampi and chips, steak pie with smash and tinned carrots and we weren't exactly impressed but we headed through to the bar anyway to enjoy a few light refreshments.

After getting over the shock of strangers in the bar we managed to get served and find a table in the corner (this later turned out to be someone else's table but they were gracious enough to sit in one of the many other empty tables). Shortly after getting settled The Boy decided an apres-dinner fag was in order so left me to fend off the locals while he stood in the howling wind for 5 minutes.

Cue Glen from Glen Coe.

GfGC: Hello
Me: Erm hi
GfGC: How are yi? Are yi no takking tae us?
Me: Um pardon?
GfGC: Oh are you no that lassie frae...? Sorry ah've forgoat where ah ken ye frae?
Me: No you must be thinking of someone else, I've just arrived here today.
GfGC: Are yi sure? Cos ah'm sure ah ken ye frae somewhere.
Me: Yes I'm sure.

So there you have it, the good old 'Don't I know you from somewhere?' line is still being used by Glen from Glen Coe who then decided to join The Boy and I for the rest of the evening before inviting us to a party in Kinlochleven which we politely declined worried I may be the only female invited.

A quick supermarket sweep of the Honesty Bar then off to bed at the reasonable time of 2am.

Honesty Bar - don't make me laugh!

Next morning we impressed ourselves by getting up at 8.40am for breakfast before going back to bed until lunchtime when the landlady had to chap our door as she wanted to service our room... oops again.

Sunday afternoon we drove up to Fort William which was shut, then back to Mamore Lodge which was also shut, then to Kinlochleven which was mostly shut apart from McDonald's - thankfully McDonald's in this neck of the woods is a hotel not a nasty food chain. They were also showing the Celtic game which seems to have been the highlight of the weekend as far as The Boy is concerned.

We stayed a while had some lovely burgers (see, definitely NOT McDonald's as we know it) spent far too long on a game of pool and gave the locals something to look at for the afternoon before returning to Ballachulish.

By this time Ballachulish belly was crippling the boy so we abandoned the pub and spent the evening in our room watching The Incredibles on DVD, I stayed true to form of course and raided the Honesty Bar for a second night.

Honesty Bar, heeheehee, as if.

Up early again this morning (I don't normally get out of bed before 10am so those extra 2 hours are really taking their toll now) for breakfast and to check out. It would have been nice to stay a bit longer, even just so we could go back to bed again, but The Boy had to be at work at 12pm so we came home.

All in all a lovely weekend and we achieved our main aim which was to do absolutely nothing apart from get away from Glasgow and relax.

ps. despite our teenage tendencies we did pay up

A mini adventure

The Boy and I have decided a wee weekend away is in order to recharge our batteries and get some fresh air. Unfortunately we're both loaded with the cold so may end up regretting it but it's booked so we're going!

Ballachulish here we come...