Aye Bonny Scotland!
- Thread starter Zoom
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Oh, I'm betting you'll need a translator in Glasgow.
I had an immigration client once . . .Glaswegian. He was a trip but murder to make out what he was saying! Loved the little guy though. Tiny. About 5'5" and wiry. His lovely little redheaded girlfriend had had an abusive redneck boyfriend, about 6'4" probably 275 lbs. He'd beaten her within an inch of her life several times; broke pretty much every bone in her body. Well, ex got cranked up one night and came over and kicked in the door while our Glaswegian was there. Woke our hero up out of a sound sleep, grabbed the girlfriend and started to rough her up. Little Scotsman ripped into him and put him in the hospital
The DA declined to press charges against him and actually was chuckling when he was talking to me about it.
I got to the point where I could understand him pretty well, so I got to ferry him around and take care of things like getting his drivers license, etc.
I had an immigration client once . . .Glaswegian. He was a trip but murder to make out what he was saying! Loved the little guy though. Tiny. About 5'5" and wiry. His lovely little redheaded girlfriend had had an abusive redneck boyfriend, about 6'4" probably 275 lbs. He'd beaten her within an inch of her life several times; broke pretty much every bone in her body. Well, ex got cranked up one night and came over and kicked in the door while our Glaswegian was there. Woke our hero up out of a sound sleep, grabbed the girlfriend and started to rough her up. Little Scotsman ripped into him and put him in the hospital
The DA declined to press charges against him and actually was chuckling when he was talking to me about it.I got to the point where I could understand him pretty well, so I got to ferry him around and take care of things like getting his drivers license, etc.
I made it!
Sat at KCI from noon until 7pm; they kept pushing the time around, then got us boarded, pushed back and made us sit on the tarmac for another hour. There's something wrong when you can almost finish the crossword puzzle in the in-flight magazine before you've even taken off! I know I'm good and all but yeesh.
But once we got out of KC, it was fairly smooth from there. We landed with about 20 minutes to get to another terminal in Newark to catch the connecting flight to Manchester. We were originally supposed to fly right into Glasgow and land around 1:30pm (that's where the Newark layover was supposed to happen) but instead English booked us onto the Manchester flight and got a car rented to drive the rest of the way.
The flight was mostly smooth, for all that it was the smallest plane I've ever flown on. Got to watch a full moon rise from behind a cloud bank that was eye level...I think that's what it must feel like to be an astronaut. Read part of the book I bought in the terminal, "The American Wife" and basically just stared out the window a lot. I love flying.
Then we landed in Newark and literally sprinted (the best we could) to the next gate. Now, I knew I was out of shape and probably shouldn't have been trying to run up stairs and down hallways in the first place, especially not after sitting for 8 hours already, and especially not with a 30lb backpack to contend with. I'm pretty sure my lungs were bleeding by the time we hit the gate but we made the flight!...as did everyone else who just strolled their way along. They ended up holding it because there were so many people from the KC flight going on...so while everyone else loaded, English and I huffed and wheezed and coughed and wished for water but we couldn't get any because we were taking off soon.
Once in the air though, it was quite smooth from there. I saw the New York skyline (I was able to pick out the Empire State Building) for the first time and almost saw the Statue of Liberty but the engine blocked the view. They served us dinner which was actually quite good, we had some vouchers for drinks and got some white wine, which was also actually quite good and then settled back to watch a handful of movies. I dozed off at some point over the North Atlantic and then woke up just as the sun began rising. Time traveling is awesome, I saw the moonrise and the sunrise within a few hours of each other.
Landed in Manchester, made it through customs without an issue. Yes, they actually let me in the country, shows how much they know! :rofl1: The guy did ask who I was staying with, how long I had known him, etc. Then he cracked me up by asking me if we had actually met before and if this was an internet thing. Got the car from the rental place and had a nice 3 hour drive up to Glasgow here. I must be suffering from jet lag or something, or else I really am just that easily amused--the best thing so far is all the sheep. Lots of sheep. With accents. Actually, it's just so nice to see GREEN and flowers...Kansas is almost ready to start greening up, but it's still mostly brown.
I've had a shower and a nap and feel rather human again, so we'll see what the time difference does, if anything.
We're booked for a curry with some people here in a couple hours, so I apparently get to see what a "proper" curry dish is. The house we're staying in is amazingly lovely; they've got a couple of small-ish mutts (Barney looks like a lurcher/sheltie mix and Molly might be some sort of spaniel mix) and a cat; the dogs and I have made good friends with each other already and the cat is just blinking at me so far.
So yeah, that's the update so far! The weather is actually quite nice, so much nicer than Kansas--it was 50 when we landed and hasn't cooled down too much since. We've hit a couple pockets of rain and a little wind, but still nothing worse than what I just left back home. The camera is charging so I'll have plenty of pics to post as the week goes.
Sat at KCI from noon until 7pm; they kept pushing the time around, then got us boarded, pushed back and made us sit on the tarmac for another hour. There's something wrong when you can almost finish the crossword puzzle in the in-flight magazine before you've even taken off! I know I'm good and all but yeesh.
But once we got out of KC, it was fairly smooth from there. We landed with about 20 minutes to get to another terminal in Newark to catch the connecting flight to Manchester. We were originally supposed to fly right into Glasgow and land around 1:30pm (that's where the Newark layover was supposed to happen) but instead English booked us onto the Manchester flight and got a car rented to drive the rest of the way.
The flight was mostly smooth, for all that it was the smallest plane I've ever flown on. Got to watch a full moon rise from behind a cloud bank that was eye level...I think that's what it must feel like to be an astronaut. Read part of the book I bought in the terminal, "The American Wife" and basically just stared out the window a lot. I love flying.
Then we landed in Newark and literally sprinted (the best we could) to the next gate. Now, I knew I was out of shape and probably shouldn't have been trying to run up stairs and down hallways in the first place, especially not after sitting for 8 hours already, and especially not with a 30lb backpack to contend with. I'm pretty sure my lungs were bleeding by the time we hit the gate but we made the flight!...as did everyone else who just strolled their way along. They ended up holding it because there were so many people from the KC flight going on...so while everyone else loaded, English and I huffed and wheezed and coughed and wished for water but we couldn't get any because we were taking off soon.
Once in the air though, it was quite smooth from there. I saw the New York skyline (I was able to pick out the Empire State Building) for the first time and almost saw the Statue of Liberty but the engine blocked the view. They served us dinner which was actually quite good, we had some vouchers for drinks and got some white wine, which was also actually quite good and then settled back to watch a handful of movies. I dozed off at some point over the North Atlantic and then woke up just as the sun began rising. Time traveling is awesome, I saw the moonrise and the sunrise within a few hours of each other.
Landed in Manchester, made it through customs without an issue. Yes, they actually let me in the country, shows how much they know! :rofl1: The guy did ask who I was staying with, how long I had known him, etc. Then he cracked me up by asking me if we had actually met before and if this was an internet thing. Got the car from the rental place and had a nice 3 hour drive up to Glasgow here. I must be suffering from jet lag or something, or else I really am just that easily amused--the best thing so far is all the sheep. Lots of sheep. With accents. Actually, it's just so nice to see GREEN and flowers...Kansas is almost ready to start greening up, but it's still mostly brown.
I've had a shower and a nap and feel rather human again, so we'll see what the time difference does, if anything.
We're booked for a curry with some people here in a couple hours, so I apparently get to see what a "proper" curry dish is. The house we're staying in is amazingly lovely; they've got a couple of small-ish mutts (Barney looks like a lurcher/sheltie mix and Molly might be some sort of spaniel mix) and a cat; the dogs and I have made good friends with each other already and the cat is just blinking at me so far.
So yeah, that's the update so far! The weather is actually quite nice, so much nicer than Kansas--it was 50 when we landed and hasn't cooled down too much since. We've hit a couple pockets of rain and a little wind, but still nothing worse than what I just left back home. The camera is charging so I'll have plenty of pics to post as the week goes.
Dinner was delish, I had balti chili chicken with nan and some pilaw rice (and two pints of Cobra--Indian lager) along with tasting everyone else's dishes, including vindaloo. That was nicely spicy! English's eldest boy accidently knocked his glass of Coke over on me, but I managed to avoid getting too splashed, reflexes of a drunken cat and all Met the ex-wife, who was perfectly civil, so it was a good time all around!
So far have not seen a single kilt but then again, I haven't seen too many people yet. Going to be a busy day today though!
Met the ex-wife, who was perfectly civil, so it was a good time all around!So far have not seen a single kilt
but then again, I haven't seen too many people yet. Going to be a busy day today though!
Kids are 12, 15 and 18.
Saw a guy in kilt at the pub tonight...got a picture but not on anything I own, so I don't know how I'll get it on here. English says he has the full get- up, so maybe that'll suffice?? Anyway, I had 3 pints or so in a true Scottish pub, haven't been to a touristy place yet, and it was awesome! Best pint of Guinness I've had so far and apparently it's even better over in Ireland, so I need to come back.
Got his daughter moved into her new flat (absolutely adorable!), had another curry and embarrassed myself with my "American accent" in a shop today, so yeah. I am LOVING this place!!!!!! No, for serious. I can't wait to come back....maybe in June and I'll get over to England Land Shire then!
Saw a guy in kilt at the pub tonight...got a picture but not on anything I own, so I don't know how I'll get it on here. English says he has the full get- up, so maybe that'll suffice?? Anyway, I had 3 pints or so in a true Scottish pub, haven't been to a touristy place yet, and it was awesome! Best pint of Guinness I've had so far and apparently it's even better over in Ireland, so I need to come back.
Got his daughter moved into her new flat (absolutely adorable!), had another curry and embarrassed myself with my "American accent" in a shop today, so yeah. I am LOVING this place!!!!!! No, for serious. I can't wait to come back....maybe in June and I'll get over to England Land Shire then!
Far as I've been told, all of his kids are quite accepting of me! His daughter bought me a pair of house slippers just like she has after I mentioned Virgo had taken mine to Canada with her.
So far, I haven't done a single touristy thing yet! Don't really plan on changing that, I'd rather see the real Scotland through the local's eyes instead of the "touristy" version.
So far, I haven't done a single touristy thing yet! Don't really plan on changing that, I'd rather see the real Scotland through the local's eyes instead of the "touristy" version.