T in the Park 2007

Had a fab time at T in the Park! Was carnage as usual. The partying commenced at 9.30am with our bus leaving from Hamilton. We got up there for lunchtime after a few beverages on the party bus. Saw Arcade Fire, Calvin Harris, Kooks, James, a bit of James Morrison & Razorlight. Danced to Silent Disco, drank fresh pints and had lots of fun. Hels enjoyed her first festival experience (does Gig on the Green count?), she wasn't looking forward to her two & a half hour drive home to Newcastle yesterday!

Mum & Dad's Ruby Wedding Anniversary

It was a special anniversary for my Mum and Dad last Sunday. They celebrated 40 years of wedded bliss on 17th June, the day after Soph & Del's wedding. It was a lovely day, all the family got together and we went out for dinner in the evening to celebrate. Jack and Adam kept us entertained! Drove to Ayr the next day for some fresh air and fish 'n chips followed by ice creams at the beach. Delicious!

Sophie & Del's wedding

It was a lovely day at Shieldhill Castle, near Biggar. Soph looked beautiful in her dress and Del wasn't bad in his kilt either!! We got pampered the day before the wedding, having manicures and pedicures (Brave woman after us spending 6 months walking around in flip-flops!). Was fab being involved in Soph & Del's big day and they looked so happy! Everyone enjoyed... can't believe it's all over... someone else get married soon!

Soph in the City, London

We hit London for Sophie's hen weekend celebrations. Sex in the City was the theme and we had plenty cocktails, posh frocks and dancing... it was fab! Went to Sugar Reef for dinner and drinks on the Friday. On the Saturday we went on the London Eye, did it in style of course, in a champagne pod! In the evening we went on a dinner cruise down the Thames, Sophie even got to sit on Mr Big's (the captain!) knee. We danced the rest of the night away at the Rock Gardens. On Sunday we kept our hangovers at bay by going for a tasty brunch before going our separate ways.

The weather was sunny and warm in London, felt like being on holiday again! Had lots of fun being tourists in Covent Garden and sightseeing on the Thames. Was great seeing everyone after being away and I got my roomies back for the weekend - I've missed you guys!! Looking forward to the big day now.

Back in Scotland!

Well I've been neglecting my poor blog for the last few weeks, betweens catching up with everyone, applying for jobs, going on hen weekends and wedding stuff, not to mention waitressing shifts at Frankie & Bennys.... the joys!

It's great to be home in Scotland, even if it is a little colder than what I've been used to. I was met by my Mum, Dad and Stephen at Edinburgh airport (no-one's changed a bit!) then caught up with the rest of the family at home. Was greeted with balloons and banners, brilliant! Jack and Adam have grown so much! And Margaret is looking fab with her bump, not long till my new niece or nephew arrives in August... getting excited!

Managed to make Kirsty & Kevin's wedding and surprise everyone, their faces were a picture. Kirsty and Tracey looked gorgeous in their dresses and Kevin was dashing in his kilt! After an hour it felt like I'd never been away!

Hoping the weather gets warmer as my tan is fading fast. Think I left it in Cape Town!

Cape Town, SA

Flew into Cape Town last Friday. When we landed it felt like we were back in the UK - cold! A bit different from the humidity of Asia. The weather was good for us though, sunny and bright. Kim's friend Mo came through from Jo'berg to spend the weekend with us. It was great seeing him again, it's been 3 years since we met up in Goa when he was travelling around India. Went for drinks at a Scottish Ale House on Friday night. On Saturday we took the cable car to the top of Table Mountain (some people walk it up... crazy) It's sooo high! The floor of the cable car rotates as you rise so you get 360 degree views, like something out of a James Bond movie! Fab views from the top. We went out for seafood on Saturday night and I tried the Mozambique lobster, it was lovely. The guys kept singing 'Under the Sea' from the Little Mermaid... not good! On Sunday we tried to go to Robben Island but tickets for the ferry across were sold out so had a look round the exhibition instead then went to the Craft Market. Afterwards we went to Clifton beach for ice cream and Camps Bay for drinks. Said goodbye to Mo Mo on Sunday and chilled out for the evening - literally our hostel rooms are freezing! On Monday we went on Safari to Fairy Glen Reserve. It was fab seeing all the animals, saw four out of the 'Big Five' - Lions, Rhino, Elephants, Buffalo... no Cheetahs that day!

Singapore

We spent 4 fun-filled days & nights in Singapore. My brother's friends Paul & Pamela put us up (or put up with us?) in their lovely home - a welcome break from skanky hostels! We had a lovely time, and packed lots into our time there (thanks guys!). We went to see the Meer Lion, Clarke Quay, ate in a Hawker market, tasted Deep Fried Marsbar, shopped for cameras & electronics in Sim Lin Square, went on a cycle ride through East Coast Park, took shelter from a tropical storm, sunbathed on Sentosa Island, rode the cable car and luge, drank cocktails at Raffles, had drinks at the New Asia Bar, danced at Chimes and got soaked by Ethan & Josh! Had a brilliant time and were well looked after... cheers guys! When can we visit again?

Costa del Thailand

We're in Patong, Phuket for 2 nights before we jet off to Singapore. It's fun here, like Benidorm.. though I've never been but imagine it to be like this. Lots of aging Western men with Thai girlfriends.... eurgh! Ting Tong! We're staying in a nice hotel and filling our days sunbathing, browsing the market stalls and watching people being dragged up by speedboat parachute. Saw the Simon Cabaret Show last night, it was excellent. Got to meet one of the stars before the performance, she/he? fleeced me for 100 Thai Baht to take her picture... you gotta love their cheek! Was a fabulous show, with a Tina Turner lookalike and a giant Sphinx!

Ko Phi Phi

We arrived on Ko Phi Phi on Sunday. It's fab here, found nice rooms over a restaurant and we have our own terrace and view of the Irish bar opposite! Lively town with lots of shops, glad we're staying 6 nights. So much to see and do, we rented a longtail boat for the day and visited the other island. Swam in the lagoon, sunbathed on the beach where 'The Beach' was filmed... it was beautiful. Don't want to leave here!

Ko Lanta

Ko Lanta was lovely and chilled out. We stayed at Diamond Sands right next to the beach. Spent 5 nights here, sunbathing, having dinner, playing cards & relaxing... bliss! Also got to play with some cute kittens & puppies, can we take them home please?! Kim has a name picked out for her pup already!

Krabi

We stayed in Krabi town for 2 nights. Not much doing here so moved on to Ko Lanta. Did visit the night market for dinner which was fun, and cheap too - we like!

Ko Samui

We spent 5 nights on Ko Samui. It's a lot bigger and busier than Ko Tao. Our accommodation was just outside Lamai next to a lovely quiet beach. Spent most days sunbathing, reading and chilling out. We went to Chawen for entertainment! Had a few nights there, it's popular resort and the nightlife centres around the Green Mango - lots of bars together in one area. Crazy.

Koh Tao

Our first island stop is Koh Tao. We got here by overnight bus then catamaran. We arrived the day before Songkran, the Thai New Year. It's a water festival so we got soaked by water fights! The heavens opened too, they must have been praying for rain! Koh Tao is lovely, staying at the Buddha View Diver Resort. Kim & Laura are doing their PADI diving certificate while Helen and I soak up the sun and play bat & ball in the sea. We went to Sairee Beach yesterday and today caught the boat to Nangyuna which is 3 islands joined together by beaches. It was perfect there! Spent the day swimming, sunbathing and snorkelling. Saw some cool fish in the sea, all different colours.

Bridge over the River Kwai & Tiger Temple

We took a day trip to a floating market in the morning, it was fab, went round browsing the stalls by longboat. Resisted buying anything as we still have a bit of travelling to do in Thailand. After the market we went to the Bridge over the River Kwai. Went round the war museum which tells you the history of the bridge then walked over it. Was pretty warm that day and we were all feeling the heat! We were looking forward to the air conditioned comfort of the bus when we were told the bus needed repairs and we had to go to the next stop by tuk tuk! This was an experience! All 11 of us piled in the back of this 4x4 and sped off to the Tiger Temple.

We loved getting close to the big cats at the Tiger Temple. Laura and I had to buy T-shirt to cover up our bright tops, the tigers don't like warm bright colours! They were lovely and we got to pat them. Vegetarian tigers too, or that's what they told us...

(notice how all the staff have bright yellow t-shirts on!)