A Brush with the Borders

We managed to get out of Glasgow without any fisticuffs, although several of the locals did give the Senior Doctors shifty glances, but I had warned her not to wear her cycle helmet in the pub.  We did however meet up with our friend Les and Val and they took us out  to dinner. As they paid I was able to avoid  haggis - real meat for a change. We were also given a donation by Charlotte and Lorna - a charming couple.

 

Colossus ( that's the bike) had yet further mechanical issues as we entered Glasgow,. Well I say mechanical it was in fact a total bike electrical failure. We took it into the Bike Chain shop and let Quinton have a look. This was bike fettling  of the highest order. I was amazed to see him connect Colossus up to a computer that checked every thing, including my inside leg measurement, but all was well- the computer said so. He did all this free and gratis so good on yer Quinton.

 

We travelled right across Glasgow on a bike track so we never hit the traffic at all. The track followed the course of the river and went past Celtic Park. We were enjoying ourselves so much that the SD broke out into several Fenian songs (I think she was originally of the left foot persuasion so that may account it) as we went past the hallowed ground. As the sweet verses echoed around the local streets there was always the risk that the odd Rangers supporter could have taken offence but the SD seemed so obvious to this and so enthralled with her singing, I just let her get on with it. Never let it be said I'm dictatorial. 

 

We traversed the motorway going south of a number of occasions and it was all to much for the SD as you can see in the pic. However l've watched NCIS and I managed to talk her down with a combination of non judgemental listening and the promise of a Mr Whippy so all turned out in the end.

 

  

After leaving Glasgow we travelled through a few towns who's names I recognised including Hamilton. Hamilton means a lot to me from my formative years listening to the football results on a Saturday evening and particularly for the score draws so beloved of the old football pools . When the scores for the Scottish leagues were announced I was always mesmerised by such clubs as Queen of the South, Cowdenbeath and Hamiltom Academicals. Now I had made it to this mecca of Scottish football. How great was that  - However the euphoria did't last long as the  reminiscence bubble really burst when the SD said she had never heard of the place. I was so concerned I took into the Mental Health shop in the centre of the town , but they gave her a clean bill of health bearing in mind however she was travelling 900 miles on the back of a push bike when she didn't  have to.

 

We eventually arrived in Gretna Green. Now some of you might remember that Gretna was once famous for marriages of couples who had eloped from England. Apparently they still do a roaring trade in such weddings, but not usually accompanied by elopement in these days of easier nuptials. I thought we might also do a renewal of our marriage vows as we were here, but the Senior Doctor would have none of it. Just the same response as when I suggested renewing our vows when we were in Vagas. We could even of had the service done by an Elvis impersonator at no extra cost - now that's a bargain, but still no doing -this woman has no romance in her soul!

 

 

We finally left Scotland and crossed back into the old country. I had quite enjoyed Scotland with the immense scenery and the ever constant Chinese tourists, but the Senior Doctor was not of this view. She Was very happy to be as far away from the haggis and the bagpipe as possible. Personally I still thinnk she hadn't recovered from the crab incident in John O Groats, but as I pointed out this was the fault of the Prince of Wales and so you could' t really blame the Scottish for it - but as I said no one holds a grudge like the SD whether it's reasonable or not.

 

We have now left the Borders and we are moving on to the Lakes. Let's hope there' s no member of the royal family in Grassmere eating up all the pies!