My big day out

Yesterday was supposed to be a pretty interesting day for me. The Scottish Executive (the government) was hosting a climate change and carbon budgeting presentation, and I had emailed to register and attend. So, Simon had agreed to stay home with Marius so that I could go be a grownup for a few hours. I was getting ready in the morning, all excited to be able to wear a suit again... then I double checked my email to make sure I knew were I was going and how to get there. Then I read the bit about government building and security badge blah blah blah. So, I thought to myself, when I emailed my RSVP, I was never asked to supply any more pertinent information that might be required for a security badge. Hmm... Well, long story short, I was not on their list and could not attend. After waiting in anticipation all week and planning to make a side stop to walk the Royal Mile (a mile long stretch of super old roads leading from the Castle to the Scottish Parliament) to see the street performers from the Fringe Festival, I was pretty bummed.
But, since I had already lined up Daddy to baby-sit and had put on make up, I just took a little walk down there anyhow. I have to say it was very pretty. The road is cobble stoned, and the buildings are all hundreds of years old. The bottom stores lining the street are for the most part pretty kitschy, what with lots of teddy bears wearing kilts, Scottish flag t-shirts, and key chains with your family clan crest or tartan (that‘s your special and unique family plaid design- which it seems every family, school, team has). But the architecture is amazing. Of course it was raining, like it does just about everyday, and of course I forgot my umbrella. But that just forced me to walk into lots of shops and get familiar with all the kitschy Scottish items that I can buy my family for Christmas.
Today the family is going to drive out to Dunbar to check out the town. It's a little beach community about 20 miles outside of the city, and we're contemplating buying a house out there instead of the city. But, we'll see. Simon has a colleague who lived out there and, we're going to visit him for tea and a tour of the high and low points of the town. It should be interesting. I'll take photos and post them later.