Day 11 (July 25): Friends Arrive!

I woke early the next morning, keen not to be late to pick up Noel (another writer friend) from Edinburgh airport. All seemed to be going well until my phone refused to get enough signal (or ANY signal) to hook up to the car’s GPS system. In fact, it wouldn’t even open a map. I started the car anyway and just began driving, hoping to find my way to Edinburgh by sheer luck and nerve. How hard could it be? My phone was sure to pick up a signal on the way.

Well, no. I circled several roundabouts several times, making sure I took the exits signposted to Edinburgh. Still no signal on my phone. Finally I pulled over and was able to program the car’s GPS to guide me to the airport. Whew!

Well, not really whew. I suddenly realized I didn’t have Noel in my phone contacts—and I wasn’t sure she had me in hers either. So how were we going to connect? I pushed harder on the gas pedal, determined to get there before her flight arrived.

Again, no luck. Her flight had come in a bit early and had touched down 20 minutes before I finally found parking and limped into the terminal, looking for international arrivals. Then—because I am not a complete imbecile—I thought to turn my phone off and restart it. And what do you know, it worked. I got a strong signal—and several texts and a missed call from Noel, wondering where to meet me. So all was well, and within a few minutes we were in the car and heading back to Falkland.

Did I mention this was a Saturday morning? So we blessedly missed the traffic jams I had endured the evening before.

Arielle’s and my first priority: Keep Noel awake! It’s miserable to nap during the day after a red-eye and then not be able to get into a good sleep rhythm overseas. So we set out on a walk to explore more of Falkland. Which led us to the impressive Falkland castle, built in the early 1500s by Scottish royalty as a hunting lodge of some magnificence. 

James VI used this residence often when he was simply king of Scotland. When he became James I, king of England (after Elizabeth’s death), he no longer returned here. His mother, Mary Queen of Scots, had also lived here on and off, worshiping in the chapel as well. We noticed that Catholic Mass is offered each Sunday at 9 a.m., so considered attending the next day (Noel is Catholic).

In the meantime, we prepared for Harry and Joan’s arrival by putting a chicken in the oven to roast, along with potatoes, salad, and broccoli. A proper meal at last! When Harry and Joan arrived around 6 p.m., we were able to gather around the table and enjoy a good meal together, catching up with all their adventures in Scotland the previous three days (including shooting a Highland stag). Lovely to spend time with friends like this:

Tummies full, we sent Noel to bed, Arielle on a walk, and Joan and Harry in search of coffee, while I washed up. Then a peaceful night’s rest…