Finding time to do things is always a problem, Housework, work, shopping. When you are working you dream of the time you will have when you retire. Time for family, friends hobbies and time to relax. Well I’m here to tell you retirement is no picnic nor does time pass at a leisurely pace – it flies by at an alarming rate. Since March I have been involved in so many things it is hard to recall them, one thing I know I have not been able to find time to keep my blogs up to date.
Take March for instance, apart from the mundane tasks of life, we visited the Scottish Owl Centre at Polkemmet Country Park. Our next outing was to Edinburgh, always a great day out wandering around the old town and new town (which is not really new now but newer than the old town). Edinburgh is so full of history that one can forget it is also a city of commerce and full of vitality. Yes its reputation has taken a bit of a hammering over the “Trams”, they will run eventually and the turmoil will fade.
Being so central in Scottish history one place I like to visit is The High Kirk of 
Edinburgh also known as St Giles Cathedral. Being a Calvinistic Presbyterian Kirk it has no Bishop’s Throne so it is not a Cathedral. In 1911 a new chapel was added to the kirk, the Thistle Chapel. It was designed in 15th Centaury High Gothic style and is well worth a visit. As you enter the anti-chamber of the Chapel – have a good look at the roof – and the names of the members of the Order of the Thistle. Then the Chapel itself – again have a look at the ceiling. Melrose Abbey has its Bagpipe playing pig, the Thistle Chapel has a Bagpipe playing Angel. You always learn something new and on this visit I learnt that asking the right question will get you a surprising answer. St Giles’ most famous minister was John Knox, there is a statue of the man in the Kirk, numerous statues around the city and country. It struck me that I had never seen a reference to his final resting place, no sign in Edinburgh points to his grave. There is a mark in the car park between St Giles and Advocates Library in Parliament Square, there in car space 23 you will see a golden (orange colour to me) brick which denotes the grave of the fiery preacher. Near his grave is a statute to Charles II Great-Great-Grandson of the women he hated so much Mary Queen of Scots.
This leads me nicely to our next port of call – Linlithgow Palace and Loch. Though a ruin now Linlithgow Palace is eternally linked to the Stuarts as James I of Scotland began the rebuilding of the Place after the fires in Linlithgow in 1424, in 1542 Mary (Queen of Scots) was born in the Palace. The loch is the home of many birds, ranging from ducks to swans. On our visit on 5th March, we were very lucky to see the Grebes courting ritual. I was trying out my new camera when I took the shot of the grebes. 
I took several shots not only of the grebes but swans, tufted ducks, cormorants etc. Too many to be posted in this blog. Pictures of my days out may be seen at Walter Hampson Photography Albums. Alas, like then title of this blog says – Time Always time…and time has ran out for blog update and time to have coffee.
