Tulip Cheeks

The Witchery, Edinburgh, Scotland, The World.

"Hidden in a collection of historic buildings at the gates of Edinburgh castle, James Thomson’s seven theatrical and decadent suites are perfect for those looking to stay in the most indulgent and magical of settings – the perfect antidote to bland hotels. Lavishly decorated and antique-filled, these suites scream romance with a capital R!"

The Witchery  was our indulgence while we were back in the UK. We wanted to go see my Grandparents who live near Glen Eagles, we wanted to spend some quality time with our best mates FT and Maddison of the Baxter variety no less, and we love Edinburgh - SHAZAM - there we have it.

We booked 2 rooms and a table for 4 in the secret Garden restaurant at the very famous Witchery in Edinburgh some months ago. The rooms being - The Inner sanctum and The Library. Luckily, on arrival, we were taken to the Inner Sanctum first as we were able to hand the ownership over to our friends for the night as it was far too scary for us two Tulips to survive one entire nights sleep. This is it above - and you should have SEEN the guest book "dont look in the mirror at 4 in the morning', 'dont be surprised if you wake up to find your once opened suitcase now zipped up'. This also is infact where THEE Michael Douglas proposed to THEE Catherine Zeta Jones. (I know  THE doesnt have two E's but I just wanted to make sure you read it the way It was intended). This was their bathroom!

Ours luckily  had a much warmer feeling and is apparently Kate Moss's room of choice when she visits this great city. 

The door on the left lead to our bathroom...

We walked down the Royal Mile the next day. Hidden amongst the toursity shops was an antique shop which had this little gem in its window. Its a medicine box from the early 1800's. And was used to service a whole farm - the house, and all its staff. It still had all of its original contents - including poison! And was being sold at £4800. I just loved it.

What I missed about Australia

I knew there was a reason why I hadnt done a flip of the coin yet. Ive done what I miss about Yorkshire and it wasnt till I was back there that I could really identify the differences between it, and my lovely Melbourne.

I missed the friendly-ness of Australian people. They are welcoming in a different way. More open about their lives, and much more friendly in shops. I really missed the "hey, hows it going?" question asked by EVERY shop assistant across the whole of Australia.

I missed my new friends, the ones we are at the very begining of our journeys with. The ones with definite potential to be friends for life.

I missed the amazing food. Bloodly lovely proclaimed there must be something wrong with my taste buds as I even found a roast pork sandwich from the infamous 'BOOTHS' bland!

I missed the way Mr TC looks after me in Australia. He just left me for dead in Yorkshire as HE was going to enjoy himself.

I missed coffee of the amazing variety, oh, and the going for breakfast rituals.

I missed feeling comfortable in my clothes (predominantly because I took nothing expecting Id get everything there - to find nothing) but also I think because Australians are much less bothered about the outer shell. I felt a bit more 'judged' in England and eyed up and down more.

A little bit of Yorkshire to warm the heart

Mr TC and I ventured back to Yorkshire together for our first 'proper' holiday. I tentatively use the words 'proper' and 'holiday' as a holiday it was not. Id say more of a mission - and I think our friends and relatives would agree.

Ive never been in the situation of visiting a first home of 28 years as a visitor before. As Mr TC and I went to school together we both have lovely families and all our lovely friends living in a 40 mile radius - and all very good company. The mission began when Mr TC and I sat down to work on a TIME TABLE so we could fit everyone in. IMPOSSIBLE I hear you say. CORRECT!

We did a fair to middling job, although there were definitely others we would have loved to have seen and those we would have liked to have seen even more.

These photographs were taken on our first morning. I woke up at 6.30 to find beautiful sunshine. Off I set across the fields and along the river banks.

It was truly a wonderful feeling, and possibly the only time in the whole trip where I felt envious of living here. I felt free, safe and confident in where I was going for the first time in 14 months. I knew nothing was gonna bite and kill me, that the sun was bright, but it wasnt going to burn me. It just felt brilliant. I even self combusted into tears of joy at one point. (luckily no one was around at that small hour).

 

Through the woods....

 

And then back along the river.

I just thought this was the best headstone Id ever seen (back left). So simple, to the point, no fuss. There arnt any rules really for a headstone - just the obvious.