Celebrating my 40th Year on a trip to Marrakech

We decided to celebrate my birthday with a trip to Marrakech. 

Djemaa El-Fna
This plaza is the centre of activity in Masrrakech, filled with fruit juice stalls, story tellers,snake charmers and food stalls.
It was once used for executions and its name literally translates to 'assembly of the dead'.
Unescco declared Djemaa el-Fna a masterpiece of World Heritage.

Koutoubia Minaret
The 12th Century, 70 foot high tower for the mosque from which locals are called for prayer 5 times a day.

A square of shops and stalls close to the Souqs.

Looking across the Djemaa el-Fna towards the Souqs.
Check out the number of satellite discs.

The chaos around the Djemaa el-Fna

A water seller.

Ali Ben Youssef Medersa.
(Quranic School)

John reading up on the architecture.

Musee de Marrakrch.

The Souqs.

The Kasbah.

Jardin Majorelle.

Yves Saint Laurent gave the gardens to Marrakech.

;The garden contains rare Cacti.

It's famous for its vivid colours.

Saadian Tombs.
Belonging to Sultan Ahmed el-Mansour el Dahbi.

The flora outside the Bahia Palace.

Inside the Bahia Palace.

The contrasting transportation operating in Marrakech.

A herbal stall.

The Badi Palace.

A view across to the Atlas Mountains.

Some of the storks who live on the ramparts of the Badi Palace.

The Kasbah, just outside our hotel.

Le Jardin de la Medina, our hotel.

The roof terrace of our hotel, a little oasis.

The shower on our private roof terrace.

Holy Island

Last weekend the tides were right for a visit to Lindisfarne, so off we headed.

A refuge just in case we misjudged the tides.

The Abbey

One of the locals.

The Castle, now owned by the National Trust but previously holiday home to the founder of Country Life and refurbished by  Lutyens

.

A view over the village from the Castle.

Us, just a little windswept. 

A rare shot of the photographer.

Upturned boats form storage sheds - a local tradition.

The shed in the walled garden designed by Gertrude Jekyll

A view of the Castle from the garden.

Once upon a time John owned a Subaru

Once upon a time John had a Subaru.  To make up for going suburban with a Volvo estate I took him to the Rally Cross at Knockhill Circuit

The Circuit has some magnificent views over the Fife countryside.

You can even make out the cars on the Forth Bridge.

And they're off!

I took quite a few pictures of cars but I have spared you and only picked out a couple.

I'm especially proud of this one.

Keren, Jason, Tristan and Angus come to visit

Keren, Jason and their two little boys, Tristan and Angus have been visiting from Australia.  It was great that they found the time to spend a few days in Scotland.

We couldn't let them go without playing tourist for the day so here is the Graham clan outside Edinburgh Castle.

Tristan enjoyed playing a leap frog on the way down the Royal Mile.

Keren and Angus survey the Scottish Parliament. 

 Love it or hate it, it's quite a landmark in the capital now.

Angus seemed to enjoy himself anyway.

The next day the Scottish weather got the better of us and so we decided to explore the Museum of Flight.

Tristan admiring the cockpit of one of the many planes on display. 

 A future career in mind maybe.

The museum was chosen as the home for  

Alpha Alpha, a Concorde that is sadly no longer in service.

Jason and John admire the engineering. 

Anyone would think they knew something about aeronautics!

The pre-cursor to the smart car. 

Apparently designed by an aeroplane manufacturer to offset the downturn in the market.

Lonach Highland Gathering & Games

This year was the 169th annual Lonach Highland Gathering taking place at Strathdon near Aberdeen.

We attended this year to represent the Clan Milne along with some of Pippa's Mum and Dads friends. The weather wasn't great but fortunately we were well prepared - with a couple of Gazebo's.

An excellent lunch was of course provided and enjoyed by all.

The day's events start with the March of the Clansmen at 8 am where, carrying pikes and standards, they visit prominent households in the area claiming a wee dram of whisky at each stop. This includes a visit to Candacraig House owned by comedian Billy Connolly and his wife Pamela Stephenson. A horse and cart follows behind for those that don't make it...

Eventually, after lunch at the village hall, the Clansmen make it to the arena and march to great applause.

Other activities included tossing the caber, throwing the hammer and the tug of war and well as traditional scottish dancing and pipe bands.

Traprain Law

A few weeks ago we did a walk up Traprain Law. This is a large volcanic outcrop not far from Spott.

It wasn't a great day but even so the view from the top was impressive.

We decided to come down from the top via a route with various signs - 'Footpath Closed' and 'Loose Rocks'. Still, we didn't let this put us off......

A couple of people near the top stood and watched as we came slithering down. We decided to call our new activity 'Bumbling' as it involved use of that part of the anatomy.

A pub lunch in nearby East Linton soon revived us.