Had a good few days in London despite the weather which is slightly improved today – generally has not been cold though. We have nearly mastered the Tube – did pretty well today except for when a fire alarm elsewhere messed up the timetable and we got on the wrong train – only for one station so pretty good. Certainly the Oyster cards are a great cheap way to travel though being all that way underground in a packed train is not my favourite mode of travel.

The show “Chicago” was great – a remake of the old show – simple set and costumes all in black but very effective with lighting etc. Quite dramatic and engaging – its the longest running musical on the West End. Very enjoyable and we have now seen 3 entirely different types of shows in 3 very different settings – great.

This morning we went off to see the Changing of the Guards at Liz’s place – she’s in Scotland at present at Holyroodhouse Palace. The ceremony was full of pomp, marching and stamping and lots of fancy costumes – apparently according to someone who has been before the ceremony was more colourful than usual with different regiments and the band playing several numbers – very un British ones after “Pomp and Circumstance” – perhaps it was in honour of July 4th American Indepedence Day!

Have now naviagated the traffic, extra security and crowds at Heathrow and waiting in the sanctuary of Air NZ lounge for flight to Hong Kong the last stopover.

Nevertheless we were out and about after mastering the intricacies of the tube. What a bustling and busy place with a maze of streets!! Visit to Tower Bridge – great views and fascinating operational detail. Lots of walking, viewing etc and more great sights on the Hop-on Hop-off and some good photo opportunities.

Off to the theatre now- Chicago!

Then onto the Hop-on Hop-off bus for a guided tour round London’s key spots. Very good, some good views and commentary until it started to rain, then pour down at which point picture taking became too much of a challenge and life on the open top deck was decidedly unpleasant even with the complimentary plastic raincoats! We abandoned bus at about 6.45 and hope to catch up again tomorrow.

We’ve caught up with all the photos now except for London so do have a look – new updates of Butchart gardens and my American family.

The news here full of recent incidents and heightened security (which we are about to experience), the floods, The Diana Concert and the new no smoking in public places legislation which came into law yesterday – quite alot for everyone all at once!

From Inverness it was down through the Great Glens and lots of Lochs all formed along a faultline. The fascinating Caledonian Canal running the length of the Glens links 5 Lochs to allow launches and leisure boats through using a number of swing bridges – the road bridge rotates to the side to open up the waterway. The most well known Loch in this group is Loch Ness running for some 24 miles – we travelled it’s length – no Nessie in sight!! Rather a brooding loch so one can see how the “rumours” might come about. However beautiful lush trees covered with moss, and bushes line the sides of the Loch roads before the hills rise steeply away.

Also lots of castles, monuments and ruins along the way – many in stunning settings and built there for strategic purposes. Some have featured in literary works and films like Castle Stalker at Appin – Castle Aaarrgh in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Ben Nevis the highest mountain was impressive as we passed just peaking out of cloud – only does that a few days a year!

Stayed last night at an old Georgian house on the side of Loch Awe – the longest loch- 30 miles and quite an isolated route/area – apparently only 800 people normally reside in the 610 sq mile area!

Today we have travelled through Argyll, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park areas and through South Scotland to cross into England. A highlight this am was a tour of Inverary Castle – I think quite a fairytale looking castle and inside some stunning furniture, tapestries and history. The current home of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll – head of Clan Campbell.

We skirted round Glasgow – fortunately as we have just discovered a couple of hours clear of the terminal incident. We travelled down the top end of the south Scottish coastline in the pouring rain and did have a few glimpses of the Isles of Bute and Arran.

It was fine when we got to Gretna Green – good for photos before heading into English countryside and our stopover in Carlisle.

We headed north over the Forth Bridge, past Loch Leven where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned before making a dramatic escape. There are castles and ruins everywhere in Scotland – some of the castles are beautiful! and all are very different in style and settings. Bypassed the good looking Scone Palace, then after lunch in Perth stopped at the delightful towns of Birnum and Dunkeld – Big Tree Country. Dunkeld has a beautiful old cathedral – part still in use and part in ruins – the grounds are stunning, huge trees and beautiful lawns running down to the River Tay. Loved it.

An interesting visit then to Pitlochry – the last hydro dam of 9 dams harnessing power from the glens – has a fascinating salmon ladder to allow fish to safely navigate up and down the river via 34 steps and bypass the dam. All salmon are electronically counted as they go up and down.

Some stunning highland scenery to be seen in Grampian Mountians and Cairngorm National Park where it snowed yesterday! – enough for kids to make snowmen! Red granite mountains – artic like in appearance looming up out of pretty treed areas and pastoral land. Blair Castle – painted white (odd) at Blair Atholl has Europe’s only private army.

Lots of pretty streams and bridges too especially at Carrbridge- a curved footbridge built in 1717.

Tonight at a luxury B&B at Cromdale near Grantdown-on-Spey – dinner at the local pub!

PS. Check photos and captions – new additions to blog as we catch up! Also check Matt and Kat’s website for map of our Ireland travels – www.mattandkatbrown.com – entry entitled “parental supervision”. Haven’t got a clue what that is all about – perhaps they imagined they’d have been having a much wilder time if we weren’t there!?

Has been really great to spend time with Matt and Kat and sad to say goodbye again, however we are all moving on with the next part of our journeys. Not sure when/where we will all meet up next but it’s exciting to ponder that! An exciting day today for Kat too as she started her new job in Dublin.

We are now in Edinburgh – had a bit of a tiki tour this pm (partly unplanned as we got a little lost). I didn’t realise how much of a rock Edinburgh Castle sits on – in fact an extinct volcano – quite an impressive sight. Also admired Palace of Holyroodhouse where Liz stays when she’s in town (not at the castle!). Our apartment looks out towards the palace and we have a great view of its’ backdrop Arthur’s Seat – another impressive piece of rock.

Had dinner at Britannia Spice so named for proximity to the Royal yacht Britannia now berthed and open to the public at Leith – the port area of Edinburgh.