Glenfiddich Distillery and Bennachie

Since the weather has been getting a little bit nicer Clifton and I have started exploring our area more on the weekends. Last weekend, we drove up to Dufftown and visited Glenfiddich Whisky Distillery. This distillery was built in 1886 by William Grant, his wife, seven sons and two daughters and the whisky has become one of the world's favourite single malt, winning more awards and accolades than any other single malt Scotch whisky. The tour was very informative and at the end of the tour we were able to taste the 12, 15 and 18 year old whisky. The 18 year old was by far our favourite of course. The weekend we went they were having the big Whisky festival so they had a Scottish band leading a parade down the center street of the town. After we left the distillery we went by Fyvie Castle. This castle was not one of our favourites because they did not give you a tour. You walked from room to room having to read information packets that were lying on tables in the rooms. It was not as near as informative as other castles but still beautiful! The next day we decided to hike up one of the trails of Bennachie. We chose the Mither Tap trail. Clifton and I haven't hiked in goodness knows how long so we figured out real quick that we were out of shape. This trail was super steep but a great workout for both of us. The sights from the top of Mither Tap were absolutely incredible. The Scottish countryside is beautiful! We hiked up another trail on Bennachie today with our friend Kelly who is student teaching at the international school. Another great trail, workout and good times! On the picture slide show you will see one of my favourite things about spring time in Scotland which is the baby lambs and their mothers. They are adorable and stay right by their mommies side. They are all over the countryside.

Lastly, this last week was a great one for both Clifton and I because we decided to get out of our flat and lease a house. We signed this week and we move in on June 18th. The house is amazing with a garden and a garage. We can't wait to move in. Also, I was offered a teaching job for next year. I am teaching 5th grade now but I was not offered the 5th grade position for next year because a more qualified teacher who has taught at ISA before is coming back. But on Tuesday I was offered a part time that might become full time elementary computer teaching position. I will be teaching different grade levels between kindergarten to fifth grade computer. Again, I do not have experience in this but I think it will be an amazing opportunity for me.

First Week of Work/New Car/Glamis Castle

After a long period of time off from work I gladly walked back into a classroom that I got to be in charge of. The first week was good but definitely difficult when walking into a classroom for the last two months of school. Luckily, the students have gotten to know me since January so it wasn't like they didn't know me at all. I am trying my best to keep the classroom as much like it was with the previous teacher but trust me I am definitely corrected by the darlings when that is not what they usually do.

One thing that I did find incredibly funny and interesting was the health and safety orientation I had to sit through. So I figured it would be like the states and they would just touch on some important things about safety in the school, but no, health and safety is something taken very seriously in the UK. I received a 6 page, single spaced, 10 font print out of all the safety regulations that we had to go through. And yes, we went through all of it. I luckily got to skip three sections on the CPR, defibrillator and first aid since I am certified in all three in the states. Come to find out though my certification isn't valid in the UK. My favorite part of the orientation is when she taught me about how to lift a box properly so that I do not strain my back. I had to hold back laughter but she was dead serious. Then the second part that I found hysterical was when she said "lets take a look at your workspace". Wasn't sure what she meant by this but went along with it. All of a sudden she tells me to sit down in my chair and she is down on her knees adjusting my chair so that I have proper lumbar support and that I do not create varicose veins in my legs. WHAT??? Then I had to pull myself up to my computer desk and she observed whether or not my computer was eye level with the top of the monitor. Then I had to show her how I position my mouse because if it is too far away from me I can injure my shoulder. I also had to pick up the phone to see the distance it was from where I was seated at the computer. I was then instructed not to put the phone on my shoulder because it can strain my neck. At this point I was in shock by the detailed safety instruction that I thought would take 10 minutes. Try 30 with just her and I. So there are so many things that the UK could improve on business wise but man they have gone to the extreme when talking about safety. If you have been following the news about the volcanic ash flight cancellations they are stating on the news that the UK safety regulations may be to blame for this chaos in the airports because they are just to cautious about everything, and I mean everything. Meaning they closed the airports longer than what was needed. Each American person I have met has a funny story about a safety regulation that they have not met and were informed about immediately in the work place.

New Car/Glamis Castle

Clifton and I took the train to Dunfermline to pick up my new car last weekend and on the way back we decided to stop by Glamis Castle. To date, this was our favorite castle to visit. We took some pictures on the road up to Glamis Castle of the scenery. The Scottish hillside is so beautiful this time of year.

Glamis Castle has a been a Royal residence since 1372. The Castle perhaps best known as the childhood home of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. It is also the birthplace of her daughter, Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret. The present Queen Elizabeth was not born here just to clear up any confusion but her mother was. Clifton and I had no clue that Queen Elizabeth is half Scottish and her husband is the Duke of Edinburgh. So no wonder the Scots love the Queen!! The Bowes Lyon family still live on the property. Can you imagine living in a portion of that castle. It is absolutely gorgeous. There were all sorts of private gardens and driveways you are not allowed to go in due to the family still being present.

The gardens that were public were absolutely amazing and you could spend a whole day going to each one just walking around. Clifton and I also had our first encounter with the highland cows. We could only get close to the younger ones so we have plenty of pictures of them but the older ones are too aggressive so they keep you at a distance. They are so precious and there was a black one I have a picture of that acted like a puppy. There were two black labs right next to us when we were taking pictures and the cow kept playing with it jumping back and forth and running off. It is funny to say that we saw a cow playing. Most of the time they just stand there stupid! Clifton was also very impressed with the amount of pheasants on the property. They are so pretty and they were everywhere.

All in all we had another amazing weekend picking up my awesome new car and visiting Glamis. Just in case anyone would like to know my driving is improving a little bit everyday but I still have a long ways to go before I would consider myself to be a good driver!

New Car

Clifton and I bought a car for me this weekend and it was definitely an experience completely opposite of the states for us. First off, car dealerships are not attentive to your needs at all. You are not greeted in the lot and if you have a difficult situation like ours, they really don't care to spend their precious time helping you work through it. For example, the situation Clifton and I are in is that I do not have a UK drivers license, we can not be financed because we have to live here for two years before we can get credit and I only drive automatic cars. In the UK about 1 in 30 cars are automatic. So we had a very low price range because we figured out we would have to pay cash, we didn't want to buy a hideous car and it had to be automatic which is extremely rare. We ended up having to drive almost to Edinburgh to buy me a car. We found a couple cars in Dunfermline that would be perfect for me so I called yesterday to make sure the car was on the first lot we were going to and it was. Since we were having to make the drive we decided to take the scenic route which we thought would be so amazing. It was an absolutely beautiful drive but we did not take into account my motion sickness. The roads were very windy, tons of roundabouts to stop at and up and down hills. Needless to say I did not feel well so when we finally arrived at the first dealership we walked in to find out the car I really wanted was sold a half hour before we got there. Immediately they took us to see the one other automatic they had on the lot and as I am looking at it I look at Clifton and say I am going to be sick. He thought I was kidding. Nope I wasn't. I threw up right next to the car in front of the car salesman. So embarrassing! Then he asked Clifton if I needed a glass of water and of course Clifton said yes. Seriously I think the guy gave me sugar water. I tasted it and he must have dumped a packet of sweet and low in it. I was disgusted and thought I was going to get sick again. Then he walked to the car and put the keys in the last automatic left and said take a look on the inside and come and get me if you need anything else. I don't think he was happy about me getting sick on his lot. Clifton and I decided to leave and go to the next place and I was telling Clifton how embarrassed I was that I got sick on that lot and my amazing husband says they deserved it because they sold your car before we even had a chance and they knew you were driving up from Aberdeen to see it. Ha! That is when you know you have a good man because even though it was probably embarrassing for him as well he acts like the dealership deserves my throw up on their lot. Gotta love it!

I was feeling much better by the time we got the next lot and they had a perfect car for me and it was a better price. The owner of the car dealership was amazing too and so helpful which has been very hard to find. We took it for a test drive and I think I gave the guy and Clifton a heart attack when I decided to pull out on the wrong side of the road. They both start saying wrong side, wrong side!! Clifton about died of embarrassment and the car salesman was definitely on edge after that but we made it back in one piece and bought the car. We pick it up next Saturday because there was some minor body work that needed to be done to make the car look beautiful. I love my new car and I can't wait to drive it. It is a Citroen C2 and yes it is super teeny but perfect for driving here. Here are some pics!

Other than just buying a car this week in Aberdeen has been gorgeous. The weather has been around 12-15 degrees Celsius. For you Fahrenheit folks that is around 55-60 degrees which is warm for here. The sun has been out almost every day and Clifton and I have taken full advantage of this weather by running or walking through the town. Today we sat on a patio and ate lunch outside for the first time this year. It was beautiful.

I finally start my teaching job tomorrow and I can't wait to be over a class again. I am very nervous since I have not taught Math and Science before but I am sure I will get along fine. I am just ready to have a place to go every day and be needed again in a workforce.

Belgium and Amsterdam (29th Birthday)

For my 29th birthday Clifton decided to plan a trip to Amsterdam and last minute booked a train to take us to Antwerp, Belgium on Friday. We woke up at 330 in the morning and got to the airport at 5 and on a plane at 6 on the way to Amsterdam. We then went to the train station from the airport headed to Belgium. The Amsterdam central station was quite an experience. They continued to announce two things over and over in all different languages. "There are pick-pockets in this train station and the cleaning crew is on strike". The train station was absolutely disgustingly dirty to the point where you didn't want to put your bag down on the floor. So those two announcements made you feel pretty comfortable right from the get go. Ha! We then got ready for the hour long train trip to Belgium where we saw tons of windmill houses and there were acres and acres of green houses. I have never seen so many greenhouses growing everything from vegetables, fruits, flowers and marijuana. The Netherlands is at the forefront of professional greenhouse technology. We arrived around 11 and were incredibly impressed with how beautiful Antwerp was. First off, Antwerp is the world's diamond center. There were tons of jewelry stores lining the streets along with great fashion stores as well. The thing I loved most was the smell of the Antwerp streets. Every few blocks there was a Belgian waffle stand which made the entire city smell amazing. Of course Clifton and I both had a Belgian waffle and some famous Belgian chocolates. Both were to die for! The city reminded me a lot of Paris but not near the crowds. There were a ton of outdoor cafes with seating and squares were everyone gathered. The architecture was beautiful. Clifton and I were only in the city for five hours before we had to head back to the train station but we would love to go back to Belgium.

Amsterdam

We arrived back in Amsterdam around 5pm and immediately were almost killed by bicyclists. Yes I said bicyclists. When you look through the slide show you will see how many people ride bikes in Amsterdam. It was amazing. So when you got to a cross walk you had to make it across the bike lane, the tram lane and then the car lane. Seriously it was insane! The bicyclists have little horns and bells and will yell at you if you are in the bike lane or in their way when they are riding past. They do not care if they hit you. In there eyes they have the right of way everywhere even though they are supposed to stop at lights and crosswalks for pedestrians. I also loved the people who had babies, toddlers and kids riding on their bike with them. Just think in America we strap our kids in to where they can barely breathe or move and these people just put the kids in seats or in carts that are at the front of the bike to take there kids around. I saw babies less than one in little seats on the front of the bike strapped in. It was hilarious. I have about three pictures of kids on the bikes on the slide show. My favorite is the one with a guy holding an umbrella over his little boy while he is on his own bike. They also have bike car parks or parking garages. I put a picture on the slide show of that as well. It is just amazing how different cultures are with transportation. You would never see that many bikes in America or dare see anyone strapping their kid in on the front. :)

One of the other things Clifton and I loved about Amsterdam were the canals. We of course took a canal tour all through the city where you saw amazing architecture and some of the 2500 houseboats. The canals are another way people get around in the city. There were tons of small boats as well just docked on the side. Really it is the best way to travel when going to visit Amsterdam rather than taking the bus tours.

Clifton and I did some of the touristy things like going to the Heineken Brewery and seeing the Amsterdam Palace. The Heineken Brewery was interesting and we learned how they brew their beer, saw the famous Heineken horses and carriage and then of course in the end we got to enjoy the beer in the Heineken bar. After the Heineken brewery we went to see the palace which was beautiful on the inside. We did not get a good look of the outside because it was under construction so everything was covered up. We also went to the Ice Bar. It is entirely made of ice and we had to dress up like Eskimo's to even go in. At first, it was kind of neat but after about 10 minutes you didn't think it was that cool anymore and you just wanted out. They trap you in there for thirty minutes. Oh yeah and right before we went in I was splashed by a car on the street with tons of water so my legs and bum were freezing. Clifton thought it was hysterical when this occurred!

Lastly, I know everyone wants to know about the red light district and "coffee shops". Clifton and I did pass by many so called coffee shops. Coffee shops is where they sell pre-rolled joints, and marijuana. Again so different from American culture. Some of the streets smelled of marijuana and it was nothing to see someone smoking a joint as they walk past you. They also have what they call smart shops which is where you get seeds to grow your own marijuana. They have menus that show you what seeds to buy depending on the strength. They also sell mushrooms in these smart shops. In some of the pictures on the slide show you will see a smart shop and at the flower market they have cannabis starter kits to grow your own. The red light district was quite an experience too. We went there around 7 at night so before it got dark because I was a little nervous. Come to find out it is completely safe and a big tourist attraction. I even saw families down there but I would not recommend that to anyone going with a family. There were girls in lingerie and bikinis standing in the windows ready for negotiations and tons of triple X shops and shows. Again completely different world when you are walking down the streets. The store fronts are extremely risque and something you would never see in America. Supposedly, the Red Light District at night is even more crazy but we decided that seeing it in daylight was good enough for us.

All in all we had the most amazing vacation and officially decided out of all the places we have visited thus far Amsterdam and Belgium were our favorites. Just amazing cities!! We were also surprised by how many American tourists that were there for Easter weekend. The service was incredible everywhere we went and the dutch speak great English. I seriously think everyone in that city is bilingual with dutch and English. Everyone we spoke with at museums, restaurants, taxi drivers, and hotel spoke incredible English. I had an amazing 29th birthday and I am pretty sure my 29th year will be amazing!

Dallas Trip

I went back to Texas for almost the entire month of March which was great but I missed my hubby and our home. The first thing I did once my mother picked me up from the airport was go pick up my dog Kody. Unfortunately, he was not able to move to Scotland with us so he is staying with my good friends Jodie and Taylor. He loves his new home and seriously went into a depression for the first four days when I got him back. As you can see from the pictures above he is a pretty easy dog to take care of considering he pretty much eats and sleeps.

The first weekend I was back in Texas I drove to Austin to celebrate my niece's 2nd birthday. It was a Dora the Explorer party and there was a bounce house that not only the children had a lot of fun in. I can't believe it has been two years since my niece was born. She is so big now and saying all kinds of words. She is truly hysterical to be around right now. Here is a video of pictures from her birthday party.

After Austin I drove back to Dallas and I saw a bunch of friends and ate entirely too much food in the three weeks I was home. It is amazing how good the food is in Texas. I gained 5 pounds in the first week of my trip. That is not a joke either! :) I spent a lot of time with my mother who I miss a ton but she is coming to visit Clifton and I in July and we can't wait to show her our new home. I miss Texas so much but I truly love Scotland and the new life that Clifton and I have embarked on!

Edinburgh, Scotland February 26-28 2010

Clifton and I went to Edinburgh the last weekend in February and had the most amazing time. It is only a two and a half hour train ride from Aberdeen. We arrived late on Friday night and of course went to a local pub to start the vacation. On Saturday, we set off on foot to go explore this beautiful city. The first thing we saw was St. Giles Cathedral. St. Giles Cathedral is the historic City Church of Edinburgh. It stands on the Royal Mile between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. We then walked down the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle. This castle is perched on an extinct volcano and has so much of Scotland's history within its walls. We then took a tour through Mary Kings Close which was my favorite thing that we did. Beneath the Royal Mile lies Edinburgh's deepest secret: a warren of hidden closes where real people lived, worked and died. It was an amazing tour and showed you what life was really like in 16th century Scotland. Unfortunately, you were not allowed to take pictures so the only picture we have is of the sign telling you where the tour is. We also went by to see the Greyfriar's Bobby. In 1858, a man name John Grey was buried in old Greyfriar's churchyard and his dog kept constant guard and watch over the grave until his own death in 1872. This now famous Skye Terrier laid on his owners grave for fourteen years only leaving for food. Lastly, on Saturday we walked down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. This is the official residence in Scotland of her majesty the Queen. It is pretty unreal when you get to walk in an actual working palace. On Sunday, we decided we would walk up Holyrood Park. I have to admit it was a major incline for about 10 minutes and I was not in any shape to climb it but it had some beautiful sights and we got back down to the bottom right when it started rain. We had such a great vacation and we can't wait to go back to Edinburgh again considering how close we are. Next vacation is Amsterdam for my birthday. We can't wait!

Aberdeen in February 2010

February in Aberdeen was extremely cold as you can see from the above photos of Clifton and I outside. Tons of snow and we were so ready for it to be over. The pictures of my friends was right before I left to go home to Dallas for three weeks. We had a little too much fun that day. Then the picture with Clifton and the bags is showing how we grocery shop. Everyone recycles here and carries the re-usable bags so we bought three and use them every time we go grocery shopping. We love those bags. It is so much easier to put your groceries in those bags rather than the plastic ones they give you at the stores. I wish I had more to say about February but I took too much time off in writing about it so I don't remember everything. :)