Scotland

We decided to set off on Monday evening and share the driving thought the night. So 12.30 we jumped in the car and started on the 414 mile journey north, At 2am and a quick stop for coffee at strensham services and a swap of drivers, then 4am and a swap at the top of the M6. I drove into Scotland in the rain and watched the sun coming up over the m47 motorway. So we arrived 7.30ish rather tired but also rather excited. After many many coffees and chat we set off into Glasgow
First stop was the Museum of Religion, Which was interesting in a way, the life sized statue of Shiva is inspiring and many world religions are covered. Except Paganism. There used to be Dali's “Crucifixion” paining in the Museum but its been moved back to the art galley so we missed it.
Then next door into St Mungos, the |Cathedral. Where we three pagans got into a deep conversation with one of the curates about the reformation and Scottish history. It was interesting to see a cathedral sized building without the rows and rows of pews inside. It gives you a much better feeling of the size of the place and also how multi purposes such a building could be and what St Mungos itself was used for, as well as religious ceremony the occasional market and meeting place.
We could see the Necropolis but couldn't walk to it so satisfied ourselves with taking a few pictures. The onto a couple of Magic shops that Tas knew the owner of, for a long browse-though I did replace my wallet which was falling to pieces with a new one.
Tuesday the weather was bright and sunny, so we all jumped in the car and took a trip up. Right the way up past Loch Lomond to Otters ferry on the banks of Loch Fyne.
For anyone reading this, the Lochs while being geographically similar in construction to some of the lakes of the lake district are far far more awe inspiring. And yes I know that some Lochs are Tidal where the Lakes aren't
The lake district to me means (apart from my Handtying) Narrow roads that are almost impossible to navigate, hordes and hordes of tourists and the lakes themselves are somehow dirty and dead bodies of water. Where the lochs are clean, they feel different because its tidal water. But even standing on the jetty at otters crossing looking into the water it was clear. But it wasn't the water, the surrounding area, yes the roads are terrible with bone jarring pot holes aside from that the scenery is magnificent, Scotland is like Texas to our Wales everything is bigger, the hills and moutants taller, the Lochs longer, Loch Lomond is 50 miles long. The distances much further to travel to see these places, just “popping out to a nice little pub we know” can mean 2 ½ hour drive each way!
We passed into the highlands, which is a pretty clear demarcation, passed the line of Hadrian s wall and exited the Roman and subsequent Empires. Which means that a shared experience me and Pen have is that we have travelled the furthest north we have ever been together, the furthest north that is till we go and see the Aura Borealis sometime in the future.
Trying to condense the whole day into a few sentences is very difficult, which is why I am writing it down as soon as I can instead of relying on my memory. The sight of Highland Cattle, or Hielan Coo as its locally known as is a complete differenttt beast to a fresian cow on the side of the road, the to look across and see Ben Nevis in the distance, or the Isle of Jura, to know you are closer to Belfast than Carslile and to be told that for a long time it was easier to get to Belfast than to England makes you realise just how much of a different country Scotland or the West coast of Scotland at least can be.
On a more personal level though, to watch a pagan picking up road kill because they want the skull and the tail of a squirrel to do something with, that's the real deal, not shop brought paganism.

Thursday we picked a friend from one of Glasgow's two railway stations after going to the wrong one first Doh! Then onto Pollock Park and then a wander around the Burell collection-a collection of Antiquities and historical artefacts including a Authorised copy of Rodan's the Thinker, Paintings by Degas and some fascinating Egyptian Artefacts dating back from 5 to 7 thousand years.
History's a funny thing to me, its all a abstract concept until you actually see these artefacts face to face and then it becomes much more real. The museum closed at 5 so we went down to the River for a walk and a nosey around the Outside of Pollock House. Then back to home for a couple of wee drinks and another fantastic home cooked meal. We tried to make it a earlier night 1am instead of 3am on wed. Because we were up early and driving home on Friday.
10am we set off and arrived back in Wales at 6pm so it was a bit of a drive!


We have really had our preconceptions about Glasgow and Scotland challenged. All for the better, There are more parks and green spaces in Glasgow than any other UK city. The people we stayed with hardly ever lock their front door when they go to bed and sometimes forget to lock their car. This is on a “scheme” or Council Estate. Of course its not like that all over, but its not wall to wall drugs and violence either. Scotland itself is stunning, and very unspoilt on the west side once you leave the cities and towns, you can drive for miles through Glens and Valleys that don't have houses built inside them, unlike here where most of the valleys are housed and populated. Its a much wilder, bigger, fresher country.