GREYFRIAR'S KIRK

Backblipped

I was advised by Rob's friends, yesterday evening whilst picking them up from the pub, to avoid Kendal as the roadworks are delaying things quite a lot and the roadworks were right by the traffic lights at the college where I would turn off to go to Oxenholme.  So on Googling a route I found a different way to Oxenholme.  Basically it meant going up the A590, joining the A592 but heading towards Kirkby Lonsdale, which did feel odd going away from Kendal.  However after the M6 bridge I joined the M65 and it was a straight forward route then to Oxenholme.  Actually much better than our usual route.  No traffic lights or town traffic to hold us up.  The only thing was the last part when it's like a slalom with traffic parked on both sides and only room for one car either side at a time.  Still this is only for a short stretch and it brought us right out by Oxenholme Station car park so that was great.

The train was spot on time, so we had a wet but enjoyable trip up to Edinburgh.  On arrival we went straight to G's place for him to check his post and check in with his brother.

After this we wondered what we could do to while away the time before his Doctor's appointment.  Edinburgh is very busy of course (although apparently it will be even worse from next week when the Edinburgh Fringe is on and then G would become a prisoner in his own flat as it's impossible for him, with his disability, to be able to move around the town!!  

We ended up going and having a look around Greyfriar's Kirk. Greyfriar's Bobby and his grave were well overcrowded with 3 different large tours telling everyone the famous story but the Kirk wasn't too bad.  It's a very plain Kirk, but with lovely stained glass windows and a great history and a little section at the back to tell you the story of the Kirk, the Kirkyard and of course Greyfriar's Bobby.  I do wish everyone wouldn't touch the nose on the statue of Bobby simply because it's wearing it away.

We then tried for a light lunch at the Greyfriar's pub but they only did hot meals and we didn't want that right now, so we went into the National Museum of Scotland.  So busy in there but we managed to get a table and just had a bowl of soup, which was OK.

We then had a walk around The Surgeon's Hall Museum.  Very interesting but somewhat gruesome really, well for a squeamish  person like me.  Still an interesting little video from Sir Arthur Conan Doyal about Sherlock Holmes, which I loved.  Even that was busy but you could move around.  

By 2 we'd seen enough so we went up to G's surgery, which is at The Uni.  A bit late going in, which thwarted our plans for a meal at The Doctor game him a good examination (whilst I discretely left and waited in the waiting room). Then she discussed everything with us and was able to put his (and mine) mind at rest.  She wants to see him again in about 3 to 4 weeks time but that is just to check up on things.

Much  relieved we then decided we should have an early meal before caught the 4.52  train back.  Right opposite is a Chinese restaurant called San Chuan.  It was empty when we arrived, mind you it was 3.30 in the afternoon so to be expected really, but not long after there were several people arriving.

The service was good and the food excellent but somewhat too large.  The portions were huge.  We thoroughly enjoyed it though and would go back but would order differently to allow for the huge portions.  

We then went back to Waverley and got the train home. which was busier but still OK and was spot on time again.  

Overall a good day and more important than anything else was it was good news for G and well worth the trip up just for that piece of mind.

Do take care and stay safe.