Blarg: May 17

May 17:

Stayed up a bit late and felt a bit groggy in the morning. We had eggs and toast for breakfast as a reprise of our last dinner meal. After we got all of our stuff together, we drove into downtown Stirling. A certain addiction to the TomTom has been fostered, so it was set on the task of generating the path to the information kiosk. We found it and they gave us a map of Stirling, and marked it with the location of the mythical Sainsbury's. We figured out where to park for the Stirling castle (saving £1.50 by parking not at the castle, but paying £2.50 more than zero, which we could have had if we knew you could park at a single yellow line).

We had lunch at the Portcullis and already Jonathan was starting to have a bit of a day. Prices were perhaps a bit high, but I mean it's right beside the castle--it is probably the most touristy place in a 100 mile circle. I had a steak pie (no ale) and it was served in the only proper fashion: with a baked potato AND fries. Like spaghetti with mashed potato! And the food was just fine. After lunch, we set off to explore the Stirling castle, which is in the old section of town. Against perhaps our better judgment we went in, and the kids were all right with it, but Will and Jonathan were pretty grumpy, and so we didn't get to see all of it. There was a guided tour that I very quickly abandoned with the kids since the Scot with the world's quietest voice was giving it. There were lots of cool buildings, and some weavers working on a tapestry. Apparently the one they were working on would take 4 years of dedicated labor by 2 weavers to finish. To do that as your job, I imagine you have to be the kind of person who thinks, "I can't believe I get PAID to do this!" because if I were sentenced to do that for 4 years I think I'd just hang myself with the warp or the weft.

After the castle, we set out to the Sainsbury's marked on our map by the tourist woman. I guess she started drinking very early that morning, because it was NOWHERE near where she said. Ruddy drunkard! Mythical, invisible, not bleeding there. We gave up and went to the Thistles shopping center, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because in the big mall I found a USB charger for Will's DS. It has been very difficult to charge the DS because it doesn't draw enough current for Sam's 50-1600W convertor to work. Now I can charge it through my computer, since the Apple power supply does both voltages. Whee!

In the mall we found Marks and Sparks, and that has made all the difference. Well, I guess it wasn't the road less travelled--but it was still good. For £8, Val and I got an Indian takeaway thing from M&S which honestly was as good as any of the takeaway we can find. Actually spicy, chicken was nice, came with some onion bhajis--nothing to complain about at all. Sam and Ev got some other pies after we all realized that there was no reason for us all to get the same food! Got a pizza for Eilidh and cottage pie for Will. Sam also found some mini and some full sized Melton Mowbray pork pies--praise be to pork.

Perhaps the prose isn't down to my usual standards--sincere apologies.