Sometime back, Sarah invited us few girls to join her back home in Glasgow for her birthday weekend. Coincidentally, her birthday is on 9 Aug, Singapore's National Day so I told her she has some sort of affinity with Singapore ;)
I thought it was somewhat a nice gesture of her and I agreed, and so together with Gabby, Nadya (another of Sarah's friend from Hillsong), we flew up from Luton. We spent the night over at Nadya's as she stays 10min away from Luton airport. When we woke up at 5am, I was greeted by a beautiful sunrise, and with the calmness and crisp fresh air in the countryside, wow I had to capture some shots already!
This marks my first trip out with non-Singaporeans and I was eager to find out how different would it be. This is also a very different trip as we spent a lot of time with her really nice and friendly family, the Mcphersons (including meeting her almost famous lil 3 year old nephew Jack).
Highlight of Day 1 - Cath Kidston store
On the first day it was pouring buckets so we spent more than half a day chilling out at her mum's place.
Finally we could leave the house and she brought us to Princes Square, just to walk around in the mall (due to the wet and intermittent rain) and we just sat down and had tea and cake. And then we went into the Cath Kidston store.
Ah, this deserves a special mention because when I first came to the UK, I never understood why people like the designs of this store. They sell bags, pouches, bedsheets (sounds familiar? Coz Jos and I got one set for the Queks as farewell gift recently!), aprons, etc.. all in pretty english rose prints. Or polka dots. It's very, very english countryside if you get what I mean. But after more than 2 years, and probably being influenced by Alicia and Jos, I somewhat grew to like it and so I bought my first purchase (well, actually second coz.... I bought the same bedsheet set we got for the Queks!! haha!) from the store. We also got Sarah's birthday present from there. Basically we had a little spree and spent a long time in the shop.
Walking around Glasgow
The shopping street
Nadya striking a pose
Afternoon tea
Highlight of Day 2 - Edinburgh!
Princes Street Gardens
Had to pull Sarah into this picture haha she was so reluctant to do such a touristy thing in her country.
I feel very blessed. This is my 3rd time here to Edinburgh. Last year, I was here with Yeelin (our search for Portobello Beach if you recall my post). I didn't expect to go to Edinburgh in this trip but Sarah said it's only a 45min train ride away and as both Gabby and Nadya haven't been to, they were all keen. I'm easy so I just went along. Furthermore, Sarah's aunt lives in Edinburgh and they had arranged to meet up for tea (How English! But they're Scottish!) at the National Gallery.
It was also the start of the world famous annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival so the mood in the air was very upbeat... the sun shone brightly, street baskers, artists, performers lined the streets especially along the Royal Mile. People from all over the world come to Edinburgh at this time of the year. So whilst the girls did the touristy thing of walking up the castle, I chose to attend the Impressionist Garden exhibition at the National Gallery. What a perfect timing as I am a big fan of impressionism art :)
We decided to take the touristy double decker bus which was good coz we didn't have to walk much. I like.
Arthur's Seat at Holyrood Palace
People out having picnics in the garden, so lovely!
Highlight of Day 3 - Jack!
Of course we have to meet the now legendary Jack. In fact, we couldn't wait to see this cute little thing. Finally the best is reserved for last. Sarah's family - we needed 3 cars, it was a proper family outing - decided to do a half day trip by bringing us to Loch Lomond, just outside Glasgow. This is a huge lake, and I just found out is classified by CNN as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Unfortunately the drive there took much longer than anticipated so we couldn't spend too much time there.
Following Jo's car, our live GPS
Jack was so excited about the lake, the boats, his football and couldn't stop jumping up and down. So much energy pent up in a 3 year old. And of course there is his cute little sister, Lily who is almost one year. We asked "Jack, do you love Lily?" And he would smile and nod his head, and then run over and kiss her. He is such a darling!!
Sarah misses them so much
Lily tries saying hi
(which btw, Sarah's brother Jo has such a huge apartment that they can fit a pool table with ample space for us to walk around.)
At Loch Lomond, I had to take a pic with our little star!
Jack waving to a passing ship. He was asking me if they could see his little wave. Aww
(In his cute little Scottish accent which I sometimes had to try very hard to understand!)
Loch Lomond
I thought it was somewhat a nice gesture of her and I agreed, and so together with Gabby, Nadya (another of Sarah's friend from Hillsong), we flew up from Luton. We spent the night over at Nadya's as she stays 10min away from Luton airport. When we woke up at 5am, I was greeted by a beautiful sunrise, and with the calmness and crisp fresh air in the countryside, wow I had to capture some shots already!
This marks my first trip out with non-Singaporeans and I was eager to find out how different would it be. This is also a very different trip as we spent a lot of time with her really nice and friendly family, the Mcphersons (including meeting her almost famous lil 3 year old nephew Jack).
Highlight of Day 1 - Cath Kidston store
On the first day it was pouring buckets so we spent more than half a day chilling out at her mum's place.
Finally we could leave the house and she brought us to Princes Square, just to walk around in the mall (due to the wet and intermittent rain) and we just sat down and had tea and cake. And then we went into the Cath Kidston store.
Ah, this deserves a special mention because when I first came to the UK, I never understood why people like the designs of this store. They sell bags, pouches, bedsheets (sounds familiar? Coz Jos and I got one set for the Queks as farewell gift recently!), aprons, etc.. all in pretty english rose prints. Or polka dots. It's very, very english countryside if you get what I mean. But after more than 2 years, and probably being influenced by Alicia and Jos, I somewhat grew to like it and so I bought my first purchase (well, actually second coz.... I bought the same bedsheet set we got for the Queks!! haha!) from the store. We also got Sarah's birthday present from there. Basically we had a little spree and spent a long time in the shop.
Walking around Glasgow
The shopping street
Nadya striking a pose
Afternoon teaHighlight of Day 2 - Edinburgh!
Princes Street Gardens
Had to pull Sarah into this picture haha she was so reluctant to do such a touristy thing in her country.
It was also the start of the world famous annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival so the mood in the air was very upbeat... the sun shone brightly, street baskers, artists, performers lined the streets especially along the Royal Mile. People from all over the world come to Edinburgh at this time of the year. So whilst the girls did the touristy thing of walking up the castle, I chose to attend the Impressionist Garden exhibition at the National Gallery. What a perfect timing as I am a big fan of impressionism art :)
We decided to take the touristy double decker bus which was good coz we didn't have to walk much. I like.
Arthur's Seat at Holyrood Palace
People out having picnics in the garden, so lovely!
Of course we have to meet the now legendary Jack. In fact, we couldn't wait to see this cute little thing. Finally the best is reserved for last. Sarah's family - we needed 3 cars, it was a proper family outing - decided to do a half day trip by bringing us to Loch Lomond, just outside Glasgow. This is a huge lake, and I just found out is classified by CNN as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Unfortunately the drive there took much longer than anticipated so we couldn't spend too much time there.
Following Jo's car, our live GPS
Sarah misses them so much
Lily tries saying hi(which btw, Sarah's brother Jo has such a huge apartment that they can fit a pool table with ample space for us to walk around.)
At Loch Lomond, I had to take a pic with our little star!
Jack waving to a passing ship. He was asking me if they could see his little wave. Aww(In his cute little Scottish accent which I sometimes had to try very hard to understand!)
Loch Lomond
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