I just put $500 in the "trip to Scotland" fund.

[Critters2]

It now has $850 in it. It's a start.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear Critters2!

Atta girl!

It is indeed a start. Scotland is so beautiful...and historic, as you know.

Happy travels!

:hug:

[Critters2]

2. Thanks! I've actually saved this much in a fairly short time.

So, this could happen relatively soon.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. Our first trip abroad was to England and Scotland...

We figured that at least there wouldn't be any (or much, lol) language barrier!

It's such a beautiful place to visit...

[fizzgig]

3. good deal

i had such an amazing time there and i hope someday to be able to go back.

[Critters2]

5. I hope to visit the Borders, where my ancestors are from, nt

[tigereye]

29. I recently found out that some of my mom's ancestors actually had a castle

named after them, as well as a tartan.

Apparently they had to flee to Scotland from Ireland at some point! :D (and then later returned)



So where's your tartan?

[Critters2]

32. My family falls under the "Oliver" clan tartan.

[tigereye]

34. well, this is the one from the website, but there was also some other info

Implying that kilt tartans came much later, in Victorian times, and often clans wore some sprigs of flowers, or other signs of the chief of the clan, rather than tartan symbols. Pretty interesting.



Nevertheless, I love kilts, and I was delighted to learn that my ancestors spent many years in Scotland.

[mwooldri]

6. That should pay for one plane ticket!

Keep going! Where in Scotland are you going to go- oh up-post you said borders...

Edinburgh is a must-do.

On further edit: that's enough for flying Continental... if you want to fly British Airways it's more expensive but I think they do better service.

Mark.

[Critters2]

30. Thanks for the info. I hadn't even thought about which airline to fly.

Thanks, also, for the suggestion of Edinburgh. I want to do that, and to visit Iona. Don't know when I'll get back, so there's much I want to do!

[Drunken Irishman]

7. Why Scotland?

:shrug:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

13. Because she's not cool enough to be Irish

I'm kidding, Critters.

[Drunken Irishman]

18. :P

[Critters2]

22. I am Irish. My maternal grandfather was Irish. From Tipperary.

But that was the side of the family that disowned my mom when she became Protestant, so I never knew anyone on that side. So, I feel less connected with that side. Maybe one day I'll go to Ireland, but my Scottish connections are stronger.

[bridgit]

8. It's a start!

:)

[elleng]

9. Excellent!

You just gave me an idea!

I'll do the same, when I'm able to save (for more than next week's grocery voyage!) for a trip with my daughters!

[JenaLaw]

10. good luck!

Hope the savings account grows very quickly.

My dream is to go to Isle of Skye, Scotland... someday...

[Callalily]

11. Good for you. You set a goal

and have taken positive steps to make it happen.

There are so many places in the world that I'd love to visit. I too squirrel away vacation money and try to take one "big" trip a year.

Good luck! I'll know that you'll be heading for Scotland sooner than you think.

:hug:

[RebelOne]

12. Good for you. You'll love Scotland.

I've been there twice. Make sure you get up to Inverness and go to Loc Ness and see Nessie. It's beautiful there.

[Critters2]

24. I want to go to Loch Shiel, too. Shiel is one of my ancestral surnames. nt

[charlie and algernon]

14. way to go! You're getting there!

you just picqued my curiousity and I checked how much it would cost for airfare from DC to Dublin and a hotel for a week and it's dangerously near my ability. Dangerous in that it's close enough to what I have saved already that I could go but would seriously destroy my savings. Now I need to fight the temptation to hit the checkout button, lol

[Rambis]

15. Nice!

I have been hoping to go in 2011- We have put away some $ in an account for the four of us to go.
The kids will be 10 and 8 old enough to remember the trip I hope? I can't wait to have a decent pint of heavy, a bacon roll and enjoy the pace of life that is much slower. It seems like we go 1000 MPH in this country and I have to get out to get away from it.

[Critters2]

27. That'll be a great experience for your kids! nt

[bikebloke]

16. This year is Homecoming Scotland year.

http://www.homecomingscotland2009.com/default.html

I already went in '97 and biked the Highlands. Just to disturb the ghosts of ancestors, I clipped a card in my spokes for the fluttery motor noise.

[Critters2]

23. I know. It's serendipitous that this year I identified the villages

my ancestors came from in the Borders. It would be nice to get there before the end of the year. But I'll take next year, if that's how it pans out.

[applegrove]

17. Very exciting. I'd love to go to Scotland.

[Moondog]

19. The most outrageous New Year's

I've ever experienced was in Edinburgh. It goes on for days.

[Critters2]

26. Interesting. I'm actually thinking it'll be near the end of the year

when I will have tucked away the full amount I'll need. I hadn't thought about spending New Year's there.

[Deep13]

20. You know, they sell whisky in this country too.

:toast:

[Parche]

21. fingers to scotland

:woohoo: :hi: :hug:

[Critters2]

25. Thanks, Parche! It's gonna happen!

Good to see you!

[tigereye]

28. that's the way to do it!

I should do that for a trip to England...

[Rabrrrrrr]

31. If you can afford to go to Scotland, you can afford your own damn garage.

:grr:



:rofl:

Congratulations! Going to the Taize or Islippington or Celtically John Bellian or whatever the hell it's called over there monastery place?

[Critters2]

33. Ummm...Iona? Yeah, probably. I've been to two retreats

with J. Philip Newell at Kirkridge, so I have a connection.

I'm also a Friend of the Northumbria Community, which, as it turns out, is located pretty near where my ancestors came from in the Borders. I'll probably stay at the Nether Springs or Hetton Hall, the two home sites of the Northumbria Community.