Family Pictures

Lockerbie Bombing Memorial

Lockerbie Bombing Memorial

My Cousin and Sister Standing Near the Family Main

The Family Crest is on the Family Main

Standing on Top of the Hill Looking Down on the Family Farm

A Genuine Scottish Thistle

The Family Lodge

Another Family Member?

The Ruthwell Cross

A Pictish Celtic Cross

The Globe Inn Where We Didn't Eat

Word of the Day

Tar circles - Strange circles and other shapes found etched into a road that are sometimes believed to be created by flying saucers.

Today was our first chance to go visit the stomping grounds of my Scottish family ancestors. But first, our guide, Donny, took us to visit Gordon Dinwoodie who runs a sport shop in Lockerbie.  The first thing he told us was that we spelled our name wrong, we should change it.   It was fascinating listening to his tales of a family feud with the evil Jardins back in the old days.  On the otherhand, we were told that the Johnstone's were our allies and friends.  His version of the family crest is different from the one that we've always heard.  I think our version is probably the correct one but...hey...that was a long time ago.  I just can't imagine commemorating the loss of the a couple of family members who were hung for stealing sheep by making that hanging into our family crest.   That aside, it was great talking to him and learning all about his son who plays the accordion and in a band.  After a long chat, BW Babe and I  purchased some items from him.  BW Babe's watch had died a couple days ago so she purchased a wrist watch...cheap.  Me?  I noticed a set of Scottish fishing flies.  I couldn't resist. After exchanging e-mail addresses,  Gordon gave BW Babe,  my cousin and I some gifts.  We each received a Scottish refrigerator magnet and a Scottish key ring.

Since we were in Lockerbie, we decided to visit the Lockerbie Bombing Memorial.  Our cousin spotted a grave stone with what is probably a family member and she took pictures.  Nearby, our allies and friends, the Johnstones seemed to stand watch over our ancester's side of the cemetery.  We also felt we needed to find out where the evil Jardins were buried.  Aha!  Clear on the other end of the cemetery...far, far, away from the Dinwoodie gravesite.    Got to keep these feuding families away from each other...even in death.

The next stop of the day, was a visit to the Dinwoodie Mains which is still standing with our family crest proudly and  boldly displayed above the front door.  After that, we had to go see the spot where the family sheep farm was at one time and a Roman fort.  Of course, the old family farm is no longer held in family hands.  However, we were given permission to hike up the hill, through the pooping sheep and cattle, through three firmly fastened cattle gates and...did I mention all the sheep...stuff and the cow pies?  However, at the top of the hill/mountain, we did get a wonderful view from where a Roman fort used to exist.  We could see raised mounds that looked like they could be covering earlier foundations on a spot where one could see what was coming from all directions.   I'm sure that by the time we hiked back down that hill/mountain, our guide Donny must have thought we'd need rescuing.  Too bad he didn't call out the rescue helicopters.  We might have met Prince William.

We'd planned to eat lunch at Dinwoodie Lodge and Inn,  but...it was closed for the day so we proceeded to a different restaurant called, Hullabaloo.  The food was wonderful and my cousin ordered herself some Fraoch, or heather beer, brewed in Scotland since 2000 BC.  Of course, BW Babe and I were so intrigued by the label on the this beer, we each ordered some Fraoch for ourselves.  It was VERY good.  I'm going to try to bring our empty bottles back home with us...but...I may just have to settle for a picture due to the weight limitations for our inner country flight on Sunday.

Our last stop of the day, with our guide and driver, was to the Ruthwell Cross.  A John Linton Dinwiddie (possible relative?) was the minister of the church where the Ruthwell Cross has been protected and preserved and was the author of the history of the Cross.  Interestingly enough, we also discovered a gravestone just outside the church with the name of James Dinwoodie on it.  It was very difficult to read.  We all took pictures but...we'll have to see what turns up.  I know that HTP has a pretty good record with using technical tools to clean up the image enough to read the gravestone.  T-Square informs me that he hasn't heard of John Linton Dinwiddie and I'm not sure at all that the second gentleman is in his database either.

Donny dropped us all off at the hotel, promising to pick us up tomorrow for a tour of Hadrian's Wall.  My cousin and her husband's friend REALLY wants to see it so we'll be postponing any further visitations with past family members until Friday. 

In the meantime, BW Babe and our cousin did some research on several pubs within walking distance of our hotel.  We took off on foot for The Globe Inn, a favorite haunt of Robert Burns but got a bit lost so asked for some directions.  Thank goodness.  We'd passed right on by it.  Unfortunately, this particular inn wasn't serving meals that night so...we just took a little look see before departing for The Queensbury Pub.  The atmosphere was pretty good but the peas were awful...ly salty.  We'd wanted fish and chips but they only had enough for BW Babe and me.  I'll still take a Wisconsin fishfry over tonight's meal anyday.  The food was OK but...oh well,   I doubt we'll go back, however the Tennets beer, a Scottish beer, tasted very good.

By the time we walked back to the hotel for night, my feet were on their last legs.  Actually, I think my legs were on their last hips....and so on and so forth.   It's been a long day and it's time to call it quits as I find myself dozing with my laptop on my lap, writing cordless on the bed so BW Babe can have her chance at the desk with her laptop.

Random Quote of the Day

To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive.

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850 - 1894)