Page 123 - Microsoft Word - Guiding light final version 0822 1306.doc

En route they decided they wanted to visit the Secret Bunker then it was into St Andrews – father and son were both golfers so the Old Course was a must for them while mother and daughter were more interested in the Cathedral and the book shops. I had thought of different places for lunch but in the end they opted for hot pastries from Fisher and Donaldson, eaten out of the bags as we walked through the town.
Day 3 – Off to Glasgow airport to pick up an Indian family of 12 from the States, take them for lunch, then do a city tour before dropping them at their hotel. Of course, they were all arriving on different flights, some of which were delayed, so the lunch booking had to be put back. By the time they all arrived, the first ones had been in the airport for 4 hours and lunch had to be changed for a second time. Then they decided not to bother with lunch and just do the city tour! I’ll be staying away from that restaurant for a while.
Day 4 – At home, catching up and packing.
Days 5-8 – Picked up a hired car for a driver-guided tour for an American lady and her grand-daughter. This was a treat for the girl’s 14th birthday and her grandmother wanted to build in lots of different experiences – horse-riding on the beach at N Berwick (no, not me); sheepdog demonstration plus having a go at shearing and then feeding lambs at Kincraig; sailing on Loch Ness; the Jacobite steam train to Mallaig (they loved seeing the travelling cinema there) and ferry to Armadale on Skye; an overnight in a castle (Inverlochy no less); and a hands-on falconry experience. They had a ball!
Day 9 – Glasgow city tour for a German group on a short break to Scotland – this one was a bit different though, as most of the group were disabled, many with walking aids or in wheelchairs. The company specialises in such holidays and the coach was specially adapted for them. They were a super group of people and we had great fun together. It brought home to me some of the difficulties that people with mobility issues face – how do you pull a heavy door towards you and try to keep it open whilst simultaneously guiding your wheelchair through it?
Day 10 – a cruise ship excursion from Greenock to Inveraray via Loch Lomond and return via the ferry from Dunoon – a rural trip described as scenic with lochs, mountains, and beautiful scenery. On arrival at Inveraray one mother and her daughter asked where the Hard Rock Café could be found! They were flabbergasted to be told that Inveraray didn’t have one and the nearest was in Glasgow. No problem though, they would just get a bus there and meet us back at the ship! It took a few minutes to get them to understand the reality of rural bus timetables and journey times. They found Inveraray Castle “pretty cute” but remained disappointed at not being able to buy an HRC t-shirt to add to their collection! Guiding is fun!’
Tanking around Glasgow
By Stewart Noble:
‘It was just to be a Glasgow city tour, so I was looking forward to a problem-free afternoon - but I was wrong! The German coach was sitting in George Square and the driver greeted me with the words "I've got a problem!" It turned out that he had come down the A9 from the Highlands past Perth and Stirling, thinking that he would see a petrol station somewhere - but he hadn't, and so by the time he had reached George Square his tank was extremely empty. Immediate racking of brain to try to think where the nearest petrol station was! I could think of one behind the King's Theatre, but it had been closed fairly recently and I could not remember if it had reopened. I have a friend who works on a Scotguide open top bus and it happened that he was in George Square so I asked him for ideas. He and his driver felt that the petrol station behind the Theatre was perhaps a bit small for a coach, even although this one was not big. They therefore suggested a petrol station at Partick beside the Clydeside Expressway.
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