This post covers our trip to Scotland visiting our favourite places, family and friends before stopping off in Bangkok on our way home.
Laura had travelled to the UK in August 1994 until November 1995. We Linda, Paul and myself, decided to fly over to the UK in September. we planed to stop off in Moscow then Rome before arriving in London.
Unfortunately because of her work And the fact that she was returning home in November Laura could not take the time off to travel with us to Ireland then Scotland. If we could go back I know she wishes she had left the job and travelled with us.
Continue reading 1995 Moscow, Rome, England, Ireland, Scotland, Bangkok post 1. This post covers Moscow, England and Ireland (also see post 2).The whole family had the travelling bug so when Linda spotted a fantastic deal off we went.
I had been to Sydney before so knew we would be doing a lot of walking over the next five days. With some exceptions we walked everywhere, the Royal Botanical Gardens, the Opera House on to Circular Quay, Next day the Coathanger bridge, then to the Rocks. On the mono rail to Darling Harbour, Laura really loved the shops there. Next day was really cold and damp to we picked up the ferry and headed to Manly Beach. We also had a lovely day visiting the Blue Mountains with Kevin, that was a special day thanks to Kevin.
Looking at the pictures, the weather at Wave rock, being inland and sheltered, made it like a sun trap and was bright and hot while Esperance was bright, windy and cold and the Stirling Ranges were freezing!!! So our short trip went from short sleeve warm to parka wearing cold. Many friends thought we were mad heading south in the winter, but we loved sitting in front of a real fire drinking big bowls of homemade soup (brought from home).
Since arriving back in Western Australia in 1981 as a family we had not returned to Scotland in ten years. I had actually been there for three days in 1988, but that’s a story on its own.
Paul was 18 months old when he came to Australia. Funnily enough Laura was 18 months old when we first arrived in 1978. We had planned the holiday for two years and saved hard for our six week holiday.
Continue reading 1991-1992 Our first family holiday back to ScotlandA little while after Paul was born and after much consideration we decided to return to Australia. Everything looked like it would be easy and straight forward until they said: Me, Linda and Laura were free to return but Paul had to emigrate. We were thrown into a panic but it turned out to be just a formality. He could not re-enter because he had never been there in the first place.
It was really hard telling the family but when we did my mum said that she was sure we would be heading back to Australia.
Continue reading 1981 Heading back to AustraliaIn 1977 while working in Yarrows shipbuiders on the Clydeside’s, Glasgow’s River Clyde I decided that I had to move on but not just to a new job. I wanted to travel to Australia. I never thought this would be a permenant move I just felt it was something I thought I should do at that time. I was 25 married to Linda, with a one year old daughter. Linda, was less than happy but was willing to move if we were accepted. Later she told me she wished our application would be rejected, but that was not to be the case.
We were leaving Scotland travelling about 13,000 miles to Western Australia. We had no family or friends to meet us. No job, and only three nights accommodation in a Perth hotel. I should point out that when we decided to emmigrate electricians were not on the sponcered list, which meant we had to pay our own full fairs and were not entiteled to any of the services new migrants normally get. No subsidised fares, no new migrant camp accommodation, no new migrant support services. We arrived at Fremantle unsure how to get to our hotel in Perth. We got a taxi and the driver was very helpful and wished us all the best for the future.
Continue reading 1978 From Scotland to Western AustraliaThe Island lies at the entrance to the Firth of Clyde, 14 miles west of the Ayrshire coast. 35 miles to the south is Antrim, Northern Ireland. On the Island there are three groups of mountains with ten peaks. The most famous and highest being Goatfell.
Earliest known settlers on the island were Mesolithic people who fished and hunted. The next people to arrive around 3000BC originated in the eastern Mediterranean travelling through France, England, Wales then Scotland. As well as fishing they farmed the land. During the Bronze Age they built stone circles the most famous the Machrie Moor dated from around 1600 BC. Continue reading 1974 Isle of Arran, Scotland
Lerwick is the main town on Shetland Island. Just to put where the island is situated into perspective, on many maps Shetland is shown with a box around it, this is because the distance shown on the map is usually not to scale.
Historically the Shetland islands were given to Scotland as part of the King of Norway’s daughter Margaret’s dowry in 1469. It was only meant to be security until the moneys were paid. Since that never happened the Shetland Isles have remained as part of Scotland.
Continue reading 1973 LerwickMe and Linda in September 1972 took our first flight and first overseas holiday. Two weeks in C’an Picafort. It’s hard to imagine how excited we were embarking on an overseas holiday.
We arrived at Palma airport and then traveled by bus to our hotel 60 km. Our hotel was new and luckily finished,which was more than can be said for many holiday makers at that time.
Thinking back I remember the best trip was to the Cuevas del Drach (Cavern of the Dragon) with its underground lake. Listening to the orchestra playing as it sailed down the lake.
We were ultra careful at the beach sun wise, ahead of our time, although others left with a much better tan.
Les McLaughlan 