{"id":1574,"date":"2009-10-06T06:35:17","date_gmt":"2009-10-06T12:35:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/?p=1574"},"modified":"2009-10-25T16:26:15","modified_gmt":"2009-10-25T22:26:15","slug":"%e2%80%9con-the-bonnie-banks-the-sequel%e2%80%9d","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/2009\/10\/%e2%80%9con-the-bonnie-banks-the-sequel%e2%80%9d\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cOn the Bonnie Banks, the sequel\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/CunninghamGreen.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1629\" title=\"CunninghamGreen\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/CunninghamGreen.jpg\" alt=\"CunninghamGreen\" width=\"219\" height=\"236\" \/><\/a>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/braveheart5.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1586\" title=\"braveheart5\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/braveheart5.gif\" alt=\"braveheart5\" width=\"220\" height=\"152\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/braveheart5.gif 600w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/braveheart5-300x208.gif 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 220px) 100vw, 220px\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">No trip to Scotland would be really complete without a trip to a castle or ten, would it?<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC094591.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1632\" title=\"castle Gates\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC094591-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"castle Gates\" width=\"797\" height=\"1063\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC094591-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC094591-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC094591.JPG 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 797px) 100vw, 797px\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">Whatever you do, do not look up there!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Condemned-2-Bloodshot-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1644\" title=\"Condemned-2-Bloodshot-1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Condemned-2-Bloodshot-1.jpg\" alt=\"Condemned-2-Bloodshot-1\" width=\"480\" height=\"479\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Condemned-2-Bloodshot-1.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Condemned-2-Bloodshot-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Condemned-2-Bloodshot-1-300x299.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">I did warn you!… Getting tarred, a common inconvenience of the medieval day.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09447a1.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1581\" title=\"Caerlaverock Castle\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09447a1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"DSC09447a\" width=\"748\" height=\"543\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">This stronghold is called<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<h1 id=\"firstHeading\"><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\">Caerlaverock Castle<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">I have been to this castle many times, the first time on a school outing!<\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"> With its moat, twin towered gatehouse and imposing <\/span><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">formidable red sandstone <\/span><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">battlements, Caerlaverock Castle is the epitome of the medieval stronghold.\u00a0 The castle\u2019s turbulent history owes much to its proximity to England which brought it into border conflicts.<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/275px-Caerlaverock_Castle_from_the_air.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1589\" title=\"275px-Caerlaverock_Castle_from_the_air\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/275px-Caerlaverock_Castle_from_the_air.jpg\" alt=\"275px-Caerlaverock_Castle_from_the_air\" width=\"320\" height=\"244\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">The first castle on the site was built around the 1220s, an earthwork fortification surrounded by a moat in the marshes to the south of the present building. I visited this site, but there was not much to see. That very basic defensive structure was replaced by this substantial castle, built by Sir Herbert de Maxwell around 1277.\u00a0 It was this structure which was besieged in 1300, the castle\u2019s most famous event. <\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/800px-CaerlaverockCastle1900.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1588\" title=\"800px-CaerlaverockCastle1900\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/800px-CaerlaverockCastle1900.jpg\" alt=\"800px-CaerlaverockCastle1900\" width=\"748\" height=\"538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/800px-CaerlaverockCastle1900.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/800px-CaerlaverockCastle1900-300x216.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 748px) 100vw, 748px\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\"><em>Here is Caerlaverock Castle in 1900.<br \/>\n<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">Being very close to the border with England, Caerlaverock had to be defended several times against English forces.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Braveheart-movie-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1593\" title=\"Braveheart-movie-1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Braveheart-movie-1.jpg\" alt=\"Braveheart-movie-1\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Braveheart-movie-1.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Braveheart-movie-1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">“Ach, I’m in love with this castle already,<em> <\/em>I see a strength in yer robust castle walls.”<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/edwardi-cassell2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1594\" title=\"edwardi-cassell2\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/edwardi-cassell2-945x1024.jpg\" alt=\"edwardi-cassell2\" width=\"254\" height=\"275\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/edwardi-cassell2-945x1024.jpg 945w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/edwardi-cassell2-276x300.jpg 276w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/edwardi-cassell2.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 254px) 100vw, 254px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\"><em>Edward I of England<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">The Siege of Caerlaverock was conducted by Edward I of England who had at his side eighty seven of the most illustrious Barons of England. <\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/dune-baron.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1597\" title=\"dune-baron\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/dune-baron.jpg\" alt=\"dune-baron\" width=\"252\" height=\"106\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/dune-baron.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/dune-baron-300x127.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 252px) 100vw, 252px\" \/><\/a>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\">“And just why wasn’t I invited”?<\/span><\/em><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">The Maxwells, under their gallant chief, made a vigorous defense, but in the end the garrison were compelled to surrender. <\/span><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"> <\/span><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">It was only then that the English found out that there were only about sixty men inside the castle, these men had defied the whole English army for a considerable period of time. <\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">Some of the captured were hanged from the castle walls and the rest were allowed to walk free.\u00a0 The castle remained in English hands until 1312.<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09458.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1312\" title=\"Caerlaverock Castle, moat\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09458-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Caerlaverock Castle, moat\" width=\"796\" height=\"1062\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09458-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09458-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09458.JPG 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 796px) 100vw, 796px\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">These old castles are great places to visit, especially out of season when they are very quiet. Being out of season also eliminates the potential for any screaming,\u00a0 reenactment shenanigans, that seem to happen more frequently in the summer months. No, this is the time of year for me, a freshening breeze, very few tourists,\u00a0 just the lonely call of curlew or the chatter of a group of oyster-catchers is really all I want to hear walking the grounds of this gloomy castle.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09520.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1321\" title=\"The Driver\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09520-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"The Driver\" width=\"748\" height=\"998\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09520-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09520-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09520.JPG 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 748px) 100vw, 748px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">Back at the parking lot, our driver was patiently waiting for us in his small European car ready to take us back to our cottage. Although one of our clan decided to ride her bike home at break-neck speed…<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC095471.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1640\" title=\"DSC09547\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC095471-1024x1003.jpg\" alt=\"DSC09547\" width=\"796\" height=\"779\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC095471-1024x1003.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC095471-300x294.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC095471.JPG 1567w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 796px) 100vw, 796px\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">It was all going well until she became more interested in the dials than the road, I quote “to see if they were turning”!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/MOVbike.mpg\">Easy Rider.mpg<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">On the way home we had to pull the little car over to the side of the road to allow this herd of sheep safe passage into an adjacent field.<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC093851.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1341\" title=\"Stampede\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC093851-1024x869.jpg\" alt=\"Stampede\" width=\"796\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC093851-1024x869.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC093851-300x254.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC093851.JPG 1781w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 796px) 100vw, 796px\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">I snapped this through the vehicle’s tiny window.<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/coalburning_Full.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1604\" title=\"coalburning_Full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/coalburning_Full.jpg\" alt=\"coalburning_Full\" width=\"235\" height=\"175\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">Back at our cottage, zzzz<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/1142375.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1665\" title=\"morning\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/1142375.jpg\" alt=\"morning\" width=\"233\" height=\"175\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/1142375.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/1142375-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 233px) 100vw, 233px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/full_english_breakfast13.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1605\" title=\"full_english_breakfast1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/full_english_breakfast13.jpg\" alt=\"full_english_breakfast1\" width=\"235\" height=\"152\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">Morning…another breakfast of champions, another mild cardiac twinge…then it was onto a local estate for a spot of conker hunting<span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"> (<\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">or ‘Buckeye’ hunting here in the states)<\/span><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">. When we were kids, armed with polythene bags, we would do our rounds around some of the older horse chestnut trees in our area <em><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\">(we knew exactly where they were)<\/span><\/em>, they were the trees that would deliver some of the largest, and most prized conkers, and there were some monsters. When they are lying half open like the one below, they remind me of storybook dragons eyes. <\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/3982293529_aa897da69e_b.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1609\" title=\"3982293529_aa897da69e_b\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/3982293529_aa897da69e_b.jpg\" alt=\"3982293529_aa897da69e_b\" width=\"798\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/3982293529_aa897da69e_b.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/3982293529_aa897da69e_b-300x216.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\"><em>Conker Photo courtesy of\u00a0 Matt Osborne see some more of his great shots : <\/em><\/span><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/32681588@N03\/\">http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/32681588@N03\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">Horse chestnuts nuts from the horse chestnut tree<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><em><span style=\"color: #993366;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Aesculus hippocastanum<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/h1>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #993366;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> <\/em><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">are rich in starch and not suitable for human food due to the presence of saponins, which are soap-like chemicals. They have been made into a food for horses and cattle in the past, by soaking them first in lime-water so reduce their bitterness,\u00a0 hence the horse in horse chestnut. The Common Horse Chestnut is native to the Balkans.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09636.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1620\" title=\"House Spider_UK\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09636-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"DSC09636\" width=\"463\" height=\"346\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09636-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09636-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09636.JPG 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 463px) 100vw, 463px\" \/><\/a><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"> According to a letter which appeared in the Daily Telegraph, conkers are an effective way to keep spiders out of the house: conkers, placed in the corners of a room and behind pieces of furniture, reduce the number of spiders venturing into the room. Well nobody told me that, I would have filled the bathroom up with them at the cottage!\u00a0 Brrrrrrr.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/conkersPA0512_468x301.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1616\" title=\"conkersPA0512_468x301\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/conkersPA0512_468x301.jpg\" alt=\"conkersPA0512_468x301\" width=\"468\" height=\"301\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/conkersPA0512_468x301.jpg 468w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/conkersPA0512_468x301-300x192.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\"> <\/span><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">After poking holes through the conkers and threading them onto boot-laces, we would take them into school the next day to <span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">wage knuckle rapping battles on the playground. <\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">Players take turns to strike each others conker until one breaks.<\/span><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"> Today playing conkers in schools is banned <\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">due to the legal consequences if children are injured from shards while playing the game.<\/span><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"> A few schools still allow the practice if protective goggles are worn!<\/span> <span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">I guess I have never thought playing conkers as a dangerous sport.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">The name comes from the dialect word <\/span><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\"><em>conker<\/em><\/span><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">meaning hard (related to French<\/span><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\"> <em>conque<\/em><\/span> <span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">meaning a conch), as the game was originally played using snail shells. The name may also be influenced by the verb<\/span> <span style=\"color: #99cc00;\"><em>conquer<\/em><\/span><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">, as the game was also called <\/span><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\"><em>conquerors<\/em>.\u00a0 <span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">There is even a conker world championship held every year, in fact, if you get a last minute flight over the pond you could watch it live this Sunday:<\/span><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.worldconkerchampionships.com\/\">http:\/\/www.worldconkerchampionships.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09330.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1288\" title=\"Horse Chesnut Necklace\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09330-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Horse Chesnut Necklace\" width=\"796\" height=\"1061\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09330-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09330-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09330.JPG 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 796px) 100vw, 796px\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">Although we did have a few traditional games of conkers most of the ones we collected went into the creation of this chunky necklace…a great “hit”.<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09286.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1283\" title=\"Hoddom Castle\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09286-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Hoddom Castle\" width=\"796\" height=\"1061\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09286-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09286-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09286.JPG 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 796px) 100vw, 796px\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">The estate where we picked the conkers is Called Hoddom, and guess what, yes it also has a castle on it, you cannot swing a conker in Scotland without hitting a castle you know. It is a popular stop for fishermen and houses some spectacular views. A fair amount of Hoddom castle is now derelict, it’s only occupants being a large number of crows and jackdaws that swoop and scream around the castle’s towers in a very Hammer House of Horror fashion.<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/normal_ScoobyDooShaggyRunningScared.png.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1623\" title=\"normal_ScoobyDooShaggyRunningScared.png\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/normal_ScoobyDooShaggyRunningScared.png.jpg\" alt=\"normal_ScoobyDooShaggyRunningScared.png\" width=\"170\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09302.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1337\" title=\"Witch in the rhododendron\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09302-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Witch in the rhododendron\" width=\"796\" height=\"598\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09302-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09302-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09302.JPG 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 796px) 100vw, 796px\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">The grounds are host to masses of\u00a0 rhododendron bushes, and the occasional witch.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">Few people who visit Britain’s countryside when<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><em>R<\/em><em>hododendron ponticum<\/em><\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><em><br \/>\n<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"> <\/span>is in flower can comprehend the damage that has been caused to the native flora and fauna by this exotic Victorian introduction. It is a staggering sight when it is in full bloom.<\/span><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"> The large shrub is not native to Britain, but was first introduced from the <\/span><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">Mediterranean countries in<\/span><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"> <\/span>the late 18th Century. It became especially popular on country estates in Victorian times, providing ornamental value, as well as cover for game birds. The problem with it is that the plant has such a dense canopy nothing can grow under it. <\/span><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">This effectively eliminates other competing native plant species which are unable to grow due to insufficient light. This in turn leads to the consequent loss of the <span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">associated native animals. <\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Copy-of-DSC09288b.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1255\" title=\"Rhododendron Bushes\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Copy-of-DSC09288b-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Rhododendron Bushes\" width=\"796\" height=\"1062\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Copy-of-DSC09288b-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Copy-of-DSC09288b-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Copy-of-DSC09288b.JPG 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 796px) 100vw, 796px\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\">You can see the lack of vegetation underneath these spooky twisted limbs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">Once established it is as hard to eradicate as Bermuda grass, spreading by seed and <\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">lateral horizontal growth of the branches.\u00a0 A single plant may eventually end up covering many meters of ground, and if the branches touch the ground, they will root, continually extending the area of Rhododendron cover. Now that would be enough to make you…<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09422aa.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1307\" title=\"Emu\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09422aa-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Emu\" width=\"796\" height=\"1062\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09422aa-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09422aa-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09422aa.JPG 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 796px) 100vw, 796px\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">…scream like a emu?\u00a0 I think this bird had some sort of emu “tick” because it kept doing this, perhaps it had some grass caught in it’s throat? Or perhaps it was in practice for the “Scotland’s got talent” show? If there is such a show?<\/span><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09287.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1284\" title=\"Monkey Tree\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09287-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Monkey Tree\" width=\"796\" height=\"1061\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09287-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09287-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09287.JPG 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 796px) 100vw, 796px\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">Hoddom also houses some massive cheeky-monkey puzzle trees.<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/3000-austin-powers.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1627\" title=\"3000-austin-powers\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/3000-austin-powers.jpg\" alt=\"3000-austin-powers\" width=\"140\" height=\"160\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\"><em>“Yeah baby”!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">The origin of the popular English name <em>Monkey-puzzle<\/em> derives from its early cultivation in Britain in about 1850, when the species was still very rare in gardens and not widely known. The owner of a young specimen in Cornwall was showing it to a group of friends, and one made the remark “It would puzzle a monkey to climb that”; as the species had no existing popular name, first ‘monkey-puzzler’, then ‘monkey-puzzle’ stuck.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09327a.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1639\" title=\"DSC09327a\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09327a-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"DSC09327a\" width=\"748\" height=\"560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09327a-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09327a-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09327a.JPG 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 748px) 100vw, 748px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">Another brisk walk after eating dinner at the local pub. Then it was…<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/coalburning_Full.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"coalburning_Full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/coalburning_Full.jpg\" alt=\"coalburning_Full\" width=\"235\" height=\"175\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">zzzzzzzz<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/1142375.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"morning\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/1142375.jpg\" alt=\"morning\" width=\"235\" height=\"176\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">What?<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"><a href=\"..\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09296a.JPG\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09293a.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1285\" title=\"Farmer Giles\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09293a-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Farmer Giles\" width=\"233\" height=\"310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09293a-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09293a-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09293a.JPG 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 233px) 100vw, 233px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">Another egg delivery from the farmer,<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/full_english_breakfast13.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"full_english_breakfast1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/full_english_breakfast13.jpg\" alt=\"full_english_breakfast1\" width=\"235\" height=\"152\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">another breakfast of champions,<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/flatline.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1636\" title=\"flatline\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/flatline.gif\" alt=\"flatline\" width=\"236\" height=\"127\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">a minor cardiac event, a few aspirin, then it was time to check out a couple of local gardens…<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Copy-of-DSC09379.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1261\" title=\"Gardens Seen\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Copy-of-DSC09379-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Gardens Seen\" width=\"796\" height=\"597\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Copy-of-DSC09379-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Copy-of-DSC09379-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Copy-of-DSC09379.JPG 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 796px) 100vw, 796px\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">This hillside garden caught my attention with its seashell lined pathways and packed landscaping.<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Copy-of-DSC09359.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1257\" title=\"Gardens Seen\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Copy-of-DSC09359-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Gardens Seen\" width=\"796\" height=\"597\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Copy-of-DSC09359-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Copy-of-DSC09359-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Copy-of-DSC09359.JPG 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 796px) 100vw, 796px\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">This one was also interesting with its brightly painted red branches and large boulders.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"><a href=\"..\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09369b.JPG\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09369b.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1296\" title=\"Gorse Bushes\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09369b-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Gorse Bushes\" width=\"796\" height=\"597\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09369b-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09369b-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09369b.JPG 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 796px) 100vw, 796px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">A little way down the road and sort of between houses, someone had obviously planted up this hillside here and there, to create <\/span><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">a scene reminiscent of something from the movie Brigadoon.\u00a0 All this scene needs is Gene Kelly and Van Johnson hopping around the rocks singing some highly questionable Scottish songs.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"> <\/span><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><em> <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09579b.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1329\" title=\"Conifers\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09579b-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Conifers\" width=\"796\" height=\"597\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09579b-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09579b-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09579b.JPG 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 796px) 100vw, 796px\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">This shot was taken at a local garden center, evergreens feature heavily in gardens in the Solway area.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Copy-of-DSC09220b.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1254\" title=\"Beach Combing\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Copy-of-DSC09220b-693x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Beach Combing\" width=\"796\" height=\"1177\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Copy-of-DSC09220b-693x1024.jpg 693w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Copy-of-DSC09220b-203x300.jpg 203w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 796px) 100vw, 796px\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">With our trip drawing to a sad close we had time for one final beach combing jaunt before It was time to put my… <\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/sellers-strangelove.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1677\" title=\"sellers-strangelove\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/sellers-strangelove.jpg\" alt=\"sellers-strangelove\" width=\"395\" height=\"495\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/sellers-strangelove.jpg 395w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/sellers-strangelove-239x300.jpg 239w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 395px) 100vw, 395px\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">Dr Strangelove glove back on in preparation for the long flight back home.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09661.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1252\" title=\"Hedgehog\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09661-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Hedgehog\" width=\"798\" height=\"598\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09661-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09661-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09661.JPG 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">As we drew up to the cottage one final time this little hedgehog froze in the headlights, strangely reminding me of our recent “Dude where’s my Tahoe” experience.\u00a0 Our two weeks in Scotland were sadly over, as this little chaps life will be if he continues to hang around on the road-side.<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09476a1.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-1668\" title=\"The castle walls\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09476a1-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"DSC09476a\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09476a1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09476a1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09476a1.JPG 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09472a.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-large wp-image-1669\" title=\"Caerlaverock Castle\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09472a-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"DSC09472a\" width=\"406\" height=\"304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09472a-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09472a-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09472a.JPG 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 406px) 100vw, 406px\" \/><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">Thank you parental units for a fabulous and memorable trip, we all really enjoyed seeing everyone again. Glad you got to meet the smallest hobbit. Hope to see you next year. Much love from all in the patch.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Airplane-package1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1673\" title=\"Airplane package\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Airplane-package1.jpg\" alt=\"Airplane package\" width=\"797\" height=\"529\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Airplane-package1.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Airplane-package1-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 797px) 100vw, 797px\" \/><\/a><\/span><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\">As a side note… it appears that a faction of the Nabooboo tribe has made it across the pond. These European Naboos are a lot taller than their American cousins it seems… <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"><em><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">Warning:<\/span> <span style=\"color: #99cc00;\">“<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">C<\/span><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"> <\/span><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">o<\/span><span style=\"color: #ffff00;\">l<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span><span style=\"color: #ffff00;\"> <\/span><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"><em><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\"><span style=\"color: #666699;\">o<\/span><span style=\"color: #33cccc;\">r<\/span><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">f<\/span><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">u<\/span><span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\">l<\/span>” language alert.<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><object classid=\"clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000\" width=\"425\" height=\"344\" codebase=\"http:\/\/download.macromedia.com\/pub\/shockwave\/cabs\/flash\/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0\"><param name=\"allowFullScreen\" value=\"true\" \/><param name=\"allowscriptaccess\" value=\"always\" \/><param name=\"src\" value=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/v\/fi5_e3pyPkE&hl=en&fs=1&\" \/><param name=\"allowfullscreen\" value=\"true\" \/><embed type=\"application\/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"344\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/v\/fi5_e3pyPkE&hl=en&fs=1&\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" allowfullscreen=\"true\"><\/embed><\/object><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><em><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">Stay Tuned for:<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: left;\"><em><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\">\u201cPurple Rain\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/h1>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: left;\"><em><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: x-small;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: small;\"><strong> <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/h1>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: x-small;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; color: #ff6600; font-size: small;\"><strong><em> <\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: x-small;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: x-small;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: small;\">All material \u00a9 2009 for eastsidepatch. Unauthorized<br \/>\nintergalactic reproduction strictly prohibited, and<br \/>\npunishable by\u00a0 late\u00a0 (and extremely unpleasant)<br \/>\n14th century planet Earth techniques.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: x-small;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: x-small;\"> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: x-small;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: x-small;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: x-small;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: x-small;\"> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\">I knew there was one picture Bob, and only the one there was, taken by my eldest at Caerlaverock, she insisted that I held up the feather, this is my “anything for a quiet life” face.<span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: x-small;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: x-small;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: x-small;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: x-small;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: small;\"> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: x-small;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #c0c0c0;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: x-small;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: MS Sans Serif; font-size: small;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09484b1.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1708\" title=\"DSC09484b\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09484b1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"DSC09484b\" width=\"797\" height=\"576\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.eastsidepatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/DSC09484b.JPG\"><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>No trip to Scotland would be really complete without a trip to a castle or ten, would it? 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