SCOTLAND: DAY 3 Climbing Mount Ben Lawers

Mission: To climb the 4000 Foot Mountain - Ben Lawers.... with no proper equipment, no proper shoes and no guidance from any instructor!... Good Luck guys!!!....



And so it begins!!!... Beautiful landscapes!!!




We had to have a few breaks to rest up, hydrate and soak in the surroundings..




OMG!!! SNOW!!!!... We were so excited seeing snow! Even though we've snowboarded/been to Countries that have snow!... It was primary school all over again! Snow ball fight!!!






OMG! I was seriously shatting my pants! Jr was behind me helping me up every step of the way!!! It was crazy! We had no proper gear with us... I was having a heart attack seeing how high we actually were up!! Vertigo!!





We were so proud to be at the top/peak of the mountain! It was crazy!! We stayed they for a bit - taking our time and taking heaps of pics to prove that were had actually done it! Oww-yeah-yerr!!


This is how excited we were!! Kokaden Happy!!!



Kah-poww!




Group Shot!!


Take 2!!





The hike down was a killer!! We were all starting to freak out as it was getting late in the afternoon... There was heaps of snow on the mountain we were going down, plus with the sun melting the snow - the grass & soil got very slippery! There were a few times where a few of us lost our balance and slipped a few too many times... We (the girls more) were terrifed!... Thanks to the help and positive energy of Rod & Jr... Thanks Boys! xoxox


Tine was less fortunate with keeping her shoes clean!!...



We finally got back to 'normal' land!.. We looked at the info of the mountain we had just conqured! Plus saw how my hand swelled up!... Altitude pressure!??


We were so glad to finally find where we had parked the car... A war story to share with the world!!!! We were blessed with good weather too... if it started raining while we were half way though, we would have been 'up shit creek without a paddle' coming back down!! :(

SCOTLAND FOR A WEEK: DAY 2

Morning arrived ..... We didn't want to waste a day so we got ready to explore our surroundings in the Loch Tay Reserve.



We had a waterfall as part of our backyard!! Beautiful beautiful!!!



The Mill House was strictly private and we were privileged to be staying there!!




The Boathouse down near the Marina was nice and classy... and cozy....





We went back to the lodge after chilling on the Marina ... Lunch time... we pigged out on Pizzas and chips...


Preparing ourselves to climb Ben Lawers Mountain...



A gross looking black slug caught my attention!!



Bring Mount Ben Lawers on!!!

SCOTLAND FOR A WEEK: DAY 1

A weeks worth get-away to Scotland courtesy of Rod's Workmate's Father!! Poor Tim had to be left behind as he had work and Tine was left single throughout the trip. We were locals at Victoria Station, so we made our way easily there to the Bus transfer to the Airport.


We got our seats all comfy and cozy - ready for an hour plus ride... Some of us dozed off to sleep due to the late night on Friday.



RyanAir - one of the cheapest airlines you could fly overseas and domestically... One cheap bumpy ride...


We landed safe to Scotland and found our HERTZ hire car with ease... A Ford Focus to cater for 5 people... Thanks to Rod for driving majority of the trip.




Welcome to The LOCH TAY HIGHLAND COUNTRY RESORT!!!!... You will be staying in the Mill House! yay!


The place was decked out hard!!! Very cottage style - a 4 bedroom get-away for for over 5 people.. All rooms had their own toilets... Rod & Denise got the basement room - the biggest with the funky hidden stairwell that spiraled down to their private room...




We all settled in fine... With our groceries done to set us for a few days.. Tine started preparing for dinner - Spaghetti!




Yummy!! We were into the wines this trip!...



Funny thing, we had a fireplace but didn't know how to light it! Rod killed all the paper/brochures we had in the house.. Let there be light?!... It didn't work out, so we called a lifeline - Tim back in London. We got him to check on Google as we had no internet.... He gave the instructions but still didn't work... we passed it and thought "let future Rod/Denise/Jr/TineMara deal with it"....

LONDON-LOVE 08/05/09: TGIF@THE HOBGOBLIN!

THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY!!!! Drinks at our local - The Hobgoblin - located on the corner of the street that leads straight to our front door!! Less than a minute walk!! We were meant to do 2-4-1 Cocktails, but were too late for the offer! Boo! Clarette & Rowy made their way to join Tim, Tine, Denise (the late attendee) & I....


Tim made a buddy in the 'little boy's room'... Everyone, meet ALLAN.... He was very chatty and was curious as to where we were from due to our accents... AUWSH-TRALIA... emphasizing the accent... Allan kept dropping by every now and then to our couch and confessed later to Denise that he was 'in love' with me?!.... Ish-scared!!!....


Clarette had a few too many glasses of wine... she got ballsy and spoke to the resident Friday Soul Night DJ... "And what does this button do?"....

"At the bar-ar-tender....." Another night at the Hobz... We finished it off with Tim shouting us COTTAGE CHICKEN!! Our second home!... Thanks Tim!!! The youngest of the Angel Crew paying for the rest of the team!