Day 567: Living in Scotland: Season 2, Episode 1

12/02/2023

Thursday morning Dad had a very early start, even before the kids were up. They were all very much in need of a solid rest from flying across the GlasGLOBE. After waking up to lovely birthday messages from Australia, thanks all, it was our gender-neutral all-inclusive squirrel, Sam who wished me a happy 30th birthday first, glad he had survived the winter freeze. It was nice that we were able to celebrate our joint 64th recently in Adelaide.

A couple of hours later the kids had flown down the stairs to stab Dad in the eye with a fork and gouge out his other one.

Shortly after breakfast Eloise threw on her apron and got to work making a rainbow birthday cake.

In the afternoon not even Lachlan stood a chance on the walk around the block. He had been zoned out all morning, tired boy.

Turns out the 9th of February is National Pizza Day in the UK, probably a tradition we will continue to honour. It was just what we needed as Super Mum and the kids battled jetlag.

Eloise was excited to put the finishing touches on Dad’s rainbow birthday cake for dessert. Great work Eloise, unfortunately, Grandma Nicholls was so safe with hiding the matches we could not find them. Eloise made sure that Dad understood it would just be an imaginary blowing of the candles. It had been the perfect birthday having the family all back together.

On Friday Groovy Dad started his first full day in his thirties in peak fashion with his birthday Pokémon pyjamas and Crocs.

It had been a tricky night, Lachlan had actually slept pretty well. Certainly better than Eloise, who was full of energy at 03:00 and refused to lie down unless it was with Dad on the floor. Both the kids were drowsy throughout the morning, Eloise played with her kinetic sand for a couple of hours which helped Super Mum snuggle with Lachlan.

In the afternoon, Super Mum needed a tactical nap, Lachlan had loudly awakened from his morning nap. Eloise was not having any of that and stroked his eyes back to sleep.

Once everyone was feeling energetic again, the kids were desperate to check on their ducks and rugged up.

The Batmobile has been through a hell of a lot over the past eighteen months. It has crossed the world and been battered all over the UK, Europe, including Venice and done serious mileage on Glasgow footpaths and cobbled roads. Mid last year we had busted the frame which was being held together by a questionable repair job. Thanks to a lucky Community Chest card in our favour we happened to have a brand new spare frame in Roo Land which made the trip back with us. It is sparkly but sadly the stealth Batmobile is no more.

Dinner was a delicious roast that Eloise decided to eat from her tower.

Friday we were excited for the controversial Clarkson’s Farm: Season 2, Episode 1. Surprisingly the first few episodes had been filmed before we passed through Diddly Squat Farm Shop and the Cotswolds with Caroline in September 2021.

Saturday morning, we returned to Dad’s favourite place on Earth to see his birthday week out in style. We checked in on the shambles of the Swilcan Bridge from this week. Good to see it back to its ordinarily spectacular self.

We returned to one of Dad’s favourite shops, there had been something on his wish list for quite some time, a St Andrews made hickory golf club from the “last club maker in the world retaining the traditional skills to handcraft playable sets of hickory”.

After deep thought, Dad picked up a George Nicoll hickory driver. Well technically a Brassie, equivalent to a retired modern 2 wood, commonly hit from the tee for reasons most of you are not interested in.

George Nicoll a blacksmith by trade began the manufacture of hand-forged iron heads or cleeks. Nicoll’s designs were innovative and included in 1895 a swan neck putting cleek which created the same effects a modern centre shaft putter. The designs attracted some very large orders one being placed in 1898 by the Forth Rubber Company for 10,000 clubs. Amongst Nicoll’s many staff players were 3 times winners of The Open Championship Henry Cotton, Brian Huggett, Dai Rees and Vivian Saunders. The company remained in the same family until 1982 and had distribution throughout the golfing world. The famous hand cleek mark first appeared in 1905 and is still used today at St Andrews Golf Co. Ltd. (who now own George Nicoll) during the production of George Nicoll clubs both ancient and modern.

St. Andrews Golf Co. Ltd.’s roots date back to 1881. It is the last remaining Scottish golf club manufacturer, a result of the major consolidation that has gone on in the industry in Scotland. The company is home to three of Scotland’s most famous club making brands; George Nicoll, Tom Stewart and of course St Andrews Golf Co. itself. We are the only golf club manufacturer in the ‘home of golf’ and the last club maker in the world retaining the traditional skills to handcraft playable sets of hickory & modern state of the art golf clubs. We offer a unique opportunity to see how clubs have been made for 600 years since golf was first played in this area known worldwide as “The Home of Golf”.

It was nice watching the golfers play on the world’s most prestigious golf course. We were surprised by how quiet it was, especially as they don’t play at all on a Sunday. All of a sudden Liam had a cunning plan, uh oh. As we made our way down Golf Place he couldn’t help himself and picked up a golf ball and a St Andrews tee. It seemed a shame that the famous 18th fairway was vacant. All these people had come from across the world to see golf played here. If you think about it, I was really doing the people a favour. After a quick phone call, I joined the European Tour and got the all-clear. I made my way to the 18th tee block and set up.

I was pretty nervous at this stage, I took one look down the long fairway towards The Old Pavilion and let it rip. With help from Rory McIlroy, we were able to stick it to about six feet and received a thunderous applause. It was then a quick jog away with my head down before the snipers pulled their triggers. It really is just the calmest spot in the world, no one really seemed to bat an eyelid, but I had pushed my luck far enough.

We bolted away from the Old Course before someone was sent our way. Seeking refuge in trusty Costa’s.

After coffee and treats our new pals arrived and we headed back to the scene of the crime for lunch alongside the 17th fairway at the famous Jigger Inn.

Interestingly due to the Bad Weather & Winter Golf Policies at St Andrews Old Course golfers have to hit off “fairway mats from 1st November 2022 to 31st March 2023”. This explained why the course was looking perfect, unlike the lead-up to The Open Championships last summer.

After a delicious meal, Lachlan wanted to get back out on that hallow turf as we made our way along the Old Course and up the beautiful coast.

After a lovely day, it was sadly time to depart Heaven and make our way back across Scotland. We are sure we will return in the not-to-distant future.

This morning the Silver Surfers were on the train headed for the city. Super Mum needed sewing supplies. There will be a lot of Sewing with Sophie to come as the back orders pile up.

In the afternoon the kids were ecstatic for a playdate with Emma and Juju, the tribe was back together. Perhaps for the first time since Eloise’s third birthday, there were lots of toys and stories to gossip about.