St Andrews Day weekend

Yesterday was one of those classic Scottish days - sunscreen and sou'wester.

With it being the St Andrews Day weekend , the Government's agency responsible for a number of properties / castles - Historic Scotland - has a weekend where there is free access. I had heard positive things about a couple of places in East Lothian - Tantallon and Dirleton Castles. At nearly a fiver a pop, I had yet to take the plunge.

So this seemed a perfect weekend. I took the bus out to North Berwick and walked along to Tantallon Castle. It started with bright sunshine but I could see the weather coming in - with the Bass Rock slowly disappearing into the grey, snow-laden clouds. The wind whipped the hail into my face so hard that I had to hide behind a stationary van. By the time i reached Tantallon the sun was again shining. And it is a stupendous castle sitting high on a cliff with superb views across the Forth.

After a good troll round I stopped off to buy some sausages on North Berwick High Street and then took the five minute bus trip to Dirleton. This didn't have the same dramatic feel as Tantallon. However, it sits high on an outcrop of rock and I am looking forward to returning to have a look at the Gardens.

So thanks to Historic Scotland - and if you are looking forward in 2011 to a trip to Edinburgh then this weekend is well worth it with the start of the Winter Festivals as well.

I could have made bigger savings with a trip to Edinburgh castle where it is £12 a throw if you buy up on the day.

Unknown Leisure

It's been a very busy week this week.

The main reason was the excellent free Edinburgh Leisure pass that we obtained via a competition with ESPC. I was alerted to this by the Guardian's excellent Edinburgh blog. If you want to find out what's going on in the Edinburgh blogosphere - it's a superior resource.

So this week, we have been to classes such as BodyBalance and BodyCombat plus free access to Edinburgh's pools and gyms.

But the best bit has been the use of the Turkish bath at Portobello. A series of rooms lead you into the steam room where a myriad number of folk can be seen sweating through the steam. A quick shower - and then into the baltic plunge pool - where the temperature feels like it's straight from the Firth of Forth - to quote Tom Waits "...colder than a well digger's ass..." Three times then a lie down to relax chatting with friends. There is a clock - but it seems to be so steamed up that you are not really conscious of the time. Then a few lengths of the pool - and you can head out ready to face the trials and tribulations of the rest of day.

One chap today was taking rrelaxation to the nth degree - and could be heard to be gently snoring on his lounger.

Market Madness

One of the things I miss about living in Scotland is the lack of markets. Edinburgh has its farmers market but it doesn't have that slightly rough round the edges feel that a market should have. Classics include the Grainger in Newcastle and the Kirkgate in Leeds. Both of these are indoor markets and today we came across an equivalent in Glasgow - the Savoy Centre on Sauchiehall Street.

It had all the things you'd want - a butcher, a shop selling exotic vegetables, a greasy spoon and a place selling cheap and cheerful sweeties. There looked like there were a couple of barbers on the two floors of scranner delights.

We stopped off for a £5.70 business lunch at the Chinese cafe - soup followed by curry and rice which went down well. We also had Chinese tea which was a pleasant change from a beer.

Glasgow was great to shop in generally and we both came back with some delights.

Bring me bargains

I might as well give up with this Captain Value stuff having just spent a weekend visiting friends in Morley, West Yorkshire.. This must be one of the cheapest places in the UK to live.

Well the bargains never stopped.

- Bananas at 29p / lb.

- The Morley WMC: round of drinks for six - £12, with the malt of the month - Highland Park 12yr at £1.40 a dram.

- the market had shop after shop selling cheapo delights: chocolates, crisps etc (though a little on the best before edge it has to be said)

- and a Bargain Madness that sells booze - woohoo - Caledonian Golden Promise at 99p a bottle.

This is a statue of Ernie Wise - the leaning comedian of Morley.

But the best bit was just outside Morley - the West Riding Refreshment Room at Dewsbury rail station. I used to work in Dewsbury and the place is now looking a little sad - but with the West Riding it has a gem. It is a well renowned place for real ale and the food was superb. I had a Berry Blond at £2.40 a pint accompanied by a home made corned beef pasty with all the trimmings - roast potatoes, carrots, cabbage - delicious at £4.50.