Good morning!!! Lovely sleep in Bamburgh, room was nice and warm. We were up quite early as breakfast in our room was not available. We showered and dressed and made our way down to what we thought would be a fab breakfast…we were left so disappointed!!!! We rate this breakfast 4 / 10. Let me explain, porridge was a make your own in a pot, orange juice was from a carton, fresh fruit has run out and it was only 8.20am!!! After speaking to the waitress, the chef did bring out more fresh fruit. The score so far would have been 2 / 10. Nisha had poached eggs with spinach and I had kippers, both which boosted the score to 4. That’s all re breakfast, I could go on but hey!!!

We checked out, bags were rammed in the car and off we set to Edinburgh!!!! On the way, we recognised an Esso petrol station and within 10 seconds realised where the immediate right turn would us!!! I indicated, braked and turned right…no handbrake right turn was needed!!!! On to Lindisfarne (Holy Island to some of you!!!) we drove!!!

Such a lovely quaint place, we had a lovely enjoyable walk, but on the way back it was more of a case of side stepping the sheep s**t, and there was soo much of it…such healthy sheep!!!

Lovely views from the coast, even views to Bamburgh!!!

Now that was a nice pit stop!!! Back in the car, off to Edinburgh!!! Ok, for those of you who drive to Edinburgh, a quick tip, at the end of the A1, near Berwick, there’s a roundabout which has a Morrisons and you’re always guaranteed cheap petrol…in we drove, filled up, tank full and back on the road!!! Another tip…use Waze as a sat nav, they tell you where the cameras are!!! Not that I broke the national speed limit 🤣😜🤣😜

Within a few minutes, the Scottish border flags and signs were in full view…I had to slow down, Nisha needed time to get the camera function on her phone ready and then aim it at the sign…the result…(see below) 🤣😜🤣😜

Another 45 minutes and Edinburgh was in sight, we caught a glimpse of Arthur’s seat and then got stuck in traffic on the way to Leith where our hotel is.

After semi checking in (doing all the paperwork but no room keys), we headed by bus, number 22 for those who like buses 🤣🤣🤣 to Edinburgh city centre. We had a mission, Nisha wanted to see the old Edinburgh underground streets, Mary King Close and associated stories!!! It’s thoroughly recommended!!! Indians still had it worse!!!!

Bus number 22 was then boarded for a return journey, the bus stop was on Princes Street, not Princess Street as Nisha thought 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

On arrival, we queued at reception to check in…there were 3 people in the growing queue while the receptionist thought he was on holiday and taking unnecessary time with every guest!!! Couples in the queue were getting more and more unhappy!!! Eventually it was our turn and he gave us our room number, told us where the list was and waved us away. Well, the lift is opposite the reception desk, literally 5 metres away and we called the lift. Doors opened and still in the lift were the couple who were ahead of us in reception, we smiled and they pushed their floor button and they doors closed….after a minute we pressed the button again…the doors opened and guess what…they were still there!!! I asked the lady if she had pressed the correct floor button from the panel behind her, she turned around and pressed the button and once again the doors closed. This time we heard the rumble of the lift before we pressed the call button and waited while it returned. The doors opened and guess what….it was empty 🤣🤣🤣🤣. We entered and pressed the button for the floor we required. We also had a look at what the previous occupants had been doing and realised that they had been pushing a cardboard room notice (yep, made of cardboard and not linked to any lift button 🤣🤣🤣🤣). We laughed!!!!

We shouldn’t have laughed!!! On floor two, the rooms stopped at room 217 and our room was 226…up and down the corridor we traipsed, room 226 was no where to be found…back to the lift we arrived. Doors opened, down to reception we went. To our surprise, around the corner there was another lift which the receptionist forgot the mention and which led us to a different wing of the hotel, and that’s where we found room 226. But before we entered the lift, I told the receptionist that I would like a word with the duty manager and will speak to them after we had freshened up.

Back to reception we went, and as soon as the receptionist saw us, he went to the back office to get the duty manager…he returned back to say the duty manager will be with us as soon as she can…..in shock I had to repeat what he said….she will see us as soon as she can!!!! I bit my tongue and said we will have a word on our return….we had a restaurant booking we were running late for, and we were hungry!!

What a fantastic restaurant!!!! We totally recommend The Ship on The Shore restaurant….location, service, ambiance and food are top top notch!!! Our order: drink, a bottle of Chablis, starter was cold smoked salmon with hot salmon and salad with fresh bread. 10 / 10

Main for Nisha was monk fish with baby potatoes and steamed veg, I had freshly hand dived scallops with salad and crispy chips, both 10 / 10!!!

No room for dessert so we settled for two single 12 ye old Caol Ila malts (yep Kris and Vikki, the one I love!!!)

We sauntered back to our hotel and to reception where again, the receptionist quickly got up and went to seek the duty manager. We waited in the outer reception area where she arrived. We explained our displeasure to which she mostly agreed with (doesn’t seem like she thinks much of the receptionist and more or less blamed the training and head office.). Free drinks were offered and the bar had been notified. After freshening up in our room, we headed to the bar, sat down and ordered our drinks. As we sat down, I recognised a fella arriving at the table in front of us. Me being me had to say….how come we don’t see you much on the box these days!!!! His response….it’s in the pipeline!!!….our drinks came, and as we slowly consumed our alcoholic beverages, we googled this fab actor…what was he in…comedian…no….actor…yes that’s it…comedy actor??? Hell yes…ummmm…where had we seen him….boom….lock stock and two smoking barrels!!!! Also Only fools and horses….yes yes….I’m getting to his name…patience is a virtue!!! Anyway, as he ate his food and worked away we found him!!!!

Vas Blackwood….total legend and such a genuine down to earth gentleman!!! He loved our registry photo, even loved my Cheaney shoes!!!!

Nisha has been in heaven!!! Can’t stop smiling!!!!

We have now retired to our room, ready for the next adventure…..