My weekend trip to Scotland with Suzi B

Hoots Mon! And other such Scottish phrases which I have yet to hear a true Scots person utter. But I thought I would drop you a line to let you share in my fab weekend. 

I'm sure you're all familiar with Suzi B from California Style (see photo left). Well, we have become quite firm friends over the years, and as her husband Adam's family originally hail from the Highlands, they chose Perth to celebrate his 40th birthday! 

Colin and I flew to Edinburgh on Saturday morning and then caught the bus to the city centre. It took about three hours in total - which I thought was amazing considering it can take me that long some mornings to travel the 45 miles to QVC Towers. However, 50 minutes in a plane and it's like another world! WOW! I've never been to Edinburgh before but I loved it. 

We had a brief look around the castle and then listened to this young bagpipe player (see photo below) before heading off by train to Perth. I should add at this point that we were only two of 18 people - the others in the party had flown in from the USA the day before. So, I think in fairness we probably represented the kind of group you'd be happy to move carriages to avoid! All of us talking at once and laughing inanely at the silliest of things.

From Perth we hired cars and drove to a tiny village where Suzi had rented a huge old house called Drumkilbo, and that's where we began our celebrations.
Apparently the Queen used to stay there at least twice a year as it's only 8 miles from Glamis Castle, where the Queen Mother lived as a little girl, and where she also gave birth to Princess Margaret. 

The weather could not have been better, the house was splendid and we even managed a visit to Glamis Castle on the Sunday before we flew home. What a fabulous place that is! Amazing grounds, and so pretty - like the kind of castle you'd find Rapunzel hidden away in! Our American friends were thrilled with all the history, and it certainly made for a fabulous day out.

Well, I'm off to a little Greek island tomorrow and I promise to write and post more photos on my return.... you going anywhere nice this summer? Even being at home with the sun shining can be a lovely break.  Take care wherever you're going to be. 

Love Ali x

Comments

[Joanna Downey]

Ali you're so fab, I just love reading your blogs. To me you SHOUT that whatever life throws at you there is a lot to be said for just getting on with it AND always looking for the positive. To you, and Suzy, I wish every happiness, because you both radiate sunshine, despite any personal traumas you may have experienced. Love from Jo who always tries to look for blue skies and sunshine and, even if she doesn't find them, feels better for the effort!!

[Steven]

There must be something about Scotland for QVC presenters Ali! Thats you and Julia been up here lately. Sounds like you had a great trip. Enjoy your Greek Island

xx

[Nicola Rippon]

Hope you have a great holiday Alison, and can I just say to fellow commenter Jo, that I loved her message? I've always said that you don't always get the life you expected, and you can only live the one you did get, so you might just as well get on with it! I might start borrowing hers now, though!

[julie]

Glad you enjoyed your Scottish visit Alison.
Being a Scot myself and living in Ayr, about 2 hours drive from Edinburgh i am very biast and love Scotland.
I hope you have a wonderful holiday.
Will miss you on QVC.
Love Jules
xx

[Maria Johnson]

Hi Ali,
So glad that you liked Scotland. It is certainly a beautiful treasure and when the sun shines there is no better place on earth!!!! Hope you enjoy your holiday and look forward to hearing what you got up to!! You manage to inject fun into everything you say and do. Your bubbly presence will be missed.

[alison keenan]

Jo, you sound lovely! Sending you some of the fabulous blue skies I sat under and the warm sunshine to hopefully cheer your day. Being positive is the ONLY way, whatever life throws at you. Do keep in touch, your message made me smile :) Love Ali xx

[alison keenan]

Hi Steven - Lovely to hear from you as always, and yes the Greek Island was amazing... I'm putting some photos on this week's blog. Hope all's well with you.

Ali x

[alison keenan]

Nicola, I so know what you're saying, and none of us have really any idea what's around the corner, but everything we go through helps to know how best to deal with the next event! I think Jo's logic and yours is great. The holiday was lovely - "Read All About it".... in my next blog. Thank you so much for taking time out to write to me - and I hope this week will be a good one for you.

Love Ali xx

[alison keenan]

Hi Jules - How lucky for you to be in Bonny Scotland - I plan to visit again asap - especially as it's so easy to get to you. Yes, Greece too was lovely, although completely different, and I shall be back with you at 4pm today... showing my tanned feet with Rockport. I hope you enjoyed the warm weather recently, and thank you for writing. Love Ali x

[alison keenan]

Maria, Thanks for your lovely message - I've written all about my Greek island (I feel I own at least a part of it having travelled on all of their very small roads!) for this week's blog and even managed to squeeze a few photos in. Hope you enjoy reading it, and do keep in touch - it makes coming home worthwhile :) Ali xx

[Rhona Fenton]

Hi Alison, glad you had a lovely trip to scotland with Suzi who I know myself shes a lovely lady, its a pitty I didn't know you were coming because I live in Glamis Alison a stone throw from the castle, never mind maybe next time, hope you had a fab time in Bonnie Scotland!
love Rhona x

[alison keenan]

Rhona next time I'll make sure we take time out to come and visit you. You are very lucky to live in such a fabulous part of the world. Love Ali x

[Rhona Fenton]

Hi Alison,
I come from St Andrews myself where I believe you and Suzi took in while you were up here and the guy's played Golf, but yes I now life in Glamis as that's where my hubby colin works and I will hold you to that visit next time you are here please be sure and let me know, glad you got your mail I sent you ok thought you would enjoy the read! hope you and colin are having a lovely summer, but I think you took the sun back to London with you as its rained non stop since you left, send it back please!!
take care
love Rhona x

[alison keenan]

Rhona, if we'd seen any sun since our retun I would of course have sent some to you. It's been pouring for the last two weeks and I think Julia said it rained on St. Swithins this year so I guess we have another 15 days to go!! You take care and keep watching = oh and reading my BLOGS. Much appreciated. Love Ali xx

[diane bell]

Alison, I bought a beautiful necklace from Suzi for my daughter - she has worn it so much and had so many lovely comments about it, but it's starting to wear out now and i'm trying to replace it with something similar of Suzi's, but so far have had no luck. It's on an invisible necklace with 5 different coloured daisies -each almost an inch across with a matching gem in each centre, please can you ask suzi if she can help, thank you so much Diane Bell

[alison keenan]

Hello Diane, Lovely to hear from you and I will of course pass your request directly on to Suzi. I'm sure if not that necklace she will be able to find something similar that your daughter will love. It's such a pretty range of jewellery isn't it, and I'm glad that your daughters had so much pleasure from the necklace as I'm sure Suzi will be when she reads your message. Do keep in touch, and I'll let you know as soon as I have a response. Many thanks, Ali x