Monday 16th May
Heres tae us,
Wha's like us,
Damn few,
And there a' deid.

Thanks Dave and also thanks to you all for your comments. Rich's Mum often related that ditty in your comments.
The weather has changed and our luck with it.Grey, drizzly and cold today. Packed up to move out of Livingston into Edinburgh. Richard took the car to the carwash - must admit it was dirty. Found our way into Edinburgh - oh dear also discovered that we should not have been driving in the bus/tram lane!! We were hooted at by a bus driver but we got there first! Arrived at Hertz and the car was inspected and they decided to charge us 137 pounds for a damaged tyre which had a bulge in it. It is a faulty product. Richard advised the inspector that he had been in the tyre industry for 30 years. We will claim it from our insurance but we know that Hertz will submit that tyre to the manufacturer for a claim on a faulty product, which will be replaced but Hertz are still double dipping!!
Met up with Anne McFeeters and Jean Stewart for lunch at the Royal (excuse me). Much chatter photos taken and others identified and they had a quick read of the book.
Then later on in the afternoon for a post office to send some books and things accumulated on this trip back home. Both suitcases are overweight. Several people doing the same thing - all to Oz ! We have been out and about looking for a bookshop, even a 2nd hand bookshop been through two shopping centres and round and about - zilch! Puzzling. We catch the plane tomorrow for Dublin.

Friday 13th May
The day continued for us down the Royal Mile to Holyrood Palace, where my Dad received his investiture of the VC by King George V1 in 1945. It would appear that it was likely to have taken place in the Great Hall. We had a most interesting walk through the entrance to this Palace which included the various State rooms, sleeping quarters etc. The age of the Palace is very old and has creeking floorboards and obviously worn steps etc. The Abbey knave is still intact, but the main roof of the building has collapsed and never been repaired. We walked through the gardens which are truly lovely. We imagined how many little 'royalty' had climbed the various trees and played in the garden. We left the Holyrood Palace after a good look around and made our way back up the royal mile and had a look in various shops etc. Made our way back to the train station and caught the train back to Livingston and then a taxi back to the hotel.
Tomorrow we will be meeting a big group of rellies and no doubt much talking.

Friday 13th May
Caught a train to Edinburgh and blow me down a phone call in a taxi from Wayne. Thank you Wayne. Made our way from the station - Edinburgh very old. Visited Edinburgh Castle where the Tattoo is held each year. Outside there is new construction of stands in progress - to be opened in 2012 - for the Games we guess. Pics taken all over - Argyle Battery 18lb balls. Wandered along to the Scottish war memorial . This is a shrine to those who gave their lives in conflicts from World War 1 onwards. It is a memorable and moving place to visit and one wonders at the futility of war. We als0 covered the Crown Jewels of Scotland where the nation's treasures are kept including the 'stone of destiny'. This made up for the ones we did not see in London.
We stopped in the great hall and were able to see the magnificent and original hammerbeam roof in this hall which dates back to medival times. We took in the prisons of war exhibition.