FMUKCON 28th March 2015 - Edinburgh

[vealster]

A BIG thank you to all who organised yet another brilliant get together

At a bit of a nightmare getting back, got on plane, the pilot started the engine to discover one of them wasn't working properly so we all had to get off the plane and wait in the departure lounge.

2 hours later we board another plane.

There are a few of us waiting for the suitcases to arrive on the conveyor belt, but only half come through. They check the plane and there's no more suitcases left on board.

So are they still in Edinburgh?

We were told to give our details and they would try and track the suitcases down. I was the last passenger to do so which turned out to be a blessing because as I was giving my details they came through to say they had found them - an hour after we landed - another couple an me were able to get ours as the others had already left the baggage area. They had put half the suitcases on the international conveyor belt instead of the domestic flight conveyor belt.

3.5 hours after the time we should of landed we are leaving the airport.

That aside, despite not seeing the stars and not completing the ghost tour we still had a fab time and got the chance to catch up with new and old FMUKers.


Can't wait for the next one.

Ouch I thought I had an awkward journey but that sounds terrible.

Was great to see all the old faces and some new ones hope to see you all again soon ☺

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

Wow, that was an awesome trip, and I echo the gratitude to Diane and PrettyXcool for their bossiness...I mean top organisation skills and initiatives :) Wonderful to meet old and new friends of FMUK. Yinster, thanks for your recommendations, the badges and fridge magnet :)

The only thing I regret (hugely so) is not being able to entertain all my fmuk guests who came by train to the tour of the cosmos at my temporary coastal habitat in North Berwick All because I read the wrong day of a bus timetable at one of the castles we visited combined with the bus being another half an hour late! So sorry, and I scouted all the walking distances on previous day and reading the bus timetables! As a result I seem to have established a new timeline system, called the "MrG" time, so whenever I state a duration, everyone responds with a clarifying "Is that MrG time, or real time?"! I did get to show Chelle1973 and her mum, though (glad you and mum enjoyed it, Chelle1973).

Steve, the telescope will always come with me at our next meets, I wont give up and thanks for not giving up on me!

Our chartered boat trip delivered more than we bargained for. To start with our sailor was the most authentic looking white bearded skipper named Dougie. We were treated to the famous Bass Rock swarming of the world's numerous habitat for Gannets that just flew in from Portugal (where do they keep their passports?), and some puffins on Craighleigh island...and then something amazing happened that even surprised Captain Birdseye, I mean Dougie...we were accompanied by a school of Dolphins giving us a show that even David Attenborough would have been jealous of. It was spectacular! I didnt even know there were supposed to be dolphins there.

The two castles ruins (Tantallon and Dirleton) were also beautiful scenic locations, Tantallon in particular with its spectacular backdrop of the sea and Bass Rock. Then the lovely "gentle" walk up the Berwick Law, 20mins MrG time...easy wasnt it, guys? I mean you only had to go on all fours half the time! Hey Steve did it in 16mins!

Thank you all to The Fox, your sis, Diane, Steve, PrettyXcool, Chelle1973 and your mum for coming down to North Berwick, I enjoyed all your company immensely and I hope you enjoyed whichever the attractions you were able to do with me.

The Edinburgh FMUK Con was fantastic, great to see so many of you, great effort all round not just to our super organisers and locals but to everyone making the effort in travelling from all parts of the British Isle. The Ghost Walking Tour was cool, educational too in a gruesome way! The tour host was a splendid performer, getting us into the, ahem - spirit of things with gruesome stories, ghost sightings and curses. I know its harmless but being in total pitch darkness is flipping unnerving! Love it. Not sure whats up with that bloody huge step at the entrance to the underground tunnels...Chelle1973, your mum is so infectiously charming and funny, how could I not come to her rescue with that ridiculous step! I wouldnt be surprised if that itself was a haunted spot!

Oh man, there was so much to enjoy again in Edinburgh, despite having visited before, thanks again to Diane, PrettyXCool and Yinster. Parliament, The National Museum of Scotland, The Royal Brittania Yacht, The Edinburgh Museum, The museum of Childhood, our main Con at the Advocate, The Elephant House cafe where Rowling wrote early Potter books. Then there were scenic sights of Edinburgh Castle and Edinburgh's plethora of historical heritage that I can never get enough of on every visit. Topped off with a climb up to the top of Arthurs Seat on the final day with the best views of Scotland yet, complete with rainbow, falls, and muddy backsides! But it wouldnt be half as enjoyable without the company of fmukers.

I may not be posting that regularly on the forum but nothing beats the physical company of this awesome group and I look forward to our next meet wherever that may be :)

Well I kept that short this time...didnt I? Oh man, I cant help it, I did try

[prettyxcool]

Sorry, to hear about your nightmare the fox. Hope you make the complaints/feedback to the airline, and get some sort of compensation, as that is 5.5 hours total extra hours hanging around airports.

Had a brilliant morning in Edinburgh before our journey home this afternoon. Thanks MrG, joining us halfway, and being such good company! Our trip to Arthur's Seat turned out so much fun. We also had all weather in the space of 2 hours! Rain, sleet, sunshine, and even got a rainbow at the most appropriate time, when we were on a level part of the "hill" to take advantage of getting some good photos!

Then as a reward for reaching the summit (which was truly windy, had to hang on for dear life ), we went and had a champagne and oysters lunch at the Cafe Royal Bar, which was on offer. Well the guys, had beer but I had the champagne! We had to end on a high before catching our train home!

All in all a brilliant weekend, meeting everyone, having so much fun and all the extra bonus of seeing dolphins and the rainbow (a whole one!). So many people to thank, McG and Karenlg123 too, for their help at the Advocate to get the deal sorted. Can't wait for the next meet up!

Please share some funny stories here, if you have any? Will share one tomorrow, as it is late now!

[steve]

OH and myself were travelling back from Edinburgh on the train. Ticket collector comes round asking for tickets. Now we had booked separately as we were using vouchers so didn't know which ticket belonged to who. The inspector pointed out that the ticket I had was to be used on the 27th which was the same day we went out. Luckily the inspector was young (well younger than me) and blond so I turned on the charm, those of you who met me at fmukcon will know what I mean, and managed to talk her out of the £50 it would have cost for a return ticket.

[Diane65]

Luckily the inspector was young (well younger than me) and blond so I turned on the charm, those of you who met me at fmukcon will know what I mean, and managed to talk her out of the £50 it would have cost for a return ticket.

Delusional or what!!!

[McG]

Luckily the inspector was young (well younger than me) and blond so I turned on the charm, those of you who met me at fmukcon will know what I mean, and managed to talk her out of the £50 it would have cost for a return ticket.

Delusional or what!!!

Brilliant!

[Diane65]

Adding just a few bits to what MrGlass has already said.
Friday:
When the first of the Manchester gang arrived we headed straight to John Lewis for our free coffee and cakes which was lovely to relax after the journey before we could check in.
Dirleton castle was just beautiful the gentleman at the ticket office was extremely chatty and informative http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirleton_Castle it was just MrGlass, Steve and myself who went in here and my goodness there were lots of rooms to discover along with a beehive type place which was actually a Doocot which was built in the same structure of The Pantheon in Rome. While we were waiting for the bus I had a walk to the local church which was picture postcard pretty from the outside and very fresh and pure inside - I mean not all flash and showy just a lovely unboastful feeling about it.
After the castle we met up with The Fox and sister and had a nice stroll along the beach. MrGlass kindly gave us all solar shields to view the sun which was quite amazing to use.
After our mammoth climb up the Beswick Law we were then also joined by Chelle1973 and her lovely mum and went for fish and chips for dinner - Shocking revelation I have never eaten fish in my life and I tried haddock which I really enjoyed so have come back a changed person.

Saturday:
Prettyxcool plus OH, Steve plus OH, akh43 and myself started the morning walking to Calton Hill when Steve's OH spotted Old Calton cemetary in which rests many notable Scots - I have never seen so many tombs in one place so well worth a visit. Calton Hill with its many monuments (now I know why it's called Rome of the North) gives spectacular views over Edinburgh. We then headed down to The Palace of Holyrood House where we met my good friend Andrews and MrGlass.
MrGlass has already filled in the next bit and we met Steve9872 who had driven up from Leeds and then Vealster who did a mad 24 hour stay awake flying in on Saturday morning and then getting the first flight back on Sunday morning without having a sleep - I take my hat off to you for the amount of effort you put in to attend the meet up and I really enjoyed your company again.
Thanks to Yinster for my beanie hat
The Elephant House was a lovely place for a coffee and a relax but as it took 30 minutes to get served we only had five minutes to drink up and in true trooper style that the FMUKers are we well and truly necked down our drinks
After the ghost tour 14 of us went for a Yo Sushi courtesy of prettyxcool.

Sunday
Prettyxcool plus OH, MrGlass, Suel3288 plus OH, akh43 and myself heading off for a morning on the Royal Yacht Brittania which is well worth a visit especially when using Tesco Clubcard vouchers (thanks prettyxcool ). What a beautiful but not ostentatious yacht. Being the decadent bunch that we are we had our lunch there and I'm ashamed to say that I dropped a paprika wedge in my soup

Myself and akh43 were walked to the station by the Brittania to be waved off (secretly I think that they were making sure that I got on the train so that could have some peace and quiet without being bossed around).

Gosh I think that I am getting worse than MrGlass for chatting on


All in all a wonderful weekend and a massive thanks to everyone that made it happen for making the effort to join the FMUK gang and sorry that a few of you who had wanted to come couldn't make it for various reasons.

Roll on FMUKcon 2016: Suggestions have come in already for Leeds, Birmingham, Cardiff or London again.

[prettyxcool]

After we waved Diane65 and akh43 off (back to Manchester) at the station, we (me, my OH, MrG, suel3288 and OH) decided to go to the National Museum of Scotland, and as we still got our day bus tickets, decided to make use of them and get the bus there.

MrG cleverly checked his App and saw that we could get a bus on the North Bridge and so we waited patiently for the bus which actually turned up when MrG said (from his App). So we piled on and suel3288 asked the driver whether the bus went to the museum, in which he replied "next stop" - we looked at the next stop on the bridge and legged it there (all of 10 paces) as the bus which originally passed us was still waiting there at the stop, as if it was waiting for us.

Anyway, we jumped on and asked the same question to which the driver replied, it is one stop only, so we said we did not mind as we had a day bus ticket. And sure enough, after one stop was the museum. We were still thinking and complaining why the first bus would not let us on, as it was going the same way.

It was only later it dawned on me and my OH, that it was bad communications between us and the first bus driver! Both drivers were kindly telling us it was one bus stop away, thereby being helpful to save us b*ying a ticket x 5 (as they did not know we had a day pass), but we misinterpreted the first bus driver's "next stop" and thought we had to get the bus from the next stop in front of us! He must be thinking these 'tourists' are really stupid, running after another bus for one stop! We had immediately assumed that we needed to get the bus from the next stop, rather than it was one stop away!

[prettyxcool]

More misunderstandings??

Later on we decided to have afternoon tea at The Elephant House Cafe, as we had not been yet. We waited to be served and suel3288 was behind me waiting to order, after I gave my order. There was two girls serving. One served me and the other one kept overlooking suel3288, missing her and kept serving the people behind her. suel3288 kept telling the serving girl, she had not ordered yet, to no avail, as she kept saying we were together, although we kept saying we are sitting together, but suel3288 had not ordered yet! Perhaps Scottish and English are different languages after all! Like when I booked The Advocate, everything I asked, they said yes, yes, yes, but when we got there, it was no, no, no - perhaps, yes means no, and no means yes in Scotland! Reminds me of the guy in Vicar of Dibley!

[steve]

Diane Wrote:
"After our mammoth climb up the Beswick Law"
Is that the one in North Manchester?