12:16 pm
Majestic Scone… (‘Scoon’) Proud and dignified, more a home than a museum. I have stood where Macbeth, where Charles II, where Robert the Bruce (etc) were crowned!
The only part of my visit that I’ve disliked are the dozens of peacocks running around loose. They are the butt ugliest birds on Earth besides turkeys and vultures and their cry is like a cross between a lament and a kitten mewling. Someone put them out of their misery, please! One is ‘posing’ (quite literally, in fact! I couldn’t believe my eyes.) for a photograph. It was this close to me a moment ago and raised up its hideous ‘eyed’ tail. Sign of warning or friendship? Blech, I can’t stand those birds!
Scone is a quiet place far from the hubbub of ‘real’ life. A white peacock has just approached. It’s lovely!!! I wonder if they are rare or perhaps just females. I’ll try to find someone to ask. (note: special purebreds hatched right on the estate, not too rare, others have them. They are not albinos.) Sorry for the digression—hey there’s another one! Sorry again!
So, as I was saying, Scone is a peaceful place and gives off wonderful vibes despite its tumultuous history. The Mansfields still live here full time; can you imagine the lifestyle?! I’m happy being a pauper, thank you very much! At least I have my freedom. Besides, I was given a glimpse as to the running of this estate. I couldn’t be bothered!
8:25 pm
I got a tip on a place to stay in Stirling (a new International Youth Hostel, £11.50/night, breakfast included. Supposedly, the rooms are singles.), so I’ll follow through on that before deciding on going north or south. I realise that it would be silly and time consuming to go to Aberdeen for just a statue and a ruin (and I don’t even know how easy or hard it would be to get to Kildrummy from Aberdeen, I’ll try to find out tomorrow). I’d like to come back to Scotland with a car. Hmm… maybe I could do Stirling, Bannockburn, and Falkirk (whew !) tomorrow and go on a day trip to Dundee and Glamis on Tuesday. The thing is, there’s not cheap (ie. in my price range) accommodation in Dundee. I dinna ken so I’ll see tomorrow. If there’s nothing (for sleeping, that is !) in Stirling and it’s not worth going to Aberdeen, then I’ll go wherever a bus goes and hope there’s a bed at the other end!!!