Day 10 – 16th August – Loch Katrine – the Sir Walter Scott steam ship
Up early (ish) and driving for an hour. Passed some gorgeous stately homes then reached our destination
The journey on the steamship took a total of two hours.
The Loch was like a mirror.
(I had my AI help me write this next section)
BOB’s Odyssey: From Loch to Laughs
A rescue drill aboard the Steamship Sir Walter Scott that turned into a maritime masterpiece
We boarded the Sir Walter Scott expecting misty views and gentle nostalgia. What we got was a full-blown rescue drama starring a sand-filled dummy named BOB, a hot toddy, and a French lady with impeccable timing.
Act I: The Launch
BOB—short for Body Over Board—was ceremoniously flung into Loch Katrine, buoy attached, sand-filled, and sporting a hand-drawn sad face.
My role?
- Sprint around the deck yelling “MAN OVERBOARD!”
- Climb to the top deck and dramatically point at BOB’s location
- Maintain toddy integrity throughout
The crew sprang into action. The ship performed a majestic circle. Two officers attempted a lasso rescue, catching BOB around the neck—but he slipped free. Cue circle number two.
Act II: CPR & Commentary
BOB was finally retrieved—face down, looking decidedly lifeless. CPR commenced.
A French passenger solemnly declared, “It’s too late.”
I nearly dropped my toddy.
Then came the rescue boat, summoned to assist. BOB was bent in half and hoisted aboard like a damp accordion. The deckhand, undeterred, began CPR round two.
Act III: Fire & Fury
Just when we thought BOB’s ordeal was over, the fire alarm sounded.
The rescue boat was summoned again.
The crew attached the fire hose to the water spout.
And who was handed the hose? The same French lady, now wielding watery vengeance.
She aimed. She sprayed.
At the rescue boat.
BOB, still aboard, got drenched again.
His sad face said it all.
BOB’s Final Report:
Trauma Status
Hypothermia ✅
Strangulation ✅
Drowning ✅✅
Spinal fracture ✅
CPR (x2) ✅
Fire hose assault ✅
Emotional support ❌
(My version). On the way back the captain came up to us to explain that there was to be a rescue drill performed. It was a good job I’d started drinking a ‘hot toddy’ because the Captain asked me if I would be the person to run around the deck and scream out ‘man overboard’!!! Well, I felt a bit self conscious but I did my job and ran around screaming ‘man overboard’ then part of my ‘job’ was to also climb up to the top deck and keep pointing to the body.
The first time they tried to ‘rescue’ the dummy they didn’t manage to lasso it correctly so they had it by the neck. As they tried to bring it up on deck it slipped out of the noose and fell back into the water facedown. We had to go around again and finally picked it up properly. There was a French lady on board and she was saying “it’s too late, he’s dead’. But it all had to be done properly so they were giving it CPR whilst another boat came up beside us and they transferred it ‘with difficulty’ because by this time it was bent in two! Then the boy in the other boat had to also give it CPR. This poor guy BOB (body over board) had been frozen, strangled and then drowned, apart from being broken in two!!! HAHAHA. No wonder the face they had drawn on it was a ‘frown’.
Just after that the sirens go off for a fire on board! Oh no. Then we get told the little boat is coming back to help us. When it arrives the French lady is helping them point the fire hose that then sprays the rescue boat. I guess you had to be there to see the humorous side of it all. But it was definitely funny.
On our return to dry land we decided to walk up yet another ‘many hundred’ steps to the lookout. It was nice but was very steep.
We departed after this and Tom was keen to see if there was a screen somewhere so he and Helen (and me) could watch Newcastle playing Aston Villa. We were coming back through Callander and stopped opposite the pub we were at yesterday. Fortunately they had Skye Sports and we grabbed a couple of drinks with lunch and stayed until the end of the game.
We were just about to hop into the car when we heard a Piper in the distance. We found the source and managed to catch the last five minutes of a Highland Dancing display. Really nice.
Back to Sterling, popped in to TK MAX and Tesco (for petrol that still wouldn’t work). Now home for a rest. Tom and Helen are off to ‘The Bridge of Allan’ for a bite to eat. I’m staying home. Later we will have a drink and some supper as per our usual Saturday night. 2,975 steps.
Day 11 – 17th August – back to England and off to Northern Ireland (for me)
Plenty to do this morning- get up, get dressed, have a shower, some breakfast, finish packing, clean up, pack car, lock door- head for England. Goodbye Scotland – birthplace of my Mother.
We planned a few stops to break up the journey, so we made the SATNAV lady take us to the Kelpies.
She did get us there—eventually—though not without first leading us into yet another dead end. Her sense of direction seems to be part logic, part whimsy.
I’d seen these two magnificent horse-head sculptures from the motorway before, but being up close and personal was something else entirely.
Standing at 100 feet tall and weighing over 300 tonnes each, the Kelpies are the largest equine sculptures in the world, created by artist Andy Scott to honor Scotland’s working horses They’re stunning—majestic, metallic, and somehow both modern and mythic.
By this time, we were feeling a little snackish, so I grabbed my first chai latte of the trip.
It turned out to be the most disgustingly sweet ‘stuff’ I’ve ever had to drink.
SO much vanilla. Yukkk.
And it cost £4.50—roughly $10 AUD.
I’ll definitely be re-thinking that next time.
Had a nice walk around, took some photos and kept on going to ?
We reached Alnwick where Helen and Tom were going to stay. Decided we’d head towards the airport and have dinner on the way somewhere. We reached …..Had a quick drink thinking we’d be able to eat at the same pub but they stopped serving food at three. So made our way to Morpeth and had dinner at The Electric Wizard (the Wetherspoon pub)
I got to the airport at exactly 8:00pm and did the usual routine.
Passed through the first stage with my digital boarding pass, handed over my passport, and checked in my very heavy case.
Next stop: security.
And—damn—I got called over yet again.
I’d transferred a few items to my cabin baggage to lighten the load, but forgot to check the sizes of the bottles.
So I had to hand over my face cleanser—a brand new tube, just purchased.
Too big. Too bad.
Damn.
It was a super quick trip—just 35 minutes in the air.
I could barely finish my hot water because it was still boiling.
OMG. Blink and you’re descending.
Managed to log into the Belfast Airport Wi-Fi, let Jean and Crawford know I’d landed and picked up my luggage.
No drama, no delays—just a fast hop and a smooth arrival.
I didn’t have to wait too long and we were home around 29-35 minutes later. Stayed up talking but finally hit my pillow around 1:30am. 11,079 steps.
Day 12 – 18th August- first day in Larne
A totally laid back day today. Caught up with some of my relatives, did a bit of shopping and had some really lovely food. Not so many steps today. 899 steps.
Day 13 – 19th August – a lazy day.
Didn’t get up early so felt quite spoiled. Around 11:30 Jean took me for a drive out to Glenarm (my grand father’s birthplace). Had a look around the shops at the Castle, grabbed a delicious ice cream then headed back home.
Caught up with my ex neighbours and I’m going out to dinner on Thursday night with them.
Jean cooked Turkey breast tonight and all the vegetables came out of their garden. Then we had an apple crumble -yummmm
2464 steps
Day 14 – 20th August – another lazy day
After breakfast I caught up with washing. Learned how to make a sour dough ‘starter’. Went and visited MUM and DAD’s grave. Miraculously found my WISE card in a zipped pocket of my new purse. I don’t know HOW many times I searched that purse! Anyway I took out my first lot of cash ready for the Chinese doctor I went to see. Only to find out that she gave Jean the wrong day. All good-will see her tomorrow.
Had a lovely home made fish and chips. Huge pieces of cod and air fried chips. I’ve never seen THIS type of air fryer before. Is excellent.
A drink of wine with dinner then a baileys and I thought I should get in some steps as I haven’t been venturing out of the house much. I set off and saw ahead of me another lady going for a walk. I asked if she wanted a walking partner and she said yes. She knows jean and Crawford well as she lives two doors up. So we did a ‘blockie’ and then I went home. Dried a few dishes and headed off to bed. 3,346 steps
Day 15 – 21st August – acupuncture and dinner
I’d say I had a normal morning… only it wasn’t quite.
I got an email from APIA saying they’d cancelled my car insurance.
Without diving into the whole saga, let’s just say the online chat was frustrating—full of half conversations, dropped threads, and long waits.
It took nearly two hours from start to finish, and in the end I had to apply for a new quote altogether.
But here’s the twist:
The new policy is actually $30 a month cheaper.
So maybe it was a good thing they did cancel it—just not the most graceful way to get there.
Post-Lunch Pincushion
After lunch, I had my appointment with the Chinese doctor.
I’m not entirely sure what I became—either a porcupine or a human pin cushion—but I can say this: whatever she did, it worked. I left feeling surprisingly good. Relaxed, rebalanced, and just a little mystified.
Even better, she told me I was in good condition.
Which, after the morning I’d had with APIA, felt like a small but meaningful victory.
Dinner, Football Legends & a Little Local Lore
I wrapped up the day with a lovely dinner at the Curran Court Hotel—once owned by my cousin—with my former neighbours from Northern Ireland, William and Eleanor Nelson. The meal was delicious, but the conversation? Even better.
We talked about their daughter, Julie Nelson, and I was genuinely blown away by her achievements. Julie isn’t just a successful soccer player—she’s a trailblazer.
- First woman to earn 100 caps for Northern Ireland 🇳🇮
- Played professionally in Iceland, England, Scotland, and the USA
- Scored Northern Ireland’s first-ever goal at a major tournament (Euro 2022)
- Awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to women’s football
- Received a Hall of Fame award in America and soon one in Leeds
- Honoured with an Honorary Doctorate from Queen’s University Belfast
- Invited to attend the King’s Coronation 👑
- Currently coaching the Northern Ireland Junior Team
Julie’s story is one of grit, grace, and quiet leadership. She’s helped shape the future of women’s football in Northern Ireland, and it was a joy to hear her parents speak with such pride.
When I got home I managed to have AGL turn on my international roaming on. So a pretty successful day. 1,300 steps.
Lady Boomer 