From Thursday June 18 till Monday June 22, we’re off as a family to Crieff, about an hour’s drive north of Edinburgh. We’ve had holidays there for years, but this time we have the Cat Problem to contend with: what to do with our furry friends?There are various possibilities – we have helpful neighbours who would feed them, we could take them to where our son lives (he can’t come to Crieff because he can’t get the time off) - but we wonder if by any chance there a cat-loving blogfriend out there who would like a long weekend in Edinburgh? Free accommodation; the only duties would involve feeding the two cats, patting them from time to time and, ideally, shutting them in at night (though they do occasionally stay out in the summer).
The last time I blogged this suggestion, Thimbleanna (http://thimbleanna.com/) and her husband came all the way from Indiana to stay in our house. This was last October. Isn't the blog world strange and wonderful? I somehow don’t think this is going to happen this time – but if anyone who lives a bit nearer would care to come, this would be lovely.
Our house is not palatial but it has a biggish sitting room, a smaller one, a biggish kitchen, two bathrooms and various bedrooms. And a garden. It’s detached, in a quiet cul-de-sac and is two minutes' walk from a bus stop into the city centre. There are frequent buses and the journey takes about ten minutes. Once you're in the city centre, you can walk to most things of interest. I should warn you that Edinburgh is being somewhat dug up at the moment because it has been decreed that we’re to get trams. However, it’s still quite possible to access everything and you would see the city in a period of transition with Princes Street, the main shopping street, devoid of traffic but full of holes and chaps in hard hats doing things in them.
This picture is taken looking down on Princes Street from the hotel that Daughter 2 has been working on for three years (the subject of a future post, possibly). If you click on it, you'll be able to see the red-and-white barriers that adorn the city's roadworks.
Oh, I want to, but can is another issue. Not to mention we'd need someone to come live at our place to take care of Moby. I hope you get someone, though.
ReplyDeleteWhat I wouldn't do to go and visit your town! If your holidays were a couple of weeks later, I'd be there with bells on! Sigh.
ReplyDeleteIf only...
ReplyDeleteI do hope someone takes up your lovely kind offer.
I think Australia Is A bit far to come fron If I had lived closer I would have been First on your door step I hope you get someone.
ReplyDeleteHugs Mary.
Gosh I wish I could do it. I've never been to Edinburgh. Hope you find someone.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh I would love to. You've just sent me in to dreamydream land thinking about staying in your home ... sigh. But I think I would need a little more time to scrape up the air fare from California. I hope you find someone.
ReplyDeleteI'd happily desert the family for a weekend but then you are aware of my compatibility issues with cats at present and I'm sure my name is mud on the feline grapevine.
ReplyDeleteAnd though I hate to correct you Isabelle, Edinburgh is in fact full of holes with chaps in hard hats doing VERY LITTLE in them. Unless you count watching another guy poke some dirt with a stick as doing something? (Can you tell I'm loving the tramworks?)
Sigh. Too bad I live half a world away from you. My son visited there years ago and loved it. Maybe next time.
ReplyDeleteA great offer! The trouble is, who would take care of my cats? What might work another time is to do house swops instead? Not that Newcastle is the loveliest holiday destination, but it's close to great places. And I don't think I could take the stress of making my house fit for grown ups to stay in... Good luck though!
ReplyDeleteOh Isabelle! I'm so sad -- I want to come back! We had the perfect week in your home -- if anyone needs any tips from the guest point-of-view, send them to me. Next year we'll have to coordinate our vacations and then you won't be without a cat sitter. I do hope you find someone.
ReplyDelete(Loth's comments about the hard hats cracked me up. The construction didn't bother us one little bit. There were so many wonderful things to see that we hardly noticed the torn up roads.)
Yes I'm back ...:) Thanks for leaving a comment!
ReplyDeleteAnd what a great offer - I wish I could come! Too bad I'm a teacher and can't just take off work as I like... Maybe another time. Sigh... :)
Oh how I would love to. But what would I do with my kitties? We are off to Paris next week and the kitties are off to a "Cat Boutique Hotel" complete with underfloor heating, separate bathroom and dining room and various raised sleeping areas!
ReplyDeleteThey will probably not want to come home!
Sadly these dates don't work for us, but L and I keep saying how much we'd like to visit Edinburgh. So if the offer were to be repeated...
ReplyDeleteIn one way I am surprised that you haven't been pounced on by somebody somewhere in the U.K. at least, who would take you up on your offer! But I can see that those who would, don't have those dates free. The rest of us live elsewhere in the world, and while we might have the time, we might not have the money to get there! Exit Gina E. from your request :-(
ReplyDelete