Grandparents Apart UK Tour of the East of Scotland.

 

We stared off in Stirling18th September 2008 where a dozen local shops accepted our leaflets and the local bingo hall ladies were very taken on by what we were about.

 

We visited Stirling Castle but caravans are not allowed however the man at the entrance gave us 15 minutes to take some photos and give out some leaflets.

 

Dunblane was next. Just about every shop took leaflets. We had chatted to locals and got some photos of them and the Cathedral. A few leaflets dropped off in Greenloaning, Blackford, Gleneagles, Auchterarder and Aberuthven.

 

Perth was a nightmare in trying to get somewhere to stop. Eventually we had to go on to the Glencarse Hotel to stay the night where we had a meal but it was very expensive and very little of it We ate in the bar, where a guy was screaming at the puggy and men at the bar’s language was very unpleasant. They even refused to allow me to charge my electric wheelchair.

 

The next morning we went into Perth and did well in getting shopkeepers to volunteer in taking our leaflets plus we spent the day giving out leaflets in Perth City Centre. Back to the Glencarse where our room had not been serviced or re-supplied with tea and coffee. We were happy to leave that hotel.

 

Onwards on the road to Dundee (cue for a song) passing through some small villages and Invergowrie to drop off some leaflets in village stores. In Dundee we met up with Mrs Sinclair one of our members who accompanied us to Broughty Ferry and Monifieth where we spent two nights in the Riverview Caravan Site. The site was spotless and a whole lot cheaper than hotels we could not get a hotel in Dundee. Got photos of Margaret standing beside Desperate Dan and chatting to people who were interested in what we do. The Next day we spent a lovely summers day in Dundee City Centre giving out leaflets at the Eastgate Centre and the surrounding streets but the polis chased us away with the caravan. (Talking about feeling like tinkers)

 

We left Monifeith heading for Aberdeen calling at Forfar where we took photos of the SNP office of Mike Weir, and had quick stops in Brechin, Lawrencekirk and Stonehaven, Portlethan then Aberdeen. The nearest caravan site (Hllhead Caravan Park) was in Kenmay off the A96 to Inverness just at Inverurie. We spent two and a half hours before teatime giving out leaflets to passers’ by and local shops were very good at volunteering to put the leaflets in their windows.

 

This morning Tuesday 23rd September 2008 we travelled to Old Meldrum. It is a lovely place, the people were very friendly and shops volunteered no bother to display our leaflets and did draw attention with the caravan.

 

Then onto Ellon where again the people were friendly and volunteering we used the library computer to clear our email account. We had a lovely light lunch in the Ellon Kirk tea shop. The social work took some leaflets. It is terrible trying to get the caravan parked but some of the small places was not too bad. It did take a trick with the locals.

 

The smaller villages we passed through had only one shop and were not too keen.

 

Peterhead was also a nice place and most of the shops volunteered to take our leaflets. Social work and the CIB were very helpful. I got a call from Newcastle Radio who wanted to interview me live on Wednesday at 11.15am. An

 

Fraserburgh was a desolate town a lot of shops were boarded up or had smashed windows. A man in a charity shop told us it was because of the devastating E.U. rules for the fishing industry that the town was like a ghost town. Most shops volunteered to take our leaflets and we had help from two of our members and called on one member to say hello but she was not at home.

 

We went back to the same caravan park at Inverurie a lady in the park has a terrible story to tell about her problem with not seeing her grandchildren. Tomorrow Wednesday we will spend the day in Aberdeen where a few people had phoned and would like to meet us.

 

BBC Radio Newcastle phoned as promised. I felt the interview went well. Our charity name, number and website was given out over the air. There is a lady from Gateshead already in the process of setting up a group in that area.

 

Union Street in Aberdeen was our target for today. There is no parking at all in Union Street so we had to park a bit away up a side street. We spent the day giving out leaflets and asking shops to put the leaflets in their windows. The shopping Mall off Union Street was where we got a good chance to talk to people.

 

We called in to Nigel Don’s Office in Aberdeen but he was not in, a lady came to the door and recognised our charity and took our leaflets and said she would let Mr Don know we had called.

 

Tomorrow we had the intention of travelling back to Dundee and over the Tay bridge into Fife but we have run out of leaflets. We have dished 4000 leaflets on our travels and thought we had taken 5000. However that is for another time.

 

I did not realise how old we are getting. We are exhausted with all the travel hooking up the caravan and moving on.No one else in our group has a towbar or can pull a caravan so it is up to us.

 

There was no shortage of volunteers to take leaflets and some of our members were very helpful.

 

A special day is arranged next week for Wednesday 1st October for Edinburgh I will try to set up at the Scottish parliament as a couple of MSPs are interested. Next on to East Lothian and Eyemouth where members are asking for us, we will be taking in Berwick on Tweed also.

 

Jimmy & Margaret.