Greetings

[Portobello]

Wishing everyone enjoyable festivities and thank you so much to those who have become my on-line saviours. It's been a scary & lonely 5 months with little guidance from the medics but you've been there for me. May 2020 be a better year all round!

[SheffieldJane]

Here here!

I spent a lot of time at Portobello seaside as a child in Edinburgh.

You didn’t go to Gillespie’s did you?

Happy Christmas and a really good new year or Hogmanay!

[Portobello in reply to SheffieldJane]

Ah Jane, I've just shed a tear! I went to MESG 🙂 and lived at Eastfield- from where I could see that very beach. I try to manage an annual visit but not this PMR year 😩 Best, Valerie

[Highlandtiger in reply to Portobello]

Oh me too! MESG anyway. I lived on the South side but remember getting buses across town with my pals to go to the open air pool at Portobello with the (very ahead of its time) artificial wave machine. Happy days!

[SheffieldJane in reply to Portobello]

Mary Erskine’s ?

I just looked at our schools and found an obituary of my favourite teacher Alison Laidlaw! Christmas gift! Thank you. X

I lived in the West End,New Town, Rothesay Place. It gave me a lifelong love of Georgian Architecture.

[Portobello in reply to SheffieldJane]

Yes, Mary Erskine! Still in touch with 4 school friends and went up to a big reunion when we were all 65. Left Scotland 1970 though it still feels like home, and I haven't lost my accent 😊

[SheffieldJane in reply to Portobello]

I left in 1969. I often dream about it now. I go back most years. My son is at Edinburgh University and lives in a wee flat at the back of the castle. So my DNA got back there to stay at least. My accent comes back when I visit ( English feels put on). My Dad was the General Secretary of Edinburgh YMCA in St Andrews Street, just off Prince’s Street. I am currently recovering from the extreme cold, lashing rain and wind from a visit last week. That part I don’t miss. It was so cold. Not good for the PMR, ouch!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SheffieldJane]

I lived further north and moved to Durham - thinking it would be less cold. Coldest place I have ever lived!!!!!

[SheffieldJane in reply to PMRpro]

I love Durham. Surprised it is so cold. I’m finding Sheffield so mild. In fact I’m too hot at night.

[Highlandtiger in reply to SheffieldJane]

I lived in Edinburgh until 11 years ago when I moved North, but still spend a lot of time down there as my folks were there until they died fairly recently, also seeing friends and family and attending courses. It was always cold when that snell east wind was blowing, really icy and bitter (although I always loved the optical illusion you got when it was blowing - Fife looking like it was only metres away when looking from Princes Street). But I think it has got a lot wetter recently which it didn't used to be. It was always cold but dry. I was down for a week in summer for the Fringe and festival and the rain was truly biblical and virtually every time I'm there these days it seems to rain (except this past weekend when it was fine). I've not seen any stats so it's purely anecdotal but I wouldn't be surprised if something is happening to change the climate there.........

[SheffieldJane in reply to Highlandtiger]

I used to get “ chapped knees” walking home from school, and mottled legs sitting too close to the fire. It was so cold at the Edinburgh tattoo that your fingers would ache.

The cobbles were hard on the PMR too. It’s home though. 🥶

[Highlandtiger in reply to SheffieldJane]

Yes! And there's nothing like being hit on your cold bare thigh with a hard hockey ball in winter too! It's all coming back! We were a hardy lot!

[Portobello in reply to Highlandtiger]

Whatever happened? Retirement started so well- loads of physical activities (including Scottish dancing). Now I feel like a real weed😟

[Highlandtiger in reply to Portobello]

I know how you feel. I've not retired yet but am considering going early, certainly sooner than planned. But chronic ill health certainly wasn't part of the plan!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Highlandtiger]

Ah yes - but chronic illness is much easier to live with once you dispense with having to go out to work ...

[Highlandtiger in reply to PMRpro]

Yes, I’d been thinking about that. It’s just trying to find the right time. I don’t want to go too soon as I generally really enjoy the job but equally there’s no point in struggling on for too long. I’ll have a serious think about my timings in the New Year....

[SheffieldJane in reply to Portobello]

I did highland dancing on the stage at school. The Paddy Barr (spelling?) would kill me now .

[Highlandtiger in reply to SheffieldJane]

That made me laugh! Paddy Barr sounds like an Irish dance teacher. 😂 😉

I think it is officially Pas de Basque (sometimes written as pas de bas) but the last word is pronounced like "bah". I wasn't sent to ballet as a child but to Scottish Country Dancing and loved it then but like you say it would kill me now! My folks did it into their early 80s though.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Highlandtiger]

I have never written it down but I know the steps.🤭 It sounds much grander now. Pas de bas. I was at Primary School, in my defence. 🙄

[Cyclegirl54 in reply to Highlandtiger]

I went to school in St Andrews and it was always nippy on East sands!

[Highlandtiger in reply to Cyclegirl54]

Indeed. And it still is. One of my brothers lives there. There's always an icy blast coming in from the sea.

We used to travel through to play hockey in St Andrews when I was at school. Happy days.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Cyclegirl54]

It was always nippy ... I went to uni at St A's.

[Jackoh]

Yes here is wishing you a healthier 2020. Xx🌲🌲

[HeronNS]

Merry Christmas!