Royal Scotland Tuesday 12 June 2012

Tuesday 12 June


Breakfast is at 08:00 in the dining room at the front of the hotel and we are not leaving until 10:00 today.
We are going to Scone Palace and then Perth which are both only about half an hour away.
For my breakfast I have ordered two poached eggs on toast and when it is served I can’t help but smile as I have two poached eggs on a half slice of toast!
We are away at ten and arrive at Scone Palace at half past. There is an air of excitement here today as the Olympic torch will be here at 13:30. As we arrive all of the torch bearers are here being given final instructions as well as the many torches being used.
And we are blessed with a sunny day.
Scone Palace is the place where previous Kings and Queens of Scotland were crowned on the legendary Scone Stone, now in Edinburgh I believe. Or so they say!
The Palace is in a beautiful location surrounded by gorgeous green fields and forests.
There are pipe bands playing, tents for the VIP’s, tents for the Olympic workers and a general buzz of excitement everywhere.
Schoolchildren arrive by the bus load and sit on the grass lining the route to the castle, waving their flags and banging their plastic tubes all courtesy of the sponsors.
A lone piper prepares by the bus as we wait, lots of police motorcyclists pull into the car park followed by the sponsors vehicles and then the piper starts up for eal and the flame is on its way.
The piper starts marching towards the palace as the flame is brought by a young runner and it is the most moving scene. Very emotional.
I am so glad to have seen it as I am not sure if I am at home when it comes through Petersfield and right past my house.
We are all back on the coach at 15:00 for the short journey into Perth which according to the sat nav should take five minutes. Fifty minutes later I drop half the group in the centre of Perth and take the rest with me to the coach park.
I would like to have looked around Perth but there isn’t time due to the hold ups (caused by Olympic Torch celebrations) which is a shame. My first tour to Scotland was 24 years ago and I stayed in Perth and this is my next visit!
I like the look of it and would like to come back one day.
No traffic by the time we leave and are back at the hotel in half an hour.
I decide to have dinner in the bar tonight from the same menu as the group.
The girl behind the bar was not sure about me ordering from this menu and seemed quite put out by it all but eventually relented and let me order.
I don’t know if she just took a hatred towards me or is always a grumpy cow but she didn’t smile once and I felt that I was a hindrance to her!
And after a starter and main course I waited ages (well about 40 minutes) for my dessert before giving up and leaving.