Howdy Folks, a couple of weekend ago we headed north for a long weekend in Scotland.Some might think heading even further north for the first weekend of winter isn't the brightest idea we've had so far, but it was well worth the risk of frost bite and hypothermia to see this part of the UK.

For this trip we decided to reduce our carbon foot print and take the train from Edinburgh to London.Ok, maybe we actually decided on this form of transport to reduce our credit card foot print, but we ended up doing our part for the environment anyway.

So Edinburgh, as you might have guessed, cold doesn't really describe it.Try bloody freezing.We were however blessed with the weather, apart from some drizzle one night when we left the pub (and to be honest, we weren't in much of a state to care about the rain) we had all clear skies and sunshine.Many people that have been to Scotland might not believe us ( I think the locals were even a little baffled by it), but cross our hearts and hope to die we're telling the truth.

So what did we do on this trip aside from rejoice at our good fortune with the weather?Well Friday night involved a chip roll dinner and some drinks with Michael in his new home city.Pretty standard (apart from the chip roll - which was great by the way).Pretty low key - we did get a Michael style tour of the back streets of the city.For those who don't know Michael this basically involved being shown all the good (and bad) pubs.

Saturday we rugged up and went on a walking tour of the city.A great history lesson and tour of the major landmarks.The Old City is amazing, climbing its way up the steep incline to Edinburgh Castle the city looks like it has pushed it's way up out of the hillside and the Castle looks down on the city dominating from every vantage point.

The New City is pretty nice too, but it really pales in comparison to the Old City.HoweverI am told the shopping in the New City is pretty good - not that I'd know, apart from Golf Shops I didn't make it in to any.Surprising, but true.

Sunday was a pre dawn start to take Duncan on a mystery surprise birthday adventure.He knew I was taking him to play golf (I had to give that part of the surprise away to convince him to buy golf shoes) but he didn't know where.Just that we had to be on the 8am train the Leuchars - where ever that is.

It wasn't until the Taxi pulled up at our hotel did he realise we were at St Andrews, at the Old Course no less.Before all you golfers get too excited and start cursing Duncan, he didn't actually get to play on the Old Course (small matter of no official handicap and me only booking things 1 month before).But he did get to play on The Dukes Course.He did also get to stay in a hotel room which overlooked the Old Course and walk around it a bit so that has to count for something surely.There are plenty of photos of both courses on our blog site for everyone to look at.

St Andrews was probably the highlight of the trip, mostly because after a hectic few months in London it was nice to get out into the open countryside and just relax.Well after we got the round of golf out of the way!

The people in Scotland were as you'd expect, ridiculously friendly, talkative with a passion for drinking!

All up I think Scotland should be in the Top 5 on everyone's list of places to go before they die.Having only seen this small little pocket of the country we know we'll defiantly be going back for more.