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Countries, Food & Wine, UK

Made in Scotland from girders for 125 years

25th March 202625th March 2026 funtime65

It’s our other national drink Irn-Bru and it’s been made in Scotland from girders for 125 years.

The bronze-coloured soft drink is so much part of Scots’ blood that brewers Barr have come up with a novel idea.

With a drop-inn parlour where you can have your love of ‘ra Bru‘ inked into your arm or wherever you want to mark it.

The story goes that Barr, then a makers of corks, tinkered with the idea of a tincture.

After seeing Irish immigrant steel workers sweating it out and refuelling with beer.

On the rebuilding of Glasgow’s Central Station.

Which, of course, is the focus of more refurbishment after the destruction of Union Corner by a fire this month.

The Irn Age

Spell it out: Part of the Scottish landscape

Glaswegians of a certain age will, of course, recall that the Victorian B-listed building opposite the train station was adorned for years.

With signage of an Indian boy in a turban advertising Irn-Bru.

The Bru has prided itself on its promotions over these 125, second only to Coca-Cola, but first and ahead of them in sales in Scotland.

Traditionalists will fondly remember, for instance, the athlete on the bottles and then cans.

That being 19th-century Highland Games athlete of note Adam Brown.

But the Bru has moved with the times and we’ve travelled with them.

And it is barely remembered now that the strange misspelling has only been around since after the Second World War.

Prior to which it was Iron.

Barr had become worried over changing food labelling regulations after the war.

With the mysterious orange elixir containing only the minutest traces of iron and not being brewed.

Raising the Barr

For all of us who jealously protect our favourite brands (think Tayto in Ireland) we have our own in jokes which we can share.

Anywhere we meet fellow Scots and flush out the authentic ones.

By asking the likes of ‘I’m Thirsty, I’m very thirsty too… so here’s a drink that’s made for you, Barr’s Irn-Bru.

Of course, each generation has its own favourite ad, the young boy who lifts a girder after drinking the Bru.

A skit on The Snowman movie and the recent Fanny gag.

And it works too in American English as well as Scots English.

By gum

Now where once you would struggle to get the Bru beyond the northern bit of this British island it is widely available now.

With our other national drink even sponsoring that most northern English of sports rugby league… and you’re welcome.

Whether though, you’re prepared to mark yourself with an Irn-Bru tattoo really depends on how much it’s in your blood.

And pretty much every Scot does have it in under their skin.

But it is worth a try although maybe not say it tastes like bubblegum.

Unless you want to invite some kind of unpronouncable slur spat back at you.

Countries, Ireland, UK

The charms of Edinburgh for the Irish

2nd March 20262nd March 2026 funtime65

The charms of Edinburgh for the Irish used to only come every other year when their throngs of rugby fans would descend on Murrayfield in the city’s west end.

And now it seems they can’t get enough of us, the culture and the castle yes, but probably mostly the craic around the Rose Street hostelries.

With our friends at loveholidays reporting too that the Scottish capital is their leading emerging destination.

As part of a growing market for Britain.

Now its proximity and our Celtic kith and kin comradeship as well as Edinburgh being a much easier city to get around than, say London, is probably part and parcel of it.

And will account for why our travel provider pals have seen a 75% spike in bookings.

Who do we love?

Hat-a-boy: On the King Charles Bridge in Prague

Analysing bookings from the last three months, the online travel agent reports that Edinburgh is leading a distinct spike in city break popularity for 2026.

Not that London will ever lose its appeal with a notable 48% surge.

Indicating that holidays to the UK are taking off, while escapes to other European city destinations Prague (+48%) and Budapest (+44%) have seen significant increases too.

Now having enjoyed the delights of those two great Central European cities, and having been barred from most of the pubs in Edinburgh.

We’ve decided to take the wise counsel of our loveholidays friends to expand our Greek islands knowledge by booking up for Rhodes next month.

It is +54 per cent while perennial favourite is +63%.

New York, New York

This year’s blond: With ‘The Donald’ in New York

For long haul it will come as no surprise that New York continues to grow, and always will, with +30.

While Dubai, understandably, figures highly at the start of the year with +53%.

Now it helps with your city’s promotion to have somebody at the helm of loveholidays’ Irish promotion who loves their rugby and golf.

And my old mucker Clem Walshe, Irish Commercial Director at the firm, is just that.

Clem to fame

‘What unites these emerging destinations, from the cobblestones of the Royal Mile to the thermal baths of Budapest, is the variety that they offer,’ the travel provider expert opines.

‘Beach holidays remain a firm favourite, but there is a clear increased enthusiasm for city escapes this year. Edinburgh is the standout performer.’

Just remember, Clem, to promote the Golf Coast, east of Edinburgh and our championship-standard courses Muirfield, Renaissance and North Berwick.

Although you might have to give me a monster handicap next time you’re over.

Countries, Flying, UK

Concorde by a nose in Scotland

21st January 202621st January 2026 funtime65

And because you can still board the greatest plane ever built without shelling out a fortune, we mark 50 years since its inaugural flight and how it’s always been Concorde by a nose in Scotland.

Because, here on our doorstep at the National Museum of Flight in East Fortune in East Lothian, east of Edinburgh, Concorde still holds pride of place in its own hangar.

Which you can board, and enjoy, for just £14.50 of your Earth money.

And see how the other half lived, and flew, back then.

It wasn’t inevitable, of course, that Scotland would house a Concorde, in this case Golf-Bravo Oscar Alpha Alpha, the first of her kind to go into service with British Airways.

Since her maiden flight in January 1976, she has flown 22,768 hours and 56 minutes, landing 8,064 times and going through 6,842 supersonic cycles.

Concorde’s most dramatic journey

In almost 25 years of service, she traversed the globe, touching down in New York, Paris, Bahrain, Miami, Calcutta, Auckland and Barbados.

Its most dramatic journey perhaps though was one where it never got off the ground.

When G-BOAA took to the water instead.

On an unforgettable week-long journey from Heathrow to a bunch of fields east of Edinburgh.

Aisle be looking after you: In-flight entertainment

Concorde was loaded onto a specialist barge, the Terra Marique, at the Thames port of Isleworth.

And sailed up the Thames and north,.

Before being rolled ashore at the British Energy jetty at Torness, East Lothian.

The pipes are calling

She was then guided by members of 39 Engineer Regiment’s 53 Field Squadron (Air Support), with a helicopter hovering overhead.

Before, in true traditional Scottish style, was greeted by two pipers on arrival.

Which is a little bit extra.

And not what you’d get at any of the four Concorde sites in England.

Worth the journey then.

Countries, Culture, UK

The updated Story of Scotland’s Flag

1st December 20251st December 2025 funtime65

And here’s one Big Bang’s Sheldon Cooper missed so we’ll fill in the gaps… it’s the updated story of Scotland’s flag.

Because the history of our Saltire is being brought up to date.

Sixty years after we started telling people about it in the region where it was spawned, the village of Athelstaneford in East Lothian, 22 miles west of Edinburgh.

Raise the flag: But Sheldon missed our Saltire

And nearly 1,200 years after King Angus mac Fergus designed the drape.

Or rather somebody far higher than even a Picts and Scots monarch did.

Fearing defeat to a much larger Northumbrian army, Angus prayed for help.

And took solace in the vision of a white cross against the blue sky, which spurred his army to victory.

God’s own country

Fighting Scots: They can never take our flag

Now cynics would prosaically say that Angus was suffering from pareidolia.

Countries, Ireland, Pilgrimage, UK

Bruce, the Scottish and Irish Lions and a united Celtland

18th July 2025 funtime65

And for the weekend that’s in it an opportunity to mark Bruce, the Scottish and Irish Lions and a united Celtland.

Because what we don’t get taught in school is that Scotland and Ireland were indeed united for what must have been three glorious years.

Under the banner of Edward Bruce from 1315-1318.

And you might be familiar with his brother Robert, the King of the Scots, aka Chris Pine,

An alternative future

Edward Bruce’s reign may have been short lived but it offered a tantalising look into an alternative future.

For these Celtic peoples and indeed the Norman Anglo-Irish and their descendants.

Of course, for these weeks in this the year of the Lord 2015.

On sporting fields a thousand miles away in a different colony, Australis, we are all one team.

A British and Irish Lions rugby union select.

And woe betide anyone who abbreviates that to British Lions.

Or worse as in the case of passport pilferer Tony Cascarino who miscalled the elite combo England despite representing Ireland.

My noble bloodline

Now thanks to the excellent Sky History Channel and your favourite blogger’s obsessive interest in the past.

We can relive the days After Braveheart when Scotland and Ireland mastered perfidious Albion.

While the might of the English (and entrapped Welsh) armies and the British Empire colonised Ireland for 700 years.

The Irish and the Scots have managed to stay close through bloodlines.

With this descendant of Irish and Scots stock.

As a Murty, a direct descendant of the High King Muirchertach of Brian Boru’s blood.

And I’m not making this up!

And say an Ave there for me

And so if Edward Bruce’s name was not writ large in English-told history it does not mean we cannot honour him here.

Or point historians, patriots or those who just like a good story to his plot.

At Faughart Cemetery, near Dundalk in County Louth.

Near the modern lines of a border between the North and South of the island of Ireland.

We’re sure his spirit will welcome any of a Scots and Irish set who pays a pilgrimage and says a prayer.

And celebrates Bruce, the Scottish and Irish Lions and a united Celtland.

America, Countries, Flying, UK

Fly me for a reason let that diversion be Scotland

21st March 202521st March 2025 funtime65

There are randomly some winners from the Heathrow shutdown, with a precious few saying fly me for a reason let that diversion be Scotland.

We learned from the many interviews with travellers of parties from New Orleans who had intended on coming up north from London.

And that this had saved them a journey.

Of course, not to make light of the hundreds of thousands of travellers who have been inconvenienced by the disruption caused by the fire at the airport.

But we’re reminded of visitors to this isle being rerouted to Scotland an age ago and causing a mighty stir.

Crazy Horses of the air

Exit doors,here,here and here: The Osmonds

The Osmonds were at Beatlemania height when they visited Britain in 1972.

And teeny heart-throb Donny recalled: ‘After our first flight into Heathrow, we were banned from further landings there.

‘When part of a balcony collapsed beneath the amount of fans who had shown up.

‘Gatwick wouldn’t take us either, so we had to fly to Scotland and take a train down to London.’

While Donny was big there was and never has been anyone as big as Elvis Presley who was also rerouted to Scotland.

Return to sender

When on March 3, 1960 The King‘s plane touched down in Prestwick, south of Glasgow for refuelling.

On his way back from American military camp in West Germany he was met by 200 screaming fans.

They’d heard on the grapevine of a VIP arriving in their backyard.

And took a punt that it might be Sgt Presley.

It’s now or never

Lieutenant Colonel Ed Miller recalled: ‘I remember it well. I got the job as Sgt. Presley’s escort.

‘Probably because I was a professional musician before the war.

‘He was an extremely pleasant, sincere young man who took the time and trouble to speak to everyone he met’.

Now, those weary travellers who have found themselves unwittingly redirected from Heathrow to Scotland are right to feel sorry for themselves.

But at least they can say that they have followed in the footsteps of The Osmonds and Elvis Presley.

And maybe others might want to say… fly me for a reason let that diversion be Scotland.

Countries, Skiing, UK

How many more words for cold in Scotland?

5th January 20255th January 2025 funtime65

There may well be 50 epithets for snow in Eskimo but how many more words for cold in Scotland?

Chillydonia as it is known at this time (who are we kidding, any time of year) is though a New Year choice for many.

And some will be winding down their trips to the Highands and Islands, our big cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee.

And castles, lodges, crooks and crannies, culture, distilleries, golf, whisky and ski centres.

So a helping hand to our visitors as to the words we use at this time of year courtesy of our friends at Visit Scotland.

All under the banner of ‘Coorie words for winter in Scotland’ with sayings in Shetland, Scots and Gaelic.

And confession time here, in more than half a lifetime spent in the frozen north maist of them are new to me.

Ya dancer

Now many of us have been spending the last couple of months neath the Mirrie Dancers.

It’s Shetland tongue for Heavenly Dancers, or Northern Lights.

Of course, we all know that Shetlanders aren’t really Scots at all, mair Norwegian.

But there’s aye a nip in the air in January, from Shetland as far north to Selkirk in the south.

And so if you feel a snell and sense the flukra or flaggie are comin’.

Then you and your pals will doubtless want to brak da bruid before getting inside tae get seasgair or coorie.

All of which we’ll set as oor wee New Year test tae ye tae work oot fir yersels.

Get yir skis on

Of course, the one sector of the travel industry you’d think would be warming their hands with the snowfall is the ski set.

But the kicker, the Catch-22, is that at times there can be too much snaw which can make them impassable.

And many’s the time we’ve had to turn back on our road up from Aberdeen to The Lecht when the snows were too high to pass.

The other four natural ski resorts in Scotland are:

Cairngorm Mountain, which takes in our old stomping ground of Aviemore, dramatic Glencoe, Nevis Range and Glenshee ‘The Glen of the Fairies’.

Where you’ll probably have your own vocabulary to describe the weather.

Only if you want to go native and spik like a native then we hope ours and Visit Scotland’s lexicon has been a help.

As we run you through how many more words for cold in Scotland.

Countries, Ireland

She ain’t heavy she’s my mother

7th September 20247th September 2024 funtime65

So on we go, her welfare is of my concern.
No burden is she to bear, we’ll get there… but then she ain’t heavy she’s my mother.

Ours is a well-trodden path, Mum and I, and we have been lifelong travelling companions.

But today we set out on our last journey, to Teasy’s homestead of Brockagh, Co. Donegal, in the north-west of Ireland.

Our drive to the airport, this time from North Berwick to Edinburgh, is quieter than usual.

Although I can hear in my mind’s ear her still trying to distract me by pointing out every landmark along the way.

The Adventures of Teasy and her baby

I smile too at the memory of her reaching into the glove compartment on another occasion, for a travel sweet.

And pulling out a joke plastic turd which the kids had left, and almost jumping out of her seat.

We have been travelling this road all my life, either as a family.

Or on those privileged Easter trips, when being the youngest and unencumbered by schoolwork, it was just the two of us.

Sorry for your Troubles

Family time: Ed, Sadie Laurie and dynamic duo

It was always an adventure.

And not without an element of danger.

Such as when we got lost in Belfast in the height of The Troubles.

And Teasy stopped to ask for directions, even inviting the randomer into the car to show us the way.

You can take the girl out of Donegal, and for 70 years my Dear Old Dad did, but you can’t take Donegal out of the girl.

Or when we found ourselves on the Scottish Isle of Arran rather than Ireland because of a communications breakdown at the ferry port.

In the driving seat

Today I am in charge as I was over the 13 years I spent in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, near Dublin.

And I would drive her up to (or down to as she would insist despite it being north) Donegal on her annual pilgrimage.

Although, of course, I never was truly in charge, and it was double trouble when her sister Ronnie came with us.

And Teasy started giving out exhorting Ronnie to get me to stop.

Because she thought I had taken a wrong turn and was ‘now in Bandit Country.’

The parting glass

She is still, of course, causing mischief and it is no surprise to see my backpack siphoned off for checking at Edinburgh Airport.

Or that the security staff highlight that this is no ordinary passenger… ‘she’s very bright’ he opines.

‘That’ll be all the alcohol in her’, I reason.

It could, of course, have been worse, and I half expected to be asked to divide her into 100 little plastic bags and go through again.

The Pearly Gates

But we are on our way, after 70 years Teasy is going home for good.

It’ll be an adventure and already our gate for our EasyJet flight has changed twice in the last ten minutes.

You hope they haven’t got any old airport staff reemployed at the Pearly Gates.

Not my worry yet, I have to get a Daughter of Donegal home, safe and sound.

But be sure that I’ll eek every minute out of our last journey together.

Because the load doesn’t weigh me down at all. She ain’t heavy, she’s my mother.

Countries, UK

The Bobby prize on National Dog Day

26th August 202426th August 2024 funtime65

And they must be barking to ignore our terriers so we’re redressing that by bestowing them the Bobby prize on the 20th National Dog Day.

For canine fans every day is a dog day but today your best mutts might just get a bigger bone, a chewier chew toy..

It transpires that the labrador is the nation’s favourite and that the Scottish terriers, in all their forms, don’t even figure in the top ten.

Which maybe suggests that we invite the world to join us at the paws of one devoted Skye Terrier Greyfriars Bobby.

Bobby on a pedestal

Well, everyone who lives in, or around, Edinburgh does.

And we will today when another of our American cousins visits and asks us to take us to Edinburghers’ favourite spots.

We fully expect them to be just as entranced as Walt Disney was when he heard of the faithful companion.

Who would return nightly to sleep on the grave of his crofter master and who is now buried next to him.

A neighbour’s best friend

As odd as it may seem, not everyone is a doggie person which is why my Dear Old Dad never found room for a basket at home.

Although one summer in my Mum’s heartland of Co. Donegal we came close with our guest house’s pet, Welsh Corgi Dinky.

Of course, as we all know, a dog is not just for Christmas…

All that walking and making plans for them when I travel the world.

Which is why we dote instead on our feted next door neighbour Royalist Roy’s Scottish Terrier Hamish.

Lottie dottie about dogs

Dashingly handsome: Lottie and her daschund

Not that we would want to put dog lovers off holidaying with their pooch pals.

It certainly hasn’t with my old friend from the American Travel Fair, IPW, Lottie Gross.

Who has carved out a niche for herself with her 365 things to do with your dog in the UK and Ireland.

Which Amazon describes as mapping..

‘The rugged countryside of Ireland to the beaches of Cornwall, Kent and the Scottish Highlands.

‘Plus castles, country houses and cracking walks to be had in between.

‘With the long list of brilliant activities accompanied by essential practical information for dog owners.

‘Such as local bylaws, rules for dogs, wildlife to be aware of, safety tips, solo travel with dogs, activities with reactive dogs, and accessible dog days out.’

Take her lead

Lottie, as anybody who meets her quickly discovers, is clearly dottie about doggies.

And a fantastic award-winning travel writer and editor to boot.

I’m all right Jack: With Captain Jack Russell in South Africa

For me today I will pay pilgrimage to my favourite dog in the world.

Who will always get my Bobby prize on National Dog Day.

Countries, Sustainable Tourism, UK

Edinburgh’s tourist taxing prospect

25th August 202425th August 2024 funtime65

She’s a constant during the International Festival, the Morningside woman who will complain about the disruption the visitors are causing to her daily life… so she’ll probably welcome Edinburgh’s tourist taxing prospect.

Only will the flat 5% charge per night of the accommodation cost.

Capped at seven consecutive nights for hotels, short-term lets, hostels and B&Bs work.

City of Edinburgh Council aims to have a final plan agreed by January, after which an 18-month implementation period is expected to begin.

But will the estimated £10m windfall to the local authorities be injected.

Into public services, city maintenance, affordable housing and preserving the capital’s cultural heritage?

And will it address the tourism sujet du jour… overtourism?

Act Responsible

Well our friends at Responsible Travel have done some of the heavy lifting for us (the way we like it).

And bullet-pointed what will really make the change.

Can I be trusted on a bike? In Amsterdam

Identifying the type of tourist that suits a destination best rather than trying to attract everyone
Effective visitor management, such as with pre-booked tickets, timed entry and seasonal pricing
Control of visitor numbers by reducing cruise ship and flight arrivals, cutting back on destination marketing, and tightening restrictions on the number of hotel rooms and Airbnb rentals
Diversifying tourism in the wider area, to take the strain of over-popular destinations. Critically, this must not simply be a case of moving the problem elsewhere.

Now obviously some of these apply more than others with the cruise market not as pressing in Edinburgh as in other cities who have gone the tourist tax path.

Like Barcelona and Venice, Amsterdam and New York.

On the bill

Apart, of course, from the slightly gnawing feeling when you get an extra on your bill.

Rather than have it included in the overall price we come to expect the tourist tax on our travels.

When we aren’t being looked after by our friendly travel providers, that is.

So, we’ll be happy to give it a go in our home city which maybe it’s nostalgia kicking in but does seem busier.

Than the first time we lived in these parts 25 odd years ago.

International welcome: And when the Swiss were in Edinburgh

What has come on the scene since then and also applies in our new stomping ground 15 miles east of the Scottish capital.

In the best place to live in Britain, North Berwick is the Airbnb.

With Home Sweet Home estimating that there are between 6,000-10,000 rental properties in the city.

Using online services such as Airbnb to let flats and apartments.

House proud

Now with so much going wrong in Scotland and the greater island the public is yet to turn its attentions to overtourism to protest about.

But now that we’ve got the hang of this protesting lark, and remember that Scots used to have a history of this, it’s worth considering.

That the overtourism protests on the continent are mainly targeted against the properties taken out of public access.

Denying locals, and particularly the young, the chance to get on the housing market.

And having spent a decade Edinburgh