Bonnyrigg - Of Floods and Castles

Most mornings I have been waking at 2:00 - fairly much in the knocker - and awake for a while. Last night the clocks went back an hour for the end of summer. So I'm awake at the new 2:00 listening to the noises below, same as every night - guys shouting and arguing, girls screaming and giggling. Not sure where the noise is coming from, I've never heard music so I can't imagine it's a nightclub.

Last night, a new noise joined the cacophony - a siren started wailing and would not stop. It was slightly irritating, and became more so as it went on. After a while it became clear that this was actually an alarm and was coming from the hotel itself. I thought I'd better head downstairs to have a look at what was happening. My room is between two fire doors from the hotel proper and right next to the escape stairwell so felt quite safe. 

Threw on some clothes but no shoes - cos why would I? - and headed to the stairwell where there was a couple heading down. Followed them down and out into the street. It turned out there was a burst water pipe in the roof and it was flooding water downstairs and the entire building was evacuating. I joined the masses of people standing out in the street - at 2:15 in the morning - differing stages of dress and undress and wakefulness.

They came to announce that we had to wait for the water to drain out before we could go back in and they couldn't give us a time frame. I spoke to one woman who was on the 11th floor and her room was underwater! Thankfully I'm on the sixth and not affected. After this announcement, a group of us headed into a building with carpet to escape the night air - I wasn't cold but don't want to catch a cold standing out there. 

I sat on the stairs with an Irish family with three young children. The boy told me how he nearly came downstairs in his boxer shorts but thankfully had changed. More and more people came in and two guys made their way over to sit down as well - it was pretty crowded - people lying up the stairs, sleeping, people crammed into the entryway cos there was no more room. 

Carl and his mate made it through and sat with us. He was hilarious! They had just got home not 15 minutes from a nightclub before the alarm sounded. He whispered that it 'wasn't a straight club' so the children wouldn't hear. He was not happy that his Burger King meal was up in his room getting cold. It was his first time in London and he was only here for one night! He was the perfect person to have there - he entertained the kids and us and was generally hilarious and looked like Edward Norton. On an unrelated note, I wish I had brought my camera! And my passport and money. 

They finally let us back in around 5:00 and we all trudged up the six flights - some had to go up to the 12th. So I managed to get a bit more sleep before the alarm went off to get ready to head to Scotland. There is no water and no lifts. Nice way to start the day but what can you do?? I went up to the lift area to see how that was...

That dark doorway is the lifts area.

Called down to reception and they confirmed I'd have to carry my luggage down the fire escape. So pack and down we go...

This is reception! No lights cos the water came through the lift fixtures and blew them all up.

Check out and I do ask if there's any compensation. She gives me the services manager's email to contact. I do ask if the next door restaurant is open for breakfast but only the hotel one is open - she doesn't offer a complimentary breakfast or even a coffee - that would have been a nice gesture, but no. It's a very good time to be leaving here...

Into a cab and off to Kings Cross - this must be a new section, I don't remember it being this nice. 

Popped over to St Pancras station - used to be my favourite. Still a lovely station, just a bit sectioned up now for international trains - which weren't running when I was here last!

Onto the train and we're off.

Here I sit for the next four hours. There's a group further down the carriage being a bit raucous. There's a father reading to his young son - very sweet but, you know, shut up.

I take a couple of walks up and down the train. 

When I get back the third time, the guy I was sitting next to was talking to the couple opposite so we all start chatting. The couple get off in Newcastle and Charles and I chat all the rest of the way - music, his grandchildren, and so on and so on.

Some lovely scenery along the way...

Arrive in Edinburgh, say farewell to Charles - who gives me a hug! - and then find my ride to Dalhousie Castle.

 I was very pleased to find an actual Scottish castle to stay in and have a look!!!

Brick wall and tapestry then downstairs to my turret room...

Amazing! 

I've signed up for a castle tour and meet Andrew at reception. 

He is quite the character - extremely knowledgable about the castle, history and dates and tidbits. He starts with a bit of the history and family. It was built in 1100-something so there is lots to talk about. It was made more user-friendly in modern times - the 1700s when the reception was put in and lots of separate rooms.

There is a chapel and drawing rooms...

A number of secret passages, one leading to a dungeon where people were put for punishment. There are rope dents in the wall from where they would pull them out after their sentence. This is taken from down the secret stairway.

Out onto one of the walkways...

Andrew tells me of the few hosts said to haunt the castle - I'd rather not have known before spending the night! But they are friendly, apparently. There's a young girl who used to cause mischief pulling hair and moving things around but since they started holding weddings, she just attends them now. She died of a broken heart. There is also a young boy and a dog.

It was a great tour but one that's hard to recount. Andrew is very passionate and fiercely patriotic. He made mention of those pesky English a number of times and he obviously tells the castle owner when he buys antiques that are not authentic. And let's not talk about the paintings brought in that are of "English castles!"

Here he is - what a character!

After the tour I wander around trying to find the wifi - no luck it's off to the Library for drinks before dinner in the formal Dungeon Restaurant. The library is gorgeous! We all sit very civilly, sipping on gin and tonics and perusing the menu. They bring a snifter of carrot consume and cheddar biscuits - all yummy.

Then into the restaurant where the vegetarian options are plum tomato consume followed by pearl barely risotto with artichokes and mushrooms. Delicious and an amazing setting.

Now to find the wifi to post this!