I was nervous at first………… Walking to meet an old school friend I had only seen once or twice since school finished (About 15 ears ago). All nerves washed quickly away when we started what turned out to be a fabulous day of touristy fun and non stop catching up.

I dragged the boys along for lunch at the Filling Station (actually I couldn’t have kept them away if I’d tried) along the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, and then they left us too it, to explore the depths of Edinburgh’s underground in The Real Mary King’s Close. We had a small wait for the tour to start so we strolled down to The Elephant House to check out the birth place of Harry Potter, and then walked to the top of ‘The Mile’ to the gates of Edinburgh Castle…… Then back for our tour……….. Back into the daylight (notice I didn’t say sunshine!) we headed off to visit ‘Bobby’ (Greyfriars Bobby), Edinburgh’s most famos dog and Master D’s favourite place in Edinburgh, and then into Greyfriars Churchard where Bobby and his master are both buried.

It just so happened that the church itself was open, so we wandered inside for a look (meanwhile B called to say Baby R has jumped in puddles, so they’re all going home before he gets too cold.). This meant a rare child free afternoon for me!!! Completely randomly the volunteer at the church that day was also the organ player, so we were treated to some live tunes on the 3500 tube organ! It was truly magnificent. As my friend said, it is random moments like these that make your holiday really special.

Back to her hotel room for a cuppa, some teacakes and a long chat about traveling, and old friends. What a fab day.

Another Aussie I know who is also ‘accidentally’ here asked if it seeing a friend from home made me feel homesick. I can’t say it did at all.

It was lovely to spend the day with a friend I had more than one year of history with, sharing a similar humour, and an understanding that comes from growing up in the same place. It didn’t make me miss home though, instead I started seeing Edinburgh again with ‘tourist eyes’ remembering how beautiful the city is, and just how much there is to do. I felt more excited about where I am rather than sad about where I’m not.

Have you run into an old friend in a far off place?

What random events have ‘made’ your trip?

No related posts.

At no. 42 Canongate, along the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, tucked behind a little gift shop is the Museum of Childhood. Established by Edinburgh Counsilor Parick Murray In 1955, the museum is a treasure trove of toys, books and even children’s househod items from bygone eras. It is a beautiful walk through the history of toys and games and children…. and we were all children once!

In the main ground floor gallery is a display of tricycles, a ride in plane and those old tin pedal cars, as well as children playing games like leapfrog. This is one of the only displays not behind glass, but is still very much hands off.

A Museum in the most traditional sense, each of the five galleries houses beautiful displays of Dolls, toy cars, train sets, miniatures, board games, books, rollerskates, puppets, skipping ropes, pop guns, meccano…. you name it!

Despite the traditional displays being ‘hands off’ childen are more than welcome (expect heaps of them) and on each floor there was something for the littlies to get their hands on. The games gallery was the best. There were actual board games, lego, those little sewing kits where you thread a shoelace through holes in a plastic animal (I remember that), and those double ended dolls where you tip them upside down, their skirt flips up and…. voile’… a new doll (that too!). The boys loved the magnetic fishing game and the lego. Needless to say we spent a lot of time in this gallery!

There were definitely issues with access. Each gallery is on a different level, meaning steps and more steps. There is a lift but it does not access every gallery.

This meant we had to leave the buggy at our own risk.

Having only one set of hands, meant the bag and all the jackets necessary for being outside in Edinburgh were also left.

The other issue with the steps is at least one end of all the galleries has a flight of steps, so little children (especially lively toddlers) need a close eye.

On my own I would have meandered through each room, taking time to read the plaques, and really enjoy the history. My time though was mainly dedicated to following (chasing?) the boys around. (which is not that different from going anywhere else really!) They weren’t really interested in the cabinets, just the toys they could play with. Despite the challenges for me, they had a great time running about and playing with other kids as well as the toys on the right side of the glass!

On our way out we put a penny in a ’spooky’ arcade game where scary faces appeared from behind miniature doors and paintings and skeletons appeared from behind the tiny chair that was raised off the ground in a ghostly way. Just scary enough for a four year old, and worth a penny just because nothing costs “pennies only” anymore!

I managed to navigate through the gift store without a detour to the cash register and out into the crisp Autumn air. Now…. Lets find some coffee and cake….

Have you played with any of these?

Price? Free

Worth a visit? Absolutely yes, If you’re walking past with some kids and a buggy laden with bags, maybe not, go another time, but definitely go!

Who’s it for? Everyone, I loved listening to some older ladies talking about their own childhoods and playing with these toys! There wasn’t very much from my own childhood, but I guess as time goes by, more will be donated.

Would I go Back? Yes, With a grown up helper (or just another grown up )

Location

Canongate
Royal Mile
Edinburgh
City of Edinburgh
EH1 1TG
Scotland
Tel:
+44 (131) 5294142
Fax:
+44 (131) 5583103

For more Information  click here

If you like this post, why not subscribe?

Or just check out some more of my photos

Related posts:

1. Sunday’s Stories – On Holidays for Christmas

The Sun is shining on my face, a gentle breeze is blowing, bringing to my ears the sounds of people talking and laughing, children playing, and through it all the sweet sounds of jazz….. This is a rare moment of complete relaxation.

Jazz on A Summer’s Day is the biggest jazz event in the UK, with thousands of people converging on the Ross Theatre in Princess Street Gardens to eat drink and revel in the atmosphere. It is one of the free events of the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival and a fabulous family day out.

People really come prepared with sumptuous picnics, lots of booze, chairs, shade shelters and most importantly for a relaxing day out, plenty of stuff for the kids.

We arrived about half an hour before the jazz began, so got a great spot on the lawn for our little picnic. (Opps we forgot the wine oh well) The kids ran amok. D Found himself some friends to play with and we hardly saw him for the rest of the day (four years old and we’re already cramping his style) and R started dancing before the music even began!

First up were the Edinburgh School’s Jazz Orchestra, followed by No Name Horses, Mike Hart’s Society Syncopators (I have never heard a clarinet sound so beautiful) and the Criterion Parade Band (these guys were heaps of fun).

By this stage we had run out of food and the boys have run themselves ragged (lovely children turn into little monsters at this point), so we head towards home with a stop for ice cream of course. We miss the last few acts including the RAF Big Band, but all in all a fantastic day out.

I am by no means a Jazz Buff, and certainly could not ‘review’ the music. The event in itself was everything I expected (would have liked some wine though!). The weather was beautiful, the atmosphere was relaxed and buzzing with a tangible festival feel.

The festival runs through the first week in August and is part of The Edinburgh Festival.
Individual entries range from free – around 30 pounds.

For more about the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival go to the official website here

Related posts:

1. A Day Out in August: The Edinburgh Festival