As you know, we live at Dunans Castle and spend by the most days being happy and hardworking. Life some-times gets in the way and rain always does. Tours are booked by our fabulous members and Gordon, our tour guide does a great job, whatever the weather literally chucks.
Some times, deep in our rural world we smash hard into the outside pace of of life and it leaves me pondering! Yesterday, a very smart, happy group of US internationals arrived for a tour, in a mini-bus, complete with driver, that they had booked to take them on a big trip around the west coast. When chatting to them in the shop, we all laughed and smillled as they told me, how their mini bus driver, an Edinburgh ‘lady’, had attempted to ‘talk them out’ of their trip to us, after all ‘there was nothing here. this part of Scotland is a backwater’. Well, she may have a point in the latter sentiment, a ‘backwater’ we may be, however these thriving, vibrant, challenging, working, rural communities, all over Scotlands outerlands, are and places of amazing endeavour, cultural development and rich in asset that plays its part in sustaining all life in Scotland and always worth a visit.
The group having set off on their booked tour, I was slightly startled to be the unwilling party to the mini bus driver’s strident point of view. She, as the driver of the bus, not the client had, quite rightly, not gone on the tour, choosing to spend her time instead, once her clients were out of view, to climb over protective barriers, ignore all signage and make her determined way to the ruined castle. Upon being intercepted and escorted back to her mini bus, she enriched my day with a diatribe on how, a) she could go where she liked because ‘there is the right to roam in Scotland’, b) we had ‘no right’ to stop her, c) she had brought people to us and was doing us a favour in coming to this backwater, d) she would not be treated like this in Edinburgh and e), my personal favourite, as she climbed back over the security chain, declining my offer to open it and being asked to stay on designated paths or stay with her car), did I want ‘to fight her’!!!!
It is an odd place this world of ours and this little episode has took up far to much of my busy working day, I do remain perplexed by the experience. The ‘lady’ has now removed her person and left this ‘backwater’ to recover from the energy she brought with her, clearly the drive from Edinburgh, took her deeply out of her comfort zones, surely she could have turned down the job. Why carry all this rage and antagonism about, dumping it when thwarted. She had not paid or contributed in any way to come Dunans, she is not a member and she was making money out of our members desire to visit this project, them and us.
A sad experience, it is always leveling to see a fellow human so angry, and always hard not to take it personally. Although as I reflect I am feeling a little cross, not by the odd behaviour or the raging assumption of personal entitlement, but by her contemptuously chucking her lunch rubbish into a hedge, before gathering her party and zooming off up the drive. Look our fellow backwaters, it may your turn next.
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That’s disgusting!! Did you want to fight her??? She sounds a rat if sunshine…..I wouldn’t have wanted to be on her mini bus!
Onwards and upwards….thankfully not everyone is like that. Xx
It was one of the most bizarre statements… makes me giggle now though.
Aye those Edinburgh wifies are full of it Sadie! “Pride, Pox and Poverty that is! Fair play to you maintaining your air of Lady Lairdomness (?) and not taking her up on the pugilistic challenge, although my money would personally been on yourself, since those Embra lot aye run off if challenged! (No offence intended to those less abrasive of Fifers of course!) Any challenge to grapple with myself, should you take the fancy is of course accepted m’lady 😉
I love those words jake ‘Pride, Pox and Poverty’ what a fabulous title and I thank you for your kind offer of a’grapplin, we could make it a Castel sport x
Well done you Sadie
thank you kindly x
I am so relieved she was not an American! Keep your hearts and spirts open to all the good people who share in your vision! The lands and the real Laird and Lady of them are beautiful. Hope to come back there someday.
Lady Laura of Dunans
She was not an American, her group were and I do so hope she treated them well. Thank you Lady Laura, your support and kind words are as ever appreciated. x
Lady Sadie – you can rest assured that this American couple will appreciate every aspect of Dunan’s, & the hospitality of its hosts! We look forward to every brief moment there, in the Beauty & history of Bonnie Scotland! Can’t wait!
Thank you dear Gordon, kind words and we do so value our visitors. They are very much part of what we are doing here. See you one day soon x
Sadie. Charles. Susan. If it is a backwater it is the best one i know. Obviously the woman does not leave Edin burg or at least does not venture far from the city boundary.
Kinda wish i had been there yesterday to help further elucidate and educate that somewhat ignorant opinion.
Personally cant wait to see the finished product.
If you need anything ……….
Lots of love.
Taxi George
George you are a ever a gent! Thank you, you actually arrived with a group about half an hour after they had gone. You do it properly and with such grace. Thank you x
Sorry to hear this, Sadie. Bummer, what unnecessary thoughtlessness! This is why large dogs exist, one to keep out such persons in the first place, and the other to hug and lick your face. A nice scotch in hand completes the adjustment.
WE used to have a bog dog for exactly such a role. He was called Huddy and loved touring our guests about. Much missed x