Day 1 - Edinburgh

Not sure if this was our plane or not, but taking this picture meant we were in the middle of the queue to board instead of the front where we could have been... oh well

​Greetings, humans! I have arrived in Edinburgh! Charlie and I flew from Stansted, an airport that has rather confused me as for some reason it costs £3.50 to drop someone off – is this some means to encourage people to use the free bus service? I quite like buses but I believe many people do not. Something to do with them always being late or smelly or cold…
Anyway, we arrived in the airport and headed straight to security. No hold luggage to drop off today and already checked in online, this is a revelation in air travel. I like this plan, jolly good I think. Security was an interesting experience, Charlie got beeped going through the metal detector and had to go through those full body scanner things. The bag I was in also got pulled off the conveyor belt. Oh no, were we in trouble for trying to smuggle a cat onto a plane? No, it was the liquids – shower gel, toothpaste and that squirty stuff that stops hay fever. These were all put into some kind of strange scanning device and then handed back. Odd.
We then walked through duty free, which seemed to sell only alcohol and perfume, to the point where the smell started to make me feel rather nauseous, one does have a sensitive nose. Finally we arrived in the food area – much better – and after some waiting, we set off for the gate.
The gate was so far away we were sent there by train, it was in a completely separate building. We were delayed boarding for no apparent reason, crammed into some small area between the showing of the boarding passes and being released onto the runway. Finally the doors opened and we were allowed to board the plane.
More waiting and then we were off, flying high in the sky. We spent a lot of time flying on top of some white fluffy material which I feel would make an excellent cat bed and then, oh horrors! My dreaded enemy water started falling from the sky! ​

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My new bed, me thinks

Our first view of Scotland, unfortunately not the most awe-inspiring of views

Soon, sadly, the fluffy stuff disappeared, but at least it meant we could observe the fields and roads far below. Not long later we had landed (only an hour’s flight). On disembarking from the plane, we discovered there was more water falling from the sky, Charlie says it’s called rain and apparently this is quite normal in Scotland. I don’t like it.
We had to get off the plane and walk through the rain, luckily I was in a bag, although not a waterproof one, I might add.

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My new friend, Boris

A very long time (probably three minutes) later, we were in Edinburgh airport where no water was falling from the sky, which fortunately only seems to happen outdoors, but then after meeting Charlie’s aunt, Sue, we were back out in the Rain. I have decided to grant it capital letter status to emphasise the horror of it. We made it to the safety of the car and began the journey to Sue and Stuart’s house. Edinburgh seems like a nice place, pity about the Rain.
We spent the day indoors, wisely hiding from the wet stuff which was still pouring down, and met Boris the cat, he’s very friendly and then the humans went out for dinner. As it was still Raining very hard, I sensibly elected not to join them.

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On the way to dinner, a pity the camera decided to focus on the Rain on the window. That's Scotland, I suppose

Dinner this way

​The three humans drove to Henderson’s Vegan in Thistle Street. There are several Henderson’s in Edinburgh and whilst they are all vegetarian, this was the only one that was fully vegan.
I was informed that, for no identifiable reason, the traffic getting to dinner was very, very bad. However, the amount of time spent stationary afforded Charlie plenty of opportunity to take pictures. There were some wonderful old buildings, some parks and lots of cars.
They finally arrived at dinner (still Raining) and ordered starters. These were a carrot and cashew cream bruschetta for Sue and a sharing platter of sourdough, oat cakes, olive salad, hummus, bean pâté and something that seemed like a mix of antipasti and bean pâté between Charlie and Stuart. All was excellent.
The main event was vegan haggis all round, a Scottish delicacy made of soya (if you’re vegan, various, unnamed innards encased in a sheep stomach if you're not) and onions among other vegetable type things. This was served with kale, cashew cream cheese sauce and a pickled vegetable of undetermined species. Turns out it was turnip. Again, everyone was well pleased with the food.

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Haggis!!!

​Despite being very full, the humans elected for pudding, one vanilla ice cream with fruit and two blueberry cheesecakes with a shortcake style base, served with three blueberries and a drizzle of chocolate sauce.
Absolutely stuffed, the humans waddled out onto the street, where it had stopped Raining… oh no, my mistake, still Raining.
There is a lot of Rain here, it is quite terrifying. I will venture out into this city if it ever stops Raining. The view from my window, I have been told is amazing, you can see all across the city and Castle to the Forth bridge and the river (perhaps not being able to see it is a good thing), however the Rain has rather restricted the view to the backs of the houses behind this one.
Tomorrow the plan is to visit Edinburgh Zoo and hopefully talk to some keepers. I want to meet my feline cousins, particularly the wildcats whose fearsome natures I feel I have much in common with.
Until then,
Chesh.