Settling in to Bridge of Allan

Today is Saturday and I moved into my new home away from home. I still can't believe that I met a couple at a bar and two days later they are handing their keys over to me! Only in Scotland! Yesterday I learned four new things while venturing about....1) expected tips in bars is 0% and restaurants is only 10%. Though in the bar if you have a good connection with the bartender, you buy them a drink at the end of the night. 2) You have to wave down the bus or else they drive right by you. Luckily the first bus that went right by wasn't the one that we wanted. 3)Whisky is very, very cheap here. At least whatever we bought last night! Dad held out a 20 and the bartender told him that would pay for the whole bottle. A glass of whisky was only about 1.20. 4) Beaconhurst is a boys and girls schools, however a long time ago it merged two schools together. Beacon - the all girls school and Hurst - the all boys school.

For dinner yesterday, we went to eat italian food because everyone in Bridge of Allan says that there is great italian food on every corner. So we gave one place a try. My host family recommended a restaurant that she described as "posh"...and boy was it! I was mid sentence when I put the first bite of pasta in my mouth and my brain switched tracks to "ohh my goodness!" It was ravioli in a gorgonzola and pear sauce...for Jason's information! :) Our waiter was from Italy and very interested in us, commenting on our strong accents again. After dinner we went down to the Westerton again for a drink (the bar where I met my host family). Dad and I played flash cards with pence so that we don't have to hold our hands out dumbfounded anymore when paying for things. Dad and I had a quiet day other than viewing the third house in Alva...which was good although it really was out in the middle of nowhere. One road that leads in and out.

Today, I decided it was time to get the necessities after moving into the house. We went to the grocery store and found shampoo, soap, toothpaste...it was going to be an easy in and out trip! But what proved to be the hardest to find and had us searching all over was deodorant and a razor. I still have yet to see a women's razor anywhere and deodorant is to be found at a pharmacy for some reason. But there are men's razors everywhere. So that's what I bought! They all do the same job, right? Also, I needed coat hangers. We had to catch a bus to Stirling for this one. It is only a ten minute bus ride into Stirling from where I am living, though the bus is quite expensive - 2.20 one way. We went into the mall to try to find coat hangers but, again there was no luck. Someone finally told us to look at the Pound Store! I thought...like the Dollar Store? Really? But sure enough, they sell coat hangers! So we got a bunch of coat hangers for only 7 pounds. Oh and they also sell everything else that was on my list as well...including deodorant and razors. So note to self: when I need big things, go to Stirling. Also, side note, the opposite side of the road driving is really messing me up! I'm either going to get run over, take a bus in the wrong direction thinking that it's going the other way, or get run over! It takes getting used to looking to the right first when you cross the road and not to the left. And pedestrians don't seem to have the right of way so don't rely on that one here! 1st picture: The house I will live in for the next 10 weeks. Though they think I will end up staying for two years! :) 2nd picture: Downtown Stirling!