My feet, hips, and
lower back are killing me, but I had a great time today. I got to
meet Caz at last, and she's lovely. She's been all over the world
(originally from New Zealand), putting my travelling to shame. She
had a degree in advertising, and works for a well-known online
company, managing their social media presence. She also has fantastic
hair, coloured in varying degrees of purple and blue. I wish I could
get away with that!
We met at the Museum of
Childhood, which was cool. I saw a few toys and other items new to
me, and the lady there gave us a good impromptu history lesson on the
Queen's childhood doll house. There was a replica, which many girls
of the time period had, thinking it was the same as Princess
Elizabeth's, but it turns out that she had the real thing -- not a
doll house, but a miniature play house, with working plumbing,
electricity, etc. It would have been a wonderful thing to see, but it
no longer exists!
There was an original
Punch and Judy set, with dolls! Yes, I realise those were meant for
everyone, and not just kids, but it's still a neat thing to see. They
were in excellent condition. There were also some pay machines like
the ones that debuted in Blackpool fairs in the 19th century. One was
a Sweeney Todd murder scene... great for kids! Another I liked what a
"haunted house" scene with moving skeletons, ghosts, etc.
It would have been a scary thing for children to see back in that
time period, and awe-inspiring, in terms of mechanics, for adults. We
spent a good amount of time talking about the artistry of the doll
houses, and other toys. It's really become a lost artform with mass
production.
After that, we went to
the Toll House and People's Museum -- very interesting, I highly
recommend it --, then to the Edinburgh Museum, where we got kicked
out at five by a rather rude attendant. Some other ladies,
non-English speaking, were trying to ask him a question and he
muttered something quickly, leaving them totally confused. Caz was
nice enough to actually answer their question properly.
Oh, before that we had
lunch and I had haggis for the first time! It was like a soft, spicy
sausage. Actually, I like it much better than regular sausage despite
the offals. I may have it again before I leave. No neeps (turnips),
though, thanks! I'll just stick with the potatoes.
Caz wanted to bring me
to a yarn place close by, but we were... sidetracked. We went down
Whitehorse Close, which was once used a stables for Queen Victoria's
horses, and stopped to take pictures. There was a pretty little door
surrounded by ivy, and as I went to take a photo, the door opened.
Out came an older lady -- about 75? - with grey hair pinned up in
loops on the sides of her head. She wore a dress, a turtleneck
sweater, a scarf, and two aprons. There were two cotton, floral arm
guards from her wrists to her elbows. She wore "witch's shoes,"
and held a pot of milky liquid and a bottle of something else.
She started talking to
us immediately and explained that she was making a varnish to polish
wooden box for her grandchild's christening. She invited us inside to
show us what she was doing. We stepped inside and WOW! Every inch of
her house was covered in artwork of some kind. Sketches hanging,
patchwork on the furniture, paintings everywhere, flower presses on
doors, tile work on the floors -- it was never ending. She was an
incredible artist! Even the windows and walls were covered in flower
motifs -- real, anatomically correct flowers, that you'd see in
botany journals. She showed us her clothes hangers -- each one was
different. She'd created a doll house to rival the ones in the
museum. Each miniature created and sculpted by hand. Electrified as
well.
As she took us on the
tour, she told us her life story too. She -- Sylvia -- was from
Germany. She met her husband, a handsome man as proved by a portrait,
in London. They moved to Edinburgh 50 years ago. She'd lived in her
art-filled home since 1991. What an incredible woman! She gave Caz a
skirt, hemmed at the bottom with knitting. We must have been visiting
with her for over an hour. What a strange, cool experience! This is
the sort of thing I live for when travelling. Apparently, a lot of
folks come to see her -- she's a bit of a local legend we happily
stumbled on by accident. She gave us each a card with her picture and
address on it. I need to find a card or something when I get back to
Timmins, so I can send it to her.
We eventually got out,
but didn't make it to the yarn shop in time -- it was closed. We
walked around to Arthur's Seat, then attempted to find a place for
beer, but everything was packed full, so we called it quits for the
day. Hopefully we'll get out for a drink before I have to go!
Tomorrow's plans --
Princes Street, Edinburgh Dungeon, and perhaps another tour.
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