Briton in the Sun

The last time I experienced Christmas in a warm climate, was when I studied in Australia. As the Beatles song goes "it was 20 years ago today" when I had Christmas Day on the beach. Coogee Beach, Sydney, Australia Unfortunately, I don't remember much about the day, as I've very few pictures to look back on. Obviously Christmas Day falls during the middle of summer in Australia, so it was hot (temperature records show mid 30s). I do remember the weird juxtaposition of people on the beach dressed in swimsuits and Santa hats. I also remember, my British friend Becky cooking me a full Christmas dinner, which seemed totally at odds with the Aussie fare of shrimps on the barbie. Judging from the picture below, it was hot, as normally, even at the beach, I'm dressed up with several layers! Christmas in Australia, 2003 In Gibraltar it was 17 degrees and sunny on Christmas day. Far from mid-30s, but better than 7 degrees and rain in Edinburgh! I decided to start the day wi...

It had come to the end of my Mum's visit, and it was time for her to return to the UK. For me it was back to reality, after feeling like a tourist during her visit. Lots of course revision awaited me, for upcoming exams. But before that, I met her at the airport, for a farewell coffee, and took the opportunity to watch her plane take off. My Mum's plane getting ready for take off. As a kid, I used to love going to Edinburgh airport. Not just for holidays, but to watch the planes. There used to be a viewing platform at the airport, that you could go out to, and watch the planes take off and land. In the days when air travel had a bit more glamour to it (in contrast to the cattle transport that flying is today), some of my relatives used to go to the airport for an afternoon out. We would get a drink, or lunch, look in the shops, watch the planes take off, or land. Fun for all the family! Unfortunately many airports got rid of their viewing platforms, in the name of security (but...

I was on my way to the 'Frontier' (the border), to meet my Mum in La Linea, where she had been saying. Having explored Gibraltar over the last few days, we thought we'd see what La Linea had to offer. As it turns out, not a lot! My Mum Googled "things to do in La Linea", and got very little. The weather was also looking bad, with the sky grey, and rain forecast. This trip could turn out to be a bust! Bad Weather I had taken the 'Frontier' bus to the border, instead of walking across the runway. The bus took the long way round, as cars and busses are no longer allowed to cross the runway (I guess because the airport don't want traffic jams delaying the planes taking off and landing). I wouldn't normally take the 'Frontier' bus, as apart from taking longer, it's run by a different company (Citibus instead of Gibraltar Bus Company) so not included in my bus pass. This reminds me of Edinburgh, where two bus companies operate (Lothian, and F...

I had been in Gibraltar for over three months, and hadn't been up the Rock yet. This was about to change. Today's sightseeing, with my Mum, was to go up the Rock. But first a hearty breakfast, to give us the energy we needed. Ok, we weren't actually walking up the Rock, we were taking the cable car instead, but it's said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Top of the world. Unfortunately, the waiter who served us breakfast, clearly didn't grasp the importance of it as a meal. Mum and I were at a restaurant in Casemates Square, which seemed the best option of food on a Sunday morning. Many of the shops and restaurants in Gibraltar, are closed on Sundays (like used to happen in the UK, a few decades ago). I had ordered scrambled eggs on toast, and the waiter wrote the order down. When he returned with the food however, I was given only toast with jam. I queried this, to the waiter's surprise, and he went off to get me scrambled eggs, but he left ...

The weather had improved, to a sunny day of 19 degrees, so today I could show my Mum the outdoor lifestyle, and visit some of my favourite parts of Gib. I picked my Mum up at the airport (after she crossed the border), and drove to my favourite beach, Catalan Bay. It was hard to believe it was December. The sun was shining, the car park was busy, there were even a few people swimming in the sea. They're brave remarked my Mum. I said they were less brave than the nutters that swim at South Queensferry (outside Edinburgh) on 1 January, which is appropriately named 'the Loony Dook'! No loonies here! We walked along the coast to my second favourite beach, Sandy Bay. On the way Mum admired the houses which had not only great sea views, but a garage, an unspeakable luxury in Gibraltar! There was quite a lot of construction work going on, developers obviously keen to make the most of the coastline. We saw small boats fishing on the water, oranges growing on the trees, and people i...

Last time on Briton in the Sun: My Mum had come to visit me, and I promised you, dear reader, some more royal  connections. So here they are in this chapter. My Mum was staying over the border in Spain. My Mum had brought the Scottish weather with her. It was a dull, wet day, and the temperature had dropped to about 16 degrees. Nothing compared to the snowy, and -1, conditions of Edinburgh that day, but cold and miserable by Gibraltar standards. I therefore suggested we postpone the sightseeing, and took us to King's Bastion. There you go, dear reader. First tenuous  royal link! How many more can you spot as you read on? King's Bastion King's Bastion (like many parts of Gibraltar) was a military fortress. It played a prominent role in defending Gibraltar from Spain and France during the Great Siege of Gibraltar in the 18th century. In recent years it was turned into a leisure centre, so I guess they're not expecting the Spanish to attack any time soon! As we walked in, ...