On Monday we motored up to Edinburgh, stopping at Westmorland Services (http://www.westmorland.com/) for a tasty lunch, sitting looking at the fantastic Lake District scenery with pond and ducks in the foreground.  A very popular place now, with restaurant, farm shop and also selling clothes, children's toys and gifts.  Having said that, they are getting rather expensive, so may perhaps price themselves out of the market.  This would be rather a shame as we're so lucky to have such a great place to stop en route to Scotland, especially as it's more or less half way.
As we were a little early, and it had been a long journey, we stopped off at Castlelaw Hill Fort in the Pentland Hills for a wee walk.  Couldn't walk very far as they were firing but got a taste for the place and will no doubt return as the views were pretty spectacular. (http://www.henniker.org.uk/html/_pentlands_Cas.htm)

Tuesday:  walked into Edinburgh city centre and over to the Scottish Parliament building to view The Great Tapestry of Scotland, which is on display there until 13 September.  After that date it'll be moving down to New Lanark.  The 140 plus panels are well worth seeing. (http://www.scotlandstapestry.com/).  To add to the fun, we added some stitches to a final panel which is to be completed by visitors each sewing a bit, then it'll be permanently on display in Edinburgh.

This is the part of the tapestry which we contributed to, see the leaves on the left hand side.

On the way back home, further up to the Royal Mile, we popped into the  People's Story Museum (free entry), which is well worth a visit: http://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/Venues/The-People-s-Story.


Wednesday we visited the National Portrait Gallery of Scotland (http://www.nationalgalleries.org/portraitgallery), especially to view the John Byrne Sitting Ducks exhibition, which runs 'til 19 October (http://www.nationalgalleries.org/whatson/exhibitions/john-byrne).

Thursday:  We made our way south again, back to reality after a lovely break.

There was much talk amongst friends and relatives about the forthcoming referendum on Scottish independence.  Views ranged from 'we're well able to run our own affairs, we're a rich country' to 'where will I renew my tax disc?  Will an independent Scotland mean that we have duplicates of all government offices?  And if so, will that increase costs?'  Somehow I do feel that people are not really sure of the ramifications of what they're voting for and will they vote with their heads or their hearts? see: https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/scottish-independence-referendum

Re-Make - re-imagining Derby's Silk Mill*


This week I took grand daughter out for a walk as she finding it difficult to settle due to a cold.  We wandered along the banks of the River Derwent, towards town and came across The Silk Mill, which happened to be open: interesting as it's been closed for some time.  

We went inside and found out the following information - The Silk Mill is in the process of reinventing itself for the 21st Century, through reviving the principles of the Enlightenment and expanding traditional perspectives of what a museum is and can be.

The concept has been developed from a desire to reflect Derby's 300 year story of innovation; starting with the Silk Mill as the site of the world's first factory, through to the modern day city as a leading in advanced engineering and manufacturing.

Get involved ...
As part of this project we are invited to take part in an exciting and ground-breaking community project to 'Remake the Museum'.

Working with our design team, including our first 'makers-in-residence' TILT, this innovative project provides opportunities for people to become citizen curators, designers and makers, learning new skills or applying skills they already have to support a unique project at the site of the world's first factory!

To find out more, or sign up to the programme by visiting www.derbymuseums.org/remake (or Twitter @derbysilkmill #remakemuseum).


At present the museum is open Thursdays 3pm - 9pm; Fridays 1pm - 5pm; Saturdays 1pm - 5pm and Sundays 11am - 3pm (http://www.derbymuseums.org/thesilkmill/ and https://www.facebook.com/derbysilkmill?ref=hl). 

For the mill's location see:  https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/The+Silk+Mill+Museum/
@52.925618,-1.475805,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x4879f1158bbc17b5:0xd6f608bc4aa78308

*Remake is funded by The Arts Council of England, Derby City Council and the 'happy museum'. (see: http://www.derbymuseums.org/)