First stop Glasgow

Thursday 12 to Friday 13 September Melbourne-Singapore-Dubai-Glasgow

We left Melbourne on the 6pm Emirates flight to Singapore (6 hours) where we had an hour or so break and could stretch our legs and enjoy the tropical garden display. Then back on the plane for another 6-7 hour leg to Dubai. We had four hours there but the Emirates terminal there is very 'western' with little distinctive about it. The last leg of the trip was 6-7 hours to Glasgow. We were both pleased that we had decided on the three breaks this time.

Singapore airport

We arrived in Glasgow at 12.30pm, where it was wet and fairly cold (12 degrees). After picking up our hire-care, a VW Golf, we set off for Glasgow via the Erskine Bridge. It was pretty stressful as Ian discovered that the windscreen wipers and indicator switches were on the opposite sides to our car, and I tried to navigate from a sketch map from Hertz. We took a couple of detours but eventually worked out the route to take and then realised that the free map app on Ian's tablet (Navigator) also provided GPS navigation. That made things much easier but it was with relief that we arrived at the White House Apartments. These are part of a Victorian crescent in a leafy part of the city with a park opposite and a picturesque view of a  church spire from our window.

After unpacking we did some shopping at the local M&S Simply Food for breakfast and picnic lunch supplies and then off to the Ubiquitous Chip restaurant for dinner. We walked down Ashton Lane which was full of eateries, like one of the little lanes in Melbourne, full of life and atmosphere. Our restaurant was wonderful - a garden setting which was cosy under a transparent roof - and terrific food! Ian had venison haggis, tatties and neeps followed by chargrilled Aberdeen Angus rump steak and 'the best chunky hand-cut chips he has ever had'. My choice was pickled mackerel followed by mussels in a smoky broth. We were both intending to have dessert but gave that idea away when I started falling asleep at the table! Nevertheless it was a beautiful start to our trip!