Sometimes living in Scotland makes you feel like English is not your native language after all. “For goodness sakes,” you say, “what is a ‘heid’ and what is a ‘skittle’?!” Luckily it doesn’t really matter because you’ve already tried haggis and actually liked it, so you intrepidly move into the land of other new Scottishy words. It turns out that “heid” (rhymes with “need”) means “head” and “skittles” isn’t colorful candy bits, but old school bowling. Growing more Scottish by the minute, you are!
This weekend, Matt and I decided to embrace the Scottish and go play skittles at the oldest pub in Edinburgh, the Sheep Heid Inn, for my birthday.
Here’s how we got there:
(Errr. or maybe it was more of a take-two-buses-and-then-walk-15-minutes kind-of-a-situation, and then Matt posed in front of this Mini because I asked him to and it was my birthday so he did).
And this is what I wore (sensible as always) to crassly stand on the bowling lane:
Wannabe Balenciaga dress by Primark and shoes by Mango.
And here are all the dapper gents that came to my party:
Okay, maybe these skittlers weren’t at my party, but they were at a skittle party in 1913 at the Sheep Heid. Just 99 years too early, gents!
Isn’t it a lovely old place? Legend says that there was a pub in this very spot since 1360 and that Mary Queen of Scotts and her son James loved to stop here for a wee rest and skittle game on their way to Holyrood Palace from Craigmillar Castle (tough life, those royals). The name “Sheep Heid” came from the gift James gave to the inn keeper: the head of a sheep. yum? Poor sheepy.
Lovely spot, isn’t it? I highly recommend a visit if you’re in Edinburgh. Not only is the inn chock-a-block full of historical lore, but the wee village of Duddingston where Sheep Heid is located, is so charming. Nestled just at the foot of Arthur’s Seat and spitting distance to downtown Edinburgh, Duddingston still looks much as it would have in the 17th and 18th century when Bonnie Prince Charlie stayed the night, and later J.M.W. Turner and Sir Walter Scott.
Seriously, what could be a better way to spend an afternoon but skittling and rubbing shoulders with British ghosts?
Oh gracious! I just forgot today is the 4th (Matt and I are being uber British and forgot all about our independence). Hope all you American readers are having a lovely day of fireworks and hot dogs! xoxox
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Dear Cath,
Oh I so wish you could have come skittling with us! We’ll have to take you to Sheep Heid if you fancy it. The atmosphere is lovely and I wouldn’t mind more of a toddle around Duddingston.
I cannot believe how hot it is in the ATL. I mean I should be able to remember what that is like, but I can’t! Today felt warmish — maybe in the 60s– and I actually wore a skirt (with tights)!
We will properly celebrate our bdays when you come into town. I know I sound like a broken record, but I cannot WAIT!!!
LOVE,
Lar
p.s. Our instructor today actually said the phrase “Easy, peasy, lemon squeezey” and I almost squealed in joy, but I reigned it in and looked calmed while saying “difficult, difficult, lemon difficult” in my head.
Looks like fun! I love your creative and humorous captions, too. 🙂
I love your creative captions too, larbar! They’re best. I would have totally squealed out loud if I had a professor say some like “Easy, peasy lemon squeezy.” Instead I have a professor that says, “The sample distribution is a probability distribution for the sample statistic.” zzzzzzzzz.
I really wand to visit that pub and town when I’m in town – definitely put that on the list.
I remember when you bought that dress from Primark. It’s gorgeous on you! The perfect bday dress.
I know you’ll want to slap me for this, but I’m looking forward to coming to Edinburgh to cool down a bit. I’m already sick of the heat.
Happy Independence Day from the from the very island you now live on!
xoxo, cath
Haha Easy Peasy! I used to say that a lot when I was little. It’s a cute phrase actually isn’t it?
Anyway I learned a few things from this post too! The bowling looks like it was really fun and I love the history behind it too!
I also really love how you put the photos together for this post – it looks really effective!
Happy 4th you guys!! 🙂 Loved the post, loved the captions and love that sample distributions bore Cath to death. I won’t even be offended by it.
Cath – here’s a joke for your next stats class – maybe you’ll get extra credit: How do you tell the difference between an introverted statistician and an extroverted one? The extrovert looks at YOUR shoes instead of his own. 😉 (tell me you didn’t giggle!)
Oh! So. no need for special Skittle shoes then? Why do we have to wear ugly shoes to bowl?
Happy (belated) Birthdays! Cath, are we still meeting with Bentley Friday?
Happy belated 4th of July!! This makes me want to play Skittles and also eat Skittles candy. Looked like you had a blast!
What an awesome way to spend a birthday! I am total rubbish when it comes to skittling, but if I get to do it in a place as amazingly old school swanky as the Heid, I would totally go!
LOVE your dress, Lar!
Rubbing shoulders with British ghosts eh? Happy belated birthday Lar! Your dress is gorgeous.I laughed when you said it was a wannabe. The car is super cool and looks like you and the hubs had a great time!