Oban and Isle of Mull

Hi guys! 

I hope you’re ready for a good laugh. We made it through the night by the abandoned graveyard and cooked some campervan porridge and coffee. If you’re wondering like me what porridge is, it’s just oatmeal but not the good Quaker Oats maple brown sugar kind, it’s the healthy one that is probably all around better for you. The only downside to campervaning is the lack of facilities, so after a good 20 minute pep talk Jes finally convinced me to “wild wee” because our next stop was in 3.5 hours. I don’t know what happened to my luck because in spite of doing a walk around the abandoned cemetery to ensure no one but the cows would see my bum a few seconds into peeing behind a bush I heard voices close by! I have never snapped my leggings back up so quickly before! Omg. Apparently when I went around the corner behind a bush, an elderly couple drove up to pay respects to a grave. Thankfully Jes loudly greeted them so I was aware we had company. Seriously, there wasn’t a single car passing by all morning, like what were the odds?! I was so embarrassed I ran around the other side of the building, into the safety of the van, and insisted we stop at a service station the next time we saw one so I could use the toilet like a civilized person or as Jes likes to call it “middle class.” After today’s experience, I’ll “be middle class” any day lol.

We had a beautiful, albeit windy, drive up Loch Lomand. We were so lucky it only rained for about half an hour and then we had clear skies!! I think Scotland is trying to make up for its earlier offenses with the cancelled campervan and lack of accommodations. 

From there we finished our drive in a port city called Oban. I wish we had more time to explore because it looked really cute! But the best we did was run to grab some food before we had to catch our ferry to the Isle of Mull! 

This was my first time driving a car onto a ferry and we had a beautiful forty minute boat ride!!

By the time we docked Jes and I were a bit traveled out, but thankfully there was a campsite right next to the docks that had space for the night. We pulled Vito (the name of our campervan) in and got to exploring the coastline. Apparently it was a beach, but if you ask me, this doesn’t look like a beach at all, guess my California standards are too high hahah. Also the walk was a bit boggy beyond the rocks on the “beach,” which proved to be an interesting challenge at some points because you couldn’t always see the mushiness behind the grass. 

I found Scottish thistle in real life and also spotted plenty of foxgloves and English roses along the way. Everything is so green and beautiful here! Such a change to California and it’s epic drought. 

It was getting quite late and cold so I put my domestic skills to use and cooked us some campervan loubia. Loubia is a cannellini bean and tomato soup from Morocco, but because I didn’t have all the ingredients and spices necessary, I just used whatever was available and adapted accordingly. It actually was delicious and we enjoyed our soup and hot chocolates on the beach. 

Even as we got ready for bed, it was still so bright out! I couldn’t believe how sunny and beautiful it was at 10 pm. It made it so hard to go to sleep because I didn’t want to miss the view!! I do wonder why my ancestors left this beautiful island, but then I think about how I’ve had the travel bug for forever and I myself can’t imagine being in one place for very long, so maybe they were just like me, ready and eager to explore all the world has to offer. 

Can’t wait to tell you guys all about tomorrow when I go to Duart Castle!

Love you all,

Carolyn

Graveyards and Ecclefechan

Hello Everyone! 

I’d like to say that after all the wedding festivities I was finally able to sleep in, but I guess the only way to make me a morning person is by shipping me across the pond to England haha. I woke up at 6 am and could not go back to sleep. So instead I enjoyed my morning sea view with a cup of English tea. Since today was my last day on the water in Brighton I decided to treat myself to a full English breakfast, well minus all the pork sausage and bacon. I can’t say I’m the biggest fan of beans and toast first thing in the morning BUT I can now say I’ve tried it.  

Afterwards I braved the bus again to get to Jes’ home because she and I are going on a road trip to Scotland!! It’s been my dream for forever to trace my ancestry back to the Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull. However, it seems that the world was determined to thwart me from getting there. We had an awful time trying to book flights, a car, and accommodations. And then just yesterday we got a notification that our campervan had been cancelled and there was no other vehicle available for rent in Scotland!! When I said we should cancel the trip, Jes decided to double down against fate and said that she would drive us the entire trip from Brighton herself, since I have no clue how to drive a stick shift. Something I’m very determined to rectify when I get back home. And with that we began our 9 hour and 45 minute journey to a city just past the Scotland border called Ecclefechan. 

Honestly I can’t believe this day has even happened!! Were it me, I honestly would have put the trip off another time, hence why I never came up to Scotland in 2019 despite living in London for a month. But I’m so grateful to have best friends who push me out of my comfort zone and are even more determined than me to make my dreams come true. Hence why I’m campervaning and wild camping for the first time ever throughout Scotland despite being notorious for my A/C car girl life.

The drive was beautiful up the countryside, minus the constant smell of manure. But the sheep and the cows along the highway were so cute!! The drive itself flew by with Jes and I chatting along the way, even Jes said the 10 hours felt like 4 or 5 hours and she did all the hard work! We went to a famous rest stop on Tebay which apparently even Prince Andrew went to. It had the cutest artisanal chocolates and produce and art. It was so hard not to buy the entire shop! We had pot pies for dinner with this amazing view! I can’t believe this is a rest stop, sure beats the ones in America. 

We eventually made it past the border to Ecclefechan where we are going to wild camp for our first night. Apparently it’s legal in Scotland and means that so long as it’s not private property you can park and camp anywhere. Pete sent us three wild camp spots and the one Jes chose was next to an ABANDONED CEMETARY right at sunset. Jes wanted to have a walk around, and I made it exactly 120 seconds before I spooked myself and ran back to the car. In the end, I will admit it was a nice location because of how quiet the road was. so it was easy to fall asleep. BUT I still wouldn’t call it my first choice for wild camping. Thank god we got to sleep in the van and not have to camp out by the graves, I would have slept in the car regardless were that the case. I’m superstitious enough not to provoke the old war veteran spirits lol. 

Wish me luck for the night!! 

Love you lots,

Carolyn 

Get Me To The Church On Time

 Hi!! 

Here to finally give you the big wedding report. To say it’s been a whirlwind is an understatement. This morning started off with me going to pick up coffee and pastries for the bride and her step-daughter. I practically skipped the whole way there because I was so excited, and my joy did not go unnoticed as the grumpy barista who commented on how happy I was this morning. I politely told him my best friend was getting married in my very loud and enthusiastic American voice. It was enough to get a grin out of the grump. 

Jes then had a hair and makeup artist come to doll her up, while I got myself ready and helped Lana become an “underwater rockstar princess.” 

We were going right along schedule until we went downstairs and found out there were no taxis available in the entire city! Apparently they had a wait time for over half an hour to an hour. Even worse, there was no Uber that would take my ride. So, in the most classically Jes turn of events, we hopped on the late bus, wedding dress and all. Mind you we were absolutely panicked by this time, but thankfully got ahold of the groom to let him and all of the guests know we were running late. 

The lunch was lovely, and with only the closest friends and family members of Jes and Pete it made for quite an intimate party full of love and laughter. I read my maid of honor speech, which got tears and smiles from the crowd. And we carried on with the couple exchanging the five things they loved about each other most in lieu of vows. I couldn’t imagine a more quirky and perfect ceremony for the new couple before we met with a much larger group on the beach to party the rest of the day away!! 

It was an evening of mingling and laughs as I met Jes and Pete’s new tribe of quirky, international, and interesting friends. One couple I met is preparing to motor cross around the world! I invited them to meet me in LA when they eventually get there, heads up mom and dad we may be having some guests over in 2024 lol.

Anyways, it was a very chill and lovely day that went by so quickly I can’t believe I’m writing this post already! I’m off to Scotland tomorrow so I better get some rest. 

Love you all,

Carolyn 

Pre Wedding

Hi Fam!

I had quite a morning as it was a bit of a disaster getting to Jes’ house that day because of the bus. First, while I found the right bus stop, the bus was 20 minutes late, causing me to questions whether or not I read the maps right. Then when I went on the bus, my card refused to work. I tried three times and each time I became more frantic and embarrassed while the bus driver became more annoyed. Thankfully I had some cash on me, but I couldn’t count the coins fast enough and unfortunately pulled out a euro which the bus driver sassily told the entire bus about. I didn’t even hand it to him! I was just trying to read it fast enough to find the pound coin! Needless to say, I finally figured it out and handed over 50 pence and had a walk of shame to the upstairs bus seats. I eventually made it to Jes’ house where I had a big cry with Mumma Bailey in the kitchen. Apparently you can publicly humiliate me in a classroom of 150 law students or I can show up to a bridal party where everyone is in white but me and the bride and I won’t even bat an eyelash or feel a bit ashamed. But if the Sussex bus driver gives me attitude, I melt into a puddle of tears. Oh well, thankfully the day was too busy for me to ruminate in my embarrassment.

It was day before the wedding we had quite a list of chores to get everything done and ready, including carrying our weight in baklava back from the ethnic shops to Jes’ home. It was also a moment from the history books because Jes AND Mumma Bailey got their nails done! Being the A/C car girl I am, I helped them choose colors and prevented any posh people from looking down on them (which is why they both hadn’t had their nails done yet in the first place!) I even did Mumma Bailey’s and Gemma’s henna! 

My only regret is not taking more pictures. I have none of us together! And you would all be so proud of me because this California girl hopped in the FREEZING English waters at 8 pm when everyone went for a swim after finishing our tasks for the day. The wind was whipping around and I definitely did not stop chattering my teeth the entire time. But I did it!! And I followed the entire occasion with a hot bath and a hot chocolate in my hotel room but didn’t dally too long because I have a big day with Jes’ wedding tomorrow!! 

I can’t wait to share about it! 

Love you lots,

Carolyn

Mehndi Day

Hello hello! 

Well it’s safe to say that despite my best efforts the jet lag has set in. I got up at 4 am and could not for the life of me fall back asleep! So I decided to start my day by calling Kelly, practicing my maid of honor speech for Jes, and writing my blog. I thought I saw dolphins in the sea only to realize that it was just swimmers in the distance. I forgot that Britain has killed all of their marine life along with any predators on land. Oh Brits. Around 8 am I set out for coffee and pain au chocolate because FINALLY a shop opened and enjoyed the sunshine on the beach. I think I’ve been extremely lucky considering the fact that I expected it to rain half the time here. Am I still in England? 

Afterwards I met up with Jes and did her wedding henna. I was so nervous! Usually professionals come in for this. We played all the classic Hindi mehndi songs and I even hid Pete’s initials. If Jes finds them, that means she wears the pants in the family. It was nice just sitting around enjoying each other’s company without rushing to do things. The future bride and groom actually got antsy because they felt like they should be doing things. But I death glared them  and said if they ruined my henna I would never forgive them. Turns out I can be quite scary when I want to be. 

Jes, Pete, and I walked to the wedding venue where we checked out the specials for Sunday and enjoyed coffee, snacks, and drinks! Poor Jes still couldn’t use her hands so she ended up sipping beer through a straw lol!

We even picked up Lana, Pete’s daughter, there. She’s adorable! The whole way home Lana and I compared British words to American ones. Jes told Lana she had to teach me “proper English” before I left. We had a lovely pizza dance party dinner and then Mumma Bailey and Gemma, Jes’ sister, joined us. It was a full house but so much fun! Even though I had been up for 20 hours I didn’t want to sleep! My eyes must have started dropping though because before I knew it Mumma Bailey gave me a lift home and I was fast asleep before my head even hit the pillow. 

All in all, I’d say it was a pretty great day. 

Love you all,

Carolyn

Back in Brighton

Hello Everyone!

Guess who’s back?! It’s so weird to be in England now that I’m officially an attorney. It honestly feels like just yesterday I was moving here for the summer for my internship with Ashurst. And now, I’m meeting Jes who has managed to get a dog, buy a house, change careers, oh and get married to Pete and become a family with Lana (Pete’s daughter). Yup, a lot can change in three years.

We have started a tradition where each time Jes picks me up she makes a sign that is three parts what I like, what would embarrass me, and what would confuse the crowd among us the most. Well, I’d say her months of planning paid off because she totally hit the nail on the head with this one!! The poor airport people actually thought we were getting engaged, you can see it in their faces if you zoom in the back lol.

I guess I should explain the sign a bit. Back when we met, Jes and I were totally mad for the same actor, Michael Ealy, after watching one of his movies together. Since we couldn’t agree who could have him, we compromised by settling on becoming sister wives. Well, eight years later the joke has stuck, even with Pete now in the picture. He’s definitely a good sport about it! Especially considering the fact that Jes lead their second date with “I have a sister wife…” I can only imagine the look he made when she broke the news! 

Which brings me to this afternoon, where I finally met Pete in person!! Hilariously the very first thing he told me was that he thought I’d be taller. To be fair, the only times he’s FaceTimed me with Jes have been whilst I was already in bed. Because of the time difference, Jes has a habit of calling right as I’m about to go to sleep, but because it’s Jes, I pick up the phone retainers and all of course!! Pete treated me to coffee because it was too cold for my favorite ice cream shop, Morocco’s and we sat on the beach enjoying the water and sunshine. I’m not sure I’ll get used to the mugginess but I can’t complain for having such awesome weather in my first day! 

Jes made us fajitas for dinner and of course being in England we finished the night with a cup of tea. I forgot that these Brits think the only tea in the world is English Breakfast, so when I asked what kind of tea was being offered, Pete responded with “tea.” *facepalm*

We laughed the night away and Pete and I got to know each other better. If today is any indication for this trip, this week is going to be an absolute blast. I’m SO excited. I am grateful to have wonderful friends who pick even better partners. Don’t believe me? After four hours together Pete chose the exact right mug to make me tea in ;) he’s definitely got the memo. 

Anyways talk to you all tomorrow. 

Love you lots,

Carolyn