Flags and trains

J and I went to the Edwardian Exhibition at the King’s Gallery in Edinburgh yesterday, and followed it up with going round the Palace of Holyrood.  The former was pretty good and I commented to R that I was very glad that we had managed to see something heavily based around the pomp and glory of the British Empire, without having to introduce a lot of politically correct modern opinions into the commentary.  Hold that thought a moment.

The Palace was rather boring and faded – nothing to write home about and not really worth the money to be honest.  The gardens were nice though and we saw a stone d20 (Dungeons and Dragons joke there for the uninitiated)

Then, as we had a bit of time to spare, we went into St Giles Cathedral.  I did not enjoy this at all.  There was a huge mob of tourists queuing to get in and “donations” being very actively solicited.  I gave one – not because they were pressurising people because I am immune to that kind of moral pressure, but because I believe in maintaining historic buildings.  Then I saw a notice – I’ll paraphrase – but basically it said that the cathedral contained relics of the British Empire and that the Church apologised in case they offended “indigenous peoples”.  I object to that in many many ways – but I’ll just state one.  The flags and graves in the Cathedral represent men (and  a few women) who rightly or wrongly died in the service of something greater than themselves and do not deserve to be “apologised for” by anyone.  Also, the house of God is not for photos and levity, it is for silence, reflection and respect.  So if I could have taken my donation back I would.  I couldn’t but I won’t be back.

Anyway then we went back in the train.  I had a laugh at Cupar station, which must have the worst gap between train and platform of any station in the country (and I have been to many).  You literally have to spring across a gap of over a meter, and when J and I first came to see the house and my foot was healing after my last operation it gave me quite some trouble.  Here is the gap in the picture.

Now look closer.

Oh dear – I hope all those older people have got their trainer shoes on ready for their jump!