Link February 2019 Volume 28 Issue 1 | Page 51

T ravel runs in my blood. And I have my parents to thanks for that. Dad hailed from a farm near Walwa in country Victoria and Mum grew up on a farm near Hamilton in New Zealand. They randomly met in The wild landscapes of Scotland, above, and opposite page, Edinburgh at night. Edinburgh on New Years’ Eve in 1972 when dad stumbled into the gutter this beautiful city and explore other population of 5.4 million people. It (after a few too many drinks) and my parts of Scotland. During this time, I is a land of stunning natural scenery, mum who was walking past stopped developed a lifelong bond with the fascinating history, historic castles to help him back to his feet. It was country and there’s no doubt it was and a flourishing arts and cultural love at first sight and they have been love at first sight. scene. The country is surrounded by the bracing waters of the North Sea thick as thieves ever since. This chance encounter which shaped our family was the main reason About to the east, and the North Atlantic Scotland is a nation comprising Ocean to the west and north, and why I moved to Edinburgh in 2003 for more than 790 islands located in the as a 96-kilometre land border with six months to acquaint myself with north of the United Kingdom with a England to the south. linkonline.com.au travel 51