By Miriam Erasmus
My travels and singing schedule have brought me to Scotland, and Ayr.
There’s nothing I love more than a good Charity Shop browse, even if I buy nothing !!
This afternoon the sun was shining and my friend was having her nails done, so I had free rein to have a wee wander.
The blue skies had brought out the colour in people’s souls, however, and I passed lots of shoppers with brightly coloured clothes on, instead of the usual black, grey and navy outfits that usually adorn them.
I managed to wander quite far along the road, between going in and out of the charity shops, and stopping every hundred yards or so to find the best angle to take a photo of a rooftop or something of interest.
Ayr is such an architectural delight.
The buildings, if you look up, have the most eye catching details.
But, of course, most folks wander around looking at their feet or their phone these days.
Ayr is the biggest town near to Alloway where Robert Burns was born, so there are lots of references to the bard and his poems.
Like the Tam o’Shanter inn for example with the painting of good horse Meg over the door.
Tam O’Shanter is Burns’ epic poem about Tam’s adventures and how good horse Meg saved him from evil. Many a Scot will be proud to quote the whole poem for you.
Other historical figures are also celebrated, like William Wallace the famous freedom fighter – as depicted in Mel Gibson’s film “Braveheart.”
The Wallace Tower is an homage to him, you can see his statue carved on one side.
Just round the corner is the fruit and veg. stall that is the favourite of all the fresh food enthusiasts, but it had closed by the time I got there.
The cobbled streets are reminders of the original fishing port that made Ayr a hub of fishing life on the West coast.
I mustn’t forget the ever present seagulls – their shrieks remind me of the hadidas back home !! Just as I was looking up a flock arrived and swooped over my head for a minute, then flew away as quickly as they appeared, leaving a couple on the chimney pots on the rooftop, next to another hidden carving.
I would be remiss not to post a photo of the “Rangers” store. The people are Ayr are very proud of their history and football team.
You know how you wander along, and suddenly realise that you have to walk back again – oops !!
Eventually my newly manicured friend and I were reunited, and we left Ayr basking in the sunshine, to have tea and crumpets in her sunny garden.
Oh, I did buy a lovely floral top in one of the Charity Shops – half price day for £3 !!
That’s a lovely bargain, even when the exchange rate at the time was nearly R30 to £1.
Thank goodness it’s back to R24 now. Eventually I have to stop doing that, otherwise my head would spin with the cost of everything. But, if I pause to think, the price of a loaf of bread is about the same in both currencies !
