Our three-day Scottish “lochs” (lakes) and glens (valleys) holiday started from Hull in Yorkshire on a warm morning. We were the only Indians among a spirited group of “oldies”, all above 70. Some came with walkers, one on a self-propelled wheel chair. The monotony of the long bus drive was broken by our aged driver Tom, who regaled us with jokes in heavy Scottish accent. He would laugh loudly each time to cue in to a joke. The next day, another driver took over and directed his humour at Tom, describing him as an institution as old as “our” hotel.
The bus picked us up from Kingston upon Hull, collected more people from Beverley, Bridlington, then travelled eastwards to Scarborough, turned westwards to Brough, Penrith, Carlisle, reaching Gretna Green. Runaway couples like Lydia and Wickham of Jane Austin’s Pride & Prejudice used to break English law to get married at this first...
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