On Friday we arrived in Toronto to stay for a couple of days with Alan and Cath Cowan. Cath is a Douglas and has an extraordinary interest in, and a great deal of information about, the Douglas family tree. I have never been exactly sure what our relationship actually was so, after a bit of investigation, we worked out that we were second cousins - my grandfather and her grandfather being brothers.
Despite her Douglas interest, Cath had never been to Scotland and it appears that I am the only Douglas who she had actually met although a number of the “older generation” had kept in touch by letter. Consequently Sandra and I were treated as royalty, the fatted calf had been duly slaughtered and a full programme laid on for us – there was no way this visit was only going to last two days!
The house, what I would consider “old Australian” in that it has an enormous veranda where we tended to take afternoon tea and occasionally dinner, overlooks Lake Macquarie, a large body of salt water almost totally surrounded by land with only a narrow outlet to the sea. The place is a haven for the sailing fraternity.
Saturday morning we were up bright and breezy ready for a guided tour of “Douglas Country” – from the Presbyterian Church in Newcastle where the Douglases got married, to the various houses in which they lived - Cath spoke of the people and places as if it were just yesterday.
Sunday was kilt day! I had mentioned to Cath I had brought my kilt and was immediately
instructed to put it on as various family members were coming to meet me and would love to see me in the Douglas tartan – I of course duly obliged and there are hundreds of photographs recording the event.
Monday was Hunter Valley day. For those of you that don’t know, the Hunter Valley is one of the main wine growing areas in Australia so Sandra and I had more than a passing interest! Our guides for the day were Geoff and Geraldine – like myself Geoff is a distant relative to Cath’s but before long we discovered yet another of these “oh what a small world it is” coincidences. A few weeks earlier Sandra and I travelled south to Wollongong to visit Johann’s ex-husband Ian
Raeburn who, it turns out, is a friend of Geoff and Geraldine – small world. Ian is remembered as the inventor of the Raeburn Index for wine – if it is over 14.5 ABV it must be good!
As there are about 150 wineries in the area we weren’t able to get round them all – but we did our best!
Starting off at the Kelman Vineyard (in which Geoff and Geraldine had recently sold part owner-hip) we moved over the road to Saddlers Creek Wines, then on to one of my all-time favourites – McGuigans. McGuigans also make
their own cheeses so we were able to double up on the sampling! For a change of emphasis we had lunch at a brewery were we able to sample six different ales to help wash down the meat pies. Last (I think!) was the small, but perfect, Scarborough Wine Co whose presentation was superb – not least because we were presented with NINE different wines to sample including several Semillons and Chardonnays then, keeping, in my opinion the best until last, a Pinot Noir and an excellent Shiraz.
Tuesday was an extended lunch on the veranda where I was introduced to a number of friends of
Cath and Alan’s most of whom had some connection with the Australian branch of the Douglas family over the years including another relative who was related to my grandfather’s wife’s family. We didn’t really get down to what our exact relationship was.
Sandra’s idea of travelling around Australia making money selling her craft work is coming to naught – she will never make a fortune as she is giving away far more than she sells!
Wednesday (today) is a free day and we will be getting ourselves organised for our departure tomorrow. We are actually going to be headed south as we have a party to go to this weekend on the coast south of Toronto then north again next week to Barrington Tops after which we hope to meet up with Steven, Ana and Lex for a few days. We will then cut connections with our New South Wales friends and relatives and set off towards Queensland.
Despite her Douglas interest, Cath had never been to Scotland and it appears that I am the only Douglas who she had actually met although a number of the “older generation” had kept in touch by letter. Consequently Sandra and I were treated as royalty, the fatted calf had been duly slaughtered and a full programme laid on for us – there was no way this visit was only going to last two days!
The house, what I would consider “old Australian” in that it has an enormous veranda where we tended to take afternoon tea and occasionally dinner, overlooks Lake Macquarie, a large body of salt water almost totally surrounded by land with only a narrow outlet to the sea. The place is a haven for the sailing fraternity.
Saturday morning we were up bright and breezy ready for a guided tour of “Douglas Country” – from the Presbyterian Church in Newcastle where the Douglases got married, to the various houses in which they lived - Cath spoke of the people and places as if it were just yesterday.
Sunday was kilt day! I had mentioned to Cath I had brought my kilt and was immediately
instructed to put it on as various family members were coming to meet me and would love to see me in the Douglas tartan – I of course duly obliged and there are hundreds of photographs recording the event.Monday was Hunter Valley day. For those of you that don’t know, the Hunter Valley is one of the main wine growing areas in Australia so Sandra and I had more than a passing interest! Our guides for the day were Geoff and Geraldine – like myself Geoff is a distant relative to Cath’s but before long we discovered yet another of these “oh what a small world it is” coincidences. A few weeks earlier Sandra and I travelled south to Wollongong to visit Johann’s ex-husband Ian
Raeburn who, it turns out, is a friend of Geoff and Geraldine – small world. Ian is remembered as the inventor of the Raeburn Index for wine – if it is over 14.5 ABV it must be good!As there are about 150 wineries in the area we weren’t able to get round them all – but we did our best!
Starting off at the Kelman Vineyard (in which Geoff and Geraldine had recently sold part owner-hip) we moved over the road to Saddlers Creek Wines, then on to one of my all-time favourites – McGuigans. McGuigans also make
their own cheeses so we were able to double up on the sampling! For a change of emphasis we had lunch at a brewery were we able to sample six different ales to help wash down the meat pies. Last (I think!) was the small, but perfect, Scarborough Wine Co whose presentation was superb – not least because we were presented with NINE different wines to sample including several Semillons and Chardonnays then, keeping, in my opinion the best until last, a Pinot Noir and an excellent Shiraz. Tuesday was an extended lunch on the veranda where I was introduced to a number of friends of
Cath and Alan’s most of whom had some connection with the Australian branch of the Douglas family over the years including another relative who was related to my grandfather’s wife’s family. We didn’t really get down to what our exact relationship was.Sandra’s idea of travelling around Australia making money selling her craft work is coming to naught – she will never make a fortune as she is giving away far more than she sells!
Wednesday (today) is a free day and we will be getting ourselves organised for our departure tomorrow. We are actually going to be headed south as we have a party to go to this weekend on the coast south of Toronto then north again next week to Barrington Tops after which we hope to meet up with Steven, Ana and Lex for a few days. We will then cut connections with our New South Wales friends and relatives and set off towards Queensland.
I feel exhausted for you...
ReplyDeleteHi Sandra and James
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you are having a great time, I had a sore stomach laughing at your "driving on sand drama"...Sorry. Disaster has also struck here in Pencaitland, I fell whilst walking the dog and have badly broken my leg, they reckon I will be out of action for at least 4 months, Oh well plenty of time to keep up with your blog lol. Miss you loads Sandra xx