Del and Leslie McMillan
Blackburn, West Lothian, Scotland
The singer who dreamed a dream
The Mill Centre in Blackburn
Blessing Blackburn Itinerary
Ready to blog
Set to jet
I love New York
Innocents abroad
Wi-fi before we fly
I dreamed a dream
Morning in Scotland
Rain is good
River in Scotland
Half-Scottish pilgrim
Villages
On the road to Blackburn
Crossing the river into Blackburn
Buildings so close to the street
Susan Boyle's home!
The Happy Valley Hotel and Pub
Up to our room
Fresh, clean, modern, tasteful
What more could we need?
Common TV room
View from our room
Old-fashioned keys!
In Susan's chair drinking lemonade
Susan's pub and karaoke venue
For dominos players
Lovely, friendly, discreet Jackie
Two for tea
Susan's church seats about 300
Who knew?
No signs
Another church near Susan's
Typical older building in Blackburn
One of the few stores we found
Not YouTube but a Smarties tube
Mmmmmmm!
Our room
Where Susan shops
Newly-busy Blackburn Post Office
Mailbox
Shark
Friendly, thoughtful Annette
Blackburn loves football
From Susan's fish and chips shop
Whitburn village business district
Driving on the wrong side
Gala Day for kids in Whitburn
Tiny parade in Armadale
Everyone loves a parade
After the parade
Scotland loves music
Armadale village business district
Susan's favorite fish and chips shop (and ours)
All of the conveniences
Americans can eat here, too
We absolutely adored these
So tasty after a performance
The small mall where Susan shops
Susan lives a short walk away
Can you see the Happy Valley?
Walking the walk
48 years on these streets
Still about 10 minutes from home
Typical Blackburn weather
Pebbles in the sidewalk
Hopefield Road near Susan's street
Susan's first school
Turning onto Susan's street
The house with the new fence
Susan lives on one side of this
Susan's home for 48 years
View from Susan's home
Nobody home right now
No need for a car
Susan's front yard
Susan's walk to the Happy Valley
Neighborhood boys
Turning toward the Happy Valley
They all absolutely adore Susan!
First time speaking to an American
Now they attend Susan's school
Susan Boyle Blend
Bus to Bathgate
Taxi to Linlithgow
Going to Glasgow
Tickets to ride
Scotland has a new queen now
Smooth ride
All aboard
Comfortable and convenient
Scottish countryside
More to report
Amen!
Starbucks in Glasgow
Burger King in Glasgow
Lovely Glasgow
A McMillan?
Like the bus to Bathgate
Susan was discovered in Glasgow
Typical Glasgow buildings
Helpful policeman
Train to Finlaystone
End of the line
Riding the rails
Not like trains in New York City
Pay the conductor
Sheep, sheep
And more sheep
Walking to Finlaystone
Clyde River
Yet another village
Cousins?
This had better be good
Progress
Still a long walk away
Entering the castle grounds
Private home with public gardens
Identical to Western Washington
Bald eagle and teepee
Don't jump!
Almost there
Finlaystone from the back side
McMillan, MacMillan, whatever
Castle grounds
McMillan tartans and crests
Delicious menu
80, 82, 91
Soup of the day
Castle owner with Del's brothers
All-American hotdog
Finlaystone schedule
Finlaystone fountain
McMillan by marriage
Just the beginning
Castle gates
Finlaystone from the side
Distinguished early visitor
600 years old
Bigger than our backyard
Sunken garden
Castle sweet castle
Which room is ours?
Marrying well
So much work
Tennis anyone?
Wars and rumors of wars
The Folly
Spare time project
Walk the line
Going in circles
Garden throne
The roof needs mowing
Bog garden
Bumble bee
Rustic beauty
So, so Scotland
Bogged down
McMillan crest symbol
As in the olden days
So many flowers
All the trimmings
Scent-filled garden
Flowering trees
Greenhouse peaches
Craft fair
MacMillan memorabilia
Twenty percent off for McMillans
Private display for McMillans only
McMillans around the world
George MacMillan of Finlaystone
Eccentric inventor
First bicycle
Like our crest at home
Brown branch of McMillan clan
How do you spell that?
Ancient Christian calling to help
Which land belongs to us?
MacMillan's Cross
To know Christ and Him crucified
To succor the oppressed
Nate McMillan, Seattle Supersonic
McMillan tartans
Bigger than our laundry room
Phosphate-free
Wild rose
Clay court tennis
Back to Glasgow
Blackburn Gospel Hall friends
Happy Valley Hotel
Bathgate, near Blackburn, West Lothian
Scottish soft drink
Kurry King lamb
Dining out in Bathgate
Chinese food in Blackburn
Rooting for Scotland at Wimbledon
Chow mein at the Happy Valley
View from Susan's seat at the Happy Valley
Blackburn Community Education Centre
Oft-used building
Support Our Susan BGT semi-final party
Community centre activities
Support Our Susan BGT final party
Community centre recreation
Blackburn Community Centre, 1966
Rooms for classes
Looking toward the health centre
Blackburn Health Centre
National health system
Blackburn Connected library in mall
Susan regularly visits this library
Our winner, Susan Boyle!
In the file at the local history library in Blackburn
Aunt Susan wants you!
Big new file in local history library!
So much to read, so little time
Blackburn history written by the librarian
West Lothian Courier on microfilm
Property records for the collection of villages
Tony loves Blackburn history
Del could trace his Scottish roots
Tony served on the Blackburn council
The secret to delicious fish and chips
Brown sauce with vinegar
Vinegar sauce on both chips and fish
Salted well
Flakey mild fish and semi-crisp batter
Seating not in the shop but in the mall
Susan walked to this mall frequently
Jock and Lily
Blackburn at 10:10 pm
Blackburn at 10:30 pm
Blackburn at 10:50 pm
Blackburn and Seafield Parish Church
Freshly-cut field
Blackburn House, built in 1772
Secondary buildings
Newly renovated
Equestrians in Blackburn
Happy horses
Fly protection
Well fed
Blackburn House, age 237
Plenty of storage
Horse lovers
Prime view from Blackburn House
Makeover
Time to get to work
Head 'em up, move 'em out
Shale mining mound in background
Outdoor arena
Future Scottish dude ranch?
Walking back to the village
Newer housing in Blackburn
Newspaper photographer
Smile...
Small mall ATM gave us pounds
Blackburn's main grocery store
Looking for dinner
Healthy
Familiar brand
Florida orange juice
Is this America?
Purrfect for Pebbles
As they say in the UK, cheerio!
Tastes like Bazooka bubble gum
Bottles not the same sizes as in USA
A different sort of lemonade
And now for something completely different
Intercontinental ice cream
One of Del's favorite brands
Just a few items
Scottish American selection
Helpful clerk
Very helpful clerk
Dinner in the small mall
Evening meeting
Popular car
Very popular car
Football field and council houses
Bye bye Blackburn
Taxi arrives at 7:05 am
Helpful driver
Left is right
Roundabout instructions
Round and round we go
Spinning off to Edinburgh
Twenty-five minutes, twenty-five pounds
'Til we meet again
Very early arrival
Traveling light
Still waiting
Already planning the next visit
Susan's next flight?
Spending pounds, gaining pounds
Generic cafe
Bacon muffin
Upcoming Scottish-American match
Neighbors John and Joey pick us up at JFK in our van
So, so Brooklyn
