What I did on my summer vacation

[dfmacliam]

Its good you pressed the issue... I am sure this young man was confused as to the whereabouts of Scotland and the Sprint network...LOL.. I am sure he probably would have been hardpressed to actually been able to tell you where Scotland is, in the first place...
It makes you appreciate the educational system, these days...lol. but then again its been like this for ever I think... I recall as a child, someone asked my mom where she was from, because of her accent.. she replied Britian.. they told her she spoke pretty good English for a foreigner...

[The Wizard of BC]

Almost all cell phone service providers will sell you international roaming capability.

The cost is some what prohibitive if all you want to do is talk to the same people you can email though.

For me, I got lucky. If something had happened at the shop and I was not available via phone things could have been nasty.

All in all though not having the phone and email was a mixed thing.

The good part was that I got to talk to my wife.

[sydnie7]

We found it not terribly expensive to purchase a prepaid cell upon arrival in UK. Very handy for phoning ahead and confirming reservations, placing new reservations for tours/boat trips etc., and (on trips with multiple parties) keeping track of who was where!

First time, we borrowed a UK prepaid from friends who had done just that. If you do purchase one, bring it home, you'll likely be able to resell it on this board to the next traveler. We found it easy to add minutes at any fuel station convenience store, etc.

[Jock Scot]

A word of advice, if I may. As with mobile phones,probably anywhere in the world, there are no signal zones(dead spots) and the highlands of Scotland have more than their share.When driving around, if the call is important, when you find a signal, find the nearest safe place and STOP to make the call. It may be many miles before you are back in the signal zone. Secondly, it is illegal to drive and use a mobile phone, even stopping to talk on the mobile with the engine running is illegal. It is alright for the passenger to talk on a mobile though, whilst moving and assuming you can keep the signal. I must add that I am not sure of the legal position with "hands free" mobile phones and driving.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I believe that "hands free" is legal-- however it is illegal to place a hands free call while the car is in motion (unless you can do it, "hands free"!).

[walkerk]

Thanks for the excellent travelogue, Steve. Your itinerary was certainly jam-packed!

[Hamish]

Steve,

Thank you for such a wonderfully informative and witty travelogue. Your detailed photos, even to a total non-engineer such as me, are a joy - and what can I say about those taken at Bicknell Grange? Well, it is probably best that I remain silent!! However, I must thank you for your kind words. Believe me, it was my greatest pleasure to welcome Bobbie and you to the depths of the Sussex countryside and I sincerely trust you both will be able to return again to view the remainder of The Kollection, if nothing else!

Take care,
Ham.

[Rex_Tremende]

Thanks for that fabulous photo tour!

Rex.

[Mr. bone]

Thanks for taking me on vacation! The Travel Channel could not have done better.

[Rogerson785]

Wow, I thought you put in the wrong pictures that you could have taken at the Vancouver Aquarium. What an airport, if you miss your flight you could go snorkeling / diving or even fishing.