STUART McGINLEY: On track to Scotland and remembering my old man

I've always wanted to travel on a train to Scotland and finally last week my dream came true as the 10.33 Virgin service to Edinburgh departed Euston station.

These trains go a bit faster that your standard Southern stock, up to 125mph on some stretches of the journey and I wasn’t prepared for the tilting aspect of the Virgin Pendolino trains as they go around curves on the track.

It can make you feel a little queasy at first but you soon get used to it, although it was a bit of a challenge for me when in the toilet!

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Scotland was lovely as ever and I really enjoyed travelling around Edinburgh, I spent ages looking for some McGinley tartan only to discover my surname is actually Irish!

However, it turns out there are some Scottish associations to the name so I still consider myself half-Scot, my late Dad loved Haggis so that’s good enough for me.

Speaking of my Dad, when travelling up on that train, I suddenly realised it was the 17th anniversary of his death and it felt extra poignant heading up to the country he grew up in and was very proud of.

I didn’t see so much of my Dad before he died as my parents has separated, not because we fell out, but time just flew by and our lives and moved in different directions.

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I wished I had made more effort to see more of him and I am sure there are many other people who would say the same after losing a parent or loved one.

It has made me appreciate my dear Mum even more though, she listens religiously every morning to my radio show and has recently starred on it, she was a real hit too!

I know she’s proud of me and remembers the days when I set up my own radio station in my bedroom, so it’s a real sign of love that she’s still putting up with me nearly 30 years on!

I miss Dad so much and wish we had gone out and had that beer that we never quite got around to, however I know he’s still watching over me and I did raise a glass and have a ‘wee dram’ in his honour.

Cheers to you Dad!

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