"Highland Heather hyjacked by Bluebell"

A review of Romanes & Paterson Ltd by Mary Robertson written on Friday 3rd of November 2006

While enroute from Canada to England then to Scotland,my 89 year 'young' mother Glen and her bonnie lassies Mary, Lee and Diane found ourselves on Princes Street Edinburgh in the Romanes and Patterson shop.

Filling our baskets with Robertson tartan scarfs, Jura 15 year old whiskey, fudge, St. Andrews souveniers, sweater,...and my favorite Highland Heather Aromatics perfume.

Everyone purchased their fancy goods and waited till I made me way to have my things rang in.

Before I left Vancouver I made sure my new Visa card was 'activated', and then off I went for my trip.

As the young lady behind the till entered my card she informed me "the card had been denied". Impossible, I thought, she tried again...again it did not process. At that point I paid in Candadian cash...this time the cash register went 'down', or in other words crashed. The line behind me of customers was starting to weave back to the malt whiskey area, of which I wouldn't have minded a wee nip as I was informed by my young miss behind the counter that she would try the other till, to ring in with Canadian currency. This time the second machine 'jammed', as it tried to calculate the exchange on my order.

There was polite hubbub from the line now, both looking questioningly, and some losing their touristy patience.

I apoligetically raised my shoulders to them as the young later asked for my passport, and said she would have to go upstairs to 'verify' the currency.

I began to think my order was somehow doomed to be a realization, as my family and I had to catch the train to London in now less than 20 minutes and this was delay was shaving the minutes away from our short walk to the station.

I started to put the Highland Heather perfume back on the shelf, and was about to regretably forgo my purchases when the young miss returned with smiles and proudly pronounced the sale could go through.

Reaching down to the shelf by the till (register), I picked up my Highland Heather from the right side of the display shelf. The left side was Bluebell, and there was another fragrence in the middle of the shelf.

With change in hand, and purchases packaged we all walked to board the train, and settle in for our trip back to London.

On board I wanted my sister to try this heavenly scent 'Highland Heather'.

Years before (1994) I had been able to buy it in Elora, Ontario until they had discontinued it. We opened the celephane and pulled on the tartan ribbon to lift the top. She put a small spray onto her wrist.

As pastures and trees, farms and towns flashed by our couch seat windows on the train, we were heading home with BLUEBELL perfume on its way to Canada.

Now, there are many things in life that do and can go wrong, and we all have our disappointments, but the difference between the two fragrences are like the finest scent rising above a dew kissed glen as the sun rises to meet the day, and well, there is just now comparasion.

Maybe the Romanes and Patterson will see my e-post and remember how that nice Canadian lady displayed the patience of Ms. Job, as she waited to have her order rang in.

We figured someone probably had put Bluebell perfume into the wrong spot on the shelf and when I reached to retreive the HH again, I didn't see the misplaced Bluebell boldy sitting where no BB had been before.

I really would like to order my HH, or maybe some nice person from Romanes and Patterson would see this and decide the nice lady should have her Highland Heather.

It was a pleasure being in Edinburgh, everyone was wonderful, and the history and ageless beauty was brough home in our hearts. Thank you Scotland,weXOXu.

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