Let me tell you a wee story…

A couple of months back, I was tagged on a Facebook post. A lady named Karen from Michigan was looking for someone to help her plan a trip to The Borders. It turns out her husband Brian’s mom was born in Innerleithen. So we got to exchange emails, planning trips and dates etc. Finally, I asked where Brian’s (late) mother was born, and what her name was. It was Janice, born to Janet Wilkin and John Wilson in Leithen Road, Innerleithen. This is where the penny drops…

This family In Michigan are our cousins. The names Karen gave me were my own Great Grandparents!

Let me explain… My late paternal grandfather had three younger sisters, two of whom (including Janice) were adopted to America in the 1930’s after their mother died, in what was a heart wrenching story. We knew about some members of this US family, but never, ever expected to locate Janice and her family, particularly not in such a truly fortunate way - certainly if they had been looking for someone to help guide a tour for them a year earlier, I would not have been tagged on that fateful Facebook post…

Fast forward to July 2024 and our guests arrive in Scotland for a special tour with Tweed Valley Blogger/Cousin. My dad got to meet his cousin Brian, I met my second cousin Finn and lovely Karen, as well as their friends from Bath who are travelling with them. My girls got a new American cousin Finn which is just a delight. Our family has grown and I was so emotional and proud to take Brian into the hills that are in his blood, to the house where his Mom was born and where his grandad (my Great Grandad) later lived. To make the day even better we went to Mum and Dads house to look at photos, connect and share a great lunch (thank you mum x)

To see Brian (literally) get his hands into the soil and streams of his homeland was truly moving for me, and that draw to the hills and waters, coupled with the family resemblance, left me in no doubt of his Wilson heritage! This was a trip that meant so much to Brian and his family.

I knew when I started as a Tour Guide that I would inevitably discover things, but I never could have imagined it would have led to me discovering members of my own family that I never knew existed, let alone have the opportunity to meet them. These two days with Brian and family were a Bespoke Borders Tour which I will simply never forget...