Family

Today has been a family day, starting with this morning’s session at a local photographer’s studio for family portraits – Dave and his sons, the four of us together, and then me and the lads.  It was great fun and we got some good photos.  We’ll pick those up later this week.  We went for a quick snack afterwards and then came back home after dropping Ian and Paul off at their mum’s flat nearby. 

 

After a couple of phone calls, we headed over to Kirkcaldy, Dave’s childhood hometown about 20 minutes away.  It’s on the Firth of Forth and one is treated to some spectacular views.  We visited four sets of aunts and uncles and it was a very special time…very emotional for these dear folks and for Dave.  I felt truly amongst family…they all made me feel very welcome.  All you had to do was see the joy in their faces upon seeing Dave again and the happiness for him as he starts a new life in the States.  It’s a mixture of joy and sadness…we hope to return to Scotland in a couple of years and to see these dear people again.

 

I’m so glad Dave had the time to go visit with them again before leaving, and I am so honored to be coming into such a wonderful, loving, and fun family.  The McGregor clan does know how to laugh! 

 

Dave’s gone down to the Pitbauchlie pub in hopes of catching some pals in order to say "cheerio" before leaving Scotland.  We’ll have a later, light dinner and chill out a wee while before tackling more items on the "To Do" list tomorrow! 

 

We’re short!  Very short!

 

Oh yeah…Dave, Paul, Ian, and I had an absolutely brilliant evening in the pub last night…I don’t know where the time went, but we actually closed down the pub…teehee…can’t remember ever having done that before in a bar or club.  Thanks again, guys, for spending time and for such a fun evening! 

 

 

 

We’re Short!

We booked our flights last night and will be arriving back in Minnesota on Wednesday, February 8 !!   

 

Don’t get me wrong…this is where I need to be, I have come to love this country and her people, and it’s been an adventure of a lifetime…BUT !  I’ll be glad to be home and back to a ….ahem… "normal" life…although you all who know me realize that not much in my life has been "normal" in recent years.  Or shall I say it hasn’t been boring? 

 

We’re caught up in a whirlwind of preparations for leaving Scotland.  Dave is taking care of transferring his personal business to the States, sorting through possessions, packing, and spending time with friends and family.

 

In under two weeks, we’ll be back on US soil, in the winter wonderland of Minnesota!  Can’t wait to see my Baby-dog! 

 

Yesterday we caught the train over to Edinburgh for a strictly "play" day and to bid that wonderful city farewell.  I know now why Dave has said he enjoys spending time there…I do love Edinburgh…there is something about it…simply put, it feels welcoming, wise, and much like home in my heart.

 

We accomplished my last "touristy" item, that being Mary King’s Close…the underground "city" beneath the heart of Edinburgh on the Royal Mile.  Rather like catacombs now, it was a very interesting experience, steeped in history, the human condition (including the Plague), and the supernatural…so many souls lived, died, laughed, loved, and suffered there.

 

After that we returned to Garfunkel’s, a very nice cafe where we had dined before.  Totally scumptuous food and a nice atmosphere at a reasonable price. 

 

My beloved "Scottish" sweater that I’ve had for almost 15 years has given up the ghost, so to speak, so what better place to find a new one than the shops in Edinburgh?  This is the real deal, so warm and comfy…I’m bringing back the better part of a sheep’s shearing in this sweater. 

 

The afternoon saw me back in Armstrong’s, a vintage clothing store in The Grass Market of Edinburgh, where I had seen "the" wedding dress several weeks prior.  Lo and behold it was still there so….yep, I bought it!  It will need some altering, but everyone I’ve talked with has given suggestions and it should be fine.  Dave, being the great sport that he is, hung out in a cozy pub while I was shopping and I joined him after I made my purchase.

 

I think it’s rather fitting that the shop I bought the dress in is called Armstrong’s.  Again, my "Lance connection" makes an appearance.  It’s not associated with Lance, of course, but still….it’s Armstrong’s.  How cool is that?  Anyhoo, the ladies in the shop were all excited…I got such a bargain, the dress is absolutely gorgeous, and they were all very helpful.  Yes, ladies, I’ve got your names and email address and will send wedding photos as promised!  Thanks again for all your help yesterday!

 

Yesterday was sooo fun and relaxed.  We were gone virtually all day…into the early evening.  I’m glad Dave got some time in the city he is so fond of and which holds so many good memories for him.

 

This evening Dave is back in Edinburgh doing a wee bit of shopping himself.  He’ll pick up Ian and Paul later and bring them through to Dunfermline.  We’ll go to the pub for a wee while and then tomorrow all four of us will go to a photographer’s studio for formal family portraits.  I want Dave and the lads to have one of the three of them…something nice…and we may have one done of the four of us together.  I’d like my Mom to have one of those.  Tomorrow afternoon, Dave and I will head to Kirkcaldy, where we’ll make some visits to his aunts and uncles.  I’m glad we’re doing this…his aunties are so fond of him…and I think it’s good that he be with relatives before leaving Scotland.

 

This afternoon I had a delightful visit with Pamela…we certainly can talk!!  Thanks again for making me feel so welcome, and I’m looking forward to lunch on Tuesday! 

 

Well, my dinner’s almost ready and I’ve got laundry to attend to! 

Burns Night Postscript

Just a little while ago I stepped outside and heard faintly in the distance the sound of bagpipes.  Once again I had one of those moments of "WOW!  I’m in SCOTLAND!"  What an amazing journey this has been, and is still…memories of places, people, and experiences I will treasure for the rest of my days.

 

I’ve always loved the sound of bagpipes…their rather haunting sound…

 

Have a great night, everyone!

 

Cheers! 

Burns Night

That’s tonight…January 25…honoring the birthday of Robert Burns, Scotland’s most famed poet.  Did you know he wrote the lyrics for "Auld Lang Syne"?  Nope, I hadn’t realized that, either.  So tonight one is supposed to dine on "haggis, neeps, and tatties."  For you folks who have NO idea what that is…well, of course, it’s haggis (trust me, it’s good but you really don’t want to know what it is), "neeps" are turnips, and "tatties" are potatoes, go figure.  We got a nice little casserole dish of that at the butcher’s and will be having it as part of our dinner. 

 

The Burns Night Dinner is steeped in its own tradition…the women prepare the food…the haggis is piped into the dining hall by a piper and presented to the diners…there are poems/limericks of humourous nature read by the men honoring the women, later the women have their turn at the same for the men, and, of course, lots of music and indulging in honest-to-goodness Scottish whisky.  No whisky here…just the haggis, neeps, and tatties! 

 

Jim –  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!       29 again, eh?          I really envy you the take-out from Pappasito’s!!  If you have a Guinness prior to at our wedding in MN, make sure you get Guinness Draught, not regular.  You can get it in cans, just in case there’s no pub handy.  Teehee!

 

Right now Dave is tearing down his racing bike…a beautiful, lightweight Giant…here in the living room, preparing to pack it in the bike bag for the flight to MN.  We still don’t have our flights booked, as we are awaiting a firm closing date on the sale of his flat.  We are probably looking at around February 8, with a couple of nights spent in a hotel in Edinburgh between the closing on the flat and catching a plane. 

 

Tomorrow we take our last train ride in Scotland, over to Edinburgh for a "play" day.  We plan to do the Mary King’s Close tour, indulge in a wee bit of shopping, probably some lunch/dinner…basically just have a fun day in Edinburgh…bidding that fair and ancient city farewell.  I understand now why Dave enjoys going over there…it’s is a fascinating city…has very good energy…heck it’s on old volcanic mounds, no wonder…and…well, I just want to see it one more time before leaving.

 

I’m ready to walk on US soil, but I sure will miss Scotland…

 

 

 

Catching Up !!

I have tried unsuccessfully for two days now to post an entry here!    I get my rambling thoughts down and hit the "Publish Entry" button and VOILA!  nuttin’ happens.  I’m greeted with a blank screen.  Thank you, MSN.

 

So!  Today is Tuesday and we’re gradually ticking off items from Dave’s "To Do List" prior to leaving Scotland.  We’re still awaiting a firm closing date for the sale of the flat; when that is firmed up, we can book our flights home to MN.  We are asking for a closing date of Feb 6th and hope to get flights on the  8th, but realize that with every day that passes we may have to extend our stay a day or two related to availability of flights.

 

It’s been busy days and I won’t bore you with all the details.  If you’re having trouble sleeping, let me know and I’ll write you with all the in’s and out’s…that missive would surely put you into The Dreamtime!    No, no, it really hasn’t been boring, just stuff being done.

 

Saturday evening was really special!  It was Dave’s night out with his sons, Ian and Paul.  The four of us met at the Pitbauchlie pub for about an hour…the plan being that I would visit for a bit and then send "my lads" on their way for a night out on the town together without the "crazy American woman."    I really, really enjoyed this visit with the lads (lads…heck, young men…Ian is 29 and Paul 24).  I do believe it was our best visit so far…just hanging out and talking.  Thanks guys, for spending the time with us.  I’m glad for the opportunities to get to know them both better and for them to get to know me a wee bit.  They are both unique individuals, but both intelligent, articulate, and interesting, with great senses of humor.  I have become very fond of both of them.

 

After my two half-pints of Guinness, the guys brought me home (feeling no pain, I might add  ) in a taxi and then continued up town for their night out together.  I’m glad they had this chance to spend time together, just the three of them, before Dave and I leave for the States.

 

Dave’s just back from a run on the bike, the cafe run sans cafe stop, with some of his pals.  We’ve got stuff going on…we’ll be headed up town in just a while to run some errands, need to get to Tesco’s later for some supplies, and I’m getting my hair trimmed at 4:30 this afternoon.  Back I’ll go to Chestnut Browns, where I was extremely pleased with my highlights and cut a while back.

 

Guess that’s me for now.  I’ll see what happens when I try to publish this entry!  If it doesn’t take, you may hear the gnashing of teeth and a few choice Scottish phrases all the way across the Big Pond!

 

Cheerio!

 

Fowl Talk

I have to comment on the birds here.  Of course, there are gulls, as one would expect.  I had never seen Oystercatchers until here in Scotland and I do love these birds!  Their striking black-and-white plumage, colorful beak, and orange spindly legs that carry them swiftly across the sand make them quite a sight.   I’ve become quite fond of them. 

 

Today there are five Swans swimming casually on the Firth, rather close to the shoreline.  Swans, you say?  Yep, Swans, of all things!  Mute Swans, Cygnus olor…I looked them up in my “The Lomond Guide To Birds”…birds of Britain and Europe.  Just now I saw a momma/poppa Gull feeding its youngster atop one of the big boulders on the beach.  What else?  There are Mallard Ducks here in Lower Largo, herons, some sort of dark diving bird (a Cormorant perhaps?  can’t get close enough to tell for sure), other waders of various species, and, of course, my faithful companion Raven.  Raven on the beach?  Yeah, that’s what I thought, too.  Well, there’s a few now and then…or perhaps one bird making appearances at different times?  “Everywhere you go….”

 

I bid farewell to Fionn, Lower Largo, and you for now, with the following Wednesday thought from a book of Celtic devotionals; this one seems especially appropriate for today.

  

“I don the breastplate of wisdom,

wrought of the nine jewels of the heart:

dew of faery women,

spear of faery hosts,

blood of ravens,

wilderness of eagle,

ocean of seagulls,

music of poets,

love of lovers,

children of mothers,

wisdom of souls.

Nine radiant jewels to cover my heart,

to protect my soul this Winter day,

this Winter night.”

 

Wednesday Wanderings

It’s midday on my last day here at Lower Largo.  It’s with a mixture of emotions that I  leave this place – sadness that my time here is ending, yet joy in being with Dave again.  I have truly savored my time alone here, but I have so missed my Scot.

 

This morning I was greeted with a truly spectacular sunrise over the Firth…a palette of oranges, yellows, and pinks against a pale blue-gray cloudy sky, the colors bouncing off the water and turning it a nice pink.  Again, the sun is at a very low angle in this part of the world, providing some very interesting light phenomena.

 

I’ve been out prowling the beach just about all morning, taking advantage of walking it before it disappears under the encroaching tide.  I happened upon Jemma  and her delightful mistress, a very young 85-year-old, and we strolled along together chatting again, meeting up with other canines and their companions along the way.  One pooch, Tina, was having such a time…tail tucked and just running in circles on the beach grinning the way only dogs can.  Jemma is a King Charles Spaniel and we walked for a while with Dougal, another KC Spaniel, and his human companion.

 

I sure miss my  Baby-dog.

 

Of course, I’ve been picking up rocks…guess I’ll have to start shipping some back to the States soon…

 

Oh!  Yesterday morning I noticed that someone had rescued Chair from the rocks.  It now sits proudly beside the bench by the steps next to Fionn.  Looks like Chair is drying out just fine and makes a nice addition to the little seating area there.

 

Everyone here has been so friendly and welcoming…the shopkeepers, the postmistress, the staff at the Crusoe Hotel, and the folks I have met while walking the beach.  And, of course, the dogs!

 

Before coming to Scotland, I had wondered what sort of reception I would receive, being an American.  I have been so honored to find such warmth in the people of Scotland.  To a one, they have made me feel welcome and very much at home here in this beautiful land.

 

Seems like year 2005 was a time of broadening my horizons…in so many ways.  I kept having encounters with folks from various regions of the UK while still living in Brenham, June saw me traveling to Washington, DC and moving to Minnesota, and then November brought my first trip abroad.  I have spent much of the past calendar year in places where no one sounds like I do….hmmmm….

 

One truly does not know what awaits around the next bend in the road…or across the ocean.

 

There has been no wind today (yet) and it is very mild out, contradicting the forecast for freezing temps overnight and the probability of rain and/or snow.  Everyone comments on what a mild winter we’re having.  The Firth is totally calm today…so far…but I’m curious as to what its mood will be when the tide is fully in.  Usually it becomes windy and stormy, with the waves crashing against the walls of Fionn.  There is quite a fog/mist today and Leven and Elie are hardly visible from Fionn’s lounge windows.  The barometer has been right on…”Change” – every day has brought a different mood of weather during my stay here.

 

The tide is making its way inland…I can feel the temperature in here dropping and the sound of the waves becoming louder as the Firth approaches.

 

Guess I’d best start gathering my belongings and make a move towards getting packed to return to Dave’s cozy flat in Dunfermline!

 

Cheers for now!

 

Tuesday Evening Reflections

It’s early evening and the Firth is lapping at my doorstep again.  I’ve had two nice long walks today, this morning and after my early afternoon meal at the Crusoe Hotel.  Popped into a craft shop on the latter walk.  I had not noticed it before, so went in to just prowl a bit and had a delightful conversation with the ladies in there.  “We dress in ladies’ clothes and do things as ladies do.”   I felt right at home and welcome, exchanging quips from the television program “Little Britain” and reminiscing about “Dallas,” “Dynasty,” and “Falcon Crest.”  “Bobby’s not dead; it was all just a dream!”  Teehee!

 

Gosh I’m going to miss “Doc Martin” !!!! 

 

Madonna is very, very popular here in Scotland.  Many of the shops in different towns have her music playing in the background and the hotel pub had her latest album “Confessions” playing.  That’s hip, ‘cause I do dig Madonna’s music.  So much of it speaks to me on a personal level.

 

This morning I emerged onto the beach from the steps next to Fionn and headed in the direction of the village of Elie.  I walked for about half an hour, backtracked a bit through town, then hooked up with the Fife Coastal Path and trekked it for a while.  It will take one all the way to Elie.  I met Millie, a boisterously friendly 7-month-old West Highland White and her mistress, who told me in response to my query that Elie was still about 1.5 hours away at a brisk walk, so I reluctantly decided to be prudent and not tackle that at the risk of running out of daylight.   Sure was tempting, though, as the coastline is absolutely spectacular here and today’s weather was perfect for walking.

 

I have not had Internet access since that first evening here, Sunday.  I think I’m experiencing withdrawals!  HA!  Being without it emphasizes what a part of my life this technology has become…news, weather, contact with family and friends, resources for researching just about anything one can imagine.  That’s okay, tho, ‘cause this was a planned self-retreat here in the hometown of the real-life Robinson Crusoe.  He sure as heck didn’t have WiFi!   

 

This is my last night here; Dave will be along after work tomorrow evening to collect me.  I was kept company last evening by the writer’s muse, have had ample time for introspection, meditation, and naps and have been gifted with yet another insight/life lesson from a dear friend of mine with whom I talked last evening.  I found answers to questions I had not even realized I was asking myself.

 

Sarah Connor is alive and well.

 

I love Fionn.  I could live here.  It is just the right size for one or two people, not fancy but comfortable.  The view and the energy in this cottage are both great.  Lower Largo and her inhabitants are being gracious; Scotland has truly made me feel an adopted daughter during my stay here and she is forever carried in my heart.

 

Oh yeah, there’s a Reiki practitioner next door and one across the street.  Go figure, eh?

 

As Lyn said last night, “Wherever you go….”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Afternoon at the Beach

It’s almost 1:00 PM on Monday and I’ve had a nice walk along the beach and then through the village.  Met a delightful 8-year-old pup named Jemma and her elderly companion.  We ladies strolled along the beach together for a ways, chatting. 

 

I discovered that the “something” washed up on the beach is a high-backed rattan chair, like ones I have had in the past.  Remember the chair Morticia Addams always sat in?  That’s it!  It’s in really nice shape, almost pristine even, with the exception of a slightly bent supporting bottom rod on one side.  I can hear you all now…yes, it is something I might be tempted to salvage if I were living here permanently.  A good drying and it would be quite nice, I think, for a patio.  Chair is inching its way steadily towards me…the tide is coming in and within the hour will be crashing against the stone wall in front of me.

 

I remember as a kid watching British programs on PBS; the rooms in houses always looked small and the doors between rooms were kept closed.  Now I know why!  It’s to keep the place WARM!  HA!  Guess I was in training for my stay here at the beach.  It really does make a difference and keeps the place comfy.  Of course, one does just HAVE to open one of these awesome windows for a few minutes now and then just to feel/smell the air and hear the waves at a high decibel.  (Even with everything shut tight and at low tide, the crashing of the waves is a constant here.  No wonder I slept well.)

 

Where I shared with the beach with Jemma and her human companion less than an hour ago is now underwater and Chair is making its way closer and closer.  Pretty soon I could go fishing from the windows here in the front room!

 

Although now at almost 6:00 PM the tide is receding, it is pitch black out, the wind is blowing quite strongly, and it is raining sheets.  Guess the barometer on the wall was right on when it said change was coming.  A little while ago, I had the lights all out, curtains open while listening to music…across the Firth the beam of what appears to be a lighthouse cuts through the darkness at regular intervals.  Never have stayed somewhere to see that.  It is somewhat reassuring…hearing the waves crashing against the stone wall, the wind almost howling, and the rain coming down in sheets…seeing that light appearing at regular intervals.  Perhaps that’s what sailors thought long ago, eh? 

 

Guess I’ll get some dinner together…glad I brought provisions so I don’t have to get out in this weather tonight !  Oh yeah…had two nice long walks today….wonderful!

 

 

My First Day in Lower Largo

 

It’s Monday morning, my first here at Fionn in Lower Largo.  Having slept “like a dog” (why do people say they slept “like a baby” – babies typically sleep fitfully, wake screaming…), I was greeted with a very wet and dreary day at start.  Now it’s mid morning and the mist has cleared a bit and, while it is still cloudy (hey, it’s Scotland whaddya expect, hmmmm?) the sun has been out.    The light here changes from moment to moment, making just about every blink of the eye a Kodak moment.    The wind is heading North…oh lordy…there goes a seabird of some type, little legs just propelling him across the sand.  This is a fowl with a purpose!  Now there’s Mister Gull, strutting about. 

 

Okay, where was I?  The sky and light here is fascinating…pillars of sunshine breaking through the dark-blue clouds, hitting the water or the land across the Firth…the result being a spot of shimmering white mist.  Absolutely awe-inspiring.

 

There’s “something” that has washed up on shore during the night….I’ll have my breakfast and then take a stroll.  I’m curious what this is.  This is not a typical Texas beach…there are large dark boulders strewn about…some covered in moss.

 

This body of water is not a bay or ocean but, rather, the Firth of Forth.  I have seen different stages of this river…here resembling a bay or the ocean, the windy snake-like Firth as it meambles peacefully through the Stirling area, and tumultuous place on the North Sea where the Firth meets that body of water.  Very diverse, all very impressive.