A Little Piece of Heaven

I’m nicely settled in my little cottage by the sea.  I should almost say in the sea, as the tide has come in and what beach there was has disappeared.  Guess I’ll take a walk in the morning.  Would you believe there are a few droplets of spray on the windows from the waves crashing against the stone wall outside?  

 

The seabirds have all gone to wherever they go for the night, with the exception of one lone dark-colored bird riding the waves directly out in front of the cottage.  It’s almost dark now, after being treated to a spectacular splash of pink in the sky out over the water.  I can see the lights of neighboring villages…Leven and Elie…Leven to my right and Elie off to the left, both within walking distance.

 

Got a couple of things from the little store earlier and was told about the bus service, good walks to be had, the name of the lady behind the bar in the pub…all those vital pieces of data one needs in a small village in Scotland when on a solo trip!  This lady’s name is Lynn…my middle name…very nice and welcoming.

 

Scotland sure is being gracious to me…making me feel an adopted daughter during my stay here. 

 

I have never stayed anywhere where the sea was literally washing up against the side of the house.  No worries, the rock embankment is very thick and sturdy…this is incredible. 

 

Somehow I knew this was the place to be on my own…this cottage, the feel of the village, the fact that it has a tie to Robinson Crusoe…there is wireless access at the moment, so I can make journal entries  and….there’s a Reiki practitioner right across the street!  I’ll see what’s up there tomorrow perhaps.   Several people have seen me online and so I’ve been catching up with friends and family via instant messenger just now.  It is so good to "hear" your voices…I love you all and treasure your presence in my life.

 

Dave…thank you again for letting me be me…for supporting me and encouraging me…you are such an amazing man….  

 

Well,  I’m getting hungry, so I guess I’ll go to the kitchen and tackle some of the provisions I brought along! 

 

Back In A Few

Tomorrow I’m headed to Lower Largo, one of the quaint fishing villages to be found on the shores of the Firth of Forth in the East Neuk of Fife.  We visited this place on our Fife coastal driving trip and I was struck by how much I missed the seaside.  Although this is not specifically the "ocean," the Firth is very, very large and one might as well call it being at the seaside…it is the beach.  There is a link to the Web site describing the flat that I’ve rented for a few days…"Fionn" is the name of the cottage. 

 

Once upon a time, I would make an annual trek to Galveston Island for a weekend at the beach, sometimes alone and sometimes with others.  I had not done that in about six years…and did not get the chance to even drive down for the day before leaving Texas.  There is something about the beach…the air, the sound and motion of the waves…the deserted beaches in winter…

 

What  better place to have my solo trip in Scotland than Lower Largo, the birthplace of Alexander Selkirk, the real-life Robinson Crusoe?! 

 

Dave had a good run on the bike this morning with his pals; I sure am missing being on the bike, but I’m so glad he’s getting in some miles before we return to the winter wonderland of Minnesota.  We went up town this afternoon, ran some errands, and had a very yummy lunch out.  He’s beginning to wrap up things here in preparation for his relocation to the States.

 

The moon was absolutely incredible this morning…still very big and yellow in the morning sky at almost 9:00 AM.    The moon and sun are quite striking here…being so much farther north on the planet…the sun is always rather low on the horizon…at noon it often has that "late afternoon" look to the light.    Yesterday it was so very dark, even at 9:00 AM…the street lights were still on…it stayed dark all day, probably due to heavy clouds.  At any rate, it was very unusual…almost ethereal.

 

If perchance there is a wireless signal I can tap into at the cottage, I’ll be checking email and making journal entries; if not, then I’ll say "cheers" for now and catch ya in a few days! 

 

Be nice to one another while I’m gone, okay? 

Making Plans

I can hardly believe it’s Thursday already!  Seems like the time is just flying by now.  We are turning our sights towards the States these days.  Dave is making preparations to leave…as with my move from Texas to Minnesota, there are so many issues that need to be addressed…personal business, disposal of property, and so forth.  We’ll be booking our flights within the next few days, with a view to touching down in MN the early part of February. 

 

The past few days I’ve been thinking about returning home.  There is a wedding to plan (even tho’ small, there are still things to be done) and the immigration paperwork continues after that.  Our place in Hibbing certainly has my "stamp" on it, as I did not anticipate Dave living there so soon…we thought he would be arriving this summer sometime.  So!  We’ll need to make it "our" place…move furniture, figure out what room gets used for what purpose, set up a work space for my MT job, establish a bike area, etc.  I can’t wait to be reunited with my Baby-dog!  Gosh I have missed her!  I find myself stopping and talking with dogs who are out for walks with their people…poor Dave…crazy woman here talking to animals, etc!  Well, I told him all along I’m freakin’ nuts! 

 

At any rate, it will be grand to be back at home in MN.  There will be a mountain of mail to sort through and, of course, time on the phone catching up with family and friends.  Ahhhh…unlimited long distance!  Can’t wait to talk with you all!

 

Speaking of dogs, looking out the window right now, I’m seeing what looks like a Springer Spaniel running round and round and round with a ball in its mouth out in the green open area in front of the flat.  This pooch and its owner come out every morning about this time for a romp.

 

I’ve been missing working with Reiki students and clients and mentally have been dusting off my "Open for Business" sign, giving some thought to developing my Reiki practice in Hibbing.  Interestingly, I have received an inquiry about Karuna classes this summer from a prospective student and just this morning was presented with a marketing opportunity in March.  Whoohoo!  Thank you, Shirley!

 

Dave will be taking me down to Lower Largo this Sunday, where I have booked a cottage on the beach for a few days.  I plan to walk the beach (although the forecast is for rain/snow…), prowl the quaint village, do some studying/reading…a nice solo adventure in a foreign country.  Although, really, Scotland doesn’t feel all that "foreign" these days, as she has made quite an impact on my heart and soul.  During this time, Dave will be finishing his stint at the dockyard and taking care of some personal issues, so the timing of my little adventure turns out to be just right!

 

There are three prospective buyers coming to view the flat today, so I’d best get my hiney in gear around here.  As much as I’ve shown my property in Texas, the downstairs flat in Hibbing, and now this place…sheeesh…I could almost get my realtor’s license! 

 

Hope you’re enjoying my ramblings and photos here!  Have a great day!

 

Cheers for now!

 

Historic Sunday

 

Today was a “let’s play tourist” day!  We left the flat mid-morning headed to Bannockburn, the site of the battle for occupation of Stirling Castle.  History tells that the English occupied Stirling Castle and the Scots were sieging it in an attempt to regain control.  English reinforcements were headed to the Castle and at Bannockburn were turned back by the Scots.  There is an impressive statue of Robert the Bruce, King of the Scots, on this hallowed ground which is on a slight hill.  Standing here, one can look over the countryside and see Stirling Castle in the distance high atop its rocky perch. 

 

The next stop on our historical journey this morning was Stirling Castle.  As mentioned above, it certainly does sit atop a rocky perch…how anyone could scale the mountainside and then the castle walls (which, by the way, are 3-4 feet thick) with hot oil, rocks, and who knows what else raining down upon them…no way, I say.  I loved this castle.  Edinburgh Castle was impressive, but there was something about Stirling…the energy there…perhaps because of its role in history…I indeed felt a difference at Stirling.  Mary Queen of Scots spent time there.  Wandering through the courtyards, the gardens, the palace and its bedrooms, chapel…my feet walking the same ground as others did so many years ago…it was something that is hard to put into words.  All this is what makes my Scot who he is and I’m so very thankful to have been able to experience his country and history with him. 

 

The last stage on our little tour today was the Wallace Monument, erected in honor of William Wallace (portrayed by Mel Gibson in the film “Braveheart”).  Little did I dream when seeing this film in the theater years ago and experiencing the emotions it stirred in me that I would be walking the earth on which these events unfolded. 

 

The monument itself is part of the Scottish National Trust and is located, once again, atop a mountain where the major battle depicted in the film took place.  The monument is a tower reached by a paved, nicely-inclined, path winding up the mountain.  At the peak, one enters the tower and then begins a climb round-and-round-and-round up a narrow (about a body width) stone staircase to the top.  There are three intermediate levels with displays celebrating the history of the site, including a display case which contains Wallace’s sword.  Okay, I’m getting goosebumps writing these words, remembering seeing that massive weapon and imagining the energy, emotions, bravery, and sense of purpose stored within its heavy metal blade. 

 

Reaching the top of the monument (yep, I did…even with my fear of heights…you know, I do believe I could go anywhere as long as Dave is with me), one is rewarded with absolutely heart-stirring and breath-taking views from all sides. 

 

Lots of photos were taken and I’ll get some uploaded soon…and see about getting some links to these places posted under “Groovy Places” on the site.  New links seem to be put at the bottom of the list, so you’ll have to scroll down to find ‘em.  Stay tuned!

 

These places were moving in themselves as they pertain to the history of this country and the bravery and devotion to freedom of her people; however, they were so special in that Dave has a history with them, too.  Yes, besides being a Scot…he has memories of visits to these places throughout his years.  The roads in the area are precious to him, too, as he has spent many hours riding and racing on them…several of which we could see from the top of the tower…he has turned the cranks countless times with the Ochill Hills just over his shoulder.  I know he will miss them…I thank him for sharing this with me…for me to come to know and love this land.

 

 "We fight not for glory nor for wealth nor honour but only and alone we fight for freedom which no good man surrenders but with his life."

   

 

 

Busy Saturday

 

This morning was back into a bit of a routine, with Dave out on the bike for the Café run with his pals.  I’m composing this entry on Monday in an attempt to catch up on my blogging as well as laundry!  It’s been a busy weekend.  Let’s see what Saturday had in store for us.

 

We received word this morning that a long-time friend of Dave’s suffered a mild brain hemorrhage on Thursday and was in hospital in Edinburgh, so we were once again headed to a hospital this afternoon.  We had a brief but good visit and then I took Dave to dinner back here in Dunfermline.  That really tells the tale of the day; we basically made the run to Edinburgh and had dinner out.  That was about it.

 

Can you believe in my 2.5 month stay I’ve seen the insides of four different hospitals here?  Guess that speaks of our age, the ages of our friends, and the hazards of cycling.  From what I can see, health care here is in some ways the same as in the States and, at the same time, much different from back home.

 

We have plans to play tourist tomorrow in the nearby Stirling area, taking in Bannockburn (battlefield), Stirling Castle (the occupation of which much of the fighting was about), and the Wallace (William Wallace “Braveheart”) Monument.  Stay tuned!

Good-bye, London (Friday, Jan 6)

 

No alarm clocks set for an early hour this morning!  Well-rested, we were out in search of breakfast at mid-morning.  We ended up in an Italian restaurant spotted previously…The Lucky Spot on Baker Street…very cute and very small!   We each had a delicious full English breakfast at a very reasonable cost.  We had a train time of 2:00 PM, so we had time to prowl the area again before catching a taxi shortly after 1:00 PM to the Kings Cross Station. 

 

I saw a London Bobby up close and personal on the train!  He was handing out informational brochures to passengers.  Dang it…should have taken his photo, eh?

 

You know, I could travel solo in this country and be at ease, feeling familiar with train stations, timetables, and the process in general.  Train stations are certainly unique…I do so love traveling by rail here!  It is actually relaxing and a wonderful way to see the countryside.  I do believe I have my “train legs” by jove! 

 

Being an already overcast/dark day with fog, what daylight there was swiftly faded and most of this return rail trip was in darkness.  With headphones supplying music to my ears, I sat back and looked out the window into the darkness as Dave read…spotted the occasional warm lights from farms in the countryside and the lights of towns as we approached, the stations we passed through and the others we stopped in for brief times.  The music of Moira Kerr spilled into my soul as we returned to Scotland.  Our route (get out the atlas, Jim) originated at London’s Kings Cross Station with stops in Doncaster, York, Darlington, Newcastle, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Edinburgh-Waverly (our usual destination when traveling to Edinburgh), and Edinburgh-Haymarket, finally arriving at Inverkeithing.  We caught a cab from Inverkeithing back to the flat in Dunfermline and whoohoo! we were home! 

 

Bags were dropped just inside the door of the flat and we hopped into the car for a quick trip to Tesco’s for a few things to tide us over until Sunday evening’s major shopping.  We kicked back in front of the TV for a wee while and then snuggled under the duvet for a good night’s rest.

 

When I stop and think about this…WOW…little boring go-nowhere me…sheesh…I’ve been to freakin’ LONDON.  What a kick!

 

Mission Accomplished! (Thursday, January 5)

 

Needless to say, there wasn’t much restful sleep going on in Room 405 last night.  We were kinda nervous and keyed up thinking about today….after all, this was IT…the deciding day which would tell us which country we would settle in…and it was bloody hot in the room.

 

We did manage basically some cat-napping and, having set our alarm for an early rise, we had breakfast in the hotel restaurant and arrived on foot outside the US Embassy a little before 10:00 AM.  There was a small queue of folks awaiting entry into the Embassy; this line moved fairly quickly and soon we were passed through security measures and into the building.  At first we wondered how far I would be able to accompany Dave; we knew I would not be refused entry into the Embassy being a US citizen, but after that… ????  The informational officer told us I could be with Dave throughout the entire process and that was a nice surprise.

 

Ever been for jury duty and waited in a huge room with hundreds of other people for your name/number to be called?  Well, that’s what this was like.  It was not unpleasant, really; we were together, there was a snack bar, monitors showed the progress of your ticket number through the system.  There were essentially two steps…first to review the documentation we had submitted and ensure we had everything and second a brief interview consisting of a few questions for Dave (I had to keep my yap shut during this) which was really just a formality.

 

It was quite an emotional moment for us both…so many years of making our way on our own through life…finding one another and seeing our love blossom over the past year…the months of knowing we wanted to be together but feeling like the time would never arrive…the slight uncertainty of which country would be our place of residence…and now truly being able to make plans for our future together.

 

Out on the steps of the Embassy, we asked one of the guards to snap a photo of us; it’s up on the Web site.  Thanks, Harold!

 

Holding hands like a couple of teenagers, we made our way back to the hotel, light of heart and step.  By the time we changed into casual clothes again (yep, we had “dressed” for the appointment), it was almost 2:00 PM and daylight was not to be ours for too much longer.  The evening before, we had talked about catching a sightseeing bus for a tour around London to see the major sights.  We decided against this, neither of us being gung-ho about it, the daylight fading quickly, and with the fact that it was very cold out…the thought of sitting up top in an open-air double-decker bus didn’t really appeal to us. 

 

So!  Boots on, we started walking.  Our first destination was Regent’s Park – a very large park…think the size perhaps of Central Park in NYC…with cafes, etc.  On entering through the gate, we were greeted by a swarm of pigeons and seagulls, accompanied by ducks and geese.  It was a combination of Mary Poppins “Feed the Birds,” Dr. Doolittle, and Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds.”  HA!  We started feeding them a bit and soon were engulfed….pigeons (yes PLURAL) perched on our hands and arms, ducks and geese waddling up for their share…I’ve never seen anything like this.  See the photos I’ve posted.

 

I don’t really know how long we were in Regent’s Park…quite a while,  I suppose.  Back out on Baker Street again, we saw The Sherlock Holmes Museum and popped into The London Beatles Store and The Elvis Presley Store next door (the proprietess was a sister in breast cancer survivorship).  By the time we wandered a bit, we were hungry (hadn’t had anything since breakfast) and just very mellow/a little tired, so we ordered a pizza to go, headed back to our room to eat and kick back a while.

 

Oh yeah!  The room!  In the morning, we had asked if there was a cooler room available; the staff graciously moved us to the second floor and a room with a lovely bank of windows which opened to let in cool, refreshing air.  The room number?  What else could it be but Room 221, Holmes’ address on Baker Street being 221B.  What a fun synchronicity!

 

Later in the evening, we were out for more walking (I just love walking with Dave…I’d go with him anywhere hand-in-hand, ya know).  Lo and behold right down the street was The Royal Academy of Music.  WOW!  I finally made it!  HA!  Such an impressive thing to be there on the steps of this institution.  We passed by Madame Tussaud’s and wandered down some side streets.  The inscription on one building stated that it was the hospital Florence Nightingale departed on October 21, 1854, when she left for The Crimea.  As a long-time admirer of this lady, being on the steps of this building was quite something.  We walked and walked the Marylebone High Street, up and down the side streets…over to Oxford Circus…head on a swivel at all the shops, the awesome Christmas lights hung across the High Street…London reminded me so very much of NYC.  The conclusion of our stroll found us stepping into The Globe Tavern, which was established in 1735, for one last pint in a true English pub. 

 

I can hear some of you out there thinking that we should have made an effort to see “the sights” of London – Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, etc.  You know what?  The things we saw and the experiences we shared during our playtime in London…they were so much more special and memorable than a typical sightseeing tour.  Yes, perhaps we should have planned an extra day or two there…but I truly don’t feel like I’ve missed out on anything.  We were in London for a specific purpose, with the outcome we hoped for, so I’m perfectly content.  It’s not about the glitz and glitter of the big city in a foreign land…it’s about the quiet times…walking hand-in-hand, feeding the birds together, the quiet shared laughter, the fun and simple times together.

 

Truth be told, England does not capture my heart like Scotland does.  I find Scotland to be more to my soul’s liking…England is pretty and rather garden-like…Scotland’s wildness, untamed beauty, history, and spirit capture my heart, as has this Scot with whom I now share life.

 

Off to London! (Weds, Jan 4)

This morning was cold and frosty as we prepared for our trip to London.  I think we were both jittery…even though this part of the visa process should only be a formality, it was not a done deal as of this morning.  A friend of Dave’s drove us to the Inverkeithing station; we were in plenty of time for the train, which arrived in the station just a few minutes behind schedule.

 

I’ve always wanted to make a journey by train; everyone had said this was “the” way to travel to London, we would disembark right in the heart of the city at Kings Cross Station, we figured it would be more leisurely than flying, and it turned out to be the most economical.  So WOW I got my train journey and got to see quite a bit of the English countryside to boot.  We had some snacks, CDs to listen to, a portable chess set, reading material, and, of course, the digital camera!  Five hours?  It seemed more like an hour  and was very pleasant, passing swiftly, as did the countryside of England outside the window.

 

So many images, emotions, sounds…

 

I soon discovered that photography from a fast-moving, cross-country train (much faster than the commuter train to Edinburgh) is virtually impossible except when slowing or stopping at towns and stations.  There are photos of our London trip up on the site, with a few snapped on the journey down; the return trip was in fog and then darkness virtually the entire way, so no photos.

 

There are images, however, burned into my memory for all time.  The cliffs overlooking the water, scarecrows in the English fields, train conductors at stations, Dave and I playing chess to pass the time, the bridges of Newcastle, the seemingly endless racks of bicycles in the station at York, a few passengers with dogs, and the blur of passing trains on the track next to ours; the sound accompanying this event was completely unique and distinct unto itself.

 

Upon arrival at 3:00 PM in London, we took a taxi (see photos…yep, they look just like you see in movies – kewl!) to the Sherlock Holmes Hotel on Baker Street in the Marylebone area of London (Westminster), where we were booked into Room 405.  This turned out to be on the very top floor and was quite spacious….but HOT!  The one small dormer-type window was open and we soon asked for a floor fan, but imagine an early summer evening in Texas with no A/C.  This was intriguing, because it by no means was warm outside; we later learned that the rooms are heated with a steam system and there was a large pipe for such running right through our closet!

 

After unpacking and settling in, we were out on the streets walking down Baker Street to Grosvenor Square, which the US Embassy faces.  We wanted to locate the Embassy and see how long it took to walk to it from the hotel.  That taken care of, we had dinner in a cozy pub and a long stroll around the area followed later by a drink in the hotel pub.   It was back to the room and an attempt at slumber, neither of us really sleepy in anticipation of the next day’s all-important appointment at the Embassy.

 

Good to Go!

We got the visa!!!

 

It was an incredible three days…stay tuned for entries and photos!

 

 

Here We Go!

A quick note about this site…I’ve added a guestbook…you should see it on the main page with the comment "Here’s your space!"  The guestbook and its comments will pop up in a new window when you click on that link.  To make an entry, erase my name and insert yours, erase the blog address info, and then type away in the big text area.  I’m looking forward to hearing from some of you out there!

 

Well, it’s the 3rd day of year 2006!  Where does the time go?  Amazing how one’s life can change in the short span of 12 months!

 

I got an update on my former property in Brenham.  It seems the new owners are getting with it on sprucing up the place with new paint on the outside trim, hardwood flooring, etc.  I was so hoping that whoever purchased this lovely property would love and nurture it…both of which I did, but I just didn’t have the resources to manifest it in a physical sense with updating, etc.  I’m very pleased…it is a lovely place with wonderful energy and certainly I felt loved and nurtured by it when I was living there. 

 

This morning is actually rather nice, so Dave is off on the bike for a while.  Color me jealous!  I’m glad he’s getting some good bike time in while we’re still here!

 

The washer is already churning clothes this morning; that’s my purpose in life today…to get the laundry caught up and then – whooohooo – we’re away tomorrow on the train to London!  Any positive energy, good vibes, prayers, or whatever is your fashion for the outcome we are hoping for will be appreciated.  Hopefully, Thursday evening will see us celebrating and making lists for what needs to be done in order for us to head back to Minnesota!  Whatever the verdict, we are together, and that’s the important thing.

 

We had a pleasant Hogmanay; hope you had a great New Year’s Eve, too!  After a nice dinner, we met Paul in the Pitbauchlie pub for a bit; he went off to meet some friends up town and we came home – watched some TV and managed to stay up to greet in the New Year.  Paul was staying overnight here in Dunfermline but had to be at work in Edinburgh the next day, so Dave drove him in the next morning.  We went back to Edinburgh that evening to pick up Paul after work and then stopped at their flat, where Ian joined us for the ride back to Dunfermline.  The lads came by later that evening for a visit and, as always, it was quite enjoyable.  I certainly appreciate them taking the time to hang out with "the old folks."    I’m very pleased that Dave is getting some time with them before leaving and that I’m getting the opportunity to get to know them a little more with these visits, rather than just one brief dinner get-together.  Great young men; I’m proud and honored to become part of their family.

 

Let’s see…yesterday Dave had some bike time and we then went to a Scout retreat/campground for a nice walk in the woods and around the grounds.  It sure felt good to do some walking and be out with Momma Nature for a bit.  Thanks, darlin’…I really needed that!  Pamela and Jim came by last evening for a visit.  I certainly do enjoy their company!

 

I’m sitting here looking at a bunch of purple mums in the vase that had our Christmas arrangement in it over the holidays.  When Dave went to Tesco’s a few days ago, he came back with this lovely bunch of flowers!  Awwwww….such a guy!  They really are lovely and add a nice festive touch to the place!

 

Well, this will probably be the last entry until we return from London.  There’s laundry and packing to be done today and our train is in the morning.  We’ll be back Friday evening and I’m not sure I’ll get anything posted here until the weekend.  Guess I’d better publish this entry; I had one all typed out the other day and hit the button to post it, but it didn’t take!   

 

Have fun, take care, and enjoy life, ’cause it’s waaaay too short!

 

Cheers!