Almost time for Milo and a good sleep

We are busy making plans for our UK trip next year. It might be twelve months off, but we are happiest when planning where to go and what to do. We've already booked some accommodation in Scotland, including two weeks in Edinburgh, during the August festivals, and a place not far from Fort William, which will allow us to visit many places, including our wee plots in Glencoe Wood. Maps are endlessly fascinating, as are using google maps with street views. A friend recently took part in the Sting in Stirling, an incredible adventure race in which teams ride, run, canoe, climb, canyon and scramble over five days of competition. We were able to keep an eye on his progress, through the incredible website, and also through the dear old facebook. Sometimes our modern forms of communication are really sensational. Of course, the incredible views and footage of Scotland made us really homesick. Yes, I said homesick.

Life is as usual challenging, interesting, exciting and never boring. There are lots of things happening, and Spring is nearly upon us. Well, I must stop here, but with promise of more reflections about the places we yearn to return to.

Let me get a cuppa and I'll tell you something

Had a lovely weekend in Melbourne with friends, going out for coffee and cake, lunch, the theatre and a movie. Since being home again, watched a program called Three Men go to Scotland - the Welshman, the Cornishman and the Irishman - and oh what views of lovely Scotland! Worth watching: http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/24970
Apart from wonderful seaviews and aerial views of Mull, Skye and the Small Isles, the trio's visit to Fingal's Cave set my heart racing. The aerial views also took in the country where we have our precious little plots, and we can hardly wait to get there!

Even the shots of the Caledonian McBrayne ferry got us going. We spent a lovely day on one visiting Rhum, Eigg and Muck, and even saw some dolphins close up. We then got back on the ferry at Mallaig and did the crossing to Skye. Ahhh, the Cuillins!

Nearly time for a Milo

The evening is fast becoming night-time and therefore nearly time for a Milo. I have a lovely pic of my Mum-in-law Monnie beside my computer. It was taken at her 90th birthday last year.

The funeral was on Thursday, and it brought many family members together. The weather was fine, but very cold. Many words spoken about Mum's faith and belief in people and her boundless love. I managed to stand and read my small eulogy (with Peter beside me) and felt good about doing it.

Today we visited Dad, then went for a visit to the graveside in the sunshine.
Mixed feelings there, having Mum in a grave - so different from being able to spread/place my parents' ashes in places they loved. Saw a doco tonight about Orkney, and the amazing archaeological dig there. So much to think about. Neil Oliver presented the program, and we were truly transfixed.

Now, for that Milo...

In memory of two mums

The holidays are over, we went to Orange, had a lovely time. But all the time we were away Peter's' Mum was in hospital, slipping quietly from us. When we arrived home and went to see her, she was asleep and had been sleeping peacefully for a couple of days. We visited her again last Wednesday morning, saying our usual soft goodbyes and stroking her hair. In the late evening neither of us wanted to go to bed, instead staying up to watch the Tour de France. The phone call came just after 12.30. When we saw Mum, she looked just the same: peaceful and relaxed in deep sleep.

We are so thankful that she didn't suffer. I think I said in my last post that she was 92. She was 91. She had been married for nearly 69 years. She loved her family - everyone - without limit or prejudice. Long ago, Monnie and my Mum were very close friends. Their friendship remained over the years, occasionally declared afresh by the giving of bears, especially angel bears. A little Eileen angel bear watched over Mum before she died.

Love you Mums.

Way past Milo time

I have been tossing and turning for three hours, no sleep to speak of and got thinking about many things. I've been off colour for a few days, have had to cancel classes and it's almost holidays. Some of my younger students sent home a card with 'hope you're better soon' wishes, and included some pics of yours truly in the classroom with very attentive students. That, and all their signatures, made me weepy.

It's freezing cold and not the best time to be out of bed. Laird Peter is snoring peacefully, unaware that I am in the lounge, tapping away. Thoughts of Milo remind me that I've just finished (a one-day read) a beautiful first novel called Past the Shallows by a young writer called Favel Parrett. The book is set in Tasmania, and mentions familiar places. Not only did it make me nostalgic - we went to Tasmania for our honeymoon in 1989 - but the story, about three brothers growing up in the remote south, features, among many beautiful things, Milo. I'm not being silly. The youngest brother, Harry, gains comfort in his lonely existence from simple things: finding small treasure in the sand, befriending a kelpie pup and its master and a big mug of Milo.  This book is our read this month for book club (which is tomorrow night) and I can't imagine anyone not loving it.

Being awake at 2am brings forth other thoughts about places, places we long to see again.
In twelve months' time we will be back in the UK, and, of course, visiting our wee plots in Scotland.
We are already making lists and making plans. We will be there at the end of summer and through autumn, and can hardly wait.

Closer to home we have many things to think about; the most important at the moment being Peter's Mum, who is in hospital. I've known her since I was a baby, and she has just had her 92nd birthday.

Now I'm going back to bed, to sleep, perchance to dream.

Sharing a hot chocolate, gazing at the world

Winter weather makes me hanker for hot chocolate. It is freezing at the moment, and very wet.
The rain is good, as we haven't had a lot. Our friend David came to stay, and we drank hot chocolate with marshmallows at our favourite cafe and watched the world go by. Simple pleasures. Time with friends. It is almost the end of term and I can't wait for the holidays. We will be visiting friends in New South Wales and can't wait to get there.
Almost time for a Milo, or a hot chocolate.

Memories of milk and milo

Over dinner tonight we reminisced with our niece about our Milo-drinking habits when we were kids.

As I think about it we probably drank more Ovaltine than Milo. I drink Milo every night before bed these days, and occasionally have one during the day when I'm marking assignments. It is pretty cold at the moment, and there's nothing nicer than a hot drink by the fire (heater, actually).

At the moment Laird Peter and niece are watching the Wallabies play Wales in the rugby union international, getting nostalgic about Wales and, of course, Scotland.
We watched 'Town' the other night on TV and it was about Perth (Scotland). Of course we got all soppy and misty-eyed as we want to visit Perth next year.

And we have watched the telecasts of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, loved the views of the Thames with the River Pageant, loved the interior shots of St Paul's during the service, and we can't wait to go back in 2013.

And we will be visiting our wee plots of course!