Sojourn in Scotland - Part One

Having spent a brief few days in Wilmington on my return from Accra, I headed East to Scotland to spend some time with my older brother and his family.  Arriving in Edinburgh I was met at the airport by my nephew's wife as he was busy enjoying his brothers' stag weekend in London.


View from the top of the road

Luke and Amy are currently living in Edinburgh in a wonderful basement flat that could be part of a large country house, both in easy walking/biking distance from their work which is perfect.

Amy and I had a good weekend in the city enjoying some of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, including two short 'theatre' productions which were both good.

That said my first priority on arriving in Edinburgh was to purchase a suitable hat for my nephew's wedding in September - Wilmington, NC didn't provide much choice!  Thankfully John Lewis had a great selection in pretty much every color and lots of different styles.  I was successful in finding both a hat for the church and a fascinator for the evening receiption - so a great success. 

We also walked up to the Castle and along the royal mile, stopping in at St. Giles Cathedral which had some georgeous stained glass windows a sample of which I have posted.



Stained glass window at St Giles Cathedral



Having arrived back late on Sunday evening Luke and I left Edinburgh bright and early (5.00 am) driving to Kennacraig in order to catch the ferry for Islay at 9.45 am.   We were fortunate to be riding on the new ferry which shortened the crossing to the island of Islay to just about 2 hours which was great.  Finally we arrived at Rockside atabout 12.15 pm.   Chloe (my niece) and her boyfriend Sam were already there as well as my mother which was nice.  The following are some of my favorite photos taken during my stay so far.  



The straight looking away from Port Askaig on Islay



Preparing the rods

Luke and Mark were keen to get out fishing - it seemed to be the theme for most of the week resulting in some pretty fierce competition out on the rocks at Machir Bay later in the week.....



Looking towards the Bholsa Caves



On Wednesday, Luke, Chloe and I went out for a brief ride in Rose' parents (my nephew's fiance) boat, giving me a chance to see a different part of Islay's coastline.   I even successfully caught 3 pollock and 1 mackerel off the boat - no-one else caught anything from the boat that afternoon! 

Thursday evening we went to Machir Bay for some fishing (Mark and Luke), kayaking (Chloe and Amy), Rohaise and I were the supporters enjoying a nice glass of wine on the rocks.   This was the epic 'fish-off' between Mark and Luke (father and son), Luke caught the most, but Mark landed the biggest so both 'winners'.   Chloe and Amy also caught four pollock from the kayak in the ocean which was pretty impressive!  We have eaten fish quite often which has been wonderful.


View from the rocks in towards the bay, Kilhoman Church is on the ridge



Machir Bay near the rock pools

Saturday was a day at the beach taking dachshunds (Lilly and Poppy) and Luke's labrador puppy Darcy.   Chloe was brave enough (with a wet suit) to try some boarding, but the current was a little rough.......  I can remember several days at the beach playing the rock pools while my nephews and niece were young!


Chloe and her horse Oak


Chloe and I rode a few times while she was here and I plan to keep riding while I am here - I think the last time I was in a saddle was in Mongolia in 2005 - thankfully I wasn't walking too much like a cowboy after the first few rides!


Bringing in Sam's ' girls



Sam





One of the Aberdeen Angus calves having just "Got Milk"!




Tuesday morning was busy with the birth of two more calves, one of which I was there for and managed to get this photo a couple of hours later as he was working out how to stand up!





Bittersweet.......

Dear Friends,

I am now sitting in the house with various ‘piles’ of things ready to be packed yet again for the return journey to Wilmington.  It will be a bittersweet departure from Accra on Friday evening.  For so many reasons I am happy to be heading home to Wilmington.  I will be able to spend time with my friends who are so precious to me, I will be able to have my dogs back home once more, I won’t be living in a house with a solid stone wall, electric fencing and a guard on the property at all times – I will have my privacy back, the list could go on. 

But, I am also leaving Accra having just begun to really settle in.  The house was looking like a home, plants were potted and I was making friends and enjoying some pleasure time.  The Accra team has been wonderful and I will be sad to leave them too.  I am also leaving a program that had such promise and a hope that I would be helping to improve others’ lives in a lasting manner but the scope has changed and I am not needed here so am heading home at the end of this week L/J!

What’s next?  I am not sure yet, I will have a week in Wilmington and then be heading to the beautiful island of Islay off the west coast of Scotland for almost a month.  Staying with my older brother and his family I will be able to enjoy a lengthy visit; the first in a very long time.  I will be able to ride across the hills down to the beach, gallop along the beach, walk for as far and as long as I like without having to see men stopping to ‘relieve’ themselves at the side of the road or risk being hit by a ‘trotro’.   I am longing for the peace and beauty of Islay and know that time with family will be brilliant as I determine what is next.  The trip to Islay will culminate with a trip to Perthshire for my second oldest nephew’s wedding in early September before heading home to Wilmington.

It will still take several weeks before my belongings will arrive in Wilmington so I will probably be ‘camping out’ again, but this time in my own home with my dogs and my friends close by……..

I wonder what God has in store for me next – this last little adventure has certainly been a rollercoaster, but I have also learned a great deal.  What I really miss, what I can do without (e.g. TV is not a necessity – nice but not something that you can’t live without!), Patience (yes with a capital P as you cannot survive here without it!), some of the many challenges of living as an expat (it is not as easy as some might think J).  I have become an avid reader of all types of fiction and now listen to World News that is truly ‘World’ News and not just the American view of the world – it is different honestly!

So for now I have two busy days ahead trying to keep an eye on a team of six people packing up my things, hopefully in a manner that will ensure that they all arrive in one piece back in Wilmington at some point in September – let’s just hope that not too many storms come off the West African coast in the next six weeks so that it is smooth sailing for my container J.