Plans
Hello!
We’re in autumn proper now, and it’s getting colder. The mornings are darker and the days shorter. The trees have changed colour along with the bracken, and Skye is transforming into a patchwork of gold and bronze and copper, while the heather is fading and the wildflowers of summer are now brittle stems, frost blackened and skeletal.
As the season progresses, the school year moves on and next week we start a fortnight’s half term holiday. I suspect our plans to visit the Pennines will be shelved due to the ever-changing Covid rules, and it’s disappointing, but probably for the best. My mum’s birthday is tomorrow and usually I like to put flowers on her grave but instead have bought a bunch of alstroemeria for the house and put them by her picture.
The house sale has reached that point where everything goes quiet. The solicitors are working on the formalities but as yet there’s nothing legally binding in writing so there’s always that worry that things could fall through. We’re hoping to exchange contracts (although it’s slightly different here in Scotland, and our buyer is in England) in around two weeks.
I’m aware people have been asking me on this blog, and via email and Facebook, what our plans are in terms of moving. And I have mentioned previously that I don’t want to discuss it online. Partly because the sale is in no way finalised yet, and partly because I prefer to keep some aspects of our lives private. Even people locally who usually don’t even acknowledge me are suddenly very friendly and wanting to chat. And apparently some have been contacting my friends to ask what our plans are. I find it really strange…
So I will share once things start to happen, but not yet. And apologies for not replying to all your comments. I read them all, and they’re very much appreciated. I’m a bit scattergun in responding; there’s no rhyme or reason behind it!
So, lately we’ve had some still days mixed in with the wilder ones, and I’ve been out for a few walks, alone and with Joe. Apologies for yet more pictures of red toadstools but we found a place under the pines where there are literally hundreds growing. We’ve been back a few times just to marvel at them, and also picked a huge edible boletus edulis (‘penny bun’) mushroom. Joe was absolutely horrified at the idea of my eating it. We brought it home, cleaned and weighed it (400 grams!) and gave it to the pastry chef at the restaurant. She’s Czech, and very confident in her knowledge of foraging fungi, and currently has a lot of local mushrooms drying out in her house.
Joe was relieved.
I went kayaking on Monday afternoon with Joe and a friend, who took her little boy along. I’ve never done it before but soon got the hang of using the paddle and we went out on the water, rowing around tiny islands. The sun was low in the sky and we spotted lots of jellyfish, cormorants and a few sea urchins. And the resident seals were following us and swimming up close - they’re really curious.
Forest School resumes after half term, and yesterday they all walked down to the castle for a few hours in the gardens. So there’s a lot of outdoor stuff happening at the moment and that’s always a good thing.
I’m working tomorrow and Friday but we have no real plans for the weekend. I don’t want to start packing just yet - not until we have some kind of written confirmation of the house sale. But we’ve been sorting out Joe’s bedroom cupboards and have either given things to charity or taken them to the recycling centre. And Jay’s cleared the outbuilding - there was a LOT of stuff (including items left by the previous owners).
I’m thinking maybe just a drawer or cupboard at a time right now. I do like a good clear out anyway, and maybe chipping away gradually is the way to go rather than a last minute panic. Although there will be a last minute panic.
I have no idea how we’re going to fill a fortnight of school-free days, but maybe we’ll go down to Armadale before it closes for the season. To be honest, it’s just nice to have a bit of time away from the hamster wheel of early starts: hurriedly making packed lunches, homework, ironing uniform etc. Although I was pining for that exact same hamster wheel when we were in lockdown. The grass is always greener on the other side!
Today’s nice and quiet. I have the latest Country Living magazine and 91 Magazine arrived in the post too, so I’ll have a flick through. It’s funny, I still have a designated lunch break during the day between cracking on with other things. I think I’m programmed through my years of education (September is all about new starts) and working (to-do lists, making notes, lunch hour).
We have a delivery of Christmas things from Garden Trading arriving at work tomorrow and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s inside the boxes. I may make a small purchase or two (copper wire lights, I’m looking at you)…
It’s Jay’s birthday on Sunday. He doesn’t want any fuss but agreed to beer and pizza. And a New York cheesecake (bought, not home made). Joe’s happy about the cheesecake so will no doubt be incredibly complimentary to his dad all day, as well as super helpful. He’s not a very complicated person to read…
