Happy Christmas!

December 8th.

At the rate 2014 has hurtled past so far, I feel I must write this year’s news now!

I have been very lucky to have many visits from my four grandchildren in school holiday and when Sam could come. He’s now in year 5 medicine in Edinburgh and just at present in Sydney, In Westmead Hospital.  He’ll be home at the beginning of the year.  Sean and Daniel came and sailed – and sailed!  They love it!  Catriona will row and canoe – and enjoys that too.  Moira only managed a week up, but we had great fun.  Colin had even less time, but he blitzed many bits of the garden – wonderful!

In February I went to Tenerife with Moira and the three younger children – that was lovely.  I came home ready to get the house prepared for the summer visitors, who came from April till late October.

Amber had gradually become blind and that was not a big problem, as she knew every corner of the downstairs and around the house.  However, her kidneys suddenly failed and we lost her quite suddenly.  Ruah (she is seven now and a very good companion – still greedy!),  searched and searched for her……..  Sean especially was very sad, as Amber had been “on loan” from him.  But he saw her a month before she died and she was well then. 

All summer I had visits from old friends and made many new ones – I really enjoyed it.  Thank you so much everyone, for coming!

In September the Referendum vote went comfortably to Scotland staying in the United Kingdom.  I wonder if the Nationalists will calm down……  I often doubt it.

Moira and I waved Sam off to Australia on September 20.  I hurried back as Elizabeth Arlsan was arriving – my last visitor.   It was fun, Elizabeth – bring Uta next year?!

October vanished as did many months this year!  Well, Ruah was clipped and looked reproachfully at me for days!  And I did do some “spring” cleaning!

The weather has, on the whole, been marvellous this year!  We did have a wet week earlier this month, but it has been generally dry and mild, though there is a nip in the air today. – I got the lawns cut ten days ago – ridiculous in mid-November! 

Finally, my brother Ian in Toowoomba and sister-in-law Alice in Nuneaton have both had spells in hospital recently   - Ian is home and progressing very well, while Alice will be home very soon I hope.   I wish, as I often do actually, that I were nearer Queensland……..  And I shall be soon!  Yes, I’m going!

I hope you have had a good year that did not speed past quite as fast as the Plockton year!  May your Christmas and New Year be special.

Best wishes, Ann