BS: Sunshine Thoughts

Subject: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Megan L
Date: 30 Oct 12 - 05:47 AM

With the dark days of winter coming upon us and world and weather behaving badly it is easy to get down in the dumps.

Lets look for little bits and bobs to make the day a wee bit brighter.



Winter is cold.        

That's why sheep have wool throw on a jumper. Grab a warm coat a scarf and mittens and head out for a walk to see all the beautiful skeleton leaves and smell the crisp clean air.


Winter is wet.        

That's why children splash in puddles put on your wellingtons go outside and look for puddles. So what if you get wet that's what towels were invented for. Jump in a puddle look at the water dashing away from you. Or re enact the scene from singing in the rain, so what if they think you are mad are they smiling? I bet you are

Winter is dark.        

That's why we have hearths build up the fire         find a warm fluffy blanket a good book and a steaming mug of hot chocolate and enjoy some snuggle time.

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Henry Krinkle
Date: 30 Oct 12 - 06:04 AM

I like going to the shore and looking at the water and sky. The windier the better. Any time of day is good. Sunrise and sunset best. Moonlight.
=(:-( ))

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Megan L
Date: 31 Oct 12 - 04:19 AM

A thought that will make many shudder but something I am looking forward to is Christmas. Today the twins (2year olds)my unofficial grandbairns will be making christmas tree picture holders for their official grannies.

I always come home exhausted after messy time , storytime and picnic time where there mum and I have to down umpteen cups of mythical tea accompanied by strange concotions of any plastic food found in their play kitchen.

it is a joy to watch them stick and paint, to have one of them snuggle in wanting a story or just to have my name suddenly drift over the back of the couch in a small singsong voice followed by giggles.

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Henry Krinkle
Date: 31 Oct 12 - 04:30 AM

You're so lucky. And blessed.
=(:-( ))

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 31 Oct 12 - 04:58 AM

you & they are building beautiful memories.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: maeve
Date: 31 Oct 12 - 08:42 AM

Thanks, Meg.

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Oct 12 - 10:29 AM

Beautiful, Meg, thank you so much. I do see smiles this morning...saw Morgan for the first time in two weeks!

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Megan L
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 07:31 AM

awww well done Kat I know you would have enjoyed your time with him.

How do parents do it i am an exhausted wreck? ok a happy one but a wreck :)

It had been their mother and toddlers Halloween party in the morning so we thought we would probably not get them to make anything OH BOY were we wrong. Mum had painted tongue depressors and glued them together in triangles to make Christmas trees, which the twins would decorate. The idea is to put a photograph of them behind and give them to grannies and grandpas. We ran out of trees before they ran out of energy.

Quick rethink as to what else could we do drawing round squirmy hands kept them happy for a few minutes as did the most rudimentary cat mask ever seen accompanied by tales of Cookie Cat. Then I had to make paper snowflakes. Having run out of ideas and energy for the moment we went through to the lounge and let them serve us our picnic but by this time tiredness was raising its head and we had a brief squall of squeals hits and tears.

That was till I started singing, now I am not sure if their silence was a tribute to or a comment on my singing but it worked till I seemed to get the animals and sounds all mixed up in Old Macdonald's farm. I was treated to that disgusted look only young children can conjure up when dealing with really silly grown-ups. "Mar – gar –et the duck says quack not moo" Now how could I have got that wrong? Ah well I have until next Wednesday to recover.

I had been feeling a bit dragged down by all the rain before I left home but Megan's little knowing smile as I walked in the door and Alex shy hug brought out lots of sunshine on a winters day.

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Bobert
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 08:06 AM

Put another log on the fire...

B;~)

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 09:07 AM

...Boil me up some bacon and some beans...

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: SINSULL
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 10:42 AM

And what were Morgan, the twins and assorted Mudcat babies for Halloween?
Auntie SINS

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 10:49 AM

Love your stories, Meg!

Morgan was a RED ninja. He looked so good. My brother didn't recognise him when trick or treated at his house! If i can get it together today, i'll post pix somwhere.

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 02:57 PM

Meg, if you don't mind, I'd like to post my blessing received on this day: I was out on the front stoop throwing the frisbee for the dogs. Next door, the rental house is empty with a flooring company in to work on the wood floors. One of the men was outside and said, "Sweetie-pie?" I looked around not sure whom he was addressing. Lo and behold! I was "sweetie-pie" and he was offering me some extra Taco Bell lunch stuff which none of them wanted. I can't eat that so thanked him. But that just made my day...a random, unforeseen, act of kindness.

Thank you, Meg, for this very special and important, imo, thread.

luvya'llkat

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Megan L
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 03:23 PM

Thanks lassie that made me grin. There is no need to ask with winter coming on we can all have dull days but if we each share when we have some sunshine we can get each other through till spring.

At least you didnt run of with him like someone around here did in a shop in Wales on her honeymoon. Honestly I thought the man I sidled up to put my arm through his "Darling could you buy me this thimble"

He looked down at me(Weel maist folk have to luk doon at me)
"Well I would my dear but perhaps your husband would prefer to do that"

Oh boy I was never alowed to live that one down :)

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: gnu
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 03:50 PM

Lovely! Thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Megan L
Date: 02 Nov 12 - 04:32 AM

Sunshine through the clouds

The sky was dark and filled with rain
So dull it looked like fog
It made me feel so down and grumpy
Till I was growling like the dog

Then shyly from a little split
Within that dense dark cloud
A bright and shiny beam appeared
The sun was still shining proud

I may not see it here below
But I know it shines above
And even on my darkest days
It sends me warmth and love

mhtbl 2nd November 2012 0830

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Megan L
Date: 04 Nov 12 - 04:34 AM

I was looking for some writing this morning I know it is in the house somewhere I remember writing it but can I find it not hide nor hair. What I did however find were two of my café books. Every so often I take one out of my bag for some reason and forget to put it back in ending up with buying another book. At least I have mostly given up writing on scraps of paper the amount of stuff that I have lost that way. I came across a piece I had written for a friend who had just gone back to studying and was so frustrated she was feeling like giving up.

The Daffodil

When things look hard
Think of the daffodil.
When days are dark
And the world is covered in snow
The bulb begins it's journey
For it has far to go.
It pushes through the darkness
Forcing up through cold hard ground
Till at last it reaches sunlight
And blossoms in full bloom.
We did not see the hard work
In all the winter's gloom
We just admire the beauty
Of a job that is well done.

21/3/2011

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Megan L
Date: 10 Nov 12 - 11:36 AM

Tonight the BBC will show the Festival of Rememberance from the Albert Hall. I remember a few years ago after all the groups walked the length of the hall to their places behind the band two old men marched down together. They were if i remember rightly the last two remaining soldiers from some battle. There they were marching as comrades the last of their kind with a shared memory. They helped each other up the steps one from either side of the battle.

It made me think that whether the battle is lost or won and when all the fighting is said and done we can move on we can work together to be better than we were.

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Nov 12 - 02:27 PM

beautiful, Megan, the latter and the daffodil...like you and all yr writings...beautiful

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: gnu
Date: 10 Nov 12 - 07:33 PM

"It made me think that whether the battle is lost or won and when all the fighting is said and done we can move on we can work together to be better than we were."

Indeed, kat, beautiful.

Megan... beautiful... you have a gift, lass. Thanks for sharing it.

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: gnu
Date: 11 Nov 12 - 06:30 PM

A gift that bears refreshing.

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Megan L
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 04:21 AM

Winter dawn

We are at that lovely stage of an Orkney winter, the mornings are cold and crisp but not dangerous. The sky hangs over us like a military parade marching of over the horizon grading from black inky darkness through lightening shades of grey to the palest blue uniform of daylight then drifting back to the fiery colours of dawn sunlight.

They march slowly past the corner of the house across the road the light dripping from them to colour the world around me till the king himself processes past the roof line blinding me with his glorious low slung frosty whiteness.

I turn away from the brightness but let it fall on my back bathing me in comforting warmth to begin my day.

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: maeve
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 06:31 AM

Thanks, Meg; lovely image.

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 07:10 AM

Megan, I do enjoy reading your thoughts. I particularly appreciate you pointing out the beauty to be found at this time of year, when I tend to get gloomy at the ending of the green time. Thanks for reminding me to look at the sky.

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: gnu
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 01:55 PM

Thanks once again, Megan. Ihe imagery in your words is stunning. Pure poetry.

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Nov 12 - 12:39 PM

More, more, lass!;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Megan L
Date: 18 Nov 12 - 04:42 PM

*takes a bow "Thank you thank you"
*tries to stand up "Damb has someone got Heddles crane on speed dial"

Now come on folks I canny be the only twit wie a tale fighting the winter blues.


Its all about the weather

"Whit awfy weather the day ahm fair drookit."
"Aye hids a driech day right enough, and wur haen a full sail breeze."

Such is a common greeting from customers to the café in Stromness. I discovered many years ago that life on the island revolved around the weather.

In fact I discovered that before my foot ever touched Orkney soil. It was my first ever holiday on my own, ok I know that compared with Benidorm or even Blackpool a fairly isolated Scottish island probably would not seem like the great adventure for an eighteen year old. However for me it was the ideal choice since I had never really been into discos and drinking. Ever since I had watched a schools television programme about Skara Brae the village which had been buried in the sand had captured my imagination.

It was however to be late 1979 before I was to first meet Orkney Weather. I had dressed with care and as was my fashion at the time wore a hat with a short veil. As I stepped onto the platform just outside the door of the aeroplane before descending to the tarmac (Well you never know when you might catch the eye of a young gentleman) the famous Orkney wind took a great liking for my hat. It plucked it from my head twirling it up out of reach before dancing it tantalisingly close before me as I tottered down the steps. Once it birled around me like some demented highland dancer with me at the centre of its wild sword dance it decided to take its new prize and go visiting. And so alas my lovely hat was last seen making a mad dash over the water to Shapinsay.

I often wondered if it stopped of to visit Balfour Castle before working its way up the islands to land on top of one of the sheep living outside the sea wall on North Ronaldsay. I have never made it to that island, perhaps it is for the best after all I would hate to have to debunk some local legend of the strange Were sheep who constantly wandered round the sea wall looking for entry to the human part of the island.

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Megan L
Date: 21 Nov 12 - 06:00 PM

Sometimes doing what you don't want to do turns out good.

It has been a rough few days. The weather has been driving wind and rain and I wasn't feeling so good. Doreen sent a text reminding me that tonight was craft club and asking if I was going.

All day I hummed and hawed trying to find excuses not to go. Eventually as the day was lengthening I decided that if I were going I would have to go into Kirkwall to collect some money and get enough petrol to last me for a while.

5% Celsius as I stepped out the door and although the wind had dropped it was just strong enough to give the chill a bite. The sun had graced us today and was sinking in its low winter orbit as I drove. Thankfully it was at my back casting its long shadows over the land. Light in Orkney at this time of year has a brittle crispness bringing things into sharp focus.

One of the fence posts ahead of me had a brown lump on it and suspecting what it might be I checked the road then slowed as I got near it. Sure enough sitting atop the post was a Catty Face. (The local name for the short-eared owl) It made no attempt to move just swivelling its cute face with perpetually startled looking eyes to watch as I slowly passed.

A mile or so farther on I saw a flash of colour ahead and since the road was still quiet I once again slowed. A grin twitched across my face as I watched the cock pheasant daintily strutting along the top of the dry stane dyke for all the world like a miniature Beau Brummel that impressive London dandy.

I did my chores and returned home settling in the warmth and resenting the thought of having to go out again but I had promised so I gathered a few bits and headed of. What an amazing night it turned out to be an older lady who I have only nodded to in the past came in late and sat beside me. She looked at the dishmop, wooden spoon, duster, washcloth and j-cloth I was working on and exclaimed, "you are making a sally kitchen maid"

I showed her the one I had made for my mum one Christmas almost 20 years ago now at a time when David was unemployed and we couldn't afford to buy presents. I had added a halo made from a gold coloured pot scrubber and a tiny hand written book of readings and hymns for Christmas as though it was a choirboy.

Our conversation wandered from Carols from Kings a family Christmas tradition that mum and I would stop whatever we were doing and listen to it when we had radio and watch when we eventually got television. I am not quite sure how we reached there but I listened fascinated as she told be about being evacuated from London during 1939 and returning in 1941 begging their parents not to send them away again even through the blitz. What an interesting and fascinating day it has turned out to be just because I made myself do what I did not want to do.

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Megan L
Date: 26 Nov 12 - 06:49 AM

Smoky water days

Orkney is lazy today even the sun is to lazy to put on its bright gown choosing to amble across the sky in its startlingly white petticoat. The smoke from the chimney oh a house down on the main road cannot be bothered whizzing of as it usually does instead it wanders slowly around as though trying to pick a direction on which to set off.

The big Sycamore is perplexed it is not sure about this standing still it feels most strange to branches used to being almost continuously being ordered about by sergeant major wind. Even the slender pikes of montbretia leaves are trying to work out why their world has stopped moving.

While down in the bay sluggish turns around like the matriarch seal reluctant to leave the comfort of the shore. It drags itself away so slowly you can still see reflections on its surface. It tenderly runs a finger of wave along the side of the departing ferry in a lover's caress.

And down the Flow towards Flotta a light fog hangs low to the water, indeed it is unfair to call it a fog for it is the merest wisp the faintest show of smoky water brushing up against Hoy's dark cliffs.

Even the birds are to lethargic to take wing they sit on the gutter of the house whispering secrets not at all their usual boisterous squabbling selves.

It is a day for drifting thoughts and quiet reflections

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: maeve
Date: 17 Dec 12 - 11:28 AM

These are times when we need good news, joyful thoughts, and gratitude.

Thank you, Megan.

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Megan L
Date: 18 Dec 12 - 12:52 PM

What makes you smile?

Last week we took the twins out to a cafe in town, mum was very anxious apart from one visit to my local cafe when they were babies they have never been in such a social setting.

While mum was at the atm I held two tiny hands and moved to the big window of the shoe shop next door. "Santa" Alex pointed. Not to be outdone Megan found a snowman there were lots of small figures dotted around the display. their eyes gleamed and they laughed in delight at each new treasure found much to the enjoyment of folk passing in the street.

I had chosen the cafe carefully for this first forray it has enclosed booths so one twin to each side of the table and an adult wedge should it be necessary. It wasn't I swear Alex was practicing 2 year old flirting with the waitress and his sister was batting her blonde eyelashes and flashing award winning smiles at anyone who came near.

O course never having had children I had not taken things like sippy cups into account but we discovered it is still possible to have your coffee while firmly clamping a small glass onto the table and use a finger to direct a straw at a small mouth. They captivated everyone who came near and we got out without tears tantrums or lots of crumbs all in all a good outing.

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: olddude
Date: 18 Dec 12 - 02:34 PM

Well I found out yesterday the new grand baby on the way is a girl, so now I will have a grandson and granddaughter ... I get to spoil rotten for sure. Its my job

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 18 Dec 12 - 07:04 PM

lucky 'Catters

Fridays for the last few years I've been teaching at a craft group comprised of young mothers. Toddlers go into the creche, babies stay in the craft room & we all have fun. I've never spent so much time with children before & I love it. I also take lots of pics.

One morning Miss Three decided to throw a tantrum & not stay in the creche with her friends, so she joined us & made a necklace. She is a very shy child & doesn't speak to me even tho she has known me most of her life, but pointed to the colour of felt she wanted & I cut a snippet which she threaded on a needle.

We're now on our summer break & I won't see them for weeks, tho some of us are meeting after christmas.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Megan L
Date: 19 Dec 12 - 05:25 AM

Well done Sandra sounds like a good time is had by all and everyone benefits.

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Megan L
Date: 23 Apr 13 - 03:32 PM

This evening I am watching the dragons play tig in the Cairston roads just as the ancestors have since the ancient ones built their low stone walled houses with roofs of turf and heather. Of course they knew that Our dragon was a small creature who couldn't be seen as it swam between the islands but they followed its large snowy wake.

Now as a twenty-first century woman there is a part of my brain knows that the dashing white wakes are the result of our strange wind and tide. There is however another part remembers Dauvit's great joy as he watched his dragon dashing along the base of the steep dark cliffs of Hoy.

A brave Viking caught sight of our dragon and carved his picture on the wall of the ancient tomb of Maes Howe while he sheltered there with his crew during a fearsome storm. There he is immortalised till this day his spiked tail curled protectively round his body.

He dashes round the shore of Graemsay as the farmers would say "Clean gyte wie the freedom" like a young cow let out of the barn to the sweet fresh grass of spring before scampering across to Hoy playing hide and seek along its craggy base.

Sometimes in life we may know the sensible scientific answers to the beliefs of our ancestors yet if we do not sometimes lay aside what we know and look with the innocent wonder of a child or our ancestors then we will lose the joy of this wonderful world

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: olddude
Date: 23 Apr 13 - 04:28 PM

cannot wait, any day now a new baby girl granddaughter ... Oh yes .. I have a lot of experience since I raised girls ,... lots of barbies here

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: ranger1
Date: 23 Apr 13 - 08:00 PM

I've been sharing folk music with my younger friends in the video gaming community I belong to, by blogging about it and using YouTube videos. They look forward to each new one, and some are listening to music they never would have encountered before. I'm really enjoying it, and learning a lot myself. Thanks go out to Bat Goddess and Curmudgeon, John MacKenzie, and Deckman for all the help they've provided for my "little" project.

Dan, congrats on that soon-to-be little ray of sunshine!

Megan, I love the imagery of the dragon!

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Ebbie
Date: 24 Apr 13 - 12:41 AM

Last Sunday was the first day of our planned 'music days' here at the senior center. Only three tenants besides myself came but three friends, including myself, kept the music going. We had a fiddle, a guitar and an autoharp plus voices and had a grand time.

We will get more tenants involved- it just takes time.

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: gnu
Date: 24 Apr 13 - 04:50 AM

Megan... thanks.

r1, Ebbie.. cool!

Dan... congrats ya luck bugger!!! Enjoy!

Nice way to start the day on a windy, rainy, dark morn... with such wonderful Sunshine Thoughts. Thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Apr 13 - 04:59 AM

Dan congratulations hope everybody doing well.
Ranger 1 well done we can all do with broadening our horizons and if you have never been introduced to something you will never know if you like it.
Ebbie keep going we need all the pleasant mental stimulation we can get as we get older otherwise like a poster that used to be up in our local library "Use it or lose it"

I Remember

I remember a warm summer's morning, sparkling dew strung on gossamer threads across the garden. I stood at the back door in my cotton nightie sleep splashed eyes blinking in the sun. Warmth enfolded me a safe place and a warm embrace. Two strong arms came over my shoulders and the safe place became a wonderful unassailable fortress against the cares of childhood.

Her voice flowed to me a gentle stream of sound guiding on an adventure of exploration of our new magical morning. She whistled and we laughed at the sleepy response from a nearby blackbird, as we listened his song awoke his neighbours each adding their whistle chirrup or caw till the sound of morning swelled around us in the great symphonic rise of dawn.

Still holding me we stepped out of the door as she whispered how special this morning was, how it would stay with me on dark days my summer place where we could always talk together no matter how far apart we were.

The hard gravel path nibbled at our bare feet like the small mouse dad had caught eyeing up his raspberries. Then cool soft grass washed away the grit I broke free and danced around the lawn leaving small damp footprints among the crystal sprinkled emerald grass.

Many years later my dance would take me hundreds of miles away from this place and time. Mum would finish her dance in this garden and move on to dance on the wind of my memory. Yet still when the grass glitters with the dawn and the sleepy birds begin to waken we can once more share time in our magical place. When I go there I know I will hear her voice and bask in the warmth of her love and wise advice once more.

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Megan L
Date: 26 Apr 13 - 05:05 AM

OOPs guest was me didnt realise I wasnt aw there

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: gnu
Date: 26 Apr 13 - 05:19 AM

Megan... beautiful... as always. Thanks for sharing.

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Apr 13 - 05:56 AM

The setting sun gave the hills to the south of Skipton the sepia tones of an old photograph yesterday evening. Over to one side the earlier rain had washed the sky to the kind of pink that seems to exist only in memories. It was only a moment, but that moment lasted an age and elevated the mundane weekly shop into a train of thoughts that spanned creation. I stopped the car in the middle of the car park while other shoppers wended their way home, seemingly oblivious to the miracle we were witnessing.

A young man wearing a 'hoodie' walked past us, leading a horse while talking on a mobile phone. It did not seem strange or out of place at all but as he passed he looked directly at us and smiled. He was outside, in the fresh air even if was on an urban car park! I felt he knew why we were sat there grinning. Maybe, when I no longer need it, I could trade the car for a horse. We can all hope...

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Apr 13 - 11:12 AM

The smallest of things can remain in the memory as a smile maker.

I happened to be at the window one day as a tall young man came striding up the steep street. He went on a few yards, stopped, looked around and came back around the retaining wall, bent over, plucked a single leaf of the spearmint plants I had planted there and continued striding up the hill, the sprig held to his nose.

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Ebbie
Date: 26 Apr 13 - 11:28 AM

Ha! How'd I get to be a Guest? That last post was I.

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Megan L
Date: 26 Apr 13 - 11:36 AM

he he sorry Ebbie forgot to warn folk I was contageous

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Megan L
Date: 28 Apr 13 - 03:19 AM

Letting go the past

When we moved from a bigger house to the one I am in now (Which was a great improvement in so many ways) Dauvit would take box after box of stuff out to the disused byre and sort through it putting load after load to the mart. In the new house we still had way to much stuff but we were going to sort through the boxes as we could. Unfortunately Dauvit's health failed rapidly after we moved and those boxes never did get sorted in fact as older family members left us they grew.

In 2009 I spent most of the year living out of a suitcase bouncing back and forth the 308 miles between our home and the hospital Dauvit was in, in Glasgow. Eventually we got word he would probably be coming home and I raced back to get things ready. I stood in the house and cried I couldn't even figure out where to start there were things everywhere. A woman from our church offered to tidy up for me and I bounced of again to make more arrangements. I returned three days later to discover that everything had been moved and anything she thought had no use or I wouldn't need had been taken to a charity shop. From then until Dauvit's death I would continuously find myself looking for things and not finding them.

Now it is 2013 I have great difficulty bending, lifting or kneeling down so gradually the house has turned into a complete mess but the events of 2009 have left their damage and I feared to let anyone in, in case I lost anything else. I have visitors coming at the end of May and was in a complete panic I had had several ideas of people who could be paid to get the place ready for me but my fears were stopping me from contacting them.

Enter Christine, I have written before about the girl from a local café who adopted me after Dauvit died. She finally said to me the other day "I have never been allowed in your house we need to get this sorted" finally we agreed that I would pick her up on Saturday since she works all week and she would make a start on the clear up.

Saturday morning dawned (And yes I saw the dawn) with me pacing the floor feeling physically sick about what would be happening that day, would we be able to do this and still feel friends. I picked her up at eleven so she could get a long lie then headed back to start work.

What a day it turned out to be, quite amazing. Three bags at a time, one for rubbish, one for the charity shop and one for craft stuff she worked away nothing went in the bin bag or the charity shop bag without her checking it with me. There were a few tears as we came across things that I thought had gone, things that would not have meant anything to an outsider like the cake stand that had belonged to Mum and a sandwich plate of my Grans.   There were some tough decisions to make, as well it is strange the things you can get sentimental over but did I really need to keep all of Dauvit's tools. The answer to that question was of course NO but what helped me make it was Christine's constant reassurance that nothing would go if I wanted it no matter what it seemed to her.

A tough day, and more to come but all in all it has been a good day and when we are done there will be less to clutter my small house and her gentle understanding is wiping away the fear of someone being in my space.

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: ranger1
Date: 28 Apr 13 - 06:49 AM

(((Meg)))

I have spent time with a lovely not-quite-eight year-old two Saturdays in a row. She is a lot like I was at that age, everything that grows, hops, crawls, flies, swims, or runs is asked about and wondered at. Yesterday she was quizzing me about various plants growing in the woods, wanting to know what they were, even though they didn't have flowers on them. She spent the week looking forward to coming to the birding festival that we're having at the park and hoping that I'd be there. She also came with a list of questions for me that she's thought of during the week, most of which I managed to answer for her. I like this child :)

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: Ebbie
Date: 28 Apr 13 - 12:47 PM

{{{{{Megan L}}}}}

Subject: RE: BS: Sunshine Thoughts
From: gnu
Date: 28 Apr 13 - 12:55 PM

Ditto r1 and Ebbie. I have watery eyes on more than one count.

Thanks again, M.