My writing has stalled because - well I am not sure. Maybe it is because My Wild and Simple Life had so much simple that it would not have been exciting enough to write about. I have been motivated by a number of my friends saying that they enjoyed reading my news, and when was the 'next edition' coming?
So here I am.
Simple in the Summer is good - really pleasant! After the shock to the system of coming back to the trails of winter clinging on, post our 6 months under the Indian Sun, spring finally took charge, and then one day - yes! It was summer! A Scottish summer with lovely long long nights and days of sunshine splitting the pavements in between monsoon like showers. We know we can not venture too far without our rain coats, but I love the scent of summer coming through after the rain - everything refreshed, hosed down, and sultry warm. City and town gardens really come into their own - roses, pansies, lavender outlining pristine green front lawns, and hanging baskets weighing down with their bounties. Memories of childhood summers spent at my granny and gandpa's - back in the days when summers were always summers - no hit and miss with the weather back then - is this rose coloured memories or global warming? So much of our days were spent in such a beautiful garden - a garden full of mixed purpose. A large vegatable patch - potatoes, carrotts, lettuce, peas. Flower borders planted by loving green fingers - livingston daisies with their hinting of glittery petals, magically closing at sunset. Lilly of the Valley so fresh and green and white and fragrant. I do not know anyone else who grew this flower. Prize winning roses, all of them with a scent - lipstick red, sophisticated pink, lemon sherbet and that unusal one called blue moon - a gently silvery mauve colour. And amongst all that beauty our muddy corner up at the top right. This was ours, for us to play in the mud - making mud pies, make believe ice cream shops, finding worms. We had an old length of carpet we would get out of the cellar to sit on and a collection of old spoons, an ice cream scoop and old ice cream cartons from our favourite shop - The Peppermint Lump. We would spend hours digging and scooping and potting and constructing mud creations. Beautiful summer memories.
Following a month of domesticity in May - redecorating, preparing for visitors, sorting through 6 months of neglected paper work, house moving for Pa, we really didn't venture too far. Oh well, I did go with friends for a lovely break to Palma. A knee injury curtailed some of my activities and my pocket money was spent at the physio - my track record of physios involved diagnosis, treatment plan, and failure to follow through with the exercises. This time, being one year into 'early retirement' I could no longer use the excuse of 'don't have time' and I have for once been more consistent with strengthening my right quad. We did go to a 'gig' or a 'concert' or a 'show'. I am not sure what the cool kids call it now! We were at the Hozier 'gig' in Glasgow, but we did not really take the tickets to see the Headlining Act! I had a vague knowledge of who Hozier was, but his supporting Act the most beautiful talented Singer / Musician / Composer / Activist - Allison Russell. She did not disppoint! The only dilemma was, after she had performed would we stay to see Hozier or just go home! Standing gigs are hard work, but I felt we ought to stay on and see the main man! And I am glad we did as Allison did a song with him at the end!
June was a special month for us - Baby Max turned 21! Is it time to stop calling him Baby Max? Nah - always the baby of the family. Max not being the socialite like his brother Ben is, we were not going to have any celebration but it seemed wrong not to - so we arranged one of our house parties and it was a lovely gathering of family and friends. Just for the record - Max was there in attendance - low key - but he was there! And this signified a year since my Early Retirement. No, no - I do not miss work - life is good! Even when it is not good, it is sweet! The dramas still happen, the curve balls, the life challenges, but to get up in the morning and linger over my cup of tea is such a gift. If nothing else - then just that! But there is more, blessed we are, there is more!
Today I very much had in mind our next venture which is not quite in the bag yet! But in preparation, by way of 'training' we climbed a hill! Not a Munro but I tell you - this hill to me is harder than any Munro! We have ventured this hill before and I remember I find it tough, and that is why it was my suggestion to do it today. East Lomond Hill Circuit is 4.25 miles with an ascent of 380m. Compare to Schehallion - 6.25 miles and ascent of 731m. Or Mount Keen - 11 miles and ascent of 681m. East Lomond is HARD! It is up up up all the way with no respite. Ok, the duration is short, but my oh my, that ascent at the start is punishing, and with such a wind it was, yes, HARD! Very quickly though, we paused and looked at what was behind us. Beautiful farm lands of green and gold, the waters of the River Tay in the far far distance, the steeple of the village church and the turrets of Falkland Palace. Picture perfect, real life.
We trudged on up through this Baby hill, buffeted and blown and then very suddenly, the summit! I do not think ever ever have I been in such strong winds! We could barely stand up right and at one point, just as I was already feeling a bit out of breath, the wind caught me and just for a moment, just briefly I actually could not get a breath! One could not stay up there long, I felt as flimsy as a kite, and the respite on the descent, as we escaped that wind was welcome. If our next plan comes to fruition, if we get the go ahead for our next venture I am going to commit to stepping up this hill again.
So - what are we doing next - New coming soon! It is definitely not on the simple side!
In the mean time, keeping it simple - some lunch dates this week, some walks, carry on with my knee excercises. Oh, and tidy out my sock drawer! Can't get more simple than that!
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