Northumbria - Week 2
Hiya - as they would say here in the north.
Phil’s homing instincts began to get stronger and she needed to be home again. It was also a good time to catch up with family and friends and to get some paperwork sorted out so she could reapply for her UK passport which was stolen and the temporary one was confiscated at Heathrow. This in turn will enable her to apply for a re-entry visa back into Australia as well as get to Spain in July which is pretty important too.
It was also a time for us to have a bit of a break from each other. After being virtually 24/7 in each others company for 10 weeks straight it was time for a bit of space. The niggly things that 24/7 travel bring on was a pretty good sign it was time. Its not that we were ready to kill each other - well not just yet, but past experience has shown that it was better to have a mini break before the major crime squad had to get involved. Usually, days at home get split up with work, social commitments, family & etc. But, when on the road that doesn’t happen unless you make it happen. Just time management I guess!
And so I got on the train heading north from Carlisle. I tried to think of the number of times I've done this journey but I couldn’t even hazard a guess - but it was plenty. But no matter how many time I cross the border I still get a funny exciting feeling of going back to "ma ain Folk”, I know it sounds corney, but I do. Anyway the train arrived in Glasgow Central Station, a place I was once very familiar with, but wow - what a face lift the old station has had. With the Commonwealth Games imminent, (starts 23rd July) Glasgow is looking good and there was a certain excitement in the air. I liked the vibrant feel of the place. It’s ready for the arrival of visitors from all over the world and I hope the games bring the best of all things to the old city. Edinburgh maybe the capital and a lovely city, but Glasgow has the character, the people and a wee bit of something special about it for me. The French would called it "je ne sais quoi”.
I went from Glasgow to my old home town of Hamilton, where my brother Brian and his wife Edith live. It was lovely to spend time with them and with my nephews Andrew & Martin and Martin's girlfriend Amy. We had family meals together and plenty if time to blether and bring each other up to date with what's going on in our live’s.
I then went to Oban which is up on the west coast of Scotland, other favourite place of mine, where some very dear old friends live. To get there, I got a lift from Duncan, my friend Gillie's husband who was driving home from work further south. The day was sunny and driving around Loch Lomond side was just wonderful, it was a sight that does your heart good and I really started to feel home. This place on a wet miserable day can be dreach, (Scottish word for very dull) but when the sun shines on Ben Lomond and the heather is abundant in the glens there is no prettier sight anywhere. During my stay in Oban (gate way to the western isles ) I manage to catch up with friends I hadn't seen for many a year. We had a lovely meal on the shores of Oban Bay looking at the sunsetting over the Isle of Mull. Now most of you people know that good company, great views and a few drams, has got to be one of life's great pleasures and I had my share of all of the above on my short visit back to my beautiful Scotland. I got my Scottish fix for now, I’ll be back with Volker in July and will reconnect with more family & friends. I love my life in Australia but I will always be Scottish so going home is just something I have to do. My passport paper-work is all done, so it was time to head south back to Volker and the two dogs, Murphy & Skye in beautiful Northumberland.
While she was gone Volker and the doggies went off into the wilderness to seek solitude and get very dirty. Which they did in abundance. Walking through the hills, moors, wooded copses and the rolling farming hillsides was wonderful.
Discovering ancient rock engravings amongst burial cairns and hill forts dating back about 3,000 years gives a perspective to this land that has undergone amazing transformation since the Neolithic period. Here was a reminder that humans lived and prospered in this area long before the iron age and the encroaching “modern" world that had changed the overall landscape forever. What also fascinated me is that archeological evidence suggests humans have occupied what is now the UK for about 70,000 years.
Sitting amongst the remains of an elevated hill fort near burial cairns and rock engravings, looking out over the moors and up to the distant crags was a pretty good place to navel gaze and reflect. No-one else was about and enjoying this sort of solitude was a great way to spend an afternoon.
Another day was spent climbing hills and crags to an elevated heather and moss landscape complete with a hanging lough (northern English for loch) tucked beneath a high hill with another ancient cairn. This high, sodden moor was such a revelation. New growth was appearing from amongst the old bracken, heather and moss patches that covered the hillsides. Most of this dies off in the winter frosts and snow leaving bare patches of hay coloured dead or dull vegetation, but the new growth appearing through this is of such a vibrant green you almost need sunnies on to look at it. The contrasting colours were just wonderful to look at as I walked along a “track" that was ankle deep in mud.
Grouse, Quail and Pheasants with stunning plumage that flashed a plethora of brilliant colours as the sun light caught them were flushed from the heather and created a beautiful addition to the multitude of colours out there. As if this wasn’t enough to optically absorb, a giant patch work quilt effect on the slopes of the hills leading up to rocky crags where heather had been burnt off in the autumn, created a landscape that became one great palate of colour and irregular shapes that was amazing to take in all in one go.
And then - for the finale, the sun created moving patches of light as it shone through the clouds, highlighting the colour and patterns as these patches of light moved across the landscape. Bit hard to describe it all, but I guess you just had to be there to appreciate it as much as I did at the time.
While ooooh aaaahing at the scenery, I lost count of how many times I landed face first into the sodden ground. Fortunately it was very soft, albeit wet landings most of the time. Upon reaching the car, both the dogs and I were covered in mud and were dripping. Note to self - spare clothes would be a pretty good idea next time. But - how good was it to get out there. Would not have missed it for quids. Driving home in my jocks and socks was not a pretty sight though. Could you imagine the bystanders at an accident if it had occurred?
However, there is usually a down side when ever I’m having a great time just to balance things out. This one comprised of matted bits of bracken, heather and moss in the hairs around Murphy the Spaniels testicles. Spaniels have an over abundance of long hair around their crown jewels and this dog was having some serious problems down there in his nether regions.
His own personal grooming did not cut it so I decided that I would give him a hand by using a brush made of wire. Not quite the same as a wire brush one uses for DYI projects, but the dog equivalent of the same. Bad move! I got severely snarled at a few times before I perfected a technique that caused minimum pain. Once that was sorted I got licked lovingly in the face while grooming his pubic hair. Imagine if I had been caught by a neighbour who just happened to pop in to say hullo! Now THAT would take some explaining! Worse scenario than being involved in a car crash wearing only socks and jocks.
I’m sure you will agree, both scenarios create rather disturbing mental images, so on that note I think it’s time to wrap it up for this 2nd week in down town Kirkwhelpington.
So until next time - stay safe, have fun and catch ya soon.
Lots of love, best wishes & cheers.
Philomena & Volker
