sat on a hard chair.
His owl eyes through pebble thick glasses read the paper.
His ears are now just for decoration.
The lino at his feet long ago lost its pattern with the passage of time.
The fire in the grate burning brightly was a comfort of sorts.
Clinging to the cliff top overlooking the Atlantic ocean the croft has seen many a fierce storm.
It was good to be back.
Bittersweet memories of my recent trip.
We drove away from my dear neighbours, me with tears in my eyes. The night before I’d said, this will probably the last time we come to see you.
‘Don’t say that, you mustn’t think it either!’
the brother said who had pole position smack in front of the fire. The tears glistening in his eyes I tried not to notice.
The thing is... Our visit made me yearn to go back, to recreate my five happy but hard years living off the land. I am now thirty five years older! A dream, just that, to live again amongst the Highlanders, the most generous and kind hearted of folk.
A special, magical time in my life with many happy memories to call on.
Bittersweet memories of my recent trip.
We drove away from my dear neighbours, me with tears in my eyes. The night before I’d said, this will probably the last time we come to see you.
‘Don’t say that, you mustn’t think it either!’
the brother said who had pole position smack in front of the fire. The tears glistening in his eyes I tried not to notice.
The thing is... Our visit made me yearn to go back, to recreate my five happy but hard years living off the land. I am now thirty five years older! A dream, just that, to live again amongst the Highlanders, the most generous and kind hearted of folk.
A special, magical time in my life with many happy memories to call on.
This was where I lived, just back from the sea. Ten miles to the nearest village.
So much has changed in the intervening years.
Happy times, good memories. x
ReplyDeleteAnd some! So many stories, folk wouldn’t believe...
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Memories worth having and holding onto
ReplyDeleteYes, a happy, happy time. I won’t hear a wrong word about the Scots generosity, I love ‘em!
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Oh my! On that photograph, is that the fallen away cliff just beyond the stone wall??? It's VERY close to the edge, if so.
ReplyDeleteNo, that is just a huge bolder. I used to have my washing line along the wall and well remember one morning hanging my drawers on the line when from over the sea came a low-flying jet. I didn’t hear it until it was directly above. Apart from ducking I needed another wash of my drawers! Slight exaggeration, but I’m sure you can imagine the shock?
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