1 EAGLETON NOTES: Home and Dry

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Monday 5 May 2014

Home and Dry

I arrived home on Lewis yesterday (Sunday) afternoon.  So home, yes but dry? Who am I kidding?  

There is a good Old Scots* word, dreich.  There is no finer word for describing a particular Scottish weather: the type of Scottish weather that we have been having since I returned to Scotland last Tuesday.  The type of weather seen from my kitchen window at 0630 this morning:


It's cold.  It's wet.  It's miserable.  It's misty.  It's dreary.  It's dreich!   It's my Scottish HOME!

It is one week ago New Zealand time that I left my New Zealand home for my Scottish one.  Where did that week go?  Well apart from spending about 30 hours in the air and what seemed like the same amount in airports I spent a lovely few days with a friend in Glasgow catching up and having a rest.  I'm fortunate in not suffering from the ill effects of jet lag and, on this occasion, despite sitting next to a couple snorting and spluttering with cold (there would appear to be cultures where the handkerchief is considered bad manners but spreading germs isn't)  on the leg from Auckland to Brisbane I haven't got a cold either.

A bonus is that David and Molly arrived last night.  I'm sure there will be photos for Molly's adoring public.  David is good company because there are lots of jobs to be done and David loves doing jobs! It must be something about the name because Pat's Dave has been keeping my grass cut.  Thanks Dave!  Gaz arrived back on the Island the day before me for a short break.  So that'll be more catching up.

Anyway I thought that I'd let you know that I have arrived and that this is going to be a busy and wonderful week.

* There seems to be considerable debate as to its origin and a trawl of the different dictionaries this morning would seem to indicate anything from Greek through Scandinavian and Norse to Middle English.

34 comments:

  1. It's good to see you back in civilisation or as near to civilisation as Lewis gets.

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    1. Adrian as you well know Lewis is the centre of civilisation. Who else who reads this cane keep their doors unlocked at night?

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  2. Glad to hear you have arrived back home safely..Oh that air travel though, isn't it just terrible?! Bad manners indeed...I could certainly tell some stories of my plane travel for sure!

    Well from the little I can see of your garden AND view, I think it is probably lovely. Your pond is wonderful and it certainly looks like someone has been taking good care of it while you have been 'Down Under' As for the weather well, it seems it is part and parcel of being in the UK...although saying that we have had some pretty decent weather in between that that hasn't been good, and the weekend was pretty great as is this morning...well down here it is anyway.

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    1. Good to see you here Serenata. After a cold and miserable Monday, Tuesday dawned dull and foreboding but by 0830 the sun was out and the washing was on the line by 0900! It's been a glorious sunny day, if a little chilly. As you say, that's the UK for you.

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  3. Good to know you arrived safe, even if not dry... I hope you'll be able to see a bit more of your view soon! But you'll no doubt be busy catching up with People (and their dogs) anyway. :)

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    1. It's been a very busy two days so far Monica and today is far from over - it's 7pm - and we still have dinner and some visiting to achieve.

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  4. Yep, dreich is probably my favourite Scottish word, it just so describes that particular type of weather. Amazingly for a Bank Holiday weekend we are having wall to wall sunshine although it looks a little windier this morning than it has for the last couple of days, although that won't stop me being convinced to do some gardening.

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    1. Mark apparently dreich is the favourite Scottish word. I think it's one that has been taken all over the world by Scots.

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  5. Good to hear you are back on the rock

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    1. Andrea when life settles down how about a catch-up over coffee? You seem to have so many exciting plans.

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  6. Glad you had an interesting trip.
    You are actually correct when you say there are cultures where the use of a handkerchief or tissue is considered bad manners. This is so. The idea is that if you use a hanky you are admitting you are not well and consequently that you have brought your illness to contaminate your colleagues. Pretending to be well is considered polite. It is considered rude to ask if the sneezy person is sick. He wants to be considered good enough to be near you.

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    1. Interesting, I'd never thought of it like that before.

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    2. Thanks for that information Louise. One never ceases to learn things in Blogland.

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  7. Glad to hear you arrived home safely and already have the week planned out Graham. I bet you will be missing those blue skies.

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    1. Carol today we have blue skies but I sure miss the warmth that goes with them in NZ.

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  8. It's good that you arrived home safely. It is a long rugged trip. Now I won't trade you my weather for yours.

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    1. Hi Red. We rarely (if ever) have snow like yours though.

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  9. Glad you're back home on Lewis safe and "dry."
    Hope the fish are well and glad to have you back.

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    1. The fish are HUGE Virginia. I think they will have been even more happy to have Pat looking after them.

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  10. Welcome home to Scotland! I predict that you will have wonderful summer with bright blue skies! There, I have gone on record, you will have to let me know if I am right! I am a bit psychic you know, or is that psycho? HA! Take care! :-)

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    1. Thanks Kay. I have every confidence in you!

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  11. Welcome back, GB. It may be dreich, but apparently there's better to come. Apparently...

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    1. Thank you Frances. Better came today. There is hope for the summer.

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  12. Good to know you are home and did not catch your neighbours' cold, in spite of their joined effort. Maybe it is this kind of weather that makes sure you stay inside and settle properly, and by the time the sun comes back, you'll be ready to venture out and about again.

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    1. Meike this is Lewis and this is Scotland. Today the sun came out and we did outside things. We also went to see how Gaz's house was getting on.

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  13. Welcome home GB. Hope you have some better weather soon.

    Please say hi to Gareth and Carol for us, xx

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    1. Thanks Helen. They are coming to dinner tomorrow. I shall pass on your message.

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  14. Dreich - great word, regardless of the origin.

    So glad you're home safe and sound. I think you're wonderful, and amazing to have made such a long trip twice a year. One nine-hour flight from Seattle to London is usually enough to flatten me. As my Scottish friend Clare likes to say, "I am cream crackered!"

    Anyway, welcome back! :) xoxox

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    1. Ha Carol the 7 hour sector is the short one (from Dubai to Glasgow). Once I'm in Dubai after 23 hours flying and heaven knows how many in airports I think I'm almost home.

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  15. Welcome back! I have always thought the word "dreich" must be Gaelic. It's somehow very descriptive, although I don't know why. Something about the "dr" sound I think. Enjoy your week!

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    1. I rather assumed it was Gaelic Jenny but then that might simply be because I live in Gaeldom. It is a very common word throughout Scotland though.

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