Perhaps it's youth. Perhaps it's being a Kiwi. Perhaps it's being one's mother's son. Perhaps it's a combination of all those things. Perhaps it's just because James is James. Whatever. When people stay with me I take the view that this is their temporary home and whilst I would like to think that I look after my visitors I accept that both our lives have to carry on as well. So when, for example David and Molly come it's the sort of easy relationship that comes from 40 years of friendship. It's a similar story for most of my friends who stay. We do things together and we do our own thing as well. When I've met James up until now it's been in his family home in New Zealand. From the moment he arrived last week until we left for me to take him to the ferry at 0610 this morning it's as if he had always been here. An easier, more amicable house guest could not wish for. I am sorry to see him go. James I wish you a safe journey back to your temporary life in Germany. I hope that we will meet again soon.
Fortunately the weather for his visit has shown the Island at its best and James has managed to get some tramping as well as a bit of cycling and serious 'tourist sightseeing'. Yesterday James discovered that the bike he had not been using had a puncture which he just set about mending whilst I spent one of those wonderful days pottering around the garden and getting lots and lots done whilst expending relatively little energy in serious hard labour.
I think a lot of Kiwi's are like that when they visit people. They have this ability to just fit in with their hosts and get on with things.
ReplyDeleteI have had similar comments made about me when I have stayed with people. Of course having wonderful friends to stay with makes the difference as well.
Glad the weather was good for James while he was staying with you.
I think that's right Serenata Kiwis definitely 'fit in'.
DeleteJames seems to be the kind of young man who would blend/fit in well in whatever situation he encounters...he's been brought up well-rounded, and it's in his blood.
ReplyDeleteSitting out in the sunshine fixing the bike and then enjoying a good hour or two of cycling afterwards must have been fun....pity his visit wasn't a longer one.
Well GB, all your Kiwi friends/family will be popping over to visit you and you won't have time to be so "other home" sick....smile.
Virginia it's all those things! Actually he used my other bike for his ride and just mended the tyre because he wanted to. The more Kiwi visits the better.
DeleteIs that the view from your back yard??? It's wonderful!
ReplyDeleteLiz the view from my yard/garden and kitchen and study window stretches right across the Minch to the Scottish mainland to the East and across the bay to the north east. There can be few people more fortunate than I when it comes to views. These are the views in just a few of my posts:
Deletehere and here and here and here.
A lovely post. Sounds as if you had a great time. James is lucky to have you for a friend. xoxox
ReplyDeleteI'm lucky to have his family as friends too DeeDee.
DeleteThose kind of guests are worth much. James is an independent guy as well where he repairs punctures to his bike tire.
ReplyDeleteAs you say Red friends are of inestimable value.
Deletelovely, I wish i could come and potter around your island for a week :)
ReplyDeleteJulia you would, as you know, be very very welcome. I hope you manage it again sooner rather than later.
DeleteJames sounds like the perfect guest, easy and a pleasure to have around, not like the type of "heavy duty" guests my parents had to put up with for years (my Dad's sister and her husband) until they said "enough". This year, for my Mum's birthday, nobody was stopping with my parents. All those - and there were many - who came from places too far away to travel back the same night went into hotels, several of them into the same one. At 70 and 72, and with my Dad's health being what it is, they both don't take an upsetting of their daily routines as easily anymore.
ReplyDeleteI like to think of myself as one of the easy, James-like guests. When I stay with, for instance, my sister-in-law, nobody has to "look after me" for meals or other needs, and nobody has to entertain me. I get up, make sure I am not in the way when it comes to using the bathroom or the kitchen, clean up after myself, and then leave the house for most of the day, only coming back at a previously arranged time when I know I won't be intruding on work (my sister-in-law is a childminder) or their brief, precious periods of rest. When I can - and am allowed - I do my share of housework, and generally try to simply fit in.
Meike you sound like the perfect house guest. I'm very happy to cook the dinner (lunch is always soup or cheese/pate type of meal for me) although James is a good cook and did offer. I'm fortunate in that those friends and family with whom I generally stay tend to be of an easy nature too.
DeleteJames sounds lovely. Graham. I recently had my easiest guest ever. A 13-year-old granddaughter. She just wanted to talk or draw, and otherwise would have been happy to spend all day in bed. 'What would you like for breakfast?' I asked her at 11.35 am on the second day. 'What's grandpa having?' a sleepy voice asked from under the duvet. I had to explain that Grandpa had had breakfast several hours ago.
ReplyDeleteHe is lovely Frances. Spending the day in bed has never appealed to me but it certainly seems to be popular with many of the younger teenagers I know.
DeleteSome homes are easier to "fit" into than others, Graham. I can't imagine anyone having trouble fitting into yours.
ReplyDeleteThank you Pauline. That's a lovely thing to say.
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