No. This is not a post about a hymn.
Yesterday my New Zealand Family arrived for a visit. Okay not all of them Eldest and Girlfriend came a couple of weeks ago. Now its Wendy and Martin and Catriona (with whom those of you who followed A Hebridean in New Zealand will be well acquainted). So that just leaves the two intermediate children yet to visit but that won't be anytime soon.
The weather is not looking particularly promising but Wendy and Martin lived here so they know what to expect. You don't come to Lewis for hot, sunny weather. You do, however, get peace and quiet (unless the wind is above Force 10).
Their plane was last yesterday evening so by the time we'd finished dinner and a sat and consumed a reasonable amount of cheese (I'm not even mentioning the gin and tonic, Rioja and cognac) it was well after 1am. It was as if the intervening months since we last met face to face just hadn't existed.
On Thursday Gaz, Carol and Grandson, Brodie return. They have been sorely missed. Is it really only three weeks they have been away. Don't Grandchildren grow up quickly?
So I am here and manageing to read blogs. I even wrote a whole post on the subject of The Peats and then Blogger threw a fit and the post, which had been saved and worked on for several weeks just disappeared from my Dashboard. Well, to be exact, the content of the post. The actual heading and one photo remained. Sometimes I do wonder what happens behind the blogscenes.
Oh how wonderful! So glad they have come over to you for a visit. I hope you all have a fantastic time.
ReplyDeleteThanks Serenata. They have been down in Harris all day but didn't do any walking because of the rain so they have just gone for a pre-dinner walk.
DeleteGood to hear all is well. I now compose in Word then paste and add the snaps. Don't overdo the falling down water. We don't want sciatica added to your woes.
ReplyDeleteI am busy tomorrow as the policewoman is coming to stay. I'll try and convert her to a sleeping policewoman.
Adrian I did a spell of composing off blog so to speak but with superfast broadband it's just so much easier to do the whole thing on line now. I have to say that's the first time Blogger has done that to me though.
DeleteGraham it did it to me once. I think I hit Ctrl and backwards at the same time. It won't be the same on a Mac but it is very annoying. If you save the blog title in Dashboard it saves really often. Can't be more help I'm afraid. I used to love LiveWriter but it is an ex compositor now. I'll check again as it was a year ago that it didn't work.
DeleteIt is so wonderful when family get together. I enjoy it so much even tho we are such a small clan. Makes me wonder what my mom did when there was no phone, no e-mail, no face-time and not even a telephone in the house or a car to get from place to place. Letter writing was king in our home!!
ReplyDeleteMrs Thyme my parents always had a phone but telephoning our relatives in Canada was a major event. The call had to be booked and was very expensive. When I moved to Lewis 450 miles from my parents we could chat on the phone but I always wrote as well. I still write far more letters and cards than I make phone calls.
DeleteEvery time you call her "Mrs. Thyme" I think of Rosemary Boxer & Laura Thyme.... one of my favorite BBC sleuthing teams!
DeleteOh happy day indeed! I wonder how much G&T, Rioja and Cognac Catriona had ;-)
ReplyDeleteI am one of your readers who remember her from your NZ blog. She is also the one who made the paper Christmas tree for you, right?
For the record, Meike, Catriona drank fruit juice (cranberry being her favourite). My alcohol consumption since all my 'problems' started last September has been very low indeed and I have to admit that at a G n T, three glasses of an excellent Chateauneuf and a cognac I probably had more then the entire previous week and some more. Catriona did make the paper Christmas tree. I still have it and still put it up every year.
DeleteHow brilliant that they are here! You must have missed them. I hope you have a great time together.
ReplyDeleteIn a strange way, Jenny, it's as if the last time we met (when I visited NZ in 2016) was only a week ago. Every time we meet it's just as if the intervening period wasn't actually an absence. I think the whole way in which we communicate these days lessens the feeling of absence. It is wonderful being so comfortable in each other's company too.
DeleteI'm so pleased that 'the family' are visiting. Hope you all have a lovely time together, xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Helen.
DeleteHopefully you will see fit to re-do the post on The Peats although I understand if you don't.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the family!
Yes, Kylie, it's in preparation.
DeleteAlways fun to have family visit .
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed, Red.
DeleteWe are the opposite this year.... no guests at all. We were expecting my youngest son and family, but work has put paid to that. I envy your family fun.
ReplyDeleteYes, Cro, I read that you were having a famine rather than a feast. I can't ever recall a year when I've had so many visitors. It's a good job I really enjoy cooking!
DeleteHow wonderful for you all. How great it is to just sit around, sipping, chatting, laughing...enjoying each other's company. Enjoy every moment spent, Graham. :)
ReplyDeleteLee, I have a very personal reason for savouring every moment. Life can change or, even stop, in the twinkling of an eye.
DeleteThat is for sure, Graham. Every moment should be recognised and valued. Nothing is for certain, and one should not be complacent, although it's easy to fall into that pattern.
DeleteI love the phrase "reasonable amount of cheese" ... there isn't really such a thing, is there? Where cheese is concerned, I think "anything worth doing is worth overdoing" would be my motto.
ReplyDeleteNo, Mrs S, cheese is not for limiting. Actually I'm told cheese is no longer the health bogeyman. As it happens I've hardly eaten cheese since last September. Strange but true.
DeleteHappy Visiting to you All!
ReplyDeleteI think there are little cyber pixies that live for making things disappear.
Maywyn, you may be right about the cyber pixies.
DeleteIt's a long way to travel from NZ but good you got to see them :-)
ReplyDeleteAmy, It is wonderful to have them here. I never minded the actual time spent travelling but I developed a dislike of airports.
DeleteGlad for your family visiting! I am envious of the cheese eating! I dearly love your white cheddar cheese, I have fond memories of Cathedral City Cheddar.
ReplyDeleteRoald Dahl first wrote of gremlins, I always think of that when something goes wrong with machines!
There are many excellent very strong mature and vintage Cheddar cheeses. I'm ashamed to say that I'm not really au fait with much of Dahl's work.
DeleteThe after-effects of the alcohol are present in your writing Graham - but that's okay. I hope your New Zealanders have fun on Lewis if fun is indeed allowable within such staunch Presbyterian territory.
ReplyDeleteYP, I think 'staunch Presbyterian territory' is now just a myth.
DeleteWatch out for thunderbolts my friend.
Delete