Jenny P. and I tour Edinburgh

Royalty on The Royal Mile

Drinking Yuppie Yummy - Sorry Vicks!!

The Wind in the Winter

Jana 'n' Me

Cinderella Returns

And so I have left the 19th century behind me for now, having learnt that labour exploitation is not so pleasant, and neither are shoulders which feel as though they would crumple into my pelvis, or hands blistered and cracked from various -ides and -ines. The cleaning products we used in the hotel were marked "For Professional Use Only". Hmm...

I haven't really left the 19th century behind completely (could I ever?). Bring on a true Dickensian Christmas, in this beautiful city of lights and bagpipes!! We are going to watch "A Christmas Carol" at the theatre next week. On Princes Street, there are lights everywhere you look, and - in the gardens - an ice skating rink, and a 'German Market' full of Christmas goodies. Jenny Pettinger and I went to the market today, and my heart was so full of the sweetness of it all, I couldn't stop smiling.

Perhaps... pictures...

Jenny, visiting from D B (dearly beloved) Gtown, has been teaching me to put photos on this blog. Here's a test shot -

That's me in the middle, and my possums. I love them.

Recommended Reading

If you have been to Britain, or are British in some way or the other, please read Bill Bryson's Notes from a Small Island. I'm laughing SO much! It's a shocker.

PS. I love Christmas. I just ate a mince pie for breakfast.

PPS. I have noticed a distinct pallor on my arms.

1/12/2005

The prospect of a birthday spent very far away from anyone who has known you for more than a month, was more than a little daunting. My day off for the week fell on 1/12, an answer to prayer, and so I delighted myself in plotting and exploring options for how I was going to celebrate. I would hate, in the future, to be asked what I did on my 24th birthday, and not to have a memory or two come up!! And so I made a plan.

I woke up smiling. It was like the collective thoughts and prayers and hugs and hopes for me from across the world - South Africa, Zimbabwe, Scotland, England, even the United States and Australia - stood around my bed laughing, and I felt so lifted up and loved. Not alone.

I was up early enough to catch a lift down to the hotel with the guys who were working today, and picked up the staff car. I drove to Aberfeldy, and went first to the bank... where I collected my first birthday present - a bonafide ATM card!!! Praise God for what feels like a foot in the door and a welcome in Scotland.

I spent some time in a bookshop/art gallery/coffee shop in a restored watermill, called The Watermill. There are few things I love more than browsing in bookshops, and the coffee and scones I had for breakfast weren't too bad either! I was curled up on a couch there, reading a promise which was "stuck in my head" this morning, when Shirley phoned from London.

Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed,

His compassions never fail,

They are new every morning, great is His faithfulness.

THe Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him.

Shirls and I had a long and juicy chat. When she hung up I had more scones and hot chocolate, then dressed up for the outside world again and poked around the village. The clouds were very low on the mountain tops, but the weather was dry and good for driving. Actually, I think the Lord must've had a good laugh at me - I had asked Him for snow on my birthday, but ALSO good driving weather. Hmm.... maybe we'll have snow for Christmas! I had a couple of car angels around because our ancient and temperamental staff car started easily, and I set off around the 'north' side of Loch Tay. There are even more sheep that side. And the snow banking the roads still hadn't melted. I had a niggling feeling of delight which just grew and grew as I drove along. The road to Fort William is wide, and the mountains wild enough to recall Scots warriors of old. Wild and passionate enough, indeed, to remind me of Middle Earth. It was a brooding sort of day. After two hours of driving and wondering, I pulled up in Glen Coe, and went craft shop browsing before my late toastie lunch. I bought myself two birthday presents there - a pair of earrings and a book by Bill Bryson. My toastie cafe was lit up with Christmas lights and a very happy Christmas tree, and it was rather fun to look out, from that sparkle, onto the darkening day and silent snow covered mountains. It was a darkening day indeed, and so I had to get on the road back to Killin by 3ish. I wasn't going to stop in Killin, wanting to get back to the hotel, but as I drove through, I thought I may as well go to the co-op for some munchies. Down the road from the co-op is an outdoor store, and since I habitually wander into such stores, I went in. And walked out with another birthday present - a pair of hiking boots!!!

My folks phoned later. I miss them so much! Went out for dinner with guys from work, and was woken up at 6.30 am the next morning by lovely Candace phoning from Grahamstown. If this wasn't enough to constitute Birthday II, later that day I got a huge parcel in the post, full of love and SA chocolate, and SA sweets, and biltong, and amarula, and my favourite biscuits!! Oh, and PINK POSSUM SOCKS.

I love birthdays. And 24 is a good number. Switchfoot and the Sani Pass agree.