Trekking to Utrecht…

The star of the show

“I trek, you trek, we all trek to Utrecht”….So went the cry as a merry band of eight of us left the UK from various departure points to all convene on the beautiful Dutch city of Utrecht. A feast was in store both literally and metaphorically, for it was to be a weekend of fine classical music, fine food and fine conversation. The purpose of this venture was primarily to see my super-talented niece Chloe conduct in some of the finest concert venues in the world to audiences approaching 2,000. Chloe is 27, and achieving such heady heights already early in her career completely blew me away. The orchestra and audience were lifted with every twirl of her baton and I was left both speechless and with a tear in my eye.

But there were other missions to accomplish too – the sub-plot was to introduce ‘our family’ to ‘his family’. The ‘he’ of this story being her wonderful boyfriend Alex. And so the 8 of us became 13, as we toured Utrecht on foot and barge, eating and chatting away around what is a truly stunning and vibrant city. For the fourth time this year I felt Britain is just lagging behind and Europe rapidly racing ahead. That aside we all seemed to get on famously and the generosity of our hosts – my brother and his wife and Chloe and Alex – left us desiring nothing and full of joy and laughter which meant for everyone having a truly fantastic weekend. Thank you all so very much and it was a pleasure meeting many new faces (and also thanks to Nana and Baba for holding the fort in Kirkintilloch!).

And before we knew it we landed back with a bump – straight into Storm Babet – but even that didn’t dampen my autumnal good vibes that our trek to Utrecht (and Amsterdam) had left us with.

Videoclip: Trekking to Utrecht

Or you can watch the video here

Boy talk...

In early October I spent a weekend visiting my Dad. We had finally found a new care home for him, Vale House in Oxford; and he moved in a few weeks ago. And it really is lovely. It's a specialist nursing dementia place run as a charity (as opposed to many which are businesses) and the care and the leadership are beyond anything I have ever seen in a care home before. It was designed by an architect who had a parent there and is full of very thoughtful touches. It's also a truly inspirational place to be inside; full of compassion, understanding and happiness. They really understand and they really care.

And now he's calm. After months of agitation, emotion and agression, he's finally calm...and so am I. I had a very lovely time seeing him and staying with my brother, but it was also very tough. I said everything I needed to and, whilst I'm not sure he knew who I was, we shared many giggles and memories. I saw three very different Dad's - tearful, giggling and peaceful. But most important was the latter. I left having sat outside holding his hand, with the sun on our faces sharing the warmth of the early autumn air. He nodded off quite regularly and was very calm. I left feeling overwhelming peace and grateful that I had that time with him.

"Peace is always beautiful."
Walt Whitman

Bedding down...

The end of September has been spent on hooves and skates. Skating was a first for Ly, Emily has been wanting to go again for ages and Niomi is still less than sure about the slippy stuff (Tanya takes it all in her stride). Horse riding was again a first for Ly, Emily and Niomi have been wanting to go again for ages and I am still less than sure about the horsey stuff (Tanya takes it all in her stride). Man was meant to go on two legs not four if you ask me, and after my last experience a few years ago I just body swerved the whole thing. Needless to say everyone else finds that funny.

The horse incident was on a long weekend in Banchory, and aside for my equine phobia Banchory was great. I got out running (firmly on 2 legs), breathed in the air and generally kicked back against the autumn blues that had gripped me for a few weeks. There was the usual dose of being wonderfully looked after, and visits to Crathes and Banchory’s finest charity shops.

And as the nights draw in and the weather gets wilder, we’ve also all taken to preparation for the change in season with the girls preferring drawing and cooking, and us adults getting the house ready for winter – clearing out, mending, organising, bottling and pickling. Autumn like Spring are seasons of change – one to the light and one to the dark. And this bedding down is helpful for me to prepare for the hunkering down of the winter season and the impending dark. I'm ready....I think 😕

Skater girlz

First time rider

Happiness is in hot chocolate...

...and in Nana...

...and in food.

Yum... A Ly creation 😋

Niomi by Emily

Emily by Niomi

Videoclip: Blades and Hooves

Or you can watch the videoclip here