Andy's passing

 As many of you will know by now, my wonderful husband died at the beginning of this month. 

He had bravely faced his condition every day with a smile, never complaining, always accepting what will be...

... no blog from me this month. Just this

Peace

I wrote this poem many years ago when I was searching for some peace.  

The thought process is still relevant today, perhaps even more so...

 

Peace... just a thought

It comes to mind

It forms from space

It changes fast, and doesn't last

unless... I make it hold a place.

It flies around

It forms a void

It seems alive, and wants to thrive

unless... I make it feel annoyed.

It changes shape

It forms a word

It follows feeling, senses reeling

unless... I make it strike a chord

It brings a face

It works with love

It connects the dots, inspiring thoughts

It's not unless... it's more... like a dove.

It settles down

It claims its' place

It travels wide, no need to hide

It spreads its wings... it's Peace, it's Grace.

It works like magic

It feels my need

Don't think it's nought, as in just a thought

Peace can grow from the smallest seed.    

This month, our Power of Eight group is focusing our 10 minute daily intention on Peace. 

Every small seed thought creates a powerful growth process... anyone can do it... and anytime is good.                                                                   

 Om Shanti, Eileen

Joy... and where to find it!

 Recent times have brought many adventures for the Auld family... and last weekend's visit to Eglinton Country Park's Dinosaur trail was a highlight in the calendar.

We even got Uncle Kenny in on the act as our professional photographer! I am sure you will like the montage below of two little people experiencing Joy.

Who wouldn't like to be a butterfly ...

 

pet a deer...

or befriend a frog

try being a bat

meet Mr Fox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and then find a mammoth ...

Then there are the many opportunities to hug. First an owl...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then a Rosie... and badger!

a group hug... works for me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and then the lesson learned from the grand-kids... find some joy, Nonna... hug a tree!

We can thoroughly recommend Eglinton Country Park, Kilwinning. 

After the dinosaur trail, more joy can be found in a wonderful cup of hot chocolate...

Official Residence

 It's official! We have moved to Seamill to a ground floor flat to help with Andy's and my mobility...

 The past month has brought lots to deal with, not just packing up and moving but 4 weeks ago, I bit into a crispy pitta and managed to break a tooth that was supporting my dental bridge work! 

Ouch! Visited my dentist who told me that there was no break and that it would settle and to go away and eat only soft foods for three days...

 After many sleepless nights, oodles of pain and having more than enough of a constant liquid diet, I sought a second opinion. Then found that I have a fractured tooth and no wonder I was in pain! Unfortunately the bridge couldn't be saved

Fast forward to the 14th September, early birthday present of dental plate and an hour of dental intervention - you catch my drift! Good news, I can now chew food but still not able to bite, as yet. Soon I trust.

Andy and I are enjoying our new environment. However, Andy had to assemble his chair before he got a seat!

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and I went walking along to the beach ...

One of the many blessings about our move, apart from the no stairs of course, is that I can walk to my swimming pool. A 5 minute walk no less... as well as a fabulous beach to explore

Way In

Wide vista

Now I haven't finished relating all the "moving" parts, as Gordon would say.

Gordon has been running a successful and enjoyable putting venture at Mackerston over the summer months. His next venture opened this weekend, Yes, for those in the know, he opened on my birthday, 16th September. So breaking news -

Opening Day.

 

Gordon has taken on the running of the cafe at Kelburn Estate, Largs and if his first day was anything to go by, it too will be a successful and enjoyable business venture.

What a whirlwind of changes this month for the Auld family.  Time to catch our breath and get ready for what October holds for us. Until then, I'll leave you with this magic find, when I went on my first beach walk.

Perfect advice for all of us, as we each walk our paths in life...

Always worth celebrating...

It was Murphy's birthday this month. He has reached the grand old age of 7!

 New football strip, Barcelona as he is pointing out to us!

Muphy loves football and is quite partial to cake. As his birthday was on Sunday the 13th August, he got to play his beloved game and share a football cake with his team mates,

yummy

 

 

 

Now he also wanted to play Jenga, go putting and even enjoy a moment with a pinata!

The pinata is a fun cardboard donkey traditionally filled with sweets and "bashed" until it opens up and shares its abundance... remember these are Murphy's birthday choices!

Rosie and Murphy weren't managing to convince the donkey to open up so Nonna had a go...

Resulting in a decapitated donkey, much hilarity and a ton of chocolates. One very happy Rosie as she found the Lindor ones while Murphy is still searching for his favourites.

Message to all you pinatas out there...  don't mess with The Nonna!

Time for a more skillful game of Jenga before a quiet time for Murphy to commune with his football cards and heroes. Then more family fun to come on the putting green and a pizza night out on the town. 

 

oh...what it's like to be 7! I think I know what to do next month when it's my birthday... 

yep that's right, eat cake! No matter what age you are it is always worth celebrating.

p.s. Murphy also had a birthday party with pals at a "trampolining" venue in Greenock! Goodness knows what he will be looking for when he is 8...

Holidays

Another trip down memory lane as Andy and I set off last week for a few days at Portpatrick...

View ftom the hotel bedroom.

... with our pals Catherine and Billy.

Many, many moons ago  Andy and I spent many happy family holidays in Portpatrick, where the boys and I honed our golf skills on the Portpatrick Dunskey Golf Course!!! 

Well Andy didn't need much honing...

 

 and importantly we loved to putt on the Portpatrick Putting Green...

... and shared that love with our pals. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proof in the selection of photos...

Choose one, any one Andy

"I am ready" says Eileen

 

Catherine eyeing up a 2 putt!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Billy showing us how it is done!

 We subsequently learned to love putting anywhere, so much so that our son, Gordon has taken on the running of the Mackerston Putting Green in Largs. Please go and support him and learn to love putting as much as we do!

 

Cuddling up

 Having a cuddle makes such a difference... don't you agree?

Whether it is because you are watching an enjoyable film, reading a book or feeling unwell .... snuggling is what we like to do.

I wonder what Rosie and Grandpa are watching...

Could be Peter Rabbit, a firm favourite with them both or Bluey, which is Rosie's go to programme and Grandpa's least fave...

... whatever they are watching, snuggling up is a big favourite.

However there is only room for two on the chair so when it is time for a bedtime story, then getting together on the settee is the best place for storytime.

Who is reading the book doesn't really matter, it is all about the snuggling. 

Looks like Rosie has chosen her favourite book to share...

and Grandpa is now word perfect!

Then there are the times when you are feeling unwell and a cuddle from Nonna is just what you need.

Murphy came home from school, having been sick and feeling very sorry for himself. 

It is difficult for a child to cope with feeling unwell but Murphy was a trooper.

He cuddled up with me and then slept himself well, with a couple of TV programmes to dull the pain!

Murphy gives the best cuddles, even when "under the weather", he knows that a hug can make anything  better.

 

Focusing on precious moments with the grandchildren is like a ray of sunshine to keep us going when this recent heat wave is long gone. But while it is here, we are taking advantage of the sunny blue skies.

We visited Kenneth and Natalie in Glasgow on Saturday and fitted in a festival in Partick and a sushi lunch on Byres Road.... we sure know how to enjoy ourselves... and Rosie enjoyed getting her face painted.

con un abbraccio,

Eileen

Unexpected visitors

Andy's cousin Dougie dropped by for a visit. Dougie and his wife, Fiona were moored at Largs Marina and had been sailing around the West Coast enjoying the recent wonderful weather...

They had moored at Millport before visiting us and had experienced their own unexpected visitor.

 

 Imagine their surprise when they woke up to find a seal sunbathing in their dinghy.

It seemed quite at home and had obviously decided that Dougie and Fiona's dinghy was a more comfortable place to kip in than the usual rock formation he/she looks for!

Vistors are always welcome at our house but when the visit is a delightful unexpected one, it always adds to the pleasure of the day.

Whether that is a Dougie/Fiona combo or a seal commandeering a room with a view!

 

 

Talking about unexpected pleasures, Andy and I were invited recently to Pirate Island by Rosie. This is a smaill extension of the beach on the walk to the Pencil in Largs that the grandchildren have named "Pirate Island".

Here is Andy and Rosie posing for the camera and then a celluloid record of Rosie taking charge of the adventure... as she does.

 

That was a treat for us both and then I got the treat of supporting Murphy's football match at Bowencraig. Yes... it was an unexpected pleasure for me watching 6 year olds running after the ball. It took me back many, many years to when I watched Kenneth and Gordon in their Colts strips.

Murphy's football team photo

Playing football, fighting pirates is tiring, never mind the dancing, gymnastics, swimming and riding bikes... but not for us ancient ones, who are now the spectators, enjoying watching the children at play.

Or chillin' out after another busy day...

... and just in case you doubted our grandchildren's pirate adventures, here is another unexpected visitor to our shores!

a trip down memory lane... and taking the ferry!

 We went abroad folks! Took a family holiday and took the ferry to Arran...

wind-swept and interesting

I know ... how lucky are we! We actually managed to get on a ferry.

Kenneth booked a fabulous house in Brodick that managed accommodate himself and his partner Natalie; Gordon, Murphy and Rosie; Andy and myself and even an overnight visit (or two) from Andy's sister Chrissie and an overnighter from Andy's brother Robin. 

Great fun was had by all... apart from a ferry cancellation that resulted in Chrissie staying an extra night. However we all agreed that that was an added bonus to our fun.

We enjoyed a lunch out at the Wineport. Good food and even managed a family game of charades... Well we did have the whole backroom to ourselves ...

 Football in the garden was a frequent occupation, even in the rain. Yes surprisingly, it did rain. but most of the time the sun shone...

 

 

Proof of sunny days as there was lots of entertainment for adults and children to be had by playing crazy golf,  swimming in the pool at Auchrannie and a trip to Blackwaterfoot to jump the waves. Well the last one was the children. I am not quite up to jumping the waves... yet!

My mother-in-law used to hire a house in Lamlash for two weeks every August and various members of the extended family visited, including ourseves, especially when our boys were young. Weather was the usual variable Scottish offering but the fun always included golf... crazy or otherwise!

As I wrote in the blog's title,  this visit was a trip down memory lane as the ferry we were lucky to travel with then, was the same one we went on this April ... 

 

 "Deja-vu"  - The same ferry to Arran...  just different weather conditions, photo starring Andy, Kenneth and Gordon on the Isle of Arran ferry, circa 1980s