Spring

She wakes up

and as she does

her life force begins to show

as carpets of dancing snowdrops

interspersed with crocus shoots.

The brown winter trees showing green buds

with new life flowing from their roots.

Mother Nature's calling card

is the cycle of life's promise

in the miracle of Spring.

---

Starting point...

Everyone has one... a starting point... the moment when we focus on the end result and then rewind until only the bare bones exist. Well, we are at that point in our transformational home improvements.

Future kitchen and lounge

 You can see from the photos that work has begun.  However what you don't see, is that a lot of work has already been done to get us to this bare bone state.

Walls down... lights up... old windows out... new windows in. Joiner, electrician, plumber all working to create a shell and then everyone working together to make it into a home.


Sometime next month, I have been told,  it will all come together and I will have forgotten what all the fuss was about.

view of bathroom and bedroom

Anyone's guess

We are fortunate to be renting another place while all this work is being done, so can have a perspective on the changes. Living in the shambles would create distress not to mention some issues with the plumbing.

When change is taking place in any aspect of our lives, it is necessary to place a little distance between ourselves and the activity of change.

Sometimes that can be listening to a relaxation tape, meditating for 10 mins, even just taking 10 or so deep breaths.

... and yep I am putting into practice all of my own advice. As well as staying well away from the plasterer at work!

Murphy all wrapped up

I cannot write any kind of blog without showing off Murphy. Here he is, wrapped up against the Whistler winter chill of -15 degrees.

Another technique I have when chaos is all around, walls are tumbling down, rain is lashing on the ground and not one delivery arrives on time... is to count my blessings.

I look at Murphy's photos. I smile at him as he smiles back and I imagine what it will be like to be in Canada sharing the winter weather but all wrapped up in a warm coat and surrounded by love.

baci e un abbraccio...

Transformation

This quote came flying into my life just as I was contemplating what change was needed in my 2017 habits. It hit home. No  point in continuing with just moving to the next cabbage, it was time for a radical change of being. I realised that flying was not just an option but a necessity.

Fortunately my acceptance of this change was reinforced by a mega bout of lurgie, giving me the chance to physically cleanse. A body needs "enlightened" as well as the mind and soul.

2016 was a year of mega change for Andy and myself. There were changes in our family with a new arrival and a bowing out of another. We moved home and have found ourselves in a state of flux over where we are staying and where we are going. Health too was challenged. Andy now has his new hip and is striding well into this new year unlike how 2016 started and indeed continued with its many ups and downs.

So, it is time to not just change but to transform. We have embarked on transforming a new home, which is not without its challenges but anything worthwhile is worth effort and a consistant desire to improve inner and outer aspects of our lives will reap its own rewards.

One aspect of our lives, that gives us continual joy, is Murphy. This is him in a laid back pose. He is showing his gran and gandpa that chillin' is the name of the game as he is transforming every moment of every day, and seemingly without effort or angst.

Murphy is just showing up to be who he is... I don't think I am alone in thinking that he is adorable!

Thank you Murphy... you have transformed our lives.

Departure

Not been feeling much like writing recently. So much has happened in a short period of time...
Moved house, had a wonderful holiday in Italy and then returned home to Andy's Mum, Evelyn's health crisis after falling and breaking her hip. Evelyn passed away on Thursday the 3rd November and all thoughts of writing went with her. I had the most marvellous of mother-in-laws and miss her supportive energy and drive, not to mention the love she extended to all around her.

Will write again but for the meantime... the muse, like Evelyn has departed.

Departure from Canada - Arrival in Largs.

View of Green Lake from the ground.

Green Lake from above.

Well, we're back home! Our six weeks stay in Canada was a joyous time. The geography of the place is stunning. Snow capped mountains overlooking glacier fed lakes and trees as far as the eye can see!

We were based around an area of Whistler that is appropriately called the Green Lake. We took a flight with a local company, Harbour Air, over the lake down to Vancouver, so managed to see our base from a totally different angle. The photo below is the plane we were flying in! As you can see, not quite a Jumbo Jet.

... below the plane photo is the spectacular view of the Howe Sound where the town of Squamish nestles by the mouth of the Squamish river. This was an important strategic spot for the Squamish nation in years gone by, as they could control the traffic on the river as it flowed out to the local islands dotted along the BC coast line.

Squamish is one of the necessary weekly shopping destinations for nappies/diapers and such like. Walmart gets everywhere...  and we are very grateful that they do. So basically Squamish is still strategically situated!

Lodge Bedroom

Due to circumstances we stayed in six different locations over the six weeks, so returning to our own bed was very welcome. As Goldilocks says..."It was just right".

However we did enjoy some fabulous accommodation while away, ranging from a lodge to hotel rooms to a studio flat!

We also hired cars, went on local buses and even travelled on a Greyhound bus on a return trip from Vancouver to Whistler.

Didn't manage to fit in a train journey. Maybe next time...

and of course there was also Shank's pony - lots of walking!

Lodge lounge and kitchen

Hotel bedroom complete with kitchen

 We were well looked after. There is a sense of community in Whistler where everyone seems to know everyone else.

The Canadians we met were such a friendly, welcoming bunch.

However it wasn't just the Canadians who welcomed us... so did the Irish.
Thank you Cian for the use of your bedroom for 3 weeks.

Also the Australians. Thank you Joanne for your banter, friendship and support.
Also the Kiwis. Thanks Sam for driving us to Vancouver... it was much appreciated. You even made driving across the city seem relaxing.

... and last but by no means least, the Scottish contingent. Thank you Lianne and Gordon for having us around at your most miraculous of times and for producing the miracle that is Murphy. Who cares where you sleep when you get to spend time with Murphy Auld and his ludicrously happy parents. We felt truly privileged to share in Murphy's arrival.

Bliss

Many of the photos tell their tale of our Canada adventure and obviously the arrival of Murphy was the icing on the cake.

 And talking about cake, below is a pudding selection we enjoyed when "fine dining". Did I mention the food?
There is not just an abundance of every kind of produce, the Canadians do like their cake...

It you are ever in the Whistler area you must check out the shop called "Pure Bread". In fact just give me a bell and I will list all my recommendations...
 

Dessert Sir?

Silly Grandpa

The dessert seems to have gone to Grandpa's head! and Murphy is somewhat perplexed by his behaviour as was I.


Much more entertaining is Foxy. Murphy loves his Foxy and it shows. Friendship Canadian style. Just wait 'til he sees his first bear. I mean a real bear, not his cuddle toy.

There are bears all around Whistler. We even caught a glimpse of one on our last night. Now that is what I call exciting night life...

"Foxy watching over me"

Gordon holding his two precious Murphys!

Ooh Ah...

Vancouver - Goodbye Canada

 Now that we are back home there are even more changes in the offing. A new hip joint for Andy and a new "joint"/ house for us. Yep, we are on the move. Living peripitetically for six weeks with the minimum of clothing and limited space has shown us that down sizing can be an adventure. I will confirm that statement at a later date. Possibly October but could well be nearer the January 2017 mark.

Safe arrival - part deux

What an exciting time it is when a new arrival comes into the world. Welcome, Murphy Andrew Auld.

Proud Mum

What a bundle of joy and how proud are his parents, Lianne and Gordon. Not to mention his grandparents! He only kept us waiting a week after his due date... and had a bumpy first few days. However he is well worth the wait.

These pictures tell the story that no words can convey...

Proud Dad

Doting Granny

Doting Grandpa

on way home... released from hospital

adoration

only perfect

Two Sleeping Beauties...

First family outing

Such a happy family occasion... being able to walk along the lakeside

Yes Murphy was travelling incognito, we don't want just anyone seeing how beautiful he is....

Safe arrival - part one

Well here we are again, in a beautiful part of Canada. We are visiting our younger son Gordon and his partner Lianne, who are expecting their first child... imminently!

We visited them two years ago in Whistler as they now live and work in this part of the world. It is a truly fabulous part of Canada, with its summer sports of golfing, sailing and mountain biking and winter sports of ski-ing, skating and all round snow activities.

View from Lianne and Gordon's apartment

We enjoyed a great flight to Vancouver, with just a small hiccup picking up car then a smooth ride to Whistler. Weather is grand... as in sunny and high 20s! Whistler is as we remember it. Beautiful and full of the beautiful people.

The photo on the right was taken at 6.30am on the first morning from Lianne and Gordon's balcony... and the one below is taken from inside their Canadian home. What a view! Lianne says that she never tires of it. It has a calming influence on the most anxious of souls... except when the planes take off on the half hour. Small plane excursions set off to Vancouver or around the glaciers. This will be a must before we go.


Last visit to Whistler was in time for Crankworx, the downhill mountain biking thriller.

This time we arrived in time for Whistler's yoga 4 day festival called Wanderlust. Yoga Canada style!

The village was full of yogis and yoginis in posture and pose and even some free festival concerts to help with the ultimate chillin' experience...

Festival Concert

Andy and Gordon are preparing for the ultimate juicing experience...

Who knew that healthy eating could be so colourful...

and that the taste could be so enjoyable.

Amazing what becoming a Dad can do to the taste buds.

Italian dining

Ultimate experiences have ranged from a visit to the OB (obstetrician) to the ultimate shopping experience at Walmart... and then there was the most perfect of ends to a wonderful week by going to an Italian restaurant. Who knew that my love of Italy was going to follow me to Whistler...

I will be blogging more as the experiences keep coming.


Safe arrival - part deux next week. Lianne has promised an exciting story to tell.