Swan-ing About.

DEAR SPOOK, 2 weeks since we got home and I do feel a little more 'at home'. A wee feeling of contentment at being in our house crept up on me. It was a lovely day, and I have adapted to the green-ness of the surroundings. There is no wind, it's warm, and there are no midges. Ben Nevis glowed in it's autumn cloak and I had a wee fancy to be up on the summit. The evenings are very mild too - good nights for having a wee dram on the doorstep, though the seating still has a dampness about it. I met Andrew Mcleod in town today and he was laughing at the enthusiasm one always has for the building of a bbq after a spell abroad. And then you never get to use it. We both laughed at the difference in the understanding of 'indoor/outdoor flow' in different climates. It is often used as a selling point for Kiwi houses, but in Scotland it is all about how quickly you can run between the car and the house. Especially important if you have bag loads of shopping. However, it has been dry all week, so it would be perfect weather for that fireplace you are going to build when you get home from your wee spell abroad!
I had another thought about how people are viewing our circumstances. Not only are you not here, but I am driving around in a very nice, modern landrover (on loan from Dad.) As I am not too chatty with the imediate neighbour, I wonder if he is thinking that we made a lot of money in NZ and the landrover is part of the divorce settlement. I have seen one or two of the more distant neighbours further down the road doing a double take when they catch sight of me. Considering both our (slightly in one case and very in the other) ramshackly vehicles blew up on us before we left and we had to borrow your Dad's Proton, which was fondly called The Champagne Dream, but was not so glamorous as it's name, our fortunes must look as though they have turned.
Your daughter went to the gym and swim with Katie today, out on the horse with Auntie Al, and then up to stay over with the cousins at Granny's. Tomorrow she is getting picked up at Spean Bridge to go shopping with Amy in Inverness. She has her social life finely managed. All going very smoothly. Finn played around with Angus most of the afternoon, but still didn't have clean anything packed or wellies or toothbrush, whilst Meg had everything packed, including nice clothes for shopping, before she started her day! She leaves me lists of things I need to remember.
I haven't managed to get into the e-mails today, but I hope you have left me some loving words inbetween your hectic work and social life.
xx