DEAR SPOOK, as expected, the frost continues to dig deep and it is great to live in a cosy house.
Finn and I were up until 1am this morning. After his blog (if you can't beat 'em, join 'em), we went on to You tube and checked out his choice of National Anthem for Scotland. He has been discussing this in music and Mrs Anderson sang him a beautiful song that he wanted to check out. He figured it was the only one for him. Caledonia. First we looked at the Tenants Lager advert which made the song a hit many years ago, and brought a few people home, and then we looked at it's writer, Dougie Mclean, singing it. I have no idea how Finn missed me playing it in NZ, as my best friend bought me the CD before I left - to remind me where I came from and to make sure I came back. Any Kiwi who doesn't know it, could google you tube and search Caledonia. Dougie Mclean sings it the best. If you listen to the words, it would bring a tear to your eye as it reminds Finn of how he felt in NZ and the feelings that were brought to the surface when he was so far from home. All the more credit to Johanna Vermuelen who made him feel so genuinely happy in her class. He is constantly celebrating his return home in his thoughts with comments coming to the surface quite regularly. When we drive home at night past Christmas lights "Fort William is the BEST at Christmas" (a light, bright, sunny Christmas day just doesn't cut it), "why do people always go away for college?" (he is hearing about friends big brothers and sisters going away to cities, and as far as he can see, there is a perfectly good college in Fort William), and of course the request to be allowed to stay on in the family home until he is 36. It is lovely to have his regular outbursts of "I LOVE Fort William" as the High Street dries up before our eyes with only Outdoor Supply shops and Charity shops to choose from. Such enthusiasm is comforting.
Unfortunately, his enthusiasm took a battering, as he walked home in the dark from his friends to be here in time for a family viewing of Elf. Meg wanted home but didn't have a lift. I was working 30mins longer than I had realised and had promised to pick up something to eat on the way home. By the time we joined him, Elf was nearly finished and he had resorted to playing Caledonia. (he found my CD.) He is a very forgiving child. I was home at 7pm and by 8pm the cosy family night had become me and Dougie Mclean as Finn and Meg accepted an invite to the local 'posh' pool and legged it out the door. Serves me right, I suppose.
But, to balance things out last night, Finn had also checked out the New Zealand national anthem sung in Maori and we had both hummed along (I love it); images of The Haka; a few magic moments of All Black players, and Mount Aspiring College. He may show signs of never leaving Lochaber again, but New Zealand is not far from his thoughts. Taking us through to 1am was the Pogues singing the fairy tale christmas in New York, and then touchingly, we had a history lesson on Gallipoli (very close to the Kiwi's hearts) in the Pogues version of Waltzing Matilda.
We miss you Spook. xxx
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