Two MT-01s

Two chums leaving on their Yamaha MT-01s. Same as the one I had.

Music

I've been dabbling in my music again which is nice - it is relaxing, doesn't demand too much concious thought or energy and totally absorbing when something works and begins to take shape. Creating words or lyrics is harder and I usually form a lyric and then put some music to it but sometimes the other way round. I wrote an instrumental piece called "Celtic Queen." There are words, but it makes a difficult song to sing and "Celtic Queen" Has remained an instrumental version. So far!

http://www.archive.org/details/CelticQueen

Life

Well....life is a bit of a roller coaster still - a slow one but - hey, it will settle down soon I'm sure. The motor cycle part has slowed down somewhat as I wasn't happy with the big, tall Benelli and it will be changed for a Triumph! A Bonneville T100 will be arriving soon, I hope and then I will be able to get out and about again in style. (Providing we get some sort of Indian Summer with dry roads and rustling Autumn leaves - rather than mud and soggy slippery leaves!). I'll wait until it arrives and post a photo at that time (if I can get someone to take my picture on it!).

Did anyone see Amy Connolly on the X-Factor last Saturday? A star in the making - if not already made - that's for sure. http://xfactor.itv.com/videos/video-detail/item_200199.htm is where you'll see it again. You have to watch an advrt first, for a few seconds and then her audition follows. She reminds me a little of Eva Cassidy.

Grandparents again

Following on from my last post on 'Old Photographs' - these two turned up. True before and after pictures! This was our Grandparents house - a magical place with a huge workshop at the back, a railway embankment at the side, big pear and apple trees, wonderful paths you could chase eachother round and a gigantic, round fish pond. There were rabbit hutches, a bird bath where I saw my first dragonfly and; during the war, an underground air raid shelter.

Look what they've done to it!!!

Ho Hum. Times change.

Old Photographs

I came across this picture of our Grandparents, whilst sorting out a hard drive scattered with hundreds of images. I had scanned this from an old and ageing print a few years back. When I came across it again, it evoked such warm and comfortable memories of our childhoods.
These two beautiful people lived with such dignity and grace, filling in a huge gap in our rather clouded childhood lives.

How important grandparents are in our children's lives! I'm one myself now. If I can manage to impart half the wisdom and guidance to my Grandson, that these two showed to us - and create even a fraction of the magic and fun - I'll be content.

Clouds

Funny how things work out. I haven't been back on my blog since 19th January. A time since, full of ill concealed unhappiness and worry, fears and stress. Eileen was dying and there wasn't a darn thing either of us could do about it except to do what needed to be done, cushion the effect of what was to come and to be strong for her beautiful daughters.

So what's this about clouds? I'm coming to that.

A wee while back, my computer was in a tangled state and I had to re-format it and start all over again. This meant I lost a lot of stuff that I hadn't backed up - including all my web addresses which included all my favourite blogs - including Cait http://caitoconnor.blogspot.com and my dear old bro Mick http://countrymatters.blogspot.com/ I managed to find mine again easily enough and went through my posts, checking on replies and finally found the others by clicking on the name of those who had replied.

Clouds? The first thing that I read when I was taken to Cait's profile was one of her interests. Cloudwatching. I was stunned. It took me right back to March 13th, when Eileen passed on. She was very ill and restless that morning. Agitated. I was the first to arrive at her bedside, having had a strange premonition that I needed to get to her earlier than usual. She gave me an indescribeable look - and calmed a little. Half an hour later her daughters arrived and we sat with her, holding her hands, trying to comfort her - to help. We cried as well.

Her eyes were so wide and blue. No yellowing. No pain. She was gazing out of the big window of her room and Lorna said "She's watching the clouds." And indeed she was. Great fluffy, white March clouds, floating across a blue sky.
And not long after, she died - so peacefully and with such grace, holding the hands of those she wished to be with her at that time and watching the clouds outside. Cloudwatching.
I tried, unsuccessfully, to brush her eyes closed. When the nurse came in, she tried too - but Eileen had other ideas. I think she had some spiritual link with those clouds and stayed watching them. She looked so beautiful!

If you've read this through, then thank you for your being patient and accepting my indulgence in reliving those moments. I don't think I shall ever see big, white clouds again without remembering that day.

The New Garage - 2

Well, it's up! They came down from Fife on a very wet day and carried on regardless.....and went away like drowned rats at the end of it! It seems strange with this big building in the middle of what was the lawn; but I'm getting used to it. I've nowhere to hang the washing now - until I get a rotary line. On the plus side, there is a lot less grass to cut in the Spring!

Lots more to do yet, which is up to me. Insulation in the walls and roof which will be sealed in with plywood lining. Wiring for lights and power and floor tiles to be put down. Then the bench and shelving, burglar alarm and racks for all my gear. Then it will be finished!

It is going to be such a nice place to spend time.