I know, it's been a long time since I updated this site. I found it extremely difficult to access and actually do work on this site while in Scotland, for a couple of reasons.

One reason is that when I got out of the major cities in the UK (Edinburgh, Glasgow, London), the cost to use the internet became prohibitive for me (UKL5.00, or about US$7.50/hour). The other reason is that I would update the site, then the system would glitch and I'd lose what I'd typed. That became too expensive to retype, as time was money then!

I'm back in the US, now, tho...with access to my own computer. Now, for what happened to me in the last 4 months....

I left off as I was waiting to catch the bus to Inverness, after sleeping on the streets of Edinburgh. What an adventure!  I did catch the bus to Inverness, after grabbing a sandwich, crisps and a Dr Pepper at the Sainsbury's grocery before I left. Slept a lot of the way, as I hadn't slept much the night before.

At Inverness (2:30pm), I found out the bus to Gairloch was leaving at 5:05pm, so just hunkered down to wait. Had only 2.40 in my pocket, and didn't know what else to do. Called the hotel, and they reassured me that they would pay my fare. It really was funny getting on the bus and having the driver say, "Oh, no problem, they told me that you were coming, and they'll pay me when we arrive."

The bus ride to Gairloch was long (3 hours) and pitch black, so I saw none of the countryside. A drunken man got on at Dingwall, and sat beside me and kept me company for 2-1/2 hours. Found out later that he was the ex of one of the housemaids at the hotel! Arrived just before 8pm, and was greeted by Sarah and Aggie, who settled me into my room just long enough to show me where everything was, then hustled me to the kitchen for dinner. Yum.

I started work the next morning (Thursday) as housemaid, and stayed there for the next 3 months. Why I stayed is another story! 

I have to say, when I woke up the next morning after I arrived, and saw how desolate the area I was in, and the ocean right outside the door, I wondered just why I had come to the end of the world. I was really bummed. I wanted to see Edinburgh, and meet people, not be relegated to the outback!

Ha! Spirit works in mysterious ways. I did meet lots of interesting people, some of them guests from England. Like the couple from Newcastle who'd been married about 50 years. They left me a tin of cookies (biscuits) as a thank you for cleaning their room. Like Chris, the "handyman" of the hotel, who was as lonely as I was, and willing to listen to me, and buy me a pint at the pub, when I had no money. Or even a pot of tea and a shortbread, while we watched the sea and talked.

About a week and a half after I arrived, I was determined to leave, and go home to Texas for Christmas. But I couldn't get a flight out till mid January. Bummer. Then, 2 weeks after I arrived, I went to a "Disco" at the Creag Mor Hotel (a dance, with dj's). Walked up to the hotel (2 miles) with Chris, and Keith, the 2nd cook at the hotel. Keith and I yakked the whole way up, and I discovered a kindred spirit! He loved nature, and birds, and was intelligent! We flirted the whole evening, he bought my pints, and we ended up in bed together that night. And then he never left my room! We just seemed to belong together, and shared my single bed for a month.

In January, the hotel closed for 3 weeks for repairs. Keith and I stayed, but Chris decided to go back to Cornwall to try to find a job there, and we took over his double room. We personalized it, and it became our haven. We even used Feng Shui to ensure that all would be harmonious in our relationship. And we made plans to come to Texas together. He bought a ticket, and we were set.

On March 4, we left Gairloch on the morning bus to Inverness. Arrived at 10:30am, then had all day to wait till our night bus to London, which left at 6:15pm. Ack. We spent the afternoon at the Cuba Bar by the bus station.

Our night trip to London was fraught with adventure. In Glasgow, we discovered the bus had sprunk a water leak (soaking our luggage, of course), and necessitating a change of bus. That took an hour. Then our new bus had electrical problems (push the door button, and the lights flashed and the windshield wipers turned on!), so we got another bus at the bus barn. Arrived in London at 8:30am, an hour and a half late. Checked our luggage into the Left Luggage, booked a hotel room near Russell Square, close to the Underground to take us to Heathrow the next morning, then set off to kill time till noon (check in time).

Ate breakfast at Garfield's, bought socks for Claire, then walked to Westminster to see Big Ben and tour the Jewel Tower (not where the Crown Jewels are, but where Edward the something kept his fancy dress!). Walked back to the station (this was about a 3-4 mile jaunt, and we were exhausted from no sleep), and took a black taxi to the hotel.

Too bad I was tired, I could have spit on the British Museum from our hotel room window! Next time, ok? We took baths, and then I crashed and slept from 5:30 to 3am. Poor Keith couldn't sleep till then and read while I slept. Then he passed out, and I was wide awake! We had the alarm set for 5:30, so we could make it to the airport by 7am for our 9am flight. It takes about an hour on the Underground from central London. Costs UKL8.00 for the trip. Less than the trains, that take 15 minutes.

This was Keith's first plane trip, ever! Poor man was freaked out, till we actually took off, then he was cool, looking out the window trying to see land, and sea.

So, it took us 3 days to get from nw Scotland to Dallas, Texas, but we were glad to get here. Tambree picked us up at the airport, and gave us a home for the night. The next day, she took us to our new home...we rented a room from her stepson and his roommate. Very affordable. We walked to pick up my car from Elmina, who had graciously driven it for me and paid the payments while I was away.

I went to work at Future 5000, the massage therapy center I had quit 3 years ago. Spent 2 weeks there, and due to a misunderstanding, left again. Glad to be gone, actually. But grateful also, for easy money, and finding out I hadn't lost my touch as a therapist while gone.

Just about the time I became unemployed, Keith asked me to marry him! I said yes, of course! We were married on March 28th in a moonlight ceremony on a bridge over a babbling brook. The official date is March 29th, however, as we weren't able to procure a marriage license on Monday the 25th (it was Cesar Chavez Day!) to beat the 72 hour delay that the state of Texas demands.

I'm still unemployed, but not too worried about it. My tax refund is on its way, and we are both working on our  artistic creations to sell. I've applied for work at several "day jobs" as well. Just trusting that Spirit will provide what we need when we need it. Hasn't failed me yet.

That brings this site up-to-date for now. I'll add more detail later, about the beauty of Scotland. And the lovely people, as well.

Talksoon!

5 April

My MacRogue buddies suggested I add this line to it all:

"And they lived happily ever after."  (and we are!)