Menongling; Meeting New Mates

After a few day's rest back at The Hutch - which was still standing and a tad forlorn for the lack of living and loving it had received over the past while but was still embracing and nurturing to me - it was back into The Grey, and on the road headed for Edinburgh. I made an overnight stop at Carnwarth for a battery charge and driving break, and then Friday saw me heading past the capital city to the East Lothian coastal town of North Berwick. 

I slept well with the sound of the waves lapping the shore, and Saturday dawned bright-ish and without rain. This was good news because I was going to meet some new pals.

To set the picture a bit... a few years back, there was a commenter on Bertie's blog who Gail and Bertie got to meet in the furs a few times because they lived near Auld Reekie (local name for Edinburgh). That lady, Amanda, used to blog as Climbing Mandy. Her WFT Horatio featured heavily, as did Harris the Viszla when he arrived.

Although that blog fell into the background, Amanda and Gail maintained contact - and she was, in fact, one of the possible choices for rehoming Nobby when the time came. By this time, though, Amanda had said farewell to Horatio and now has Hercule, another WFT, who is every bit - and possibly more - rambunctious than Nobby was at the same age. Also, Harris the first passed, and Harris the second is a young fellow (of the Wire-haired Viszla variety).  As we know, Nobby has gone elsewhere, and having now met the H-pack, it may be just as well!

They are gorgeous but lively, and knowing Nobby as I do, I know he would have had his innerspring self wound up to high tension. It would have been a case of two's busy, three is mania.

Amanda is a warm and delightful person with whom I had an easy and enjoyable visit. Thanks to Gail and her amazing connectedness, we agreed that we may have the basis for forming a new friendship. We walked the length of the beach first, and I interacted with the boys, throwing the ball, teasing with it, and hiding it. Having another connection to Gail, who also understood the blogging aspect of our friendship, was heartwarming. Back in the Grey, I had prepared a big pot of Leek and Potato soup and we ate that with crispbreads and cheese, just right for a winter's day. Moreover, Amanda (and her husband) "get" the van life thing, having been camping and caravan people themselves. It was an excellent meet-up, and there will be more in the future. I even got Amanda thinking about blogging again! Now, look at the camera boys!

After farewells, I shifted up to the city. Sunday evening was to be spent with a more festive focus. There is no denying I was struggling for the 'feels' this year. This delightful evening helped salve a little of that (I even got around to decorating the van with a few baubles and lights). The church was decked out beautifully - I was so deep in just being present there that I did not take any photos at all, so I have Mac1 to thank for at least the altar bouquet shot. 

That Monday, Mac1 and I had a 'fallow' day, sharing a little time together for morning tea and then supper, but mostly just resting. On Tuesday, I drove us down to an old family friend's place near Eyemouth. Tom's the Tractor Man. Now 92 and having recently had a stroke, he's gradually handing over the hobby business to his son, Tommy. I whipped up another pot of the Leek and Tattie soup to have with cheese and pickle sangers, and we enjoyed his cosy fireside for a couple of cheery hours on a very dreich day.

I drove Mac1 back to IKEA later in the day, where we enjoyed our evening meal (vege balls with quinoa salad and vege ragout - it was scrumptious!), then a cuppa before she got the bus home, and I parked there for the night. Then it was back towards The Hutch via Lanark, stopping there over the pre-Chrissy weekend due to another windy storm coming through and not wanting to drive in it. Back across the water on the eve of the Eve...