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Re: Back in Scotland
Originally Posted by Caroline in Arizona
(Post 12746789)
After being away from this site for several months I thought I would give an update. We have now been back in Scotland for 15 months. After a few hiccups in the first 6 months we are doing so well. I love being back here and treasure every day. 1. Family - I go down frequently to Somerset to visit my Mum in her nursing home. I’ve become very familiar with the Edinburgh to Bristol flight. I see my cousin almost every week. She also lives in Edinburgh. Tomorrow we’re going to the Modern Art Gallery. 2. Travel - we love being close to mainland Europe. We’re about to go on our 4th cruise this year - 1 in the Baltic and 3 in the Mediterranean. Also love touring in Scotland and recently we were up in Gairloch, Inverness, and Nairn (where my Dad grew up) 3. Home - we love our home with magnificent views over the Firth of Forth. We take advantage of our bus passes and have frequent visits into the center of Edinburgh. I’ve joined Historic Scotland, National Museums of Scotland, and the National Gallery of Scotland. 4. Loads of walking. My DH has lost 20 pounds since our return with all his walking. Definitely a success with his 2 new knees. I love walking and discovering the city. 5. Neighbors - there are 6 families in our little development with both young and retired so a good mix. Some good friendships are developing. 6. Food - love it. I put on some weight when we first came back which I have now lost. It really wasn’t a good idea to be eating 4 crunchies in a day. I am content, happy, and thrilled to be back. Best wishes to all of you. |
Re: Back in Scotland
Originally Posted by BEVS
(Post 12746814)
So uplifting.
Thank you so much for sharing. Many thanks. Every day I feel extremely grateful for so many things. |
Re: Back in Scotland
Originally Posted by spouse of scouse
(Post 12746882)
A wonderful post Caroline, one that you can't help smiling as you read it. I'm really happy for you.
Many thanks. Life is definitely a journey rather than a destination! |
Re: Back in Scotland
Originally Posted by NiHao
(Post 12544662)
Great update! Very happy for you that things are going well.
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Re: Back in Scotland
I returned to SCO 10 years ago and retired here 9 years ago. I still have doubts. When I came to that fork in the road, did I choose the right path ? But in any case "Alea jacta est"
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Re: Back in Scotland
Originally Posted by scot47
(Post 12774307)
I returned to SCO 10 years ago and retired here 9 years ago. I still have doubts. When I came to that fork in the road, did I choose the right path ? But in any case "Alea jacta est"
I think I'm in a similar situation. I grew up in Scotland but I'm South African on my mother's side, and I spent most of my adult life in SA. My wife came back in 2006, for various reasons, and I followed her a few years later. We live in Edinburgh now but I miss SA badly, and sometimes regret that decision. |
Re: Back in Scotland
People her can be very parochial, with little interest in or knowledge of the outside world. Worse than our cousins across the pond !
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Re: Back in Scotland
10 days after I gave my last update my dear beautiful Mum passed away in Somerset on what would have been my parents 67th wedding anniversary. I am so grateful that I was able to see so much more of my Mum since our return. We will be scattering her ashes in the Highlands this summer. I have a number of cassette tapes from the 1980s that my Mum and Dad used to send over to us in Arizona and we would send them tapes as well. My Mum would speak for 45 minutes on one side and my Dad would speak for 45 minutes on the other side. It is so lovely having them speak to me as if they are in the room. My DH got a translator device and I now have what was on the tapes on my phone and iPad. When visiting my Mum I would read a lot of poems especially from a child’s Garden of Verse by Robert Louis Stevenson. At her funeral I read The Lamplighter by RLS. A week after the funeral my DH had converted the first cassette tape. I listened to it. My Mum starts reading poems to me from a new poetry book that she had just bought. And one of the poems that she read to me was The Lamplighter. And she says you will remember this from when I read this to you as a child. At this point I was on the floor with tears streaming down my face. They were tears of joy that I had my Mum reading the poem to me that I have just read at her funeral one week before. As the tape was over 30 years old I had not remembered the poems were on the tape.
I did not expect to feel the level of grief that I felt in the first month after my Mum passed away. I read so much about grief and the best thing that I read was that grief is the price we pay for love. Life in Scotland is going very well and I am now swimming on an almost daily basis in an indoor pool as I don’t think I will be swimming outdoors at all!! best wishes Caroline |
Re: Back in Scotland
Oh my goodness Caroline—this is such an incredibly moving post. The way you and your parents sent tapes back and forth, how beautiful. What a lovely idea (wish we had thought of that...) And now what a treasure for you to have. Love the connection around the Child's Garden of Verses Lamplighter poem.
Thanks you for sharing this story and especially telling us that you are so grateful you came back and so have been able to see more of your Mum. And that life in Scotland is going well. Condolences in your loss... |
Re: Back in Scotland
Originally Posted by between two worlds
(Post 12813501)
Oh my goodness Caroline—this is such an incredibly moving post. The way you and your parents sent tapes back and forth, how beautiful. What a lovely idea (wish we had thought of that...) And now what a treasure for you to have. Love the connection around the Child's Garden of Verses Lamplighter poem.
Thanks you for sharing this story and especially telling us that you are so grateful you came back and so have been able to see more of your Mum. And that life in Scotland is going well. Condolences in your loss... Thank you for your very kind words. I am feeling extraordinarily grateful for so many things these days. Right now the sun is shining in Edinburgh and daffodils are blooming in the back garden. Caroline |
Re: Back in Scotland
Originally Posted by scot47
(Post 12774422)
People her can be very parochial, with little interest in or knowledge of the outside world. Worse than our cousins across the pond !
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Re: Back in Scotland
Originally Posted by shelley748
(Post 12814906)
So sorry for your loss Caroline- so nice you were able to spend time with your Mum before she passed.
Thank you very much. We had lovely visits with my Mum in her nursing home. In addition to reading poems we would sing Scottish songs and, apart from my last visit, my Mum was able to join in. The visits were very joyful. Best wishes Caroline |
Re: Back in Scotland
My DH and I are in the process of updating our wills. We last did this in 2011 in Arizona. We are meeting with a solicitor shortly. When setting up the appointment I asked if they covered USA assets. I was told they don’t - just UK assets. Is it typical to have separate wills for the USA and UK?
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Re: Back in Scotland
Originally Posted by Caroline in Arizona
(Post 12818217)
My DH and I are in the process of updating our wills. We last did this in 2011 in Arizona. We are meeting with a solicitor shortly. When setting up the appointment I asked if they covered USA assets. I was told they don’t - just UK assets. Is it typical to have separate wills for the USA and UK?
If/when you find out more, do let us know! |
Re: Back in Scotland
Originally Posted by between two worlds
(Post 12818271)
We need to address this as well. I believe that yes, one needs a separate will for each country.
If/when you find out more, do let us know! |
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