Monday 29 February 2016

Patience is a virtue....

SoRrY....
I have so not felt chatty this month!
February has just been a funny old one for me, 
a month I be happy to see the back of....
All the "dramas" in & around the house 
at the beginning of the month really dampened my mood,
not helped by all the grey wet weather we have been
having here for most of the month!
There have been however a few silver linings in my grey skies.
The big one has been me starting my new work!
  I have been made to feel very welcome
making it a lovely start back into my UK work life.  
 It has also felt a little like a homecoming for me
as I have worked for the same company before
in England for many years, 
only leaving because Mr Mc's work took us to Germany.
It's lovely to be back!

****
 
On the house front I have to say progress is 
very VeRy very SLOW....
living in a semi organized chaos (if there is such a thing).
I do have to keep reminding myself daily
....patience is a virtue!


In the meantime distraction from my chaotic surroundings
comes from pretty & yummy treats. 



We also have been exploring our new neighborhood....
enjoying a visit to the Inverness Museum a couple of weeks ago,
to get a close look at the traveling exhibition of  

The Great Tapestry of Scotland

12,000 years of history told on 160 tapestry panels
stitched by 1,000 volunteers in over 50,000 sewing hours.


A wonderful community project
and an amazingly beautiful way to tell the story of Scotland.


Each tapestry panel had so much interesting detail,
I couldn't decide which one was my favorite.
If you ever get the chance to see these wonderful works TAKE IT,
you will not be disappointed!
      

Given the chance I would go again! 


I have also found myself this month....


MISSING
BERLIN
A LOT 


Funny really when I think of it....
I sOoOo struggled at first
to find my feet in this fast pace city. 
It took quite a while really for me to feel at home.
It was the beautiful Berlin spring and my lovely colleagues 
who really helped me to fall in love with the city.
I miss them both! 
 
No matter how many times I move
I found it's never easy for me to say goodbye and
start elsewhere new!


It simply takes time!

xxxx


Friday 5 February 2016

Glass half full....

My last few days have been a little horrendous....
no I'm not referring to the never ending grey wet drab weather 
we been having pretty much ever since I have arrived here!
But a spell of rotten luck ....testing my always half full outlook on life.
On Saturday the pipes in my kitchen tap decided to give way to all the 
internal corrosion. Why do these things always happen on a weekend?!?
We needed an emergency plumber ....not cheap let me tell you. 
Ever the person that sees the glass half full, I put my positive spin onto it....
being thankful that we were at home when it happened 
and now know where the stopcock is (handy info to have).
My half full outlook was tested again on Sunday when we discovered
our two year old dishwasher has decided to have some issue 
with the idea of washing dishes.
After getting in touch with Miele it is clear that we need an engineer 
(more expensive expense) only problem Miele don't service 
the Inverness area direct,
so I'm waiting now to hear from a Miele sub contractor. 
My positive spin on that.... 
at least the tap is working again allowing me to wash the dishes by hand.
Not enough with that and by Tuesday lunchtime my glass started to look 
more emty then full when our garden got flooded 
....not an act of God or nature which ever you prefer but neglect!
After trying to deal with our local council to get the matter resolved, 
as it was their neglect, I can well & truly say my rose tinted glasses are off, 
with the glass emptier then emty if that is even possible!
  There is one thing I absolutely detest.... 
slippery shoulders & refusal to use common sense!
 I really have no time for it. 
To cut a very VeRy VERY infuriating story short 
(filled with a complete lack of people skill's 
and willingness to find a solution at that time on the councils part), 
only after a reminder to the council of it's legal obligations 
did things start to move.  I'm happy to report the simple solution
(needing one man with a spade) we had suggested was finally listened to 
and as we had predicted it stopped the flooding immediately! 
No permanent solution but a good intermediate fix.
OoOh.... so simple! 

Today....
I'm happy to say my glass is starting to look half full again!


A pretty cup filled with yummy 
hot chocolate topped by fluffy milk & marshmallows,  
a beautiful little rose bush I picked up in the supermarket


together with my new February mantel have helped to fill my glass! 


Just what I needed!



Have a great weekend

XOXO