From the Wintry Wilds of Scotland

This was the scene from Mums lounge room window yesterday afternoon. Just a wee bit cold! We've still got some snow today but it's much more sleety.

But first news of Mum. I got a hugely pleasant surprise when I arrived here last Saturday afternoon - she looked so much better than I thought she would. And in the 6 days that I've been here she has continued to make progress each day. She's still quite tired a lot of the time but I guess that's only to be expected after a 5 hour op, 6 units of blood and being almost 75.

New Year's day brought us a surprise 'first foot' - a Scottish tradition where if the first person to cross your threshold after New Year is tall dark and handsome (and carrying a piece of coal) it brings you good luck for the rest of the year! Anyway our first foot was none other than my ex husband and his wife. He's been working in Iceland, the contract has just finished and they were holidaying around Scotland and Ireland. Made for a bizarre set up as he still would do anything rather than talk to me. However they stayed for the rest of the day and had dinner with us - all of which really pleased Mum as she always had a great relationship with him and so was happy that he'd taken the trouble to visit and his wife is easy to talk to and has no problem chatting to me. The photo above is one they took for us - back row, left to right my brother in law, my sister, my brother, my sister in law and then in front Mum, me and my two nephews standing in front of their parents.

This one was taken at my brother's house last night - shows that Mum is looking really quite well.

My sister, her husband and I managed to attend a couple of new year functions. This is us at a ceilidh held in a local pub.

And this is my brother and two nephews

No other real news - seem to be eating lots - and drinking lots of alcohol but not much water so suspect there'll be a bit of a rude awakening in a couple of weeks time! Heading off to London tomorrow to stay with my old school friend. But first up I'm meeting my friend Shaz's daughter who is currently holidaying and working in London. Monday I plan to indulge in a bit of retail therapy before flying back up to Glasgow on Tuesday.

OK folks, that's all for now - sorry for not commenting but my internet access has been very hit and miss since I got here - Mum and my sister are part of a local area wireless network and I've piggy backed on to it but for some reason my laptop doesn't always pick up the connection. But I am reading whenever I get the chance.

Happy new year everyone - make 2008 a masterpiece!!
Love
Z xx