It takes a globally diverse, open hearted, non-judgemental, village!

I know it's not over and that the cases are still high, but it is a helluva a lot better than last year.  (at least in my humble opinion).  And as always, my glass is half full, because I will always believe that is a choice and one I make determinedly EVERY. SINGLE. DAY!  (some days this is easier said than done!). 

This week and the past couple, have been full to bursting.  Trying to keep up with all that is coming towards me, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

A very dear friend of mine, Effie, is moving into a new house.  And it needed to be gutted.  And when I say gutted, use your rawest imagination, it is down to the studs and trenches thru the floor kind of gutted.  IT'S WORK!  And isn't it ALL-WAYS so much more than you can ever anticipate?  Currently there is no electricity or heat, did I say they move in THIS FRIDAY?!?! 

YUP, they are moving in this Friday, and having 'been there and done that,' I know how it feels and that I needed to pitch in to help.  The more woman-power we can get, the faster this project will come to completion!  I mean it is a construction zone currently but we have to at least get the bedrooms livable.

So with tool box in hand, masks for sanding lead based paint, clothes that you don't need too badly,,,, I'm ready to go.  

There are up to 10 tradesmen in this house at a time, but being my fathers daughter, I fit right in.  But this time Opa, instead of country music, we have the '80's! (sorry, not sorry)  My heart is in harmony!

I've been helping with painting skirting (base boards), cove moulding, ceiling medallions, caulking, lifting shower trays.  You name it, I'm doing it.  

And I can't be happier!

I like to be busy, I like to be of value, and I like helping people.  Especially when they are near and dear to my heart.  

My friend has been thanking me profusely, mentioning that I am the strong angel coming to help and being the glue to hold our trifecta of friendship together.  And while I take the compliment and relish it.  I think back to when she made the cake for Levi's birthday last year.  When she mentioned fencing and now picks Levi up every Sunday for said lessons.  Who also continually plans fun outings for the 15 year old (surly) teens we have, to get them out of the house and off of electronics.

I'm also on a mission to help my other dear friend Aine with paperwork and organization.  Something I love doing and may be easier on my neck and shoulders?!?  I also revel with gratitude to this dear soul, who broke the lockdown rules with me last year and drove me to a new park outside of Glasgow every week.  Who listened to my deepest fears and struggles during the lockdown with my 2 teenagers, without even a remote hint of judgement in her body.  Who just accepted me for who I was.  Do you know how valuable that is?  I do and it's priceless!

I remember for my birthday last year, the two of them threw me a birthday party in a wee Glasgow park, complete with balloons, homemade scones, and a poorly made birthday cake (that remains my favorite to this day!)  It meant the world to me.  They were the glue back then.  That is what a true village does.  We act as a community, taking turns being strong - and in the end, just walking hand in hand with each other on this journey we call life.  Lifting each other up, with no soul left behind.  

These two literally saved me last year.  They were the glue that held my frailty together, it is now just my turn to be the strong one, while wielding a hammer, toting a ladder and helping with paperwork.  

I was privileged to have Effie's youngest son yesterday join me as I left the house to find some mirrors for my mirror wall (thx Melanie for the inspiration).  He is 10 yrs old and a total poppet.  Just a pure joy to be around and a great respite from a depressing 15 yr old.  I asked him who his best friends were in school.  "I have many," he answers and proceeds to tell me all of their names.  'Wow,' I comment, "you have only been here as long as us, not even 2 years, how did you accomplish so much?"  "I learned from the best," he says without even missing a beat."  "Really, so who is the best?"  I now must know.  "My mom," he answers.  Yes, young Rafey, your mom is the best!  I wholeheartedly concur.

An Englishwoman, an Irishwoman and an American woman all (unknowingly and unwittingly) walk into a pandemic.....

and 

then 

proceed 

to 

SLAY 

IT!

knight, knight,

Kitty

Celebrations - Scottish style

My first Halloween in the Glasgow house and I had no idea what to expect.  Last year we were in a proper flat, but now that we have the main door in a semi-attached house, I had to be prepared.  I had gotten out to Costco and had my sweets ready (nobody says candy here), but didn't know if I had enough or too much.  Isn't that always the issue for Halloween!?!?  I was excited to see how this was all going to go.        

Lights blazing and blow up skeleton at the ready!

The 'guisers' started showing up. It's guising here, not trick or treating.  I love that!

I had about 6 groups of kids, and it really only went from 5:30-7:00pm.  I started to worry that I was low on candy at 7pm, yet as the time went on, shockingly, no more kids showed up.  Such a change from the couple of hundred kids in GR that I am used to, but I found it quite fun.    

This is the local botanic gardens all set up for a nighttime light show.  

I love Halloween and it has been so fun to experience it in Scotland properly.  I'll be even better prepared next year.      

But time stands still for no one, so we were on to our next celebration.....

"Remember remember the 5th of November."  I kept hearing that from everyone around me, yet it is tough to remember when you didn't know about it in the first place.  But.... I was soon to learn.  It started with a dear friend asking us to come over for dinner, dessert and fireworks.  Well that is a quick YES!  "What time should we be there?" 

It seems that this is called bonfire night, or Guy Fawkes night, and there are loads of fireworks.  Here in Glasgow, you can have fireworks going anytime you want.  It's quite funny, compared to GR where it is highly regulated (yet never followed) to when you can shoot them off.  But no matter, we were up for the celebration.  

Here is the reason for it all.  I'm hoping this link works, because I've read it and still can't explain it well.  But it seems to be a Catholic vs. Protestant thing.  Ugggg, can't we just all get along?  Live and let live?    Religion should be one of the last places to start such wars, but that is just my opinion.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night

Anyway, we had a lovely dinner, with waffles for dessert, complete with every topping imaginable.  We then corralled other neighbors and headed out to the back garden for our own display of celebrations.  It was great fun!  

Rafe the sparkler wielding, spiderman destroyer.

Not great photos, sorry, but you get the idea! 

The party is never complete without sparklers.  

Levi and Hugo, the fire-starters.

Hugo and Levi the sparker fencers.

All complete with spooky vibes filling the air.  

It was such great fun with friends!  As we walked home, my friend Aine mentioned how it was a magical night.  The weather was perfect and almost warm, people were out enjoying each others company, the botanics were lit up with music floating out.  It really was a magical night, and what else would you want really?  

Happy Fall,

The contented Cairns