11 Goodbye

There are places I'll remember all my life,

though some have changed.
Some forever, not for better.
Some have gone and some remain.

All these places have their moments with lovers and friends,
I still can recall.

Some are dead and some are living;
In my life, I've loved them all.

But of all these friends and lovers,
there is no one, compares with you.

And these memories lose their meaning, 
when I think of love as something new.

Though I know I'll never lose affection for people and things that went before,
I know I'll often stop and think about them;

In my life, I love you more.

In my life, I love you more.

Many, many thanks to Lennon/McCartney and The Beatles. This song has long been one of my favorites, but has come to mean something so dear since living here. I don't know how long hearing it will make me burst into tears, but I promise, they're thankful, joyful tears- because I got to call God's Own Country home for three beautiful years.

disclaimer: Paul isn't pictured because he hates being in pictures, so my selection is limited. Mia's not pictured because nearly all of my pictures of her are indoors and sadly, don't show the beauty of Yorkshire. Also, the first picture of the dogs is actually from Jedburgh Abbey, The Borders, Scotland.  I just love it.

9 Bloggers' Afternoon Tea at Sketch

 Laura, of Happy Homemaker UK, put up a post for an afternoon tea she was organizing in London. I was interested, but not sure how I would fit in going down to London one week before our flight out.  I began (gently!) harassing Becky to go with me, so that I wouldn't be walking into a room of total strangers- and when she agreed (which only took a small nudge!), I bought a train ticket and RSVPed. Since our temporary apartment let is in town, I walked over to Harrogate rail station at 7:30AM and caught the train down to London. While this is the first time I've gone to London just for the day, I realized how much I'm going to miss train service and the ability to go to one of the world's greatest cities on a whim. Watching the rolling hills of recently cut hay, seeing church spires, rail  car yards, and seeing livestock grazing in the fields, I fought back tears- but did my best to just soak it all up one last time. 

Anyway- back to the fun! Becky and I walked over to Sketch, located next to East India Company with a rather unassuming and deceptively simple entrance.  Our group was in the Glade room, which provided us with ample conversation to break the ice!

Despite being entirely walled, it had the feel of a screened in porch, which delighted my Southern heart! The sunlight ceiling added to the tamed-jungle feel of the room.

 The wallpaper was fascinating!

The room was dotted with cozy areas set perfectly for conversation.

The bar, adding a modern twist to the outdoor themed room.

Top left: Liz, Sarah Jane, Becky; Top right: Sarah, Sophie, Belinda;
Bottom left: Belinda, Selena, and Robynne; Bottom right: Charlotte and Laura
(see bottom picture for links to these fabulous blogs!)

The afternoon flew by as we discussed blogging, our personal lives, and, of course, our favorite bits of England! Blogs represented cover home decor, gardening, travel, and everyday English life- from English, American, and Australian perspectives!

 The table when we came in. The champagne helped us get over any nerves!

 Delicious fruit scones.

We had several tea trays, in fact, so much that we all had a good lunch and there were leftovers!

The food was just as tasty as it looked!

The ladies:

Clockwise, from top left: Charlotte, Sarah Jane, Becky, me, Sarah, Selena, Robynne, Laura, Liz, and Belinda

not pictured, as she had to get back to work: Louise

I had the best time meeting these other women and finding further connections to keep England alive in my daily life- not to mention seeing Sketch, which was a clever find on Laura's part!!

We were given a quick tour of some of the other rooms, so come back tomorrow to see them!

4 We (ahem... SLOAN) Can't Get Enough of Brimham Rocks!

So many times.

here on a snowy Thanksgiving, here during a thunderstorm, here are some shots of individual rock formations on a bright, sunny January day, Max does some climbing here, here is Brimham Moor covered in blooming heather, halfway down the post here is a view of Nidderdale from the rocks during a rainstorm lull, and Sloan's little salute to Brimham.

I finally took some classic brochure-esque images of the rocks.  Those bins (trash cans)? They're full of Sloan's "donations". 

I couldn't decide which view I liked better!

He's so handsome!!

Oh, I meant he is... right. That's what I meant.

This shot will never cease to crack me up!

Oh, Nidderdale. I'm gonna miss you.

Yeah, you've seen this one before- but I just love it!! 

8 Joining the Party: If You Really Knew Me...

This was in the Atomium in Brussels (and yeah, I owe a post on that).  I liked the bench, so Paul took this picture. He took a few, actually, and all include this boy... and me looking annoyed.

Jenni did this, then Lindsay, so clearly this is the new big thing, right??
Edit: turns out Megan and Lauren posted theirs today, too!

 I've punctuated the words with some "outtakes" of me.  Hopefully you enjoy.

If you really knew me....

You'd know I will do practically anything for someone I care for, and will forgive them to the moon and back. If I don't like someone? I'll write them off for one little thing, with little chance for change.

There's a quote that describes this perfectly, and my high school best friend and I had it in the yearbook under our "friend" picture:

"If you don't like someone, the way he holds his spoon will make you furious; if you do like him, he can turn his plate over in your lap and you won't mind."   Irving Becker

I have (arguably) three tattoos right now- and specific plans for two more in the very near future. And in-the-works plans for at least two more.

I absolutely love having friends over and hosting get-togethers, but the cleaning beforehand stresses me out and my inner hermit has a panic attack.  "Whatever" friends- the kind that will laugh if you answer the door in your house robe at 12N, have fur-floofs in the corners that could have their own collars, and won't get annoyed when Max dive-bombs them on the couch for scratches- are the best, but hard to find and develop when you move a lot.

I respond to most stories about people's human kids with "Sloan did that, too!" or "When Max was a puppy, he..." Yep. I'm that person.

Sloan often offers the "kind of help we all can do without."  Also, if you get that reference, our friendship is meant to be.

I am non-competitive to the point that Paul refuses to play games with me. Apparently it's no fun for him if I have a good time losing. I blame this on being the youngest of four... relatedly, if there is a third person getting in our car, I instinctively sit in the back seat.

My oldest sister calls me by the world's worst pet name. I hate it. But I still whip-lash respond to it. (argh)

and no, you're not finding out what it is. I'd post nekkid pics online before I'd post that info.

I love finding things that are perfect for people, or remind me of them- and I wish I was a gazillionaire so I could buy the item(s) for them.

I'm 100% game for being mocked good-naturedly, provided two things: it's funny (don't waste my time or the great material I've given you), and I know and like you. If I don't know you and you join in- you're dead to me.

Even if I was stylish, this is why there are no outfit posts. Paul HATES taking pictures of me like that.  Here I just wanted him to document the fact that I was in 4" heels, and he took three pictures- all between me looking decent. This is when I was telling him I wasn't posing like Wonder Woman. argh.

I cross my toes. (Second toes (the longest) over my big toes.)

I have a vocabulary I wouldn't dare use around my mother. I also have the gutter-mind of a 14-year-old boy... and often giggle to the point I have to explain slang or euphemisms to my mother. (MILF was the latest one... awkward!)

Relatedly, there are words I don't like used around me. I've gotten better about saying something as the years have gone on, and I try to explain respectfully why I find those words cruel and offensive. At the very least, I ask that friends not use them around me- and I do my absolute best to not use words that offend friends (hence my sailor mouth's off switch).

I don't believe in love at first sight, I don't believe in "meant to be", I don't believe in "happily ever after".  I take great issue with pop-culture and media's unrealistic views of  'love'.  I believe in a good dose of lust and a whole lot of hard-freakin'-work. 

Paul contributed this one: I make sex-noises in completely non-sexual situations, and unintentionally. Such as when moving furniture. Or opening a tough jar.

This was during our move last year. Paul refused to ask any of his friends to help us and we're too cheap to pay anyone for a 7-mile move, so we did it all ourselves. I told Paul this picture is my insurance, for any potential future court proceedings between us.

I am completely unable to speak intelligibly when I'm half-asleep. I will try, and I can hear myself not making words, but I can't stop it, fix it, or do anything but try (and fail) again. Paul thinks it's the funniest thing ever, and has threatened to record it on multiple occasions.

While I'm aware of (almost) all of my 'issues' and faults, I'm content to ignore them and live with them.  They're part of me, right??

I have very strong opinions, but I usually like to know as much as possible about the opposing argument, to the point that I'll play devil's advocate if Paul or another friend will engage with me.

I name the things I depend on: my cameras, my cars, my computers. And I refer to them by name. To the point that, before I was with Paul, I was asked two different times if my boyfriend was "Jack".  No- that's my Jeep.

I frequently make up words, or adapt real words into other parts of speech, and I have a hard time not typing that on the internet- particularly to friends on FB. I try not to, though, because I really don't want someone I don't know to read it and think I'm a moron.

Paul was taking a picture of me with my Belgian beer. Only it came out as a mug shot. His smile/shutter timing is off...

So then I tried to take my own picture.  And things got ridiculous.

This was after a 6.5% beer... and a 4%. I'm a bit of a lightweight.

Have you done a "If you really knew me" post? Link to it in the comments!

4 Staffa

 Last week ended with two posts on our stop at Lunga, the largest of the Treshnish Isles. (I and II)
Just to refresh your memory, we were on the Wildlife Cruise, Treshnish Isles, and Staffa Tour with Gordon Grant Marine Boat Tours.

After we left Lunga we proceeded on to the highlight of our trip and the entire reason for our return to this area (although we'll take any reason to head back to Scotland, really!): Staffa and Fingal's Cave. 

We weren't able to get out to Staffa back in October 2010, as the winds were too high- but you'll notice that this time, despite the terrible forecast, we couldn't have had better skies!

Our first true views of Staffa from the boat!

 This cave is the one in the center of the rock in the above image- it's called "Boat Cave."

 Fingal's Cave! And tourists!

 I want a sailboat. Oh, and someone who knows how to sail. 

 As we got off the boat, this was our view to the left. You can see the "path" to Fingal's Cave on the right, and an outcropping of the hexagonal basalt columns on the left.

 Jellyfish!

 While this rock is natural, it was placed so favorably that it almost felt like the display at a museum: "Here's a sample of what you'll see ahead in the cave..."

 Fingal's Cave! Also known as the hardest place to photograph in bright sunlight. Ever.
The cave's legend says it was created by the giant Finn/Fingal (Irish/Scottish) during the same period as Northern Ireland's Giant's Causeway.
(The legend is under the link for Giant's Causeway.)

 The sea crashing through the cave (it extends across this end of the island) inspired Felix Mendelssohn to compose his Hebrides Overture.  After we got home we listened to it- and understood. 

Jellyfish! Can you believe how clear the water is here?!

Oh, hiiiiiii!
Yep. I wore my trusty Hunters!

This is the path you walk to get to the cave. The railing is on the cliff side... tourists walk on the seaside.

Another view of the basalt columns. The Vikings gave Staffa its name, meaning "pillar," as it reminded them of their vertical-log designed cabins.

The top of the island is green and beautiful.

This flower/plant grows on the rocks, with the lichen. I have no clue what it is, but it's pretty!

A local came out to say hi.

Next we headed over to Iona!