The long journey southwards begins at breakfast tomorrow - a walk, then ferry, bus, ferry, walk, train, walk, bus, wait interminably at Glasgow airport unless I can jump on an earlier flight (not very optomistic about this) then the flight itself (less bumpy than last time, I hope) then bus, train, walk… but at least for the last three modes of transport I should have company….

Saying goodbye to this lovely island is always hard - there’s something special about the quality of the air, the fine light, the stiff breezes and rich colours. There’s something cosy about the thick stone walls, the heaped duvets and oil heaters. There’s something relaxing about walking with my mother or spending long hours doing batik with my sister in her craft room… I’ll be back in the summer though - I have to show P the puffins…

I’ll be so happy to be home, though - raring to start a new year at work (there’s so much to do), overjoyed at the prospect of my comfy king sized bed, and just completely unable to wait the long hours and miles before I see P again. There’ll be a lot to catch up on - and a lot to share in the days to come. I have pictures and movies galore, of windswept beaches, and yours truly looking silly in a woolly hat.

Excuse the quietness for the next day or so - I’m on the road…

Update, later:
Home. Managed to get to airport a bit early and upgrade to the earlier flight, which meant I was home in time to actually have an evening with P. Lovely.

And oh, my bed. Did I mention how much I love my bed? It really is a thing of inordinate wonder.

Now spending a leisurely day ignoring email (sorry, I’ll get to it eventually), house hunting (hoorah!) and allowing myself to be swayed by consumerist pressure. Yes, I’m back in a place where money means something (all I’ve bought in the last two weeks is a can of diet coke on Christmas eve and a paper to read on the train) and I feel the need to hit the sales… but not for clothes. Oh no. I have clothes. Music, and a decent printer, I think.