A random assortment of things from me to you, from my world to yours as a testimony to what my life looks like these days. Random and full.
1) Back on November 30 the town celebrated the annual St Andrew’s Day, consisting of a huge procession of pipers, torch bearers, weird fish people (typical oddities in every public celebration here), and, of course, that which makes a Scottish procession complete—men in skirts kilts. The procession led to an amazing display of fireworks (for St Andrews quality, that is) nearby the Old Course Hotel, before rounding back up to the city centre for the world’s largest outdoor street ceilidh (a Scottish country dance party)! I do love me a good street dance!
2) Because St Andrew’s Day is a national celebration, many of the historic sites are open for visitors, and are free! Here in St Andrews, one of the greatest attractions, particularly for women, is the open doors of The Royal and Ancient Clubhouse. Normally only members of the R&A are allowed inside, and only men are allowed to be members of the R&A. I’m all for traditions, so I’ll let it slide. And I couldn’t care less about golf. Nevertheless, on St Andrews Day each year, non-members of both genders are allowed inside its doors to sneak a peak at what only the elite few ever get to enjoy. It’s pretty cool, but nothing to get your knickers in a twist over. It was, however, pretty cool to look out over the 18th green from within the clubhouse.
3) In other news, in church on Sunday an older Scottish man said to me, ‘Ye know, yer quite aye haesler (hustler)’! If I hadn’t been stationary when he said it, I probably wouldn’t have thought twice about the seemingly out of context phrase. Nevertheless, I decided I didn’t want to know what exactly he meant by it. ‘Gee, thanks’. Later I asked another Scottish person what it meant, and they said it is someone who ‘Get’s things done’. I suppose that’s okay!
4) Also on Sunday, I met someone at church for the first time. We exchanged a few words previous to the service, after which we continued the conversation. Upon resuming the dialogue, she said to me, ‘I thought I detected a slight French accent at first’.
Bahahaha!!! I know, right? French?! Minnesotan is as far from French as one can get!
5) We had the St Mary’s (Divinity School of the U of SA) Carol Sing in the St Leonard’s Chapel the other night. It is entirely lit by candles, drafty, and oh so great for singing the sharp notes of ‘O Come O Come Emmanuel’.
6) And the University of St Andrews has also had its yearly carol service at Holy Trinity Church. It is a much larger service, church, choir and sound than the St Mary’s Carol Sing, making each good in their own ways. (The background picture on this blog is of Holy Trinity Church.)
7) We’ve had some pretty cold temperatures (low-30’s in the daytime and mid-20’s at night) with lots of freezing rain, black ice, and frost on the grass that doesn’t leave for days on end. It’s a chilly cycle ride to work in the mornings. And slippery. And dark. The sun is rising these days at 8:30 am and setting at 3:30 pm, and we’re still 1.5 weeks from the solstice.
8) Tragically, a St Andrews student was killed in a car accident two weekends ago due to nasty roads. She and I were tutors together at the University. I didn’t know her super well, but well enough. So not only has that been sad to think about, but my work load has instantly doubled. And my boss has been sick for the last week. So make that a tripled work load. The semester is just two weeks away from being done though, so it will all end soon.
9) Unfortunately, I had planned on having a chapter written by the end of this week. I’m not sure it’s going to happen now due to the tripled tutoring hours, but I’m trying to make a valiant effort nonetheless. Talk about long days of darkness. Metaphorically and Literally.
10) On a happier note, I finished a shawl that I’ve been working on for Judith, my land lady, for her Christmas gift. I think it looks great. One really can accomplish a lot by spending just ten minutes every day or so!
11) A few of the things I’m loving these days: mornings of German by a warm Aga, nights of reading by a COAL fire, phone conversations with friends near and far, reading with a small dog snuggled next to me.
12) To continue the randomness of all of this…. For all of you moms of wee ones, I’d like to point you to my friend Betsy’s blog. I’m not a mom, but I look forward to every post she makes. Her daughter, Norah, is the most verbal child I’ve ever met, and comes up with the most hilarious things to say. Check out the ‘Lately Said’ on the right side of the page. You young (and experienced) mom’s may especially like one of her last posts: winter and the hereafter.
13) And another one: Another blog I like is a winter resident’s in Cooke City who posts some of the most incredible pictures of winter sights and adventures there. I’ve never met him, but, like Betsy’s, I look forward to every picture he posts. Check it out: The Cooke City Chronicle.
14) I will unashamedly say that Christmas is never easy away from home, and especially not this far from home. Please send me emails or cards telling me all about your lives these days. Any sense of connectedness helps me to get through the season with a bit more joy that I would otherwise have. You are all constantly in my thoughts.
16) Okay – that’s all for a study break tonight! Good night from Scotland!
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