Six word Saturday

Last orders. Flying out later tonight.

Wordless Wednesday

Full moon; the beach at Lower Largo, Fife, Scotland

Ten Things Tuesday: small unexpected pleasures

I’ve been away from home for two weeks now and have had some wonderful experiences; meeting my newest nieces and nephews, visiting friends and relatives, and discovering more about my family’s past. But there have also been many small pleasures; good coffee, interesting people, fine architecture and beautiful views.

So here, in no particular order, are ten of the little pleasures that have helped to make my days so enjoyable:

Twilight view of The Sage, Gateshead

Lunch at The Olive Branch Cafe, Alnwick; where the owner know how to make coffee the Kiwi way!

First sight of Edinburgh Castle on a crisp autumn morning

My wonderful room at the Seascape B&B; Lower Largo, Fife.

The Scottish National Portrait Gallery; fantastic building – never mind the art.

Bust of Robert Louis Stevenson, Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh.

Oak roasted salmon, orange, pomegranate and snow pea salad; Pizza Express, Edinburgh.

Sunrise; Lower Largo, Fife

Early morning on the stone bridge at Tyringham, Buckinghamshire.

The sanctuary knocker; north door, Durham Cathedral.

Word a week photography: arch

I’m in the UK at the moment – revelling in the architectural gems of many centuries that pop out at me wherever I go.

Sue’s Word a Week photography challenge is arch: perfect for so much of what I’ve seen on my recent travels.

The parish church at Gayhurst, Buckinghamshire.

Dunfermline Abbey, Fife, Scotland

The parish church at Auchtermuchty; Fife. Home of my Leslie forebears in the late 19th century.

St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh

Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh

The old churchyard at Kirkmichael, Perthshire. The headstone in the foreground is that of my 4x great grandparents, James Wallace and Ann Cunnison.

Wordless Wednesday (still): when art says enough

These are three of many busts of famous Scots in the National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh.

Wordless Wednesday: in the presence of the past

Kirk Wynd, Kirkcaldy, Fife

10 things Tuesday: postcards I’d buy to reflect my journey so far

Fiddling in the roof

I’ve been in the UK for five days now; not quite sure where the time has gone but it’s been lovely to catch up with family.

I’m not exactly jet-lagged, but my body clock is slightly out of sync with local life. It’s seven o’clock on a Sunday night and I really just want to go to sleep.

I’ve got so many potential posts buzzing around in my head, but for now all I can manage is some photos. So far my rooms have been in loft conversions; deliciously comfortable, well-done conversions. So here are the views from my windows this last week.

Wordless Wednesday: killing time with the in-flight entertainment

Ten things Tuesday: what I’ll miss while I’m away

Three weeks in the UK visiting family, friends, art galleries and doing family history research. Am very much looking forward to it, but I WILL SO MISS:

Always in my heart. Photo: Gray-Leslie family archive

The rest of the freesia season

My bed

One of Dot’s fabulous birthday cakes

Having the beach to myself on a sunny day

Coffee, toast and homemade plum jam

Almost 20 years on, and we’re still being goofy together. Photo: Gray-Leslie family archive.

My son: gorgeous, clever, thoughtful and wickedly funny.