The Glass

I miss Edinburgh.

Before the pandemic hit, 2023 was going to be the year that I returned to this Scottish capital, and for the first time, I'd be accompanied by DW. It wouldn't be our first time in the UK together and it wouldn't be her first time in Scotland, but would be our first time there, together.

Because of the pandemic, a lot of our travel plans were postponed. Some may never be recreated as we had originally planned but all of them had been pushed out.

We were considering a return to Italy in 2024, but my parents have come to the realization that they've pushed of travelling for so long that they are starting to think that it's now or never. And so, we're planning to go with them to Italy this year; likely, in the fall.

Next year, DW and I will be heading to Costa Rica for a couple of weeks and I would like to go to Iceland. So the UK is being pushed out even further.

But I miss Scotland, and in particular, Edinburgh.

The last time I was in Edinburgh was in 2010, with my best friend, Stu. He was attending a botany conference and I was gathering information for my novel. Most days, we did our own thing but we did manage to spend quite a bit of time together.

One fond memory was heading to the Oxford Pub, made famous by Ian Rankin's Inspector Rebus novels, of which both Stu and I were fans. Stu captured this photo of me as we were enjoying pints of Belhaven's Best, a lovely bitter malt ale that I sought out at any pub that poured it.

A couple of years later, at a Robert Burns Day lunch at the now defunct Ottawa Scottish pub, Highlander, my father and I received Belhaven pint glasses to commemorate the day. It's one of my favourite beer glasses that I use to pour myself cream ales, stouts, and other fine brews.

And every time I drink out of this glass, I think of Edinburgh, wondering when I'm going to find myself there again.

Soon, I hope. Soon.

Happy Thursday!

Photo Friday: Where's Ross?

Because I try to stay at home as much as possible, I'm not going out with my camera as much as I'd like to. Typically, I go out to run errands, so it's basically a get there, get what you need, and get home exercise.

Not much opportunity to go wandering with my camera.

And because my planned trip to Europe was cancelled, I find myself looking through old photos of vacations, reliving the good times gone by (hence, my reliving my trip to Scotland, 10 years ago, and an upcoming series of blog posts of a family vacation to Italy—stay tuned).

I was recently looking at vacation photos from September, 2010, when my family and I spent a week in New York City. As I clicked through my Google Album photos, I saw one photo that made me stop and almost click the trash can to delete it. The photo shows a billboard somewhere near Times Square that was showing what looks to be a live video shot of a crowd of people below.

"Why would I take that shot?" I asked myself. "Let alone, why keep it?"

I looked closer and then saw why. I was taking a photo of myself. Can you see me? (Don't scroll down until you do.) ▼

▼

▼

▼

▼

▼

▼

▼

▼

▼

▼

Here I am:

I guess I'll keep it.

Happy Friday!

Throwback Thursday: I Am Loved

"Come snuggle with Daddy," I said, patting the sofa cushion next to me. "You know you love me."

This was said, in the voice that I used for my toddler daughter, last night, to my now 15-year-old. In response, she looked at me, head tilted to one side, right eyebrow raised, and a look on her face that said, "Okay, Dad, you've lost it."

In our newly refurnished family room, we have an oversized sofa and a leather IKEA Poang chair. The chair is mine: I claimed it when everything was moved into place. It's next to a window, where I can rest my beer glass and the remote control. DW and my girls spread themselves out across the sofa.

Only, last night, I wanted a change of venue, and so I sat on the sofa, on the end furthest from the TV. It was my old spot on the old sofa.

DW sat in my chair, and DD15 looked at the new arrangement, wondering where she was going to sit. I was in the spot that she usually claimed. I saw that she wanted to sit down, and I welcomed her over. "Snuggle wi' your da!"

She moved to the opposite end, her back to me.

"You know you love your dad," I reminded her.

I had the proof.

I keep all of the notes that my kids have left for me over the years, and it was only last week that I revisited one of my favourites. I moved it onto my phone, to keep it where I can look back, lovingly, on it.

I showed her the photo, and her face lit up. She remembered writing it, she said. It was written in 2010.

Ten minutes later, she had shifted her position on the sofa. She was snuggled next to me, her head resting, lovingly, on my shoulder.

Yup, I'm loved.

Wordless Wednesday: Time Machine 9

2010: Edinburgh & North Berwick, Scotland