Summers over

Yep, I've been very quiet - for 4 months I'm ashamed to admit.
I can't swear I've been too busy (although I have). Nor that nothing interesting has happened in that time. (Although some of you may argue that nothing interesting ever happens in my blog). I just kinda got busy and summer was here - and I lost the desire to write about stuff.

I can't promise I'm back in the groove now. Who knows? But I decided today to register as a volunteer for non-profits, so thought that might be an interesting little journey I'd like to log personally. So I'm back onboard for the moment.

In the meantime, lest I forget here's what I did this summer.

April, visa renewal application (paperwork hell)

May visa got approved. Tenants finally grudgingly moved out of Rose Cottage

June part #1 returned to Scotland - via the Hamptons where husbands dress sense was publicly deriled by v camp couple in matching pastel shade Bermuda shorts ensemble. (Ironic, I know) Husband handled it very well I have to say.

June part#2. Braced ourselves for the horrible, US embassy experience, packed little survival bags for the anticipated 7 hour ordeal. Were in and out in 45 minutes with approved new 3 year visas (hurrah!). Since the Embassy ban mobile phones, pda's and even key fobs we had nobody's number with us, so couldnt hook up with all the friends we hoped to catch up with. Instead spent the nice day dotting around London in the sunshine, and eating scones in Liberty's while waiting for our plane back up North.

July. Did a mini tour of Scotland with some American friends in tow. Slept in castles, ate in dungeons, laughed at the yanks chasing sheep and taking photos of their dinner. It was fun.

Then got stuck into the DIY proper in big panic for selling the house. Tenants smoked and had dogs (both forbidden in the lease) but what can you do? We painted, scrubbed, mowed, trimmed, pruned, laid floors, ditched furniture. Got totally bogged down in it and didnt manage to see all the friends we had planned too. We did manage to spend some time with immediate family though - so we haven't been completely disowned yet.

August. Back to the USA with too much luggage in tow. Our first visitors of the season (they got here the day before us!) A weekend in the mountains. Back to work and school and real life. - and fog. lots of fog.

September. Rose cottage not sold yet.But the sun is back. Had a FAB week at brunches, and sundowners and boating parties and looking forward to the glorious sunshine that is fall here in CA.

... And my new volunteering adventure. I'll keep you posted on that one. But as it's work related I'm going to open it up on a new blog. Will post that address here when I get around to getting started proper.

Feel free to post replies - its nice to know there's someone out there.