Looking back...

Before I start, it's been a few months before anything was said on here... and there is probably going to be a lot said and written down, so prepare for a long post.

So I started the year off pretty normally, no abnormally high expectations. Carl and I were starting the year apart, him in Sweden and myself still in Scotland. Family things were normal, and university was, well, university, being the end of 3rd year and the beginning of the final one.

 Lots of flying back and forth took place. But it means I travelled to Sweden for the first time and made some lovely, happy memories there. And happy memories were made in Scotland too - first camping trip together, I even got in a kayak/canoe (whatever the thing was called)... And besides the ups and downs, little fights, and relying on Facebook and Skype, it was worth every second.

♥

September was not a good month - Carl went travelling, something that was going to be difficult anyway. I was going back to university. Dad went downhill rather quickly. And come the end of September, nothing was the same...

And so it was to be that Dad's time had come, and although a relief, I am still sad every day to think he is no longer with us. He was a great man, crazy but great, with lots of love and laughter. And I would like to thank everyone for all the generous support and touching, kind messages we received from near and far. It's nice to know that Dad was so well loved by all who knew him. I'm sure life without him will never be the same, and I don't think will ever come a day where I don't think about him or miss him ♥

♥

Time seems to have flown by since then - back to normal and being busy with university and work. Before you know it, it is Christmas and then New Year. It's been nice to spend the holidays with my family, and my first Christmas with Carl, snuggling up and eating lots.

But I would like to say a thank you to everyone who has been there this year, it's been a difficult one.

And a special thank you to Carl, for being there for me every day through all this. It's been one hell of a autumn, and a lot to adjust to for both of us. But thank you for coming back for me, staying by me, hugging me and taking care of me. I am so grateful, more than you will ever know. I love you with all my heart ♥

Hope you all have a happy new year, and I hope that it is everything you want it to be. Enjoy!

Love, E x

In memoriam, Dennis Moffat ♥

It's been a while since I wrote, and for the main part, its been because I haven't really known what to say.

We lost Dad at the end of September, and although it's been a long time coming, it was still a shock, and there's still a lot to try and understand and come to terms to.

27/05/1966 - 25/09/2012

And while I'm relieved that he no longer has to fight and struggle any more, it's sad to think that we will never hear him laugh, listen to him rant on about the wrong of the world, or see him smile, and it's sad to think about all the things ahead of us that he is going to miss. That said, I know he is still around and with us in spirit. I'm sure he will never be forgotten.


I am sorry not to get there on time, and I miss you every single day ♥

I love you, E x

You know your boyfriend loves you when...

... He is all the way around the other side of the world in China, but this little surprise turns up through your door :)

Cookies 'n' Creams, 'n' lots of love ♥

I am a happy girl :)

Well as happy as I can be right now, I still feel like death warmed up. Damn colds and feeling ill!

E x

Today is a bad day

Today is not a good day...

Carl left for China after a difficult week for us since he left me here... And after all that messing up, I really didn't want him to leave. And its the fact I can't just come home and talk to him whenever I want, he's going to be out of contact a lot of the time...

I just want this to be over quickly, for these few months to fly by so Carl can get this travelling and whatever he needs to do out of the way and just finally come home to me for good at last.. Just feel a bit lost. I miss him.

*sigh*

E x

Deep in thought

Today was planned for a lazy day, we were both shattered from our day in Edinburgh and our legs were sore. However, things changed a little...

So to clear my head a little, we went on a walk along Riverside to Cambuskenneth to see the Abbey ruins. It was a really nice walk and a nice little place, minus all the wind there was today.

Cambuskenneth Abbey

We headed to the store to get some snacks, we decided that the "no-sweeties" rule could be forgotten today and picked up some ice cream and a bit of chocolate. And then back home for cuddles. But then I decided I needed another walk so we headed up to the university campus for a wander around the loch.

Carl made us dinner tonight and has been looking after me today and making sure I get enough hugs. I love him more than anything ♥

E x

The heart of Scotland :)

Edinburgh time! 

Early start and an early train, but a day in Edinburgh is worth it, especially when it is lovely and sunny.

It was an open day at the University, and as one of my choice for medicine, we thought we should go along. However we didn't end up going to any of the talks as I have heard them all before and know what needs to be done. But we did get to see the old medicine buildings in the centre campus. Also, the Anatomical Museum was to be open for the day as well, and seeing as it is so difficult to go to as it is only open on the last Saturday of every month and I really really really wanted to go, we decided we should head there and see. However, after some discrepancy from some rude staff and after a quick phone call, apparently it wasn't and someone hadn't checked... and I don't know what other excuses... I was rather annoyed to say the least...

But we went for a wander back to the new side, and came across a lovely little church in the Princes Gardens, so we had a wander around the graveyard and inside. Then a wander through the park itself and sat on a bench in the sunshine for a while too. 

Prince's Gardens with St. Cuthbert's Church in the background

 It was then time to meet up with my Gran for a quick lunch and chat before we headed to the National Museum of Scotland. And we had nearly 4 hours and we thought that would be a decent amount of time... It turns out, apparently it isn't even enough to get around the first floor never mind the countless other levels! There is a Viking exhibition coming in the Spring so we will definitely be going to that and we can dedicate the rest of an entire day to trying to get around the rest.

Animal World Room -  http://www.nms.ac.uk

We got around a few really good rooms though; we did a little Astronomy room, the big Animal World room, the World Cultures room and then a room with various technologies and developments throughout the years. We quickly played in the discovery room, with all the interactive robots, and cars and energy things. Carl became an astronaut briefly and we headed on. We only had another 20-25 minutes before the museum closed though so we decided to leave as there wouldn't be enough time to go through another room in detail. Especially as the next room was the Scottish history room which looked really interesting with all stones and swords and history. For next time :)

Spaceman Carl :D

We went to one of the frozen yoghurt bars which made me happy and then sat near the National Gallery for a little while, listening to a street band, before heading to the train. I had a really really good day, but we were both shattered and in bed and asleep by 10.30pm. Wow, we are getting old :)

E x

Waterfalls and Airports

Seeing as I am so bad at updating this sometimes, this again is another catch-up post

So the week in Sweden went by rather quickly :( 

One of the before shots

28/08/2012 - But today we went on a little adventure, with lots of photos, down the road to Trollhättan to see the waterfalls, well the hydropower-y dam thing. We had a little wander around and then headed to the bridge to wait for 3pm when the dam gates were due to open. Carl quickly pointed out we were the only ones around with the exception of a couple of children who were tagging along with their parents, and we were really the only non-tourists as well... Anyhow, the gates soon opened, letting through thousands and thousands of litres of water (the exact amount I can't remember but it was a lot)... Here is a snapshot sequence of it all for you...

After watching the water for a while, we decided to have a little nosy further down and drove through the old power stations and past all the really nice old houses, to the lock system, where we saw the old locks and the new one. And down to extremely lucky timing, we got to watch a boat get moved up between the levels. Here are some more photos... (I was very snap-happy on this trip)

Filling up bit by bit...

And we're up!

We had a nice little wander around the little pretty lock bit and then headed back to Uddevalla to get dinner as we were starving! And it was lovely lovely pizza for dinner and fruit salad with the amazing vanilla ice cream. So I was all very happy but all very full and slightly in a food coma afterwards. And so another week in Sweden came to an end, which is sad, but I will be back again at some point so that's always something to look forward to :)

29/08/2012 - So left Sweden the next day. We got up and packed up and walked to the shop to get some sweeties for the journey back, because the pick'n'mix is the best ever. Carl's dad picked us up and drove us to the airport and then it was just waiting time for the plane. Its not a big airport so there wasn't much to walk around or kill the time so we found a table at the cafe bit and had a couple of really nice paninis to keep us going. 

Carl reading the newspaper in the airport

The plane was fun... Full of football fans flying to see some Swedish team play against Celtic. So lots of shouting and singing and general rowdiness. Which made the cabin crew even grumpier and less friendly. Being rudely told to "Be Quiet or we will not be taking off" isn't a great start to a flight... anyhow, it was over with in a couple of hours. We landed in Edinburgh in pouring rain. The weather had been so bad our train was delayed due to a landslide. We finally got back to the flat though and decided take-out was in order, no one wanted to cook... and then our two weeks together here began :)

E x