A Scottish wedding

At Alex and Shona's wedding-- May 18, 2013

On Saturday we headed up to Edinburgh for our first Scottish wedding. It was so lovely. We saw so many familiar faces, had so many hugs and catch-ups, so many congratulations-- it made us realize how very long indeed it has been since we did live in Edinburgh (July 2012) and far too long since we visited our church. Such a family, such a home.

The wedding itself was lovely.  I cried more than once.  I loved the kilts and the bagpipes, the lovely bridal attire, the bridesmaids dresses. The service, the hymns. My first British wedding cake. The reception was in stunning grounds. But more than all that, was simply thrilled for Alex and Shona.  It's exciting to share in someone else's brimming happiness.

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Lately. I haven't blogged much.  I don't seem to know what to say or write.  My time is also more, compressed.  And when I write now, it's more to sort things out, to sift my thoughts. 

The things we're up to.  We're looking for a place to live come January.  And I'm plodding along on my doctorate. I've invigilated (ie proctored) a handful of exams. I've finished my teaching. Several conferences simmer on the horizon. 

I'm in a bit of a reading lull.  After Anna Karenina, I've tried to pick up Crime and Punishment, but it's not taking.  I'm thinking I ought to try some F Scott Fitzgerald.  Fran is tearing his way through Gatsby just now.  We've made a deal to try not to see films before we've read the books.

We've talked a lot lately about what we want things to look like. Organizing and planning others.  Dead excited for a bank holiday weekend next week.  It also marks four years since we began our travels around Europe.  The passing of time never ceases to amaze me.  And yet here we are, here we are now. I would never have fathomed it.  It's probably that which makes life so much better than books or films, that you could never have guessed it, infinitely variable, infinitely surprising.