Bittersweet..

Home again and loving the hugs, kisses and happiness.

Home again and drowning in domesticity. 

Back in the bubble of love and joy that is my existence.

Far away from the Land that I love. 

Elizabeth Gardens, Salisbury, Wiltshire

my eldest daughter was named after this place. 

Inner Ramblings of a Stranded Passenger.....

This is a very difficult post for me to write today, the reason I'm  not shying away 

from something so difficult is that I want to preserve these feelings.... I don't know why, 

I just do, and seeing as this is my method of preservation, here goes. 

Friday was full of fun and laughter, although every media outlet was harping on about 

the cloud of volcanic dust over the UK, I took my usual optimistic approach and didn't 

worry about it. I was sure it would all blow over by Sunday and I'd be out of there and on 

my way back to South GA. By Saturday morning when I went to check in I was happy to 

see that my flight was OK, I called home to assure his gorgeousness that all was well and I'd be

checking in online momentarily, by the time I returned to my coveted netbook the flight 

had been cancelled!!!! A tiny bit of anxiety set in as I was unable to get hold of the 

airlines, I did manage to talk to a wonderful lady about my hotel reservations and she 

was very helpful in changing those for me. "Not to worry madam, we understand the situation

and will be happy to accommodate you in any alterations you may need to make". Super. 

So, for a few agonizing hours on Saturday and Sunday I attempted to contact the airlines 

and see what the hell was happening. Finally on Sunday I make human contact, their alternative 

plan is to book you on the first available flight (God willing it will actually get off the ground) which 

for me was a week away. So with my heart sinking I told the guy to go ahead and book me

a space and I'd pray for the best. The best is still yet to happen, here we are on Tuesday 

and there are still no flights out of the UK and I'm relying on the graces of some good friends

who very generously offered to let me stay here until I can make it home. 

So, luckily for me this beautiful city is a photographers paradise! If I can't go home then I can 

at least make the best of it and take some pictures and enjoy the unusually warm weather

we are experiencing. This is like a dream come true... Time on my own with my camera

in one of the most picturesque places on the planet (in my opinion, and it's my blog so mine

is the only opinion that counts right now!). Not so, all I want to do right now is see my 

family. I'm pretty independent and was happy to book a trip home without them for a 

little over a week, but being forced to be away from them for this long is not sitting well with

me. I want to see them, to hug them, to share in their days and kiss boo boos. 

Oh we're talking on the phone a few times a day but it's not the same, last night Syd was 

telling me something and she just stopped and sighed... "I miss you Mama". It just 

about broke me heart right there and then. I will never again travel without my little 

gang... we're a unit... we're four quarters that make a whole... we're a well oiled 

engine that doesn't work with a part missing. 

For now, it's back to the checking of websites, looking for a break in the dust cloud, 

and trying to make the best of it. I feel like I'm torn between two loves, this city is 

about the only place on earth I would actually want to be stranded in, but I realize that 

the only people on earth I really want to be with forever and ever are the McGilly's on 

the other side of the Pond. Wouldn't it be grand if they were stranded with me?

So here's a little snippet of Sunny Salisbury for you.... enjoy!!!! 

'scuse the white balance, I picked up my camera today and realized the whole time I 

had it set on incandescent light! Urgghhh... here I am thinking I'm top banana photo

woman and I'm an idiot. A little editing helped somewhat. 

Any of you bloggers want to come hang out in the Salisbury area just give me a 

shout, Spud? B? anyone?

Keeping Calm and Carrying On!!! 

In which a Volcano Stops Play.....

After spending a few days with the family here in the UK I'm settling back into 

the British way of life nicely. Had a couple of visits to the pub, my fave of all British 

Traditions.... last night was hilarious, the particular pub we went to has a little

room in the back, very traditional.  I think they call it a snug. 

Anyhoo... there were a bunch of old men in there just enjoying a pint and putting 

the world to rights. It seemed they would all talk at once, then there'd be a few

moments of silence while they reflected and then it would start again. 

Then at one point "the Mrs" of one of them poked her head in the door and 

up he jumped, grabbed his coat and followed her home. Sweet. 

We grabbed a Chinese take away when we left and my GOD it was 

soooo awesome!!!! Really bad for you and I'll have a lot of work to do 

when I get home to shed all the pounds I'm gathering along the way.

So.. and in true McGilly tradition, nothing goes smoothly... in this case we have 

a cloud of volcanic ash over the UK, it's halted all flights... yes nothing 

minimal here, not just a few delays or anything... ALL FLIGHTS CANCELLED!

Heathrow Airport is quieted, as is Gatwick and EVERY AIRPORT

in the COUNTRY!!!! wtf??? So while his gorgeousness panics about 

the logistics of it all, I am calmly checking the websites and seeing 

what the developments are. If all goes well I can fly home as planned on 

Sunday, if not I'll just hang around and maybe shop a little more! hee hee.

Well gotta go now and get ready to head South, we're off to my old 

stomping ground to see my old friends and guess what... we're going

to the pub!!! Whooop Whooop. Catch ya later bloggers!!!! 

Live from Across the Pond.....

OK it's hard to even think about blogging while I'm here... 

I have certainly been busy. 

Here are just a couple of pics to keep y'all going..

I know Aunt Kim will have been checking regularly to 

see what's going on... so here goes. 

So there you have it.... some pretty landscapes and some pretty 

pictures of me celebrating with Sissy and Mum!!! 

She's pretty stylish for an old gal... Mum that is not Sissy... hee hee!!! 

Live from a Travelling Mid Life Mama...

OK peeps... at the airport...woop wooop!!!! it's always amusing....there's an array of people in uniforms who think they are way more important than the Queen....I mean helllooooo. They are there to check your bags and give you shit about how many toiletries your carrying, how can they possibly be more important than the Queen FFS??????

Yes it happened again, every time I travel I get the lecture about my toiletries... this time there was a woman in uniform at the x-ray machine... she looked aghast and said ... "this is just one passenger" then she hailed a big guy over there to count and test my shit to make sure I wasn't smuggling millions of dollars in lotion. You see I knooowwwww there are limits and you can only have about a milliliter of liquid in any bottle... so the answer my friends is simple... buy a ton of travel size shampoo and body wash and lotion and toothpaste and mouthwash and blah blah blah and carry them all on. I have to say my bag is mighty heavy and I may have overdone it just a tad but a girl has to stay clean when on the "road". What if my sissy and the friends I'm staying with don't have my brand of shampoo and body wash, what if my skin dries up in the skies over the Atlantic and I can't find the superdy duperdy creamy hydrating lotion??? I cannot get off the plane in Blighty lookin' like a dried up prune.

Then there's all the equipment.... it's a sign of the times...there was a day when I would never take any electronics with me when travelling.. other than maybe a little instamatic camera.  Now I have my Nikon, three lenses, my net book, all the chargers and batteries... the phone.. and charger... the this the that and before you know it I look like some kind of crazy walking office. Unbelievable!!!! Oh and I still need to buy new headphones for my iPod, I know I had some last week but just couldn't find them before I left the house!

I did think about buying a book at the airport too but wtf I can't carry one more thing!!! not even a paperback.... and I was so sure I had packed light... dang it. Check back later when I'll be reporting live from another damn airport in another damn city. I should reach my destination some when in the next month or so when it will be time to turn around and come home!!!! Bon voyage!!!!

In which they had a great weekend....

Helloooo folks… missed me??? I know, I have been out there in the real world with real people having real fun! It’s been a hectic couple of weeks and although I miss sharing my inner thoughts with y’all I have had a good time bothering real people with my jumbled thoughts and ramblins.

The McGillies spent the weekend with the family in Florida… and what a fun weekend it was. We celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, Easter….. you name it we celebrated it. The kids were worn slap out by the time we got home late Sunday night and quite honestly so was I!!!  We actually saw an alligator at a rest stop on the way there, yes an ugly old gator covered in slime… yuk. We had a little impromptu party at Aunt Kim’s place, out by the pool with some lovely chilled wine… I don’t know what came over me but I had to lay in the hammock and take a nap… awesome!!!  Sunday was the annual egg hunt at Great Grannies house, more relaxing, eating and sipping, the weather was perfect and so was the company. I don’t know about you but as long as the sun is shining and my glass is topped up I’m happy!!! The funny thing is that each time we go they all thank us for making the long drive and coming down…. Of course we’re going to do that…. We love to get together and catch up!! Why wouldn’t we????? The drive does get a little old sometimes but we really do enjoy spending time with the Fam.

I’ll be off soon to England so please check in, I’ll be taking my trusty little netbook and be checking in with updates as to what’s going on over there!!! More get togethers and wine I’m sure….only colder…. Brrrrr…. I’m totally having an attack of wardrobe confusion… how do all those celebs manage??? Posh Spice looks great whatever side of the Pond she’s on… if she can do it I can too.. ….. Cheerio chaps!!!! Mmwwuuaaahhhhh.

Happy Hour Friday.....

Ok let's get started... I am happy because it's Thursday but it felt like Friday cos we have tomorrow off and therefore that means today is a kinda Friday....and I wore a totally casual outfit to work... I'm crazy like that.

We're headed off to Great Grannies for an egg hunt this weekend... you know... all the family there, the teenagers talking about how lame it is... the kids uber excited about how fantastic it is... and everyone else me and Kim drinking too much fun juice. Good Times.

I've been busy with projects laundry this week, it's like kudzu, it never stops growing and spreading, I'm trying to be a better housewife and mother maid. So have been neglecting the bloggies a little... got to my reader and  gasped at all the posts waiting for my attention... loved catching up a little tonight though, if I didn't get to you don't shoot me!!!! it always helps if you send me financial incentives.. lol.

A week from today I'll be in the skies flying across the Atlantic to my homeland, you have no idea how happy that makes me... although the freakin' weather is not looking promising... wtf do I expect i'm going to England, ffs!!!!!

And finally, it's been beautiful this week, and it's great to be outside, chalks are a fave around here and i love to see the self portraits... too funny!!!!!

What's making you happy???? go link up with Bambs.