Saturday, May 21, 2011

I'd like to be...

I'd like to be…

in a pretty and tidy cottage near Loch Assynt in Sutherland, in the north-west of Scotland. Ideally I’d have Mr Life and our offspring with us but I’d settle for Mr Life by himself. It would be sunny and not too windy and there would be a big window with this view over the mountains and the loch. We would just have come in from a health-giving walk during which the Great Scottish Midge (so called because of its minute size and famous ferocity) failed to bite us. And we’d be drinking a cup of tea, possibly with a small cake (which we would deserve because of the walk). Dinner would be a long way off (because of the cake).

There would be a big pile of interesting books – biographies or really amusing novels for me with no sad or gratuitously naughty bits, and books about narrow gauge railways or mediaeval detectives for him. It would be cosy. There would be nothing worklike to do. Someone would be at home looking after the cats.

My mother, who isn't really a fan of bracing walks, would be on a nice holiday somewhere warm with one of her friends. My confused aunt would be no longer confused. There would be nothing to worry about.

(I’d also like to be thin and rich, and preferably twenty-five, but I don’t think my imagination can stretch that far.)

11 comments:

  1. Sounded perfect, till came to the lack of biting insects, and then I realised it was all a dream........

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  2. Possibly different books for us but otherwise we'e be there too!

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  3. It all sounds like Utopia to me, except for the weather. You didn't mentioned a big log fire or central heating! Oh, and I would have some embroidery to do when I needed a break from reading...

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  4. But would you really want to be 25 again? "Thin" is not all that it is cracked up to be. I weighed all of 4 stone when I was 25 - healthy, but inherited small bones from my Mum. I had to alter every item of clothing that I bought.
    But "rich" - now that is a wish worth cultivating. I wasn't back then, and I probaby never will be!

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  5. Oh you don't want the cats there with you? Surely they'd make it just perfect.

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  6. I'm with you!

    P.S. Has Mr. Life ever heard of the Brother Cadfael series, written by Ellis Peters? She was a woman writer using a man's name because of the times. BBC also made it into a wonderful TV series (now available on DVD) starring Derek Jacobi as Brother Cadfael, a medieval monk detective. One of my favorites of all time!

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  7. Oh, how I long to be in Scotland again. The Edinburgh area would do for now, but sadly, that's not in the cards for us just now.

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  8. LOVELY and shall certainly return! Good to be back blogging!

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  9. Oh gosh, a lot to catch up on....having a little cry reading about your aunt. Just got back from the Lake District though no walks, was with fast moving Americans! Tues it must be Belgium sort of thing! Definitely stitching would have to come too but no midges please as I haven't recovered from the little beasts around Lake Michigan yet! Anna M's biography is very much worth reading but somewhat sad. Ask Mr L if he has read the Ariana Franklin series - Mistress of the Art of Death? Don't know what to say about children being away - mine are too, a long way :(

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  10. You're so funny. It looks (and sounds) like the perfect vacation spot. I'd love to be there with you too. My Aunt is here this week and we were talking about a repeat visit to Scotland. Her comment was... "I need to find me a cat-friend...." ;-)

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  11. me, too...

    but not with Mr. Life (cuz he's YOUR scotsman) ... and maybe with hot chocolate or coffee instead of tea ... and chocolate chip cookies instead of cake ... and novels WITH the naughty bits ... and a bit of stitchery ... sigh

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