Saturday, April 12, 2008

A year in the country...

This year, we were supposed to be spending a year in the country.

At one stage, we were planning to spend a year in the north of Scotland. Both of us have Scottish heritage and I love books set in the Scottish north and we had it all worked out. We'd even picked our cottage -- a lovely keeper's cottage at Portmahomack. A year with the four seasons! I was so excited.

But then I was attacked by doubts -- after all we had our own cottage in the country in the north of Australia. Surely, we should spend a year there first. So that was plan B. To add a spare room and dining room at Tarzali and live there for a year.
But we hadn't accounted for builders.
We have a builder, who has already done some work for us and understands our "vision," so we've been patient -- incredibly patient, while his commitments to other jobs take precedence.
Hmmm...
E's up there at the moment chatting with him... and long story short, we at last have his promise that out modest project will be completed by the end of May.
So, that's the new plan... to start our year in the country in June. At least it will be lovely and cold. Yes, when you've lived in Townsville for 30 + years, you can put both those words in the same sentence.
Will keep you posted. Meanwhile, I have to finish my Mother's Day novella.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful idea. Serendipity. I think it is great to be able to do that, despite no four seasons. You'll have a Christmas NOT in the midst of moving or packing, so that's good!!
Good luck with the novella.
It is definitely Autumnal here: all crisp and cool and leaves turning colour everywhere.

Barbara Hannay said...

I'm sure Tasmania is gorgeous in autumn. Another idea that has growing appeal for us is to spend our four seasons somewhere else in Australia.

Natasha Oakley said...

Aaaaaaaaaah no, you have to come to Scotland. You need to experience hogmanay, Haggis and the misty beauty of Scotland.

Barbara Hannay said...

Keep talking, Natasha.I'm a pushover when it's anything to do with Scotland.