Highland Line Number 43

Happy May Day! Have you been as busy as we have? April was quite a busy month and it looks as though the summer right through to the end of September will be steadily busy for us. That's not a complaint, mind you.

The 1st through the 9th of April found us in the States for our annual Passover/Easter visit to Bethesda to be with family and friends and to do a little business. (See highlights of the trip on the blog for 21 April and 13 April below.) It was a wonderful trip and we had terrific visits with everyone, perhaps the best spring trip yet. We were so happy to see so many of you, especially our children, their partners, and our grandchildren.

We returned from an overnight flight on the 10th of April and were immediately back in the swim of things as the following day was the annual end-of-the-year Probus lunch at the Achray House Hotel which always includes spouses. The next day, I had a tutoring session with my private client who is learning quilting techniques. That afternoon, Don and I went to Perth for some shopping and dinner out because we had tickets for a concert at the new Perth Concert Hall featuring Altan, a superior Irish traditional group from Donegal whom we have followed for over 20 years. Their opening act was Session A9, a rather new traditional Scottish fiddle group who have been making a big splash since they first appeared on the scene a year or so ago. Both bands were fabulous so it was a great night.

You can see why April was a sparse month for blogs. In fact, you can see them all for the month of April just by scrolling down this screen, no need to click on Archives this time.

On the 16th I had my routine three-monthly check-up at Ninewell's Hospital Plastic Surgery Department and, once again, received the all-clear. This was confirmed on the 26th when I had the routine check-up at Perth Royal Infirmary's Dermatology Department. They will continue to see me every three months until it's been 3 years since the surgery (another 2 years) and then they'll go to every 6 months for a while. I must say, they are keeping on top of the situation admirably, which is so reassuring.

Speaking of health issues, Don's knee continues to be okay, knock wood (you should excuse the expression). I, however, have learned that what my doctor thought was sciatica in my left hip joint turns out to be a problem with the joint itself. The physio (that's what they call physical therapists over here) said it isn't rapidly deteriorating but it isn't going to get better. I can help by doing exercises (in addition to the weekly Pilates and Aquafit sessions) to strengthen my leg muscles. Last Friday night Don and I tempted fate considerably by doing several Scottish country dances at a ceilidh. Let's just say we certainly know we did them but so far, we haven't fallen apart!

The ceilidh was in honor of Perthshire's guests from Cognac, France, who were with us from the evening of the 23rd until yesterday morning, the 30th. If you check out the blog for the 30th, below, you'll see an overview over the visit and some terrific photos. (The photo above is the piper who greeted us all as we entered Comrie's White Church for the ceilidh.) Our guest, Catherine Mattei, was a delight to be with. We couldn't have asked for a better housemate for a week. (Another reason the blogs were scarce in April is that what little there was left of it prior to the Cognac visit we spent doing a spring cleaning in the house and tidying up the garden.)

Now we're getting ready to fly away to Italy early next Tuesday morning, so early in fact that we're spending Monday night at the Edinburgh Airport Hilton (which, for the price of the room for one night will keep our car for us up to 2 weeks). We fly into Rome, train to Naples, cab to the Port of Naples, get a ferry or a hydrofoil to the island of Ischia, and a cab to the village of Buonopanne (Good Bread), home of our friend Gianfanco Balestriare. We will be there for about a week. Our other host, David Hendrickson (with whom Lynn worked when she first went to work at the University of Maryland University College), has told us to bring casual clothes, sweaters, sturdy shoes, a bathing suit, and a shower cap (for when we go to "take the waters" in one of Ischia's noted spas). This will be a great adventure for us.

We hope the weather is pleasant where you are. Here it's been quite sunny and fairly warm. We haven't had much rain and the garden would very much like a bit more. Everything is bursting into leaf and bloom and is just gorgeous. Perhaps someone delivered a bouquet of Lillies of the Valley to your door this morning. No? Well, here is one. Happy May Day!

Love,

Lynn and Don