Beginnings and Changes from Singapore and Scotland

Once upon a time in a Uni town

That lies on the Menai Straits.

A clever young man and a beautiful girl

would sit up talking until very late.

They talked of their hobbies

Of climbing and swimming,

Of music and walking and things.

They talked for so long they soon fell in love,

You know that feeling that makes your heart sing?

And after they graduated with mortas and gowns

And their tutors had given their congratulations,

The boy did his PHD in a town far away.

And the beautiful girl? Well she went with him!

Together they lived, they worked and they played

Supporting and loving each other,

They even started a club where others could come

To learn how to be a cool Ninja!

And then came the day that they flew far a way

To a wedding in sunny New Zealand.

They climbed a volcano, where the boy knelt on one knee

To ask, if she'd take him, as her husband.

How happy we were when we all heard the news,

Our family had suddenly become larger.

John and Debbie were thrilled, as was I and her brother

I had a new son and they had a new daughter.

It was with this poem, along with a few flash cards of Lisa and Steve that I began my speech at their leaving party two weeks ago. Eighteen of Steve's family had gathered together for a meal at the local hotel and while we were waiting to be seated I had been asked to say a few words.

Having begun at the beginning, I went on to tell some more ….

Hopefully many of you have read the story of Lisa and Steve's Wedding, in fact I am sure a few of my readers were actually there but what you may not realise is the significance of the date!!

The 13^th day of the 7^th month in 2013.

Now my daughter has always been rather good at maths, in fact she loves maths. Numbers are pictures to her and she is especially fond of prime numbers. She was actually born on the 13^th of July so maybe her love of prime numbers started there, who can tell.

Her husband Stephen, is also rather good at maths, which I am sure you will all agree is a useful trait for a theoretical quantum chemist.

So having returned from New Zealand she and Steve decided to get married five months later on her birthday as 13 is a prime number and so is 7. I did point out that 2013 is not a prime number - it is divisible not only by 1 and itself but also by 3 - but my daughter quickly countered that if you add up the dates of her wedding 13, 7 and 2013 it equals 2033 which is a prime number!!

She also got married at 11 am, yet another prime number.

 Did I mention she just loves prime numbers??

The highlight of the day took place beneath the bows of an ancient Apple tree at the farm in Rhos on Wye. Unfortunately during the storms in the winter of 2013, the Apple tree which was incredibly old, was blown down. 

 My daughter was very sad until I pointed out that the Apple tree had stood for years and years waiting for the young boy who climbed in its bows to grow up and choose a wife, just as his God father had done before him. The tree was now happy to pass as it had witnessed their vows and its life was now complete....

To honour the tree and the marriage of Lisa and Steve I wrote another poem ….

The Apple tree …...

The Apple tree does not stand silent

As we hold hands beneath its bows,

It whispers, rustles, sways and settles

As we say aloud our vows.

The Apple tree is full of noise

As insect, bird and critters sing,

All are busy but all are watching

As you pass to me a wedding ring.

With this ring I will wed you,

Beneath the Apple tree,

The birds are our choir,

The tree is our witness,

As I twine myself with thee.

After the tree fell, it was chainsawed into pieces but Lisa and Steve were able to save a few pieces. These were then passed onto me and once it has dried sufficiently, ie in the spring, and as I work in a Wood craft Shop, I plan to turn the pieces into a baby chair so the tree can continue to be part of their lives

That ending brought me nicely to the next part of my speech …...

In August of this year Stephen and Lisa announced the wonderful news that they were expecting a baby. The first of the Next Generation, they then announced that they were going to 'Boldly go where no one had gone before' – OK that may be a bit dramatic but they were thinking of moving.

I was then asked what I wanted to be called by the new arrival.

Now when we are born we are given a name, we have no say in this, there is no consultation, there is no choice! But when we become Grand Parents we ARE given a choice, a choice with life changing repercussions. The name we choose for ourselves with the arrival of our first grandchild is the name we will then carry for the rest of our lives, for generations yet to come. This is something pretty MAJOR!!!!

So I wrote a poem!....

Baby Story

My daughter will soon be a Mommy

Which turns Mommy into a Gran

But I feel too young to be called Grandma

And they insist I cant stay Kerriann

So the search is on for a new name

For the soon new arrival to say

There is Nana or Nain or down south they say Mamgy

I suppose Nanny is sort of OK

But I've never been one for conforming

I love the freedom of being a Hippy

Hippy Gran I shall be ..Wait! There is my name

Drop the H she can just call me IPPY!!

I added for the record Debbie is going to be Nana Debbie and John is Pappy John

And so I reached the end of my speech ….

The End of the Beginning

And so we gather here on this glorious night

With feelings of both sadness and joy

For they are off to Singapore and that's a long way away

No more phone calls for me when she's bored

But we wish them the best

For this new stage of their lives

For we secretly wish we could do it

But fear not my dear friends, we'll soon see them again

You do know we're all coming to visit!!

Smiles abounded, the couple in the corner got up to go to their table (even though the waitress had informed them twice that their table was ready) and we raised our glasses to Lisa and Steve.

Now although that is a story in its own right there was much more to follow!

While Lisa and Steve packed their bags and flew off to Singapore three days later, I climbed aboard Lady Sage and headed up to Scotland to see my Sister. I left Chester later than I had initially planned on Sunday November 23^rd,

(In the past week I had driven from Machynlleth to Southampton on November 16^th, Southampton to Chester then to Machynlleth on the 17^th, Machynlleth back to Southampton on the 18^th and then back up to Chester on the 19^th! I then drove to Machynlleth to pick up Lady Sage on the 20^th and was back up in Chester for the leaving meal on the 22^nd!!!! - I do enjoy driving lol )

By tea time on the 23^rd I crossed the Scottish border and turned left off the motorway. In the darkness I discovered a sign for Merkland Cross and turned right. Over the motorway and up a short hill I came to a small turning space and there I settled for the night.

In the distance the lights of the motorway glimmered and gleamed. High above the stars twinkled and in the distance bright red lights lit up hidden towers. I slept well that night and all was well.

The next morning I consulted the map and planned my route. The Border lands looked good, winding roads and mountains with a few possible night stops along the way. I finished breakfast and was soon rolling along the back roads to Lockerbie.

From Lockerbie I headed into the mountains, past hidden Buddhist retreats and huge sheep.

Acres of forest land lay all around me, opening out from time to time to expose huge ranges of hills.

Three timber lorries had accumulated behind me and as I was not in a rush I pulled over into a layby to let them pass. The view was breathtaking so I stopped the engine to get out.

Well I sort of stopped the engine. When I tried to turn the engine off with the key nothing happened! The key didn't turn and the engine didn't stop!! I tried again, shaking and rattling the key in the barrel. The key would turn forwards but not off!

I sat for a moment and thought. If it turned forward to could restart the engine. If I could restart the engine, I could stop it by stalling. I popped her into gear and stalled her. For the next half hour I cooked lunch and had a stroll around before, with a quick check of the map I got ready for the next part of my trip. I turned the key and although the engine turned over, Lady Sage refused to start. I tried again, Nothing. I reached for my phone to ask Peter's advice only to find I had no phone signal. No other cars had passed me during my lunch break, no one knew where I was and no one was expecting me for two days! I drank a glass of water and studied my options.

The lay by was on a very slight backward slope. If I could push Lady Sage back I should be able to reverse bump start her on the road way hill. I pushed until she began to move and then jumped as quickly as I could into the driver seat and pulled the wheel to aim me at the road. As the back wheels reached it I began to straighten up but hadn't gauged the width of Lady Sage correctly and within a few feet we ground to a halt as the back passenger wheel slipped into the shallow ditch that ran along side the road. I got out to look.

The back wheel was definitely in the ditch, we were also definitely on a backward slope. There was no possible way I was going to be able to push Lady Sage out of the ditch alone. I was also now on the road and not safe in a lay by so camping for the night was no longer a safe option. There was still no phone signal and no passing cars.

I admired the fir cones on a near by tree and ate some chocolate – I always think better with chocolate!

I put Lady Sage into gear and turned the key just to see what would happen. She lurched forward bumping the back wheel half out of the ditch. I tried it again to see if I could hop further out and this time we made it to the road. A third try, I reasoned, should get me totally clear of the ditch and I just might be back on track for that bump start that I had initially planned.

I turned the key a third time and was astounded when the engine roared into life!!!! We were alive and the roads to Edinburgh were ours again!

I debated stopping again to see if Lady Sage was fixed but decided to wait until I had phone signal and a good slope ahead of me. We trundled through the mountains, admiring the scenery but the hills had lost some of their attraction as I checked from time to time for phone reception.

I found a good hill to try my recovery experiment and stalled her Ladyship. The key still didn't turn, the engine still didn't start. We bump started and travelled onto the nearest garage, my wild camping was over for this trip!

At the first garage I found I was informed everyone was at lunch, at the second I was told to join the RAC and get towed home. 

Luckily for me at the third garage I met the most amazing man who after a wee bit of head scratching decided he could 'fix' the problem. If we could just remove the steering barrel I would be able (with a wee bit of coaching) to start the engine with a screwdriver!

We removed the barrel …. “Well I was na expecting that!” exclaimed my new best friend as the barrel fell into two pieces in his hand and the engine stopped!

He put the pieces together, turned them slightly and the engine fired up. Well at least that bit worked. The only hic cup we had with our cunning hot wiring plan was that as soon as you let go, the pieces fell apart and the engine stopped. 

I offered him a ride to the city if he would hold the pieces together while we drove. He smiled and we began to think of a new plan. Welding wouldn't allow the bits to turn, neither would tape. I suggested elastic bands, but he thought they would vibrate too much. We thought some more.

In the back of lady Sage is everything a girl could possible need – everything a girl and her bus could need! I fished out some wide knicker elastic, a safety pin and a scissors and in the flash of a blade I made a loop for my engine starting thingy ma gig to go into. My new best friend was a wee bit skeptical but as we maneuvered the bits in and turned them slightly Lady Sage roared into life. We turned the bits again and she stopped. On, Off, On, Off. We bumped the bits when she was on and she stayed on, we bumped the bits when she was off and she stayed off.

My new best friend and I were ecstatic. We both took some photos, he denied any responsibility, I agreed and we smiled. “I have ne seen ye lassy, you was neva here!” he beamed as I offered up a bottle of cider and a donation to the staff box!

Despite the incredible 'fixing' work Lady Sage now sported, I decided, as I was only 10 miles from Edinburgh, to go straight to my Sisters …. a day early.

To be continued …....

Lady Sage and I

Two whole days off work, a Lady ready for a road trip, a few friends enthusiastic about the chance of a catch up and beautiful sunshine!

At 5pm on Sunday 28^th September having completed a glorious day of Story telling and laughter at the work shop, I climbed aboard Lady Sage, threw my bags across the front seats and, turning left out of the Craft Centre, I headed North on a three night adventure.

Over 700miles of fuel were safely stored in the fuel tank, I had water, nibbles, chocolate and wine to last the duration, the road beckoned and I had all the time in the world to get there.

To be totally honest I was only planning on going as far as Chester to see Lou but as I started the winding route through the glorious hills of Wales with their golden bracken catching the setting rays of the sun I felt I could drive forever.

I have driven this route many times. I have driven it in an Ian Snow van on a mission to get to the Llangollen Eisteddford, I have cruised it in the Jaguar, I have even raced it in the Tigra taking corners at optimum speeds, slowing for the villages and racing along the straights, but I have never driven it at 35 miles an hour in a high seated minibus, peering into gardens, spotting both large and tiny pull ins and eyeing pub car-parks with renewed fascination.

The late September light was also amazing. Pink and orange wisps of cloud hung above the purple heather covered hills, treacle thick sunlight poured down the slopes of the Welsh high mountains to disappear into deep shadowed green valleys below. Russet coloured leaves spiralled lazily from the overhanging trees to gather in piles at the side of the road that swirled as I passed. Each lay-by had a beauty of its own, some had far flung views to die for, others had privacy and seclusion, tracks leading into the edge of the forestry were tinted with oranges and greens, the grey dirt track hinting at pathways to be explored.

Everywhere I looked was an adventure, crying out to me. I could have stopped a hundred times along the way but the promise of a delicious curry, an evening of chat and mutual admiration beckoned and so I drank in the sights and carried on driving.

At Lou's I relived the drive up, Lou matching my enthusiasm about colours and seasons. We dined, we drank a glass or two of wine, Rohan was on form even allowing me to read to him as we cwtched down on the cushions of his room. Once he had settled for the night Lou and I put the world to right, discussed my ideas for Story Telling, made plans for her caravan in Forge and talked about everything and nothing as only friends can.

In the morning, having pushed trains through paper and mobile phone tunnels and around roundabout plates with Rohan on the kitchen table, Lou and I departed into our different spheres and I continued my two day adventure.

I was due for lunch at Debbie and Johns in Helsby but not until mid day so I pulled into the amazing park in Saltney and made a morning plan. Half an hour of Tai Chi inside the van with the heating on low, was followed by half an hour of sewing. As the sun rose over the trees around me the temperature soared and I ventured outside for a walk.

People meandered past with prams and dogs as I worked out gently in the brilliant outdoor gym they have there,

On the Walking machine I stretched tendons and muscles.

I warming up tremendously on the bicycle, as my cardiovascular workout pumped blood around my body.

And on the weights I surprised myself by lifting my entire body off the floor (with the help of some strategically placed fulcrums!)

I strolled along the 400m circular running path. I used the bathroom facilities next door to the café. By the time I returned to Lady Sage I was glowing and ready to move on.

The drive to Helsby was delightfully pleasing, again the views from my vantage point and my relaxed speed gave me an insight into previously hidden worlds. Every mile made me fall more and more in love with Lady Sage.

At Debbies and John (who also own a camper van) we discussed life on the road, we sat in the bus and admired her attributes. We discussed routes and stopping points, the joys of the hills, the bliss of an indoor loo!! Lady Sage and I still need to fine tune a few points!

We went out for afternoon tea at the new vintage coffee house down the road,

savouring the chocolate cake

and admiring the non matching pottery that due to its non conforming oddity matched perfectly.

Back at the house I discovered John's massage chair and with gentle music supplied via Johns I-pad, and covered with a soft blanket from Debbie, I dozed away an incredibly enjoyable half hour before rejoining the family in the lounge to begin another conversation, this time on the joys of fitness and stretching!!

At 5pm I bade them goodbye and climbed aboard Lady Sage to head for my final destination of the day. 

Jan moved into Trevor Hall sixteen months ago transforming it from a mansion filled with the most eclectic collection of heirlooms and collectables into an astonishing venue for weddings, weekend family get togethers, business meetings and even two antique road shows!

As an entire family we had enjoyed a fantastic Christmas with her, dining in the Great Hall, sleeping in one of the many individualistic bedrooms and walking the frozen grounds. This visit was to be quieter, just the two of us and was held in her private residence of the coach house.

Again we sat in Lady Sage for an hour discussing my plans to become a Story Teller. I read out some poems, Jan marvelled over my story sticks and ideas. We moved to the house and dinned on pasta and sauce, then settled in the huge lounge with its high ceiling where we talked and laughed until the early hours.

At breakfast we picked up where we left off, amazed at how fast the evening had passed, and before we knew it it was mid day. My tentative plan for my last day on the road was to travel back down the valley to Llangollen to pick up supplies for tea and then find somewhere to park up so I could just enjoy the company of Lady Sage.

Jan and I said goodbye, empowering each other with love and belief. In true Lady driver style the Lady and I stalled as I tried to reverse up a slight incline, we laughed, we waved, I left.

In Llangollen I found no where to park! The car parks were full, the coach park was double parked, even the roofs were packed!

The Streets were lined with bikes and cars and the market was in full swing. On the outskirts of town I found a lay-by and pulled in.

I had no plans, no clock to watch, the sun was shining and not a breath of wind could be felt.

I walked the river path back into town, smiling as I passed the seagull sitting happily on a rock in the middle of the stream.

In one shop I picked up some sun dried tomato and wine rich cheese along with two veggie spiced pastry rolls. In another shop I found tiny cherry tomatoes and stuffed olives, in a third shop I tied it all together with some onion baguettes and crisps. I had my lunch and supper, now I just needed somewhere to relax.

Although the drive up had reviled many tempting stop overs, on the way back each one didn't quite provide what I was looking for. I drove on wondering if I should just head to the beach where the Lady and I had our first ever outing but as I reached the far side of Bala the sun broke through the afternoon haze and shimmered off the lake in a breath taking explosion of shimmering light.

I indicated and turned right in one fluid movement, the chandelier swaying gently in the back. I vibrated and shook my way over and through the pot-holed car-park to the green grass beside the willow trees in the distance. I was the only one there.

Water lapped at the edge of the lake 20m away, ducks and gulls floated on the breeze whipped ripples, tiny sails in the distance tacked back and forth. I turned off the engine, opened the doors and spread out my lunch.

(Part 1 written while I sat at Bala Lake)

Part 2 (written this morning)

Sometime later that afternoon, I headed off to the beach at Fairbourne.

 Lady Sage had had her first ever sleep over here during the summer and I was happy to return with her now she was so well fitted out.

As we parked up at the end of the spit, the wind picked up and in the distance rain swept over the sea. By the time the storm hit with its full force the Lady and I were safely tucked into the dunes.

Outside the wind howled and roared, the rain lashed down obscuring the hills across the water, boats strained at their mooring lines but inside all was safe and warm.

The insulation that is tucked into Lady Sage is superb, at one point I got quite warm and dropped the thermal cover over the back doors to allow some breeze in.

I cooked myself a supper of cheese on baguette with cherry tomatoes on my wonderful cooker, I drank a bottle of cooling cider, I pulled my book from my bag and settled down to an evening of total solitude.

Before bed just as the storm passed, I took a late evening stroll to the waters edge drinking in the quiet and reflected lights in the distance. Behind me Lady Sage looked magnificent with her softly glowing windows. I returned to her comforting embrace and slept like a dream all night.

Our first real Adventure was done!

Lady Sage and I …. what more does a girl need?

 May the Adventures continue xxx