Today has been an awful day.

Two terriers behaving about as badly as two terriers can behave + with me in a foul temper = a very bad day.

I can’t write much. I don’t feel like it and it wouldn’t be pretty.

Anywho, this is Taktur (from my bedroom window this morning) waiting for his breakfast. A dear boy.

On the other side, the moon was setting. I have never seen that before.

Sunrise.

Vitamin as 12.30 – the sun was about to leave.

Minions eating cauliflower stalks.

Dearest Darling Lambie.

Luckily he had his Winning Smile and instantly I feel better now

Suffice it to say someone has been renamed “Muriel” because she is Terrible.

And my back hurts.

I need my normal.

So I drove over to Leradale with Floss and found it.

And huzzah, my luggage has appeared and was brought by taxi to me, which made me much happier and relieved.  Now I get my own hairbrush – I had looked at Teddy’s and even I thought I couldn’t.

Having spent the night worrying, rather than sleeping properly, it was good to be reunited with my clothes and essentials. I will rethink packing in future.

Last night I lay awake and wondered about every tweak and twinge which made me think I have probably brought Covid back with me to my family.

But I am testing daily and so far, so good.  All negative. My imagination is too vivid, especially at 3 a.m.  I need to calm down and find my normal.

So I went about my day feeling very glad to be home.

This is my normal. I need it all around me.

I spent the afternoon wrapping presents, watching David Lean’s Great Expectations thinking life is good and didn’t they know how to make proper films in those days. No CGI and blue screen.  Just excellent films.  I now sound like my mother!

Going home today. It took 11 hours door to door. I am exhausted so will keep this brief.

At Heathrow, I found a quiet spot and made camp.

Social distancing is not something others do so I perfected a hiss worthy of any orc from Lord of the Rings along with my Death Stare.  Folk moved away quickly.  Good, good.

Farewell to England.

And hello Scotland.

The sun was setting.

I spent a couple of hours in Aberdeen Airport.

The planes get smaller the more north you go.

And eventually I am home in Shetland.

But my luggage is now lost so I fill in forms with promises of its’ appearance one day. I am hopeful as there was quite a few of us.  Then I drive home.

My bed calls.

It was a lovely service (cremation) and, despite us all having to stand at opposite ends of the cemetery car park, it was good to see friends and family. It was a small gathering but Mum hated funerals so we told folk to remember her how they best wanted to.

Mum worked two months up to her death (her choice) and her last beautiful model remains unfinished on its stand.

Go peacefully, Mum. I miss her.

Up early and I did my lateral flow test – belt and braces and all that.

Then I drove myself down to Sumburgh airport to fly south with breakfast first (don’t worry, I took the teabag out – I know, I know, I am a heathen!)

I felt pretty safe because I practiced my Bitchy Resting Face along with a good Darth Vader look. Approach and die was my message I delivered.

The small tiny weeny plane from Sumburgh to Edinburgh.

The first plane was delayed but I got to Edinburgh eventually feeling slightly nervous about my next connection.

Edinburgh is a very long thin airport and there can be some serious walking involved.  And the next flight down to Heathrow was delayed too. Phew.

My wee suitcase took a while to appear – just enough time for me to worry whether it had come south with me while invoking extra costs from an irate waiting taxi driver!

Anywho, I have reached Mum’s house, had a cup of tea, switched on every heater and am now settled with a hot water bottle, a woolly blanket while sitting on the sofa watching Ancient Aliens drinking whisky and ginger ale.  There is a faint smell of Ted but I know he is safe at home.