New Year and being able to be back in my homeland …
bliss – I loved Canada and definitely would like to see more at some stage … as
you’ll find out in my future posts …
 |
| New Beginnings ... the gateway to Bateman's: Rudyard Kipling's home |
It’s a wonderful country and I was really lucky to be
able to get out and meet lots of new friends round and about on Vancouver
Island and briefly seeing Vancouver on the mainland – fascinating city …
I had a stopover in Calgary … not having to leave the
hotel til mid-day helped – and would have been fine, but West Jet lost a computer
somewhere and needed a new one before we flew on to Gatwick …
 |
| Father bear ... totally magnificent to look at |
... so an extra few
hours ‘floating around’ the airport
wasn’t desperately helpful … a young English engineer and I chatted for a
couple of hours …
 |
| Family of bears on the concourse |
Some bears were encountered on the concourse – beautiful
sculptures by Stewart Steinhauer … which were hand-carved from granite, then polished,
bush-hammered. Finally being placed on flamed granite bases … they were
stunning to see and duly admire.
(A bush hammer is a masonry tool used to texturise
stone and concrete … or in this case the igneous rock ‘granite’.)
Life has been a matter of adjusting to a situation I
wasn’t expecting for another year … I am really grateful to my brother for finding a flat for me for the time being – it’s furnished – so that made it easy … my
things are in store until November … which gives me time to make some
decisions.
 |
| Sussex Downland ... Spring is on its way! |
The first twelve days I spent with my brother and SIL …
as there was a lot going on there … I’d come into Eastbourne when I could to
acclimatise myself, get to a few University of the Third Age ‘classes’ and other meetings that were going on … and of
course bump into ‘old friends’ as I was walking around.
Then settling in … life continued on – other group
meetings, friends to see, parties to go to … and so on … it’s taking a while
to work out where I’m at … but am
getting there …
 |
| Location of Eastbourne for info ... courtesy of Brighton University |
We’re in the New Year of 2019 and this time of year two more
anniversaries cross my horizons … so I’ll be up and running by the weekend …
Sunday …
But thanks for all your well-wishing comments on my
return to this little island … I’m glad I’m home – even turbulent times equals history in the making …
Take care and all the very best for us all as we move
further into 2019 – Happy New Year …
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters
Inspirational Stories
61 comments:
Welcome home! You've been away awhile. I can see where is great but readjusting needs happen too. :)
Oh, those bear sculptures are beautiful.
I love the sculptures of the bear family, a nice treat in the airport. Your time in Canada sounds fun. Happy 2019.
Hari OM
As one who has repatriated "unexpectedly", I can appreciate the adjustment phase. Five years in, am not sure it is complete! There is much to enjoy in these isles, though comparison is inevitable. Welcome to 2019!!! YAM xx
Hi Hilary! Glad you are back safe and sound. Those bear statues sure are cute! Happy 2019! MDC
Welcome back. Settle in with a nice cup of tea on the old sod. I look forward to your 2019 posts - always an adventure. Cheers
Glad to hear you've returned safely and settled in again. It's such a shame you had to cut short your visit, but I know things over here were a long way from what you expected. Glad you have some good memories to take back with you all the same.
Glad you are home and settling in. Whatever decisions you have to make, I hope the path appears and you know it's right.
Welcome back and happy new year!
welcome home and welcome back to blogging. for sure your cool and colorful posts have been missed. i'm glad you're getting settled in and picking up with old friends and new activities. it'll take a while to get back to "normal."
love the bears at the Calgary airport. glad you had someone to chat with while you were waiting for West Jet to get organized and back on line.
Happy New Year!
...love and big hugs
Lovely to see a post from you.
Welcome home - and I hope the adjustment period is swift and fun.
And like everyone else, I do love those bears.
Hope you enjoyed the time off, but I'm glad to see you back!
@ Holly - thanks so much ... I'm just so glad I'm away and home. Aren't the bear sculptures brilliant ...
@ Terra - good to see you ... I was so pleased to come across the sculptures ... Canada was great fun ...
@ Yam - I saw your change of circumstances - which I think seem to have been much more challenging than mine. I'm happy to be back and for 2019 to have clicked on ...
@ Denise - thank you ... I'm adjusting, but am fortunate to be safe and sound ... aren't the statues just amazing - cute too!
@ Joanne - I forgot about a cup of tea today ... but I've been enjoying being relaxed and free ... and thanks re the posts - I hope I'll carry on as usual ... I expect I will!
@ Ian - yes you know the story and I was frustrated things didn't pan out - still being able to see the Island and some of the west coast was a real treat, and learn about its history ... and having a chance to meet you and the family was a pleasure ... yes some good memories ...
@ Alex - thanks so much ... I sincerely hope the path of the future opens peacefully and happily for us all ...
@ Anabel - thank you ... it's good to be back ...
@ Lenny - lovely to see you commenting. Wonderful to know you enjoy my posts - thank you for those descriptive words. Yes I've had some wonderful welcomes back ...
Aren't the bears super - it was such a delight seeing them. The young engineer was really interesting to chat to ...
@ EC - thanks, I eventually got round to writing something up ... and I too hope the adjustment will take on a fast life of its own - it is sorting itself out ...
Thanks to you all for your comments - I'm just so glad you all like the bears - they were gorgeous to come across. Happy New Year to you all - cheers Hilary
Missed you, Hilary. Hope everything settles down for you soon at your new place, and all the decisions are easy. Take care of you, and have a wonderful 2019!
You certainly have had a couple of interesting years, Hilary. . Having adventures is always a good thing even though they may be unexpected. Being welcomed home, though, is the best.
The bears are great. It's always a good feeling to go home, wherever home is.
Love,
Janie
Those bears are great.
It's good to be home, isn't it? You've certainly had your travels.
Hhhmmmmm .... that doesn't look like the gateway to Batman's home. Anyway, here's to a healthy and prosperous 2019 to you and yours.
Okay I seem to always be confused. I knew you lived in England and then went to Canada for awhile - I don't know why or for how long. Now you say it was okay to move back?? I am glad you are at home - but I an confused!!!
Welcome home to England, Hilary! It must feel a bit strange after the last year. I’m sure you’ll find lots to enjoy at home. I haven’t left Melbourne in at least two years and that was only for a weekend. You, on the other hand, do adventure very well, wherever you are.
The whole question of permanent home Vs shorter term home is one that fascinates me. I spent the first five years of marriage away from home (Australia) and was perfectly happy to settle where we lived (Israel or the UK). The problems of living away are - little contact with beloved family members, relatively impoverished wages and some language problems. But they were five GREAT years!
However in the end, spouse made the decision. He wanted to go home!
@ Jz - well it's going round in circles - the chicken and the egg scenario: what to do first and then when the next egg comes along, repeat ... I'll get organised this week I hope! Delighted to be back though ...
@ Damyanti - thank you ... I missed everyone too - but am getting there ... still decisions to happen during the year. It's much slower than I'd like - but I'm on the way ...
@ Arlene - I expected life to settle down after my mother died, but things didn't work out that way. However any adventure can bring positive outcomes and life is generous, even during its harsh reality at times ... being back in the UK is the best though ...
@ Janie - aren't the bears lovely. Being home is where the heart is ... with more positive experiences ahead ...
@ Liz - the sculptures are extraordinary ... and lovely to see close up. Yes - it is good to be home and I've had a few travels over the years ...
@ Stephen - nope, you're right ... but I didn't have one looking in - so you got the 'looking out' photo! Yes - let's all have a prosperous and healthy 2019 - I'll definitely endorse that premise.
@ Sandie - I went over for something which didn't work out; but being in Canada for the year was just lovely. I'm just at peace being back in England ...
@ Sue - it's a muddle, as my expectation and understanding was that I had another extra year - but it wasn't right. However it was lovely to be able to spend some time on the west coast and get a flavour of Canada and its peoples ...
@ Hels - yes I know you've travelled a lot and I love your postings - they're so informative. Home is where the heart is ... and being with your husband is so important ... not having a husband means I make my own choices and the Canadian one was 50% wrong ... but I enjoyed the experience of being on Vancouver Island and meeting new friends ...
Lack of contact is challenging and certainly was much more so in the middle to late 1900s .. now we can all stay in touch more easily - but as you say they are great years - so many benefits from travelling ... just so glad I didn't need another language ... but rather wish I'd had to learn one. However the decision to come home was mine, but I'm glad I stuck around to experience the summer out there ...
Thanks so much to you all for your welcome back - I'll be around to visit and will be catching up ... Happy New Year and here's to a healthy one for us all - cheers Hilary
Happy New Year, Hilary. Sounds like lots of new beginnings and I hope it will work out well for you.
It sounds like you've jumped feet first back into life in sunny Eastbourne! Great to know you are 'just up the road' again! Happy New Year Hilary.
Welcome home Hilary and a very happy new year to you and yours :) Fil x
The bear sculptures are awesome! Happy 2019 :-)
Welcome home and Happy New Year.
Thank you for the map. For us North Americans, it is quite helpful! Love the bears!
So glad you're back where your heart longed to be Hilary. Wishing you a most wondrous 2019 filled with even more happy surprises.
I am glad to hear that you're back without too much trouble. Airline delays can be frustrating. Love the Bears sculpture. Thanks for including the hammer polisher image, I was about to look that up.
Glad that you are home safely but I am going to miss your Canadian posts. Love the photo of the bear statue. It sounds like you are a bit unsure as to where you want to be, a good chance to see somewhere else new????
Take care and all the very best for 2019. Diane
You sound much happier, Hilary. I'm glad you did get to see a little of my part of Canada. Hope this year is a happier one, we bloom better in an environment of our own choosing. I'm trying to get about a bit more in the blogging aspect this year. Take care and good luck with getting re-settled.
Just beautiful:) My wife and I were in the UK in September and the rural landscape was incredible:)
There is no place like home, having to kill time in airport can be so boring if it drags on or interesting if you find yourself chatting to an interesting person.
How wonderful for you to be back in Merry Olde England again! I know there's a lot of wonderful things about Canada, but in the end, there truly is no place like home. Happy New Year!
So happy to hear that you are back home. Best to you on settling in.
I know it will be a bit topsy turvy for awhile, but enjoy being home:)
@ thanks Jenny ... I could do with things working out ...
@ Keith - yes ... everyone else seems to have carried on - which makes it easier for me. Yup - not far down the coast ... Pevensey Bay is lovely area to be based along ...
@ Fil - looking forward to more of your tours and news of the places you visit, and the music you create and play ...
@ Ronel - those bears were amazing; good to see you ...
@ Bob - thanks so much ... looking forward to learning more from your stamps ...
@ Jacqui - yes I realise most of us don't know where places are located ... I'm often looking up places to get to grips with the geographical area ... so glad that map helped.
@ Deborah - yes I am glad to be home ... though loved learning about Canada ... if I have lots of happy surprises in 2019 (which I'm sure I will) then life will have a rosy hue!
@ Dan - the trip really wasn't too bad ... but I was glad to land and not time travel anymore. Aren't the bears a delight to see. I'd wanted to know what a bush hammer was ... so felt it was appropriate to find one and include the image.
@ Diane - I'm going to keep going with Canadian posts for the time being ... and see how life pans out. I don't think I'll be going off anywhere else - I was thinking of South Africa - but sadly (due to a death) that won't happen at least for the time being. I think I need to stay resident here. The bears were a delight to see - especially as I never saw one in real life.
@ DG - yes I am much happier being home ... though I'd have loved to have had another visit with you - but life is life.
I was very happy in Canada, just not where I was. Excellent you'll be around a bit more with the blogging fraternity. I'll be in touch soon.
@ Mark - so glad you had a chance to see some of this little country and that you enjoyed the vistas ... so much has happened here over the centuries and millennia.
@ Jo-Anne - you're right - there's no place like home. Thankfully the airport provided some light entertainment for which I was grateful.
@ Susan - Canada was lovely ... but friends and family make the heart feel whole - so I'm so glad to be back.
@ Susan - yes it's good to be back and slowly settling in ...
@ Sandra - I'm getting there and another couple of weeks I'll have had enough sorting things out and will be able to get on with life to its full.
Thanks everyone for your well wishes and let's all have successful, healthy 2019s with some happy adventures - cheers Hilary
Welcome home, Hilary!
Wishing you a wonderful year ahead.
Please come back to Vancouver Island again soon!
So glad you're back in your own place and getting settled! I think it's safe to say that you made the most of your time away.
As much fun as traveling can be, it must be nice to get home. I'm happy you had a good time and that you're home safe. Looking forward to hearing more about it.
@ Donna - it's been a good welcome home ... and for us all a good year ahead. I'd love to come back to the Island sometime soon - time will tell ...
@ Lynda - it's a slow settling in ... but I think you're right - I did make the most of my time on the Island: I so enjoyed that side of it ...
@ John - at least I was there for a decent time, and was able to get a fair overview knowledge of Canadian ways. But it is nice to be back in the homeland and to be able to get on with things ...
Thanks so much for the comments ... here's to a happy year ahead - cheers Hilary
Hilary, what an amazing journey you've had. I love the bears. Airports often feature the most fantastic art. Happy New Year, back in your homeland. We've been binge watching "Downton Abby" and I'm feeling quite British!
Aren't those bears amazing?
Living history in the making is more romantic hearing about it than actually doing it as I found out when m whole city was evacuated. Whoa!
Love those bear sculptures. How long did it take him to do all those. With my Hibbs tales you know how much I love bears. :-)
Sounds like you have a lot going on Hilary - so hope all is going as smoothly as is at all possible - life twists notwithstanding!
Best wishes with everything, and remember the old saying in the middle of a trial or difficulty... "this too shall pass!"
I'm glad you enjoyed Canada and I'm even happier you're settling in back home.
Those bears are so adorable! What a great find in an airport!
Elsie
I love the sculptures of the bear family - it's wonderful to see art in public spaces. We need to the reminder of beauty all around us.
Best wishes on settling into new routines at home.
@ Monti - yes it's been a lovely year ... having that opportunity to spend time out in western Canada. I've never seen art/sculpture at an airport before (mind you I don't visit many airports!) ... but these bears were lovely and no-one was around to spoil the view or my thoughts!
I haven't seen Downton Abbey ... but it is extremely British.
@ Sandra - the bears were so tactile ...
@ Roland - having moved back to the UK 'now' ... we are definitely creating history here; your New Orleans evacuation must have been terrifying for so many ... let alone dealing with the subsequent devastation ...
@ Mark - things are sorting themselves out ... but I do wonder about the chicken and egg sometimes - what to do first. Thanks ... yes 'this too shall pass' ... life does go on ...
@ Elsie - seeing the west coast or some of it was a real treat ... but I'm glad to be back and getting settled. I was pleased I walked the concourse ... long though it was ... as the bears are a delight to have seen ...
@ Tyrean - I was so pleased I found the bear sculptures ... and as you say, it is lovely to see art in public places. There is beauty all around us and I'm enjoying the English landscape - even in its dull light of January ...
Thanks so much for your comments and your support ... it is good to be back ... cheers Hilary
I'm so glad you enjoyed being here in Canada. It's a huge place, even most Canadians don't get to see it all in a lifetime!
There is no place like home, the warm embrace of the familiar.
Happy Times to you,
Andrea
Hope everything falls into place for you Hilary...the unexpected can prove to be very fortuitous and Canada's loss is our gain :-) A very Happy New year to you!
Sounds like a whirlwind of a time. I do hope you are happier! Loved, loved those bears. So amazing.
I'm fascinated by airport art. Every time I see it, it makes me smile. Flying is so stressful (for me, anyway), that I appreciate anything that helps lift my spirits!
I know you're glad you're home! Nothing has to be decided today...just do some mulling and I know you'll come to the very best decision for you.
That bush hammer looks like a meat tenderizer doesn't it?
Happy Birthday. Enjoy your day.
@ Andrea - I loved my Canadian visit ... and it has definitely whetted my appetite for more travel sometime ...
@ Deborah - I sincerely hope so too and that fortune favours the 'she, who tried ...'!! I'm sad to leave Canada, but really pleased to be back ...
@ Yolanda - some of it was a nightmare ... but Canada and friends there were quite wonderful. I'm definitely happier. Aren't the bears glorious ...
@ Elizabeth - I've only noticed the art - not sculptures before ... but I'll definitely keep an eye out should I do any more flying travel. I was grateful to have the young engineer to chat to, and then to get up and see the bears ...
You're right - I'm definitely glad I'm home ... and I'm 'sorting the flat first ... ' and then moving on - as you say mulling is good ...
@ Sandra - I agree it does look a bit like a meat tenderiser doesn't it ... I suspect it'd flatten the meat completely ...
Thank you re the birthday ... a post appearing tomorrow.
Good to see you all - have happy weekends and cheers for the rest of the year ... Hilary
Welcome home, Hilary, and a Happy New Year! As I write, my daughter is flying back from Canada...
It was very obvious from your posts that you enjoyed being jn Canada and it was our pleasure to host you for a while. There is much more of the country to see and we will all look forward to your return.
@ Mike - many thanks ... taking me a while to adjust - I bet your daughter had a lovely time out there ... great country, with delightful people - so welcoming ...
@ David - it has been lovely and being welcomed by fellow bloggers who live in your wonderful land has been extra special. Yes I'd love to come back and see some of the rest of the country - so much to see ... sometime I hope
Cheers to you both - I think I might just about be back and blogging - thanks for the support - Hilary
How did I miss this? I’m so sorry, Hilary. I’ve been watching out for your posts, but must have overlooked this and the next one. I’m sorry you had to come back. It sounds as if it was unplanned, so I hope there was nothing other than the forthcoming Brexit...as if that isn’t enough! Welcome back to blogworld in any event! I’ll look forward to catching up with you soon!
Don't worry Val - you were busy and I've been slow getting going again. It was unplanned ... and was not good - but better to get out, than stay ... however I loved Canada - great opportunity to see the tiny part I was able to get to - though I'd have loved to have done more ... perhaps another time.
Good to see you though - Happy New Year and cheers Hilary
Thanks Hilary, for dropping by my blog! Hope all is well!
Hi Lisa - I'm slowly getting there ... good to see you - cheers Hilary
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