Missing Molly

We've returned from a weekend in Scotland and, more specifically, Edinburgh. If you've never been before, you might not know that there are images of, and references to, Greyfriars Bobby everywhere. The most iconic image, of course, is the little statue. We ran into it within minutes of checking into our accommodations:

I've left my little dog, Molly, back in Canada with my parents (along with cat, Penny and snail, Speedy) and am missing her terribly. Seeing Greyfriars Bobby everywhere I turned made me miss her all the more. And the adorable small dogs in smart tartan coats didn't help either. Poor James had to endure endless "awww"s each time we crossed paths with a dog and double "awww"s if the dog was attired in any sort of coat.

So I've sent Molly a postcard of the statue telling her just how much I miss her. You don't have to say it; I know what you're thinking. Don't worry, Molly doesn't use the computer much so I won't spoil anything for her by writing about it here.

Leaving the animals behind was a hard decision to make, but it's the best one. We didn't know where we'd be living and how much time/space we'd be able to give them once we settled in, so we put their needs first. They live in complete luxury at my parents' suburban home. Molly gets long walks and trips to the cottage. Penny gets her little box cleaned roughly four times a day (seriously, it's like this has become my dad's part time job) and she has more chairs and sunbeams than she knows what to do with. And Speedy gets peace and quiet and, since it makes life easier, a tank heater. 

My parents have been lovely enough to send photos pretty often to show us how they're getting on and I can honestly say, I don't think they've noticed our absence. We are visiting in September and I can't wait to give my dog a very big cuddle. In the mean time I'm going to watch the neighbourhood dogs wistfully and hope they bother to give me a look.

Penny antagonising Molly on one of the many chairs she's claimed as "hers"

Molly at the cottage, resting between bouts of duck chasing

One whole month

We've now been here for one month. Well, except for the time we spent over Christmas, but let's not be picky, ok? It definitely doesn't feel like we've been here a month (again, let's ignore that time away, ok...I mean, really, stop fixating while I'm making a point). I suppose I don't have a lot of ways to mark time at the moment. I don't have to keep an eye on my calendar. I don't have important dates or times to remember. There isn't anywhere I'm expected to be on any given day now, which is an entirely new and, sometimes, overwhelming concept.

I'm pretty sure that part of the reason why I haven't felt time move along is that I've been fortunate enough to maintain contact with my family and friends through all manner of Internet-enabled communication. My parents and I have been using FaceTime, but also WhatsApp which has allowed us to carry on much like we did when I lived in Canada. I love that we can text each other and respond in our own time. It's free, so you're never second-guessing the cost of sending a text about the weather or something funny or inane. My dad has also been really good about sending photos along of the pets we had to leave behind with them and that's made a huge diffence too....though I do wish I could hug their little furry bodies close and talk gibberish to them (James doesn't respond in quite the same pleased manner when I do that to him...).

Penny (my photo)

Molly (my photo)

The best part about the month we've had here is how consistently happy I am here. I suspect this is in part a result of the glow of a recent move and clearly from having zero real commitments. But I also just feel very good here. I like this city. There are so many nooks and crannies to explore and the history is just rampant. I had a conversation with a Brit the other day about how we don't have "old" in Canada the way they have "old" here. She hasn't been to Canada, but upon explaining it, she could see where I was coming from and, I'm so happy to say that she understood the allure of being in the presence of something as special as a thousand year old building; she felt that way too. Because I've had such limited exposure to people (who are not my relatives) in a social setting here, it's been hard to know how the general population feels. Sometimes when I'm riding the tube and smiling like a damn fool about where I am, I just want to exclaim to anyone who will listen about where we are, as if they aren't aware...like a crazy person. I should keep those exclamations in my head...

Anyway, all this to say, it's been a month and I couldn't be happier (ok, well, that's a lie...I could have a pony...).

 

28 November 2011

We had a party....the pets are gone

This weekend has been a total roller coaster for me. On the one hand we had a series of fantastic evening events and got to have a lot of fun, and then on the other hand, we sent our pets away to my parents' house for the duration of our trip abroad.My emotions are in overdrive. We tried to watch Bridesmaids tonight to lighten the mood and I honestly broke down into melodramatic sobbing fits half a dozen times. I'm not sure if I can take much more of this "moving" process. Whoa.

22 November 2011

The home stretch

We're 20 days away from our flight and my parents will be here this weekend. Part of their trip is to visit and part of it is to take home a number of our more personal items that we don't want to leave in a storage locker for the next two years. The most precious and dear things they're going to take is actually our pets. I don't want poor Molly and Penny to go through the next couple of weeks with the house in total disarray, so I'm saving them the anxiety by sending them along early. But it's making me get weepy every time I think about them or look at them.

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