'Thank Moo for Coming'

The party's well and truly over and the Cow Pasture with the Cow Barn, Dairy Room and Udderbelly is hardly recognisable now as it lies in a pile of girders and wooden planks.

I had occasion early this morning to deliver a letter to our old castle. It was a rather weird experience to walk up the old garden path, well trodden path in 30 years of life with prams, toddlers, teenagers, young adults, and lastly grandchildren. I wonder if I will always think of this house as home, ignoring all the others I have lived in.

The bushes and trees looked so familiar despite not having his Lordship to beat them into submission with his pruners and saws. I was however disappointed to see that the brasses on the door had been neglected and no longer shone with the dazzling brilliance of yore, only achievable by ladies of leisure and much elbow grease and brasso.

With his Lordship safely up the hills today, I have arranged a visit from a bridesmaid of my first wedding 48 unbelievable years ago.
She and I were classmates at University, and whereas she rose through the academic ranks to become a Professor of Chemistry while bringing up two children, I stayed at home and raised a clutch of offspring and indulged my creative side ( no pun intended).

My admiration of her achievement is immense, especially as coming from Shetland, she can also knit a mean jersey and taught me all I know about Shetland knitting and its patterns.

We have lost touch in the last decade but I hope to put matters right over lunch today. There will be much reminiscing and catching up on news.