Light and shade

It’s the last of our family days, and by lunchtime Simon and Lloyd have already left. The rest of us take a short afternoon walk along West Shore where thankfully the unremitting heavy grey lifts slightly,  allowing rays of sunshine to filter through. It’s too early for any sense of sunset, but towards Anglesey the sea shimmers pale gold, contrasting with the blackness of the Carneddau clouds. The light and shade is so reflective of my current mood. 

Back home it’s an early dinner and we wave off Daniel and Solveig, their car piled high with the remnants of our Christmas. 

I know we’re incredibly lucky to have had our boys and partners with us over the Christmas period, but I’m sure I’m not alone in that feeling of emptiness when they all leave and I dread that moment of ‘Goodbye’. The silence and tidiness is so strange - and admittedly also a relief as is the realisation that I don’t have to think about the next meal or snack! At times this holiday I’ve felt completely exhausted and longing to just lie down, but I so love these family times and always wonder just how long it will be before we’re all together again.  But at least we’ve had the chance to be together, so we’re far, far luckier than many.