May days

The evening sun cast long shadows over the moors and glens, sheep chased after the farmer’s tractor for dinner, mother cows called their infants back. The road was long and winding, the light hypnotic. Two hours out of Aberdeen, at least seven to go. Miles of British countryside between us and home, places I’d vaguely heard of but knew almost nothing about. Still just places, passed by but not through. The final journey, an adventure, after a year that was both.

Its hard to believe this chapter is closed. I know some weeks seemed to crawl, but overall, it could still be that August morning, arranging the things in my shiny new flat, wondering what the next few months would bring. Sitting by the sea, hopeful and anxious. Mum came to help me pack up, I picked her up at the airport, in brilliant sunshine, quite unlike the downpours that met me when I first arrived.

I was keen to show her everything, to be her guide in the city I had come to know. On Saturday we turned left, walked through the university’s grounds, through the botanical gardens alive with birdsong, paused at the top of the road that used to take me to one of the schools. On one side the run-down blocks of flats and well-worn playing fields, on the other, fancy houses behind iron gates backed by the park. We headed there next, found a space on the grass and spread out a blanket. We spent the afternoon watching dogs run, chatting about this and that, me boring her with anecdotes from school, enjoying the strong sunshine, and a picnic.

The next day, we turned right. Walked into town, I showed mum the first school, where I’d learned so much and so quickly. I’ll never forget those kids, and I hope they’ll find their way somehow. We stopped for lunch in another park, and watched a different crowd enjoying the sunny Sunday. I thought about all I’d learned and saw and discovered. From being lost and unsure, to finding the job I know I’ll love. The long days and evenings, the tears and anxiety. The relief and excitement. The quiet Sundays, the busy Mondays, the Friday feelings. The laughter, the chatter, the buzz. Everything in-between. I thought about too the pottery, the much-loved zumba classes. And of the puffins, and cliffs soaring above pebbly beaches, the crashing waves on a windy day, the dolphins cresting grey seas. The deer and wheat fields, the seals and hills covered in heather and gorse. The castles and rolling hills.

We were on the way back. Night was falling slowly, the moon suspended from lilac skies illuminating the moors. We couldn’t resist the urge to go through a couple of versus of The Highwayman. I’m not a hundred percent sure what next year will bring, or where I’ll be. But I know what I will be doing, and I know I will have to visit Aberdeen again one day. Because I made a pinky promise with some of the seven year olds. We were sitting outside the classroom, on the last afternoon, in the glorious May sunshine. They gave me daisies and begged me to come back.

I could barely stay awake much longer. Our little car ploughed on, into the hills, the granite city now far behind.

Yes I am back! I was looking at my old posts and saw that the first one I wrote from Aberdeen is called Hello, Aberdeen. I resisted the urge to call this one Bye, Aberdeen, and have instead chosen to name it after the month of May, since that is where this journey ended. Thanks to everyone who supported me through the year, it wasn’t always easy but knowing I could whine/ moan/ celebrate with you really helped! Hope everyone has a lovely summer, whenever it starts for you. Love xx 

All photos taken on an iPhone 8.