"Look back, and smile on perils past." - Sir Walter ScottAnd so my new life begins. So often in the past two years it seems I have been beginning again in a life that was vastly different from the one before it, but here I stand at the edge of a new decade and feel for the first time in a very long time that I am indeed at a beginning.So much has changed - not only in the past months and weeks but simply in the past few days as to seem that one life has no real discernable connection with the other.A week ago I was a penniless vagabond traveller - still searching for a place on the planet to open up to me and weary of walking the world with all of my belongings. I was beginning to wonder if I would sit still again, and if I did in what state would the world find me? The concept of being stationary and settled in one location had become the absolute thing of nightmares, and equally the yearned for destination.Never in my life have the two sides of my 'Double Life' nature battled so furiously to have sway over my actions.In the end, though - The Restless One has had me on the move now for almost two years, experiencing life and myself all around the world. It did seem only right to give The Quiet One their time, too.In the amazingly complex and unfathomable workings of the Universe whose tide I have allowed to wash me to new lands, I have found myself living on the edge of the River Ness in the beautiful northern city of Inverness.Tim is not the only one of us who has dreamed of life as a Highlander - and though our final destination still pulls us West, for a few years at least we plan to live in the cold Northern air of the Scottish Highlands.Never since my early days in Edinburgh have I felt so immediately at home in a place. Walking into a beautiful little Bohemian flat (the first we looked at in the three days we had to find a place) just over the river from the city centre - I find myself today in a calm I've not known in years.
My Quiet One rejoices.All the creative notes sing again in my heart, and I can barely wait to get out canvases and sketchbooks, to write with a view of the red Inverness castle and to photograph the river and hills beyond.Amidst so much turmoil the world has suddenly wrapped me in a shelter of serenity, and I can't quite figure out how out of sheer chance I have ended up some where so ideal.I've only been in my new city a few days, and so there is much exploring yet to do. But I am extremely excited about the prospect of belonging to a place again that welcomes me so easily.
There is so much here that is all I went in search of. The high hills of Scotland still win place in my heart as the most beautiful place in the world. The coast of the north sea, just minutes away, the most rugged and profound of coasts, and a chance to see passing seals in my river and the northern lights in my sky is already a constant source of excitement.Even the reckless decision to make this changeable time when I would go to University to begin studying for a degree seems to suit the new life, and I'm surprised at how eagerly I embrace this new chance at learning - despite the work and effort it will require.All new things as winter begins to descend in the far North - and I greet it anxiously.This layout was handmade with love by the folks at My space or yours? using original artwork by Marah Johnson. Go get one!
