Day 83: Just Blue

Absolutely amazing.  28th of February, 83 days into my 90 day challenge which I started in the midst of a blizzarding snowstorm, and the sky is so blue you could fall into it.  Definitely the changeable blue which could turn into that snowstorm at any time (this is Scotland after all), but I just loved the way my window warms up the sunshine as it streams into my office, and landed on my arm and face as though I were somewhere tropical for a moment or two.  I had to get out in it (partly for the beautiful blue sky and partly because of my blog!), so off I went to the post office and various errands. 

Today I noticed a few different smells more than sights - on the way to the post office I distinctly smelled fish and chips (unsurprisingly), but as I passed the two I noticed they definitely had vinegar on them, as well.  It was very strong.  After I came out of the post office (about six days later) there was the distinct tang of a wood fire on the air. I stood and smelled it, being immediately transported to my parents' cabin, complete with fir trees and juniper pine and crackling wood fires and russian tea and book-reading by firelight and long walks and the noisy silence of the woods....and then with a snap someone swore and a car swerved and a girl laughed shrilly and I was right back in Airdrie again!

And then home, while the blue of the sky fades into a pale blue, then an almost-green, then a light orange, then a cream, then nothing.

Postscript, Day 3: Back In Time

I took a very, very mini walk tonight to get my dinner.  The local Chinese was actually open!  (Although the lady who ran it kept answering the phone and explaining that no, there were no deliveries, and we all laughed.)

Snow at this level makes me feel like I've gone back fifty - or maybe a hundred - years.  The roads are so quiet, and still.  The noise of drivers and driving is gone.  People are walking everywhere.  There are greetings being passed across the road - "Hiya, nice to see you" and "Aye, I'll come by later".

Laughter floats across the cool night air and the street lamps cover everything with a soft orange glow.  Everyone talks to each other, they share stories about how they were stuck or couldn't get to work or didn't want to bother going to work.  The news is on the telly, but we get the most important news from each other.  "Is the post office open, do you know?"  "Aye, they were saying the football match is postponed indefinitely."  "Is the airport still shut?"  And a random stranger to sympathise with your hard times, or laugh at your snow story.

It's heartwarming.  Almost makes you want to go back a hundred years.

But then you wouldn't hear from me. :)