We're a bit chilly and missing the sunshine but happy to be home. It's nice to be retired as we can do things on the spur of the moment. We can't get totally settled into the house right now since we'll be travelling and when we return we'll be doing remodeling and redecorating.

In just over 2 weeks we'll be going to Australia for a month. A few days after we return home we'll go to the US for xmas.

Photos: the paddlesteamer Waverly going past our house. Benmore Botanic Gardens near our home

Settling back in

We have been home since Saturday the 9th and are so happy to be here. Been extremely busy getting the house organised and digging out warm clothes and all the household goodies which have been sitting in our loft for 2 years. I am gobsmacked by the amount of stuff we have.


Someone wondered how long it would be until Uganda seemed like just a dream. It's already beginning to feel that way but we still feel very close to all the people we came to regard as dear friends. The house is filled with souvenirs I bought in Uganda and gifts that were given to us as we prepared to leave. When we are organized I'll pick out some photos to print and put up in our photo gallery in the hallway.


Our environment in Uganda and the one here in Scotland couldn't be more different. There's a million miles between these places.

Some of the most obvious differences.....

• the conveniences--the washer and dryer, the hot running water, the shops filled with so many choices-too many choices, drinking cool, clean water out of the tap
• fast internet!
• foods I missed
• good roads
• sleeping w/o a mosquito net, no mosquitoes!
• being able to take a bath or shower in the evening w/o worrying about getting attacked by mozzies
• the awesome scenery, the water everywhere
• not worrying about food poisoning
• a house that feels huge
• cool weather, completely different clothing, having the central heating on
• higher prices for everything
• autumn - leaves changing colour
• using a debit and credit card again
• 24 hour electricity
• completely different accents
• much less simple lifestyle
• realizing just how much 'stuff' we have....does anybody really need dozens of shirts, dozens of socks, and so many shoes??
• great bread
• waste and extravagance everywhere

HOME!

On 2 Oct 2009 we left Uganda and flew home, stopping overnight in Dubai. We arrived at Glasgow Airport exhausted and were met by Danny's daughter, her husband, and two of Danny's uncles - Hugh and Dan.

Instead of going straight home we are spending our first week home in Inverness with Danny's daughter and her husband, Kathleen and Riaan.

The gorgeous scenery, the stone houses, the great roads are the first things I appreciated. Also enjoyed my first dinner of haddock and chips, then a breakfast of bacon and egg on a fresh roll.

Thus far we've visited Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle (photo), Fort Augustus, Strathpeffer for the most delicious hot chocolate in the world, and Glenmorangie distillery. Before we go home on Saturday we plan to visit Nairn, a seaside village, Culloden, and Cawdor Castle.