That Was Then, This Is Now

Back on home turf for the weekend we are here, after a few celebratory birthday days in Scotland. Our boy turned twenty one; and we thought we would take him a cake. Malteser, of course: his favourite. 

So we got up at 5.45 and headed for the ferry; and then we drove until we were able to knock on his front door in time for a late lunch. They have haggis and whisky flavoured crisps over there - did you know that? - and I'm going to have to disagree with anyone who says that a bag couldn't possibly be a meal in itself.

He was pleased to see us, and we were delighted to see him, and to sit in his student flat and drink tea with his friends and wrestle with the idea that we aren't the twenty one year olds any more. And that he isn't seven or eight, and spending his birthday in a Travelodge here, trying to blow out birthday candles before the smoke alarms caught us and the wax dripped onto his cake. Malteser, of course: his favourite.

Because we did that once, long ago. That would have been the year we visited the Museum of Childhood, to see the toys. This year the tastes of the museum pickers have moved on; and we ended up at Surgeons Hall, which houses a collection of skulls and skeletons and assorted medical curiosities. It's a popular spot in the city of Burke and Hare, the original Bodysnatchers.

A meal out, a bit of light shopping (though obviously a coffee machine isn't light, or we wouldn't have had to wait until we got there to buy it for him): it was soon time to start for home. The key of the door had been safely delivered, I guess you could say, and the cake had been sliced. Not to worry: we have another celebration coming up soon. It's a big birthday year round here: it's not long until those balloons go up for an eighteenth. There'll be cake. Coffee, of course: her favourite.

So I got home and I looked at my pictures. Because we took pictures, even though it's becoming more and more difficult to persuade my - what on earth do I call them? - subjects to pose. And the ones which caught my eye are, curiously, the ones which sit well with a page I made before I left: one about a holiday way back when, but still with a green car and lots of fresh air and a brother and a couple of sisters enjoying each other's company. 

Layout originally made for Get It Scrapped's article on using a Focal Point Formula

Who said change? Were we talking about things moving on? There's a little face you know looks just like the faces in that 70's photo. It'll be Little E's birthday soon too. He has already checked if I have enough money for a present. I have I said. Are you serving cake?

See you on Monday! I'll do the winner of the Love Your Selfie Giveaway then.