Springtime in Ullapool

The past month has been a time of sadness and reflection for me, and also the advent of spring with its inevitable feeling of renewal. It’s hard not to feel a spark of hope when the sun is shining and trees are budding and the primroses are blooming beside the path. We fled Glasgow the day after Jackie’s funeral on 25th March, and we are spending a whole month in Ullapool. We have had some beautiful weather as well as some wild weather. We have had visitors (David and Chanel, James and Flo) and had a great time with them. The cats seem content in their alternate universe. We have been for walks and visited cafés in the village now that they are open for the summer season. We have watched the building work progressing at the harbour, and said hello to several Sammy Seals at the pier. We have watched films and television in the cottage. We have been to the pub and listened to Ceilidh music. I’m lucky that I have so many good memories of Jackie. The old cliché is “life goes on” and it should and does. But I wish it could go on with Jackie in it.