Lilacs in the Spring

I spent Wednesday and Thursday in Ullapool with James and the weather continued to be fantastic. We had breakfast each morning sitting on the love seat on the new patio and it was idyllic. We also walked around the village inspecting the new harbour front which is nearly finished. I’m still not sure how much of an improvement it will be because I’m worried that the wider road will result in faster traffic - although I realise that for ferry traffic that’s the point! I just hope that the smart new seafront doesn’t detract from its existing casual charm. The two days flew by and then we headed home, to the cats, and swimming at David Lloyd, and a lovely summery dinner at Heather and Ewan’s. And of course more time in the hammock because our mini heatwave continues. I had lunch with Hannah today in Kilmacolm to celebrate her engagement and then headed home to find James setting up the barbecue for dinner - our second of the year! As I read my book in the hammock while the potatoes were baking, I could smell the lilac at the top of the garden wafting its delicate scent into the warm air. It reminded me of buying it in a garden centre near Doncaster in 2019, before the pandemic and all the chaos that it brought. The ephemeral scent of happiness. The barbecue was delicious and we stayed outside for ages.