Kathy came to visit for thanksgiving. It was a really relaxing visit during an otherwise very hectic time – a pool of quiet familiness (if there is such a word).
As is now our custom, Patrick, Elizabeth and I spent our weekend “away” this year at the Peat Inn in Cupar. The Inn is mentioned as one of the top places to stay in Scotland and one of the top 100 places to eat.
The outside is relatively plain but the furnishings inside are amazing! Each suite is a split level with all lovely fabric and antiques flowing throughout. Italian marble and gold plated faucets, lovely old dark wood, fruit and cheese trays…….. Each suite is completely different and very beautiful and all look into a lovely country garden.
We dressed for a wonderful dinner. Upon entering the separate dining house, we were served a tiny slice of onion quiche and a cocktail of our choice. Our dinner and dessert orders were taken and we were guided into a truly lovely dining room (one of many) which looked over the garden. Each course was served and presented exquisitely. Patrick ordered the most tasty wine and desserts were a marvel. Everything was perfect.
It was a gracious and happy time for all.
Back now to Dundee. It has been a relaxing and fun filled holiday for me. Elizabeth is a marvelous cook and most evenings we have spent dining at CASA Audley/Farrell. My favorite, both this year and last, is Mexican Friday – Patrick makes margaritas and nachos. Most evenings, we watch a short DVD while eating dinner. The Family Guy is my favorite this year – off the wall but funny.
I found a really interesting treasure shop called “David Bottoms Ironworks” hidden down a winding lane. We have bought lovely things for the kitchen here and it also has colored duct tape in the hardware section. Unusual to find such quality items in a hardware store!
Patrick and I have walked many miles as per usual and I always enjoy shopping with him. Only the best will do – my kind of shopping!
Patrick and Elizabeth have a very large new apartment which overlooks the Tay River. It is wonderful for them to have so much room.
We have ventured out for lunch a few times and have found a new restaurant called “the Basement.” The food is exceptional and the atmosphere is pleasant.
I made a trip to the Wellcome Building and visited both Elizabeth and Patrick. I am very proud of both of them – they are so intelligent.
This year, I took the plunge and had my hair “foiled” in 4 shades of blonde and cut in a new style called “chunks.” It is beautiful but of course, it will never look the same when I do it myself!
Patrick and Elizabeth are wonderful hosts but I am glad that I am the last of company for awhile.
I am very pleased that they are so happy but I sure would like them to move closer to us all. I wonder where we will go for our weekend next year when I visit…
This birthday was special to me even before it passed… I’d always known that my 24th birthday would be special; over the years I’d thought of different reasons why it should be special to explain the feeling of anticipation that I’d always had towards it. 24 is the age of adulthood in some magical orders, it’s halfway through my TenYearPlan(tm), and many other reasons. It wasn’t until Elizabeth gave my a beautiful glass box during my second trip to Scotland that I realized why it will be special: I’d found love.
The eve before my birthday, Pam invited me to her Fireworks party to meet her new boyfriend Fausto. We all got along really well even though we had to speak French often (Fausto spoke only Italian and French then). We had a blast — Pam’s parties are always fun! Fausto made dinner and we ate, drank, and drank some more. He brought this wicked Italian liqueur over with him from home called Limoncello that got us all really smashed but still managed to remain appealing the whole night. It’s still a favourite drink of mine…
After the fireworks, we went dancing at the Odyssey for a few hours and had a blast! The club was packed and we danced the entire time 
Despite recovering from my partying the night before, I still had a nice lunch with my Dad and Jill. We went to Milestones and had a relaxing time.
Dinner with Mom was an echo of my 18th birthday, we had a very nice dinner; it was a great end to a special birthday.
What more can you say, it’s my mother. That word means so much to me: mentor, parent, friend, confidant, consoler, conspirator.
From my mother I gained my love of learning; she read to me before I could speak and was the person who taught me to program when I was six. Who knew from those humble beginnings would develop my innate ability with information to the peak it is today.
In 1994, Jan (see below), a flight attendant with Canadian introduced my Mom to Rick her cousin. They were married that December.
Born of Stanley Bayrack and Nellie Fedoruk.
