Cliffs by the Sea

Picture this:

Grey clouds hiding the blue sky from sight; a warm wind blowing you hair into the strangest style you've ever had; the sky melding into the sea in the far distance--and there you stand high above it on the tall moss-covered cliffs feeling like you're on top of the world as the waves crash against the rocks below. You feel so wild and free as if you could spread your arms wide, dive off the cliff and soar in the wind confident that it would catch you in its loving embrace.  Your heart races and yet there is such a feeling of contentment and peace mingled with an unexplainable energy. It is an ephemeral landscape changing with the slightest ray of sunshine and, at one and the same time, it is enduring--never exactly the same, no, but there is always that element of untempered savagery.


You got that in your head? Right, well, now you have some idea of how I was feeling this past Monday. We were all off since it was the Bank Holiday. The morning was filled with Bible Study type things in connection with the Center and what our vision was as such and how we're to go about fulfilling that. Lunch was a taco-ish type affair, which was quite tasty, and when we had finished cleaning up we got our gear together (jackets and shoes and such) and headed off  Auchencairn way (yes, the only reason I say that is because I saw it on the sign post....it is not the name of the actual place...). We walked through a lush field dotted with sheep towards the main walking path that wound its way along the cliffs by the sea.

As we neared the end of the path (or at least as far as we were walking along it) the sun peeked out from behind the clouds and brightened the world with its cheerful rays of light. The sea was changed from a stormy grey to a sparkling blue.

We headed back a slightly shorter way, cutting across another sheep field (there are many...) and then made our way back to the center for a barbeque (and when I say barbeque, I do not mean we had proper hamburgers with buns and all and sausages with sauerkraut, no, it was ham steaks and sausages..it was highly disappointing...i was all excited for a hamburger and then there weren't any...it was a sad moment for me. However, there was pasta salad and potato salad and gingerbeer so I was somewhat mollified but not much). After dinner, I remembered that my Opa and Oma were at my parents home and that it was getting close to half one there so I quickly skyped my mother hoping that they wouldn't have gone to lay down yet. Unfortunately they had, but they were still awake so I got to say hi which was brilliant.

So that was Monday. Sunday I had to work all day on House doing change over by myself because somebody went and got them self "crippled" mountain biking *cough cough Bob *cough cough (I really need to change that name...just doesn't suit him any more...hmmm...I'll need to think about that one..). I was exhausted by the end of the day, and yet, on one of the instructor's advice, I did end up doing the zip wire even though I was having second thoughts. It was pretty brilliant.

Tuesday was my day off (I know this is so out of order....deal with it...) and what a beautiful day it was! Sunny and 19 degrees (and yes, I know all you people back home have been having warmer weather than this but this is Scotland we're talking about...so just shush). I woke up with a smile on my face and, since my roommate was already up (yes I have one now...pretty exciting stuff...she's super nice). I dramatically flung back the curtains to let in the morning sun. I headed downstairs still in my pjs (as I am now as I write this) and was told that we got an amp so I can now fiddle around on the electric piano in the Crawford Room. Needless to say I quickly ate my breakfast and then went and grabbed my music and played for a while. It was good fun despite the sticking keys, the lack of a properly working b flat and other such things (on a side note, I'm hoping to request that we get a second hand upright for the porter lounge so we can have a proper piano...). After I exhausted my supply of music I went out to the back patio to check the temperature and then proceeded to finally put on some proper clothes--shorts and one of my plaid shirts. It was so gorgeous outside that I eventually sat in my tank top and shorts.

After lunch I walked into Kirkcudbright with Weasley and Affee and we got ice cream cones and then had to walk back because the bus we were hoping to catch didn't go through Ringford like it said it was supposed to . . . Needless to say, I am quite burnt. The very long walk wasn't very worth it considering we only got an ice cream cone and it was about a 7-9 mile walk...but hey, we got some exercise and what will eventually fade into a nice tan so I am content.

So that was my weekend (sort of...missing Friday and Saturday but they were boring days). Sorry I didn't get pictures of the walk on Monday. I might be able to snag some from my roommate, but we'll see. Saturday I get to go to Glasgow and go shopping! It is going to be brilliant! :) So till my next update: so long and thanks for all the fish!