Four years

I just looked at the calendar. Four years ago to the DAY I arrived in the UK.

I remember with painful clarity my harrowed plea at the immigration desk at Heathrow.
My whole life was ahead of me. The new life I chose.

And since then, I've worked for that life.

New career doing something I am compelled to do, which feels so right.
Marriage to the man I love and was compelled to never give up on, which feels so right.

I count my blessings today and give myself a bit of a pat on the back. I know how hard it was to get here. And I also know how easy it was too.

And today, Mark & I have the Big Flip charts out ... plotting our course and dreaming and conjuring up what's next.

Anything still seems possible.

fantasy

Finally a rerun I can get excited about. After more than 20 years, they are running it on UKTV Gold station. And man, it brings me back... the pinnacle in the Saturday night/popcorn/sprite/cheeto/jammies line-up after Solid Gold and Love Boat was Fantasy Island.

It was always a bit scary what with all those white suits and B rated guest stars, and planes landing on water, but I really loved the concept. Imagine a place you can go and ostensibly 'work something out' and get what you really want in your heart of hearts. In the show naturally there was always a catch or a cautionary tale of Be Careful What you Wish For. Money Won't Buy Happiness. The Love You Want is in Front of You. Beauty doesn't Make You Happy, etc. blah blah.

I honestly can't imagine a show like that now -- it would be all porn. Or actually we do have shows like that but they all involve Hot Hook ups of annoying 20somethings cheating on each other.

I mean an actual place where you could go and get whatever your heart truly longs for. It is an interesting concept.

I am thrilled that I can be transported to that time when the show itself seemed magical and cool and scary. Which is kinda what it feels like to get what your heart wants.

keep on keeping on

Alas, Charming Gardener is not on hiatus. Just gone quiet. Into work mode. Things just going. Not lifting my head for looking askew at the world with the detached wondering or feeling the chirpy newsy note place either. Just plodding along. Not bad. Just is.

I do see a light coming this weekend as we spend our few spare ££ and are going to the Western part of Scotland to stay in a cute B&B for our FIRST (how did that happen so quickly) marital anniversary. I envision air, green, lochs, bottles of wine, looking across the table at Mark's calm face. Which will be much preferred to the glimpse of him that I am seeing now.

2006 greatest hits

• marrying Mark in Washington DC at the Tabard Inn
• my bridal sushi & cupcake shower
• 2 weeks in CA, Chicago & NY on honeymoon trail
• Calistoga country & Carmel beach
• celebrating with all my WI relatives
• near and far familial wedding support
• marrying Mark in Cambridge at King's College
• dirty martinis
• living in Edinburgh
• our fab flat with conservatory and garden
• Mark's glasses
• the smell of malt in the Edinburgh air
• smart, brave and funny clients
• my dear old friends remaining just that (all of you)
• my new friend Lexie becoming an old friend
• my new new friends, especially to Pauline, Louise and Janet taking care of my social life and making me feel at home
• my spouse visa
• Crombie's sausages
• Mark n Kat as neighbours
• universe, Hudson's and SLB providing productive and not too painful employment
• Valvona & Corolla pastries on Saturday morning
• being married to Mark
• being happy

Thank you for being a part of my wonderful year.

Here's to 2007!