When the cake turns out well,
And after days of November rain and
the weather forecast to go with it,
I wake up to starry skies,
After a surprisingly good night’s sleep,
When the women turn up and even bring
Along a bicyle,
When the group rises to challenges I set them,
And explore in silence,
Leaving behind sleepy swans and
A fast asleep city below us and
The day to day worries:
Colourful bobble hats bobbling up the hill,
With the stars aligned:
The full moon to the north, and the sunrise in the east.
Kestrels watching over us, hovering,
When we gratefully greet the dawn and
Happy tears roll down my cheeks, wind-induced.
Flint and steel light the fire at first strike,
Bonds are made over cups of tea.
With the sun breaking through the clouds,
Dipping our beloved city into the
gorgeous light that only exists
In wintry Scottish lands.
When we salute the sun,
willing the threatening drizzle away,
And we collect colours like the introvert mouse Frederick,
With the blackbird sending us on our way,
Down to the seaside in Portobello.
Time flies when you are having fun!
As the rucksacks get heavy and we reach the sea,
To be greeted by screaming gulls, a low tide and dancing waves, frolicking, beckoning us in,
to play underneath a rainbow.
Getting cold, making us feel alive,
shocking us into happiness to be
carried into the rest of the day.
Then these are unmistakably all signs,
And we are off to a good start.
Good Omens.
Thanks for being part of the first chapter of this story, Rhona, Emma, Alan Gordon Marion Preez, Lauren, Anna, Julie and Sasha!
Photo credit: Anna Deacon Photography
