Part 3

Now I’ve been back in Edinburgh since the return from Skye on the 29th of June (moved out before cause I wasn’t sure if we were going to stay longer, better that way anyways, done with and all). I’m having lots of fun, as I mentioned before, and am taking my last weeks to relax and do some things I’ve been meaning to do and basically just hang out with my friends who are still around. I took a trip to St. Andrews, just north of Edinburgh on the east coast, just this last weekend. My friend Malcolm lives there so we were able to stay with his fam. Explored the beautiful town on Saturday and then went for a fun walk along the coast on Sunday.

Went climbing yesterday in Northumberland (northeastern England) on some very nice crags in a little forest area. I started leading (you climb first, placing the gear, set up a belay from the top, then your partner seconds –what I usually do- taking out the gear, this is the usual if a top rope is not set up –fixed belay at the top, both climber and belayer are at the bottom… ok that sounds complicated doesn’t it? Sorry ask me sometime if you’re interested in the details of rock climbing! Or take it up, it’s a great sport!!!!) But anways, leading is quite hard, mainly because you have to think about placing gear and spend the energy placing it mid-climb, and also because of the psychological aspect that you’re not entirely safe, your gear holds you if you fall, but if you haven’t placed gear for a bit you will fall a short way or if you haven’t placed gear yet at all… well you get the picture! Also your gear has to hold… all the reasons you start leading on very easy routes and work your way up, just like climbing in general, and as you gain more experience you get better at knowing where to place gear, gain more confidence, and strength of course ; ) It was a lot of fun, physically and mentally challenging – great day out! However…. As I mentioned it was in a wooded area, and Britain also has the insect bugger of the forest… ticks! We saw some while climbing, and then when we got home I found: one on my bum, one in my hair, and one fell off my trousers when I shook them out! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh I hate ticks! Malcolm found 2 on him but for some surprising reason our friend Ian had none… he also doesn’t get bitten by mosquitos… lucky. So now according to my mum we’re on the watch for the circle rash… eeek cross ur fingers! Also my hair is a bit of an impenetrable mass, so hopefully we searched it well enough…

Ok now we’re nearing to the end, and I’m on 6 pages on word, uh oh – sorry folks! Maybe I’ll break this up a bit when I post them for easier reading sections… I don’t know if I’ll post again before I leave, if not maybe when I get back i'll do a finale post to relate the end days…. I have a bit planned yet. Besides relaxing and reading and seeing bits of Edinburgh I’ve yet to explore, I’m planning on going back up to Inverness to actually see Loch Ness and such (missed the touristy bit last time!) and also I'm going to have a little farewell dinner get together, with the few people still around, sometime next week. Oh and I also have a meeting tomorrow with the program coordinator for a publishing postgraduate program at Napier University here in Edinburgh, hopefully that will go well, I’m very excited about it!

Well, here’s to my last week! I really can’t believe it, it’s gone so fast. It has truly been one of the best years of my life. It will be a sad good bye, but I’m hoping it will not be the last I see of Scotland and all the friends I've made here.

I miss you all and will see you soon I’m sure. Do get in touch, I’ll have my old cell back (608-317-0294) and look forward to catching up with all of you.

xx Rachel

(also, no internet at the moment – I’ve posted this through a friend’s computer – trying to figure out wireless so I can post all the pictures, bear with me!)