I recently visited North Berwick in Scotland, a small town that is very close to my heart. I have visited there on a number of occasions and on one trip many years ago my parents treated myself and my daughter to come with them. It was then that my dad flippantly said that when he died he would like his ashes thrown off the rocks there. It has taken way longer than I thought to fulfil this request since his death due to various reasons but now the time felt right.

Well when I walked along the rocks and soon realised this was not possible as the path along was quite high up and a result of throwing them there would be a gust of sea air blowing them back all over me (not a good plan) or if I had tried to climb down the slippy and dangerous rocks to the sea you may never have seen me again which I am sure my dad would not have wanted! So I found a more suitable place down the old pier steps.

Anyway I must admit I was feeling a little apprehensive about the whole episode as I was very close to my dad and thought I would be very emotional, I had also just attended a funeral of a good friend from years back on my way up. I was a bit nervous about scattering the ashes because of the steps down and said a quick prayer that I would have some company. I asked the harbour master about scattering them and he thankfully offered to chum me down to make sure I didn’t fall off the steps into the blue yonder… you sometimes don’t realise you may be the answer to someones prayer!!

I believe sometimes there is a prompt at the right time to do something and there seems a special grace to get it done at that time… all the procrastinators are agreeing at this point :)

Even though I had gone to North Berwick for what seemed like a very somber reason, I did feel a relief that I had finally done it and actually enjoyed my couple of days up there, it felt like a breathing space as I haven’t really had much time off this year.

Here are a few shots of the beach and below are some preliminary sketches for a painting I intend to do as a memory of this time. Sometimes it’s lovely to have a special memory encapsulated in a painting that can be seen everyday instead of a photo that is either on a phone or computer or tucked away in a box somewhere.

It may be sometime before I am back in Scotland but I hope not too long as I love it particularly the Highlands, they are so dramatic and one of my favourites roads is the one passing through Glen Coe. Scotland is in my blood and almost every holiday as a child I would go to Edinburgh and surrounding area.

Just messing about with some line, ink and paint to loosen up a bit. I have not decided what style to do finished piece in but don’t want to rush in to it.

A Desire fulfilled ..