Farewell

The Final Segment in a Welshie Big Adventure

Farewell

It is time for me to say farewell to my temporary home in the UK.  These three months have flown by. It seems just yesterday we were preparing to leave, and now we are returning to the US.   

What is Home?

My sister-in-law texted me a week ago asking if I was excited to be coming home.  It took only seconds and I responded, “not really”.  She was surprised by my response, but I can’t say I was.

Home is where the smiles are found.

Home means so many different things.  It is where my family is, where my personal possessions are and where I feel safe and secure.  Time spent in Wales, England and Scotland falls into the category of safe and secure.

It was a place I would gladly call home if I could.  Returning to the United States made me genuinely sad, as I was leaving so many fond memories behind.

The magnetic pull I feel towards the UK started decades ago when I was a little girl.  I spent six weeks living on a farm in England and traveled with my host family to Wales to visit their family.  I loved the pasture lands, sitting on the fence calling the cows, and seeing a fox run under the fence as I sat above.

My local sheep and lambs in Wales.

These same feelings of calm, belonging and contentment were present during the Welshie Big Adventure.  We lived on a sheep farm in Wales, where I practiced calling the sheep and fed a lamb.

Red Kites in flight.

We walked through pastures, learned to identify Red Kites, Pheasants, and Pine Martins.  And yes, I even had a Vole run through my feet at Inchmahome Priory when my friend Todd came to visit us in Scotland.

Traveling With Dogs in the UK

Each place we stayed, I met kind and funny locals who were not afraid to open up to me.  Of course the fact I traveled with two gorgeous Welsh Terriers had much to do with the warm welcome I received.  People in the UK love their dogs in a way that people in the US just do not.

My furry chin rest.

I never would have thought this before living here for three months.  Perhaps it’s because there is more open space for dogs to be dogs rather than being held closely on a lead down sidewalks in towns and cities.  I rarely interacted with poorly behaved dogs.

To be sure, there were a number of territorial terriers on our journeys.  They are Terriers after all, and they have a job to do!  However, owners were more responsible in managing their dogs' interactions with others.  I rarely saw dogs allowed to just wander over to other dogs or people, unless we were in a dog park type setting like the Welsh walk we did at Callendar House in Scotland.

Welsh touring a National Trust property.

And since so many dogs go off lead in the UK, dogs seem to be less interested in bothering other dogs that they encounter.  Of course not all dogs are non-confrontational.  We had one or two negative interactions, but over three months of long hikes, and daily walks through villages, cities, and towns, we had only two episodes of aggression.  And we saw plenty of on and off lead dogs.

Our journey with Maisie and Winston brought us to some unforgetable places, starting with the visit to Wales.

Highlights of Wales

Wales was our first stop, and we learned a great deal about living abroad with dogs while we were in Tregaron.  Yr Talbot was the first restaurant where we brought our dogs to eat indoors.

Dinner with Winston at The Talbot.

Brian and I were so worried about what would happen that first time.  What resulted were many meals with our dogs and a growing confidence as humans that Maisie and Winston would be well behaved when they accompanied us.

A Welsh dragon.

Wales meant time spent outdoors, soaking up natural beauty, and enjoying the scenery.  I loved going to witness the Red Kite feeding and learning about their successful reintroduction into Wales.  The dogs loved their romp at Mwnt Beach, getting sandy, and feeling the wind in their ears, and meeting sheep for the first time.

Free time on the beach.

Wales is also where the UK Stinkeye took place!  Maisie and Winston met their relatives from abroad and everyone had a good sniff.  Winston actually enjoyed meeting other Welsh at this event and willingly walked alongside other dogs, especially Minnie.  Maisie found an English boyfriend named Woody and even enjoyed her first off lead romp in an unfenced area.

Could you be my British boyfriend?

Of course, I can’t forget all the castle ruins and churches we explored.  Special mention to Harlech, Dinefwr, and St.lssui Church as stand outs.

Highlights of England

England was a month of scenic beauty, but with many formal gardens and intact homes to explore.  It was a weekend at the Chelsea Flower Show with friends, a week exploring Blenheim and a farm park with our daughter Sofie, and it was the only place where we stayed in a market town.

At Blenheim with Sofie.

Feeling loved at RHS Chelsea.

Dining at Michelin rated The Frog with Claire and Neil was an experience we won't forget.

I learned what it was like to live in a home without air conditioning, and for a time, no fans either.  I enjoyed hanging out our laundry to dry and bringing it in smelling so clean and fresh.

A Cotswolds Welsh walk with friends to celebrate Maisie's birthday.

My favorite places to visit in England are too numerous to list, but here are a few highlights.  Buscot Park, Croome, Chedworth Roman Villa, Avebury, Batsford Arboretum and Sezincote all deserved a highlight.

The Travellers Visit

We also experienced a Travellers' Horse Fair while staying in Stow on the Wold which shed some light on the variety of feelings people have for the Romani (Travelling) community.  While town locals generally despise the Horse Fair because of the trash and destruction of personal property, I came away from their week in residence with mixed feelings.

Although some left trash strewn everywhere and caused vandalism, others were respectful and polite.  Only a few businesses remained open the week the Travellers were in town.  I witnessed three Romani children in PJs delivering flowers and thank you notes to several businesses who had remained open during the week.

For further information on this subject click here.

Highlights of Scotland

Scotland holds a special place in my heart, because my Nana was born in Glasgow.   It was moving to visit the site of the battle of Culloden, where Clan Robertson fought and died on the front lines of the battle.  Our clan motto is ‘Fierce When Roused’ and they must have been a fierce bunch to have stood on the front line against the English.

Mementos from the Clan Donnachaidh museum.

We spent two weeks visiting the Isle of Skye, primarily in the rain but with a couple days of blues skies and sunshine.  Experiencing Skye in both good and bad weather is the best way to see the dramatic sweeping vistas spread out before you.

Skye shrouded in clouds.

For days we woke up to cloudy skies and faint outlines of mountains or hills across the water. One day the sun came out and it was a shock to see the breadth of the mountains we had never seen before.

A rare sunny day in the Highlands.

Skye was the wet, wild, and wonderful walk to the Fairy Pools with the dogs.  It was where Winston sank into a muddy marsh almost up to his belly and we had to pull him out.  It was also where we came face-to-face, or nose-to-nose, with a herd of wild deer who were unafraid of our two dogs.

Maisie at the Fairy Pools before she got muddy.

Our time in Skye also allowed us to visit Neist Point Lighthouse with its dramatic drop to the ocean below.  We all were exhausted after the hike down to the lighthouse and then the challenging hike back up to the car park.  Yes, we all slept quite well that night after our cardio burn.

Mother daughter time in Stirling.

Our daughter Roberta came to visit us when we were living near Stirling, and she encouraged us to visit the Royal Highland Fair.  We delighted in watching the parade of animals, the draft horses and of course the show jumping contest.

Our final Welsh walk took place in Scotland and it was thoroughly enjoyed by both all of us.  I was delighted to meet new faces and to talk dogs for an hour. 

Maisie enjoying a good run.

Maisie once again got to run free through fields, returning to me with the happiest of faces to receive treats.  Winston, while sad to not go off lead, did enjoy walking with other Welsh and receiving cuddles from humans.

Thank You’s

I am forever indebted to all the individuals who helped to make this adventure a success.  Special thanks goes to Frank, Louise, Claire, Andrea, Lyn, Brian who sent me suggestions of places to visit while abroad.

Back home, I want to thank Dr. Adam McClure at Northside Vets for helping me with the UK paperwork and then sending the dogs records to two separate vet practices when they inevitably got sick in both England and Scotland.  Barb, you were a lifesaver accepting a box of items for me that would have likely been stolen had it sat for two months on our doorstep.

Finally, I am beyond grateful for my patient and willing husband Brian. You let me pursue this adventure to the fullest, even when your back felt lousy.  Your driving skills are stellar and I couldn’t have done this without you.

Returning Home

Our flight home was more eventful than the way out.  An older gentleman struggled to control an angry dog before and during the flight. There were 13 dogs on the flight making it more crowded and supercharged with dog energy.

Maisie, Percy, and Daisy on the flight home.

Fortunately, the quad where we sat had several mellow pups who seemed to get along amicably.  Maisie and Winston chose to spend most of the flight sitting on my lap, so there was no need for a blanket to keep me warm.

Now that I am back safely in the United States I am glad to be home.  I look forward to sleeping in my own bed, surrounded by my books, hand lotions and writing journals.  I look forward to having fresh brewed coffee in the morning instead of instant.  It will be a treat to have a cupboard filled with ingredients and spices again.

I can once again cook with a full range of seasonings, unlike the limited garlic powder and Italian herbs we bought at our first Tesco shop in Wales.

And, I look forward to calling and seeing my friends here in person and catching up with them.  Three months is a long time to be away and I know there will be much I have missed in their lives.

Perhaps I'll go on a camel caravan next.

Now, let’s see where the next adventure will take us, shall we?

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