Andon

Andon means "gate, strong portal" in quenya.

How odd one's life turns out.

I am back on my island, and very disoriented. It's all about packing up stuff, throwing away a lot because we've realised how much redundant stuff we have and trying to write my test. I will get around to nag my teachers about my essays, too, but honestly, things are just running like sand through my fingers.

Moving home was not the best thing to do. But oh well. I had a bloody great time knowing Lacryma, and the other goths as well - they were honestly sorry to see me go. I, me, Ellie, made new friends! Sort of amazing.
After moving out and sending 90 kg of stuff here, we got into the car we'd bought and drove out of Edinburgh. One went home, so there were five of us. Me, wolf, Malk, LittleSir and Naraiwe, in the elaborately named, metallic green Balcony of Elegance. We started out eastwards, along the coast, and invaded and conquered the "Necron Monolith" otherwise known as North Berwick Law. Nice little hill, clouds were flowing past making me feel as if I was flying. I missed faun then, and continue to do so.
Then there was a brief invasion of England, just to make sure we'd been there, before going back into Scotland and camping in a random location.
We went to Loch Lomond, up by the east coast, and camped by Loch somethingoranother. I got to see Loch Lubnaig again - not half as beautiful this time, faun - then straight west to Argyle and down by Loch Awe and then the coast, up towards whateverthenamewas, and visited Dunadd Fort hill, camped beside an old lime kiln. Next day was spent in Kilmartin Glen and in the wonderful, awesome museum they had there. We continued northwards, saw the Corrywreckan Gulf from afar on a very calm day, went up toward Oban and camped in Glen Orchy. THAT was awesome. And beautiful. I could live there, in silence. Played my flute by the river.
Next day: Rannoch Moor and Glen Coe. Oh heavens. And we were amused by the poor bagpipeplaying guy ^-^. Now have photo of the Lost Valley - have to take a walk there one day.
Detour through random locations, then down to Castle Stalker, up again towards Fort William and out along the "Road to the Isles" and then ferry to Skye. Wow.

Why not elaborate? Because from the moment we entered Loch Lomond national park, words weren't enough.

On Skye, we had a night with a magical moon over magical mountains. Next day was all about Skye and Nara having serious trouble with her back. Camped on the mainland after exiting via bridge. Drove north, north along the coast and oh, how beautiful it was. Camped in tick-infested location, not fun, but the trip was. The west coast, that far up north... oh my. Short stop at Durness, then driving through amazing country to Thurso, where we took in on a hostel. Wonderful. Next day Nara recuperated and we others went to Dunnet Head and saw the pufffinnnns, so cute you could just go "awww...". I did. Then, around to Hill o'Many Stanes, with, well, many stones, and some cairns and stuff. I'm an archaeologist, what can I say? One more night at the hostel, then down the coast - which, honestly, was drab and ugly. So we hurried on, stopping only at Dunrobin (too expensive to go in, though) and then at a small farm between Inver and Portmahomack. THAT was a good evening. Dear me, Geoffrey and family was... so awesome it's just awesome. Totally welcoming. We were sorry to go!
On southwards, into Inverness - the others disappointed me here, but then, I'm fairly sure I disappointed them by bringing them to Inverness. By this time, I was thinking of quitting my pills again, as I imagine the moodyness was due to them. Now, I still believe it was. But the Isles were pretty, and I had some blessed time for meself. On to Glen Affric, and oh, beauty again. Faun...
Next day, the Great Glen and Loch Ness. Me and wolf rested in Drumnadrochit while the other three visited Urquhart Castle. I had trouble with my side by this time. Great. Still not gone. Then, down to Fort Augustus and up along the East Coast. Took a look at Culloden and Clava Cairns, then random camping at an... interesting site. Driving down toward Aberdeen, we made a couple of stone circles (East Aquhorties, still that humming in the ground...) and then into the Cairngorms national park. A nice night, more or less, before enjoying the last of that scenery. In Pitlochry, the car brakes had a last option, and after that we were... err, careful. They still worked! Just not very well. A walk through the oak forest, on to Edradour, and then car to Doune castle, where I - LE GASP! - brought up a couple of issues that had been bothering me. Nara wasn't very clever in doing the "cutting me off" trick, as people know - it's the one thing makes me most angry that I can come to think of. So I told her. And then had to explain that, well, I may be a whiny fucking bitch but there are, actually, lo-and-behold, times when I'm just a bitch! Imagine that. I wasn't going to be bitchy to her. And some other things, which for the benefit of the people involved (me, sensitive, wherever is the world heading?) I am not writing down. But of course it dampened people's spirits and made them pissed off - I think. I don't know, because they sure as hell didn't bring it up, and, as I am fond of DEALING with things, and don't particularily feel sympathetic to those who don't, I didn't bother asking. If they had a problem, they'd better do something about it. I imagine that's what they did at Stirling Castle, our next stop (Doune was, btw, awesome - I loved it), instead of sightseeing, amongst themselves, bitching and talking about it. Fine by me, I'm itching to know all the nasty things they said though. Masochistic, I know, but still, if I don't know what bothers others, how can I change to become a better person?
Me and wolf took it easy meanwhile, until I had some bad fucking news.
Then, we headed toward Edinburgh and tried finding a camping spot. It proved difficult, as that's part of the most densely settled area of Scotland, but we found one in a Forestry Comission area. Nice!
Back in Edinburgh we stayed at Cowgate again, doing a full circle. No pint on World's End, though, as I fell violently ill with food poisoning on Tuesday and couldn't do anything at all on Wednesday. Managed to crawl to the airport Thursday morning, and survived the flight home. Wasn't at all as social and happy as I wanted with Iwhy, not until about 6 pm on Friday, when I got up, sew myself a skirt and went to ball.

A Vampire: the Masquerade ball. FINALLY. Eventually. Finally. I went as my oldest, and possibly dearest, character, Katarina Wallén, Tremere. My partner for the night was an old acquaintance from the "old days", Richard of Wissen, also the one hosting the party. It was an absolute BLAST, and I never wanted it to end. The playing, the dancing (oh, the dancing!), the views and the feeling of Katarina again...

Next day, wedding for wolf's father. Overabundance of relatives and some Polish drivers. Very good. Only thing missing was a Tesco sign. (Very private joke).

And Sunday night... home. At last. Or, as home as it gets. Now, there are half-unpacked boxes everywhere and I'm supposed to be studying.
Life's so odd. I made sure to burn so many bloody bridges, that it's lucky I can swim.

But you know what? After all this time, I'm still owed a walk. I can't really find it in myself to bother to worry too much about autumn, where I'll be and who'll be around, though, so I guess it's just an old-fashioned "fuck this" that'll have to end this post.

I wasn't finished with Scotland. Not by a long shot. But, neither was faun. That's always something.