I've decided to take a trip, probably by myself, next summer. I'll be going in either August or September. My dog, Reilly, needs a sitter so I have to rely on my parents to take care of him so I need to see when they will be available. I have invited my brother to accompany me but it depends on whether he can get off work for the amount of time I want to be there. I am looking at about 3 weeks.
If I go by myself, I have decided to do a couple of tours through Rob Roy Tours. They have some really great options and their prices are very reasonable. The first part of my trip will be the 13 day train tour through the highlands of Scotland. I just can't decide if I want guided or self guided tour. Probably the self guided one because I really just want to take my camera and head out on my own. After the year I've had, losing my husband suddenly and then moving from Tulsa to New Mexico, and all that goes along with losing a loved one such as insurance claims and being forced into a new chapter of my life that I didn't want, I really feel that I need some time alone to reflect and regroup.
Anyway, back to the trip to Scotland...I can't wait! I love the peaceful countryside and know that being there will rejuvenate my soul. Rob Roy Tours book everything for you and since I've decided on the train ride I won't have to worry about driving, whew. The other tour is a walking tour, guided, that will take about a 8 days. It goes through Rob Roy country and all of the accommodation is taken care of. Even my bags are transferred for me. So, all that I have to do is show up and enjoy. I'll be listing more of the details later.
As I stated, I'll be taking my new camera, a canon rebel, with me. Since the passing of my husband, Rick, I have started an art "career" in photography. What I do is take the photos and then turn then into black and white or sepia, then color them with oil paints. I have some for sale at etsy.com under kelsiphotos. I hope you check them out. This has been very therapeutic for me. Doing this process of photo/art has helped me through the grieving process.
Losing my husband has been the hardest thing I have ever had to go through but I'm getting through it one day, one hour, one minute at a time. Luckily I've been blessed with a very supportive family. I know that I will be okay. Believe me I questioned that more times than I can count.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
So, Now What Do I Do?
In my last post I was planning a trip, with my hubby, to tour all of Britain. We were hoping to stay for approximately a month. Early on Sunday June 14, 2009 he suffered a massive heart attack and pulmonary embolism and died before my very eyes. I am at a complete loss. I have no idea how to move, literally. He was my best friend, soul mate, partner in everything including our love of Scotland. Our plan was to buy a small bed and breakfast/guest house and live out the remainder of our years together in a place we both felt was home for our souls.
But now what am suppose to do? It hasn't even been two weeks since his passing but I am so confused as to what to do with the rest of my life. Family and friends are pushing me to eventually move closer to them. Others are saying take your time where you are and don't make any sudden decisions. My heart says follow your dream and use whatever money I have or will be getting and just go for it. My only real responsibility right now is my dog who is a great companion for me.
My husbands life was spent working his ass off for everyone with the reward of someday following his dream. I stayed home and took care of our daughter and made our house a home for him to relax in after long hours busting his butt. He was my world. He spoiled me by doing anything he could to make me happy and I hope that I did the same for him. He was only 46 yrs old when he died! We were suppose to have many more years together. He was suppose to have his reward for working so hard, not have his life just end like that. A couple of months ago we were having one of serious conversations about what our futures looked like and he said "I want you to know that you and Samantha (our daughter) have made my life the best it could ever be."
I haven't worked in 10 yrs really. I did help him with his trucking business from the house but now I am finding it impossible to find a job. So, again I ask, what do I do? It will be several months probably before the insurance checks arrive and until then I'll be okay. Hopefully by then I'll know what to do. Part of me is worried about disappointing family members if I do decide to go to Scotland but the biggest part of me feels that my husband would want me to fulfill our dream. I guess it's just too early for me to know exactly what I am going to do but the thoughts won't leave my brain and they just keep spinning around in there until I want to scream.
Hopefully someone will finally check out my blog and give me some much needed advice. Thanks for letting me vent for today. I'm sure there will be others.
But now what am suppose to do? It hasn't even been two weeks since his passing but I am so confused as to what to do with the rest of my life. Family and friends are pushing me to eventually move closer to them. Others are saying take your time where you are and don't make any sudden decisions. My heart says follow your dream and use whatever money I have or will be getting and just go for it. My only real responsibility right now is my dog who is a great companion for me.
My husbands life was spent working his ass off for everyone with the reward of someday following his dream. I stayed home and took care of our daughter and made our house a home for him to relax in after long hours busting his butt. He was my world. He spoiled me by doing anything he could to make me happy and I hope that I did the same for him. He was only 46 yrs old when he died! We were suppose to have many more years together. He was suppose to have his reward for working so hard, not have his life just end like that. A couple of months ago we were having one of serious conversations about what our futures looked like and he said "I want you to know that you and Samantha (our daughter) have made my life the best it could ever be."
I haven't worked in 10 yrs really. I did help him with his trucking business from the house but now I am finding it impossible to find a job. So, again I ask, what do I do? It will be several months probably before the insurance checks arrive and until then I'll be okay. Hopefully by then I'll know what to do. Part of me is worried about disappointing family members if I do decide to go to Scotland but the biggest part of me feels that my husband would want me to fulfill our dream. I guess it's just too early for me to know exactly what I am going to do but the thoughts won't leave my brain and they just keep spinning around in there until I want to scream.
Hopefully someone will finally check out my blog and give me some much needed advice. Thanks for letting me vent for today. I'm sure there will be others.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Planning our 2009 Trip to Britain
Today I began making plans for another trip to Scotland. We decided to spend about three weeks this time but we want to include England and Wales as well as our beloved Scotland. We've always wanted to visit the Cotswold area of England with its "oh so quaint" villages.
So far, we have decided to fly into London and spend 2 to 3 nights there. We plan to visit the Tower of London of course with hopes of seeing many more sites while we are there without being too rushed. That's why we'll need to do some more research.
We plan to pick up a rental car once our London experience is at an end and continue on with our trip heading West towards Bath and the Cotswold area. Then head north. I'll be posting more of our detailed itinerary later.
So far I've found that it will be less expensive if we fly into London which is currently just over $1,000 for two people round trip. We can then get a rental car for about $300 to $500 depending on which type we choose. This covers about 16 days of rental car use. This would allow us to spend 3 days in London and return the car one day prior to our flight back home.
Now I've got to work out the details such as where to stay and what to see. We always make a priority list of must see places and then add others that seem of interest to us if we have the time to include them.
I've got to budget wisely including the cost of fuel, food, lodging, and entrance fees to the places we wish to see. Wish me luck! This will take a bit of time complete. I'll post the full details very soon so please check back in the next day or two.
Thank you so much for your interest.
So far, we have decided to fly into London and spend 2 to 3 nights there. We plan to visit the Tower of London of course with hopes of seeing many more sites while we are there without being too rushed. That's why we'll need to do some more research.
We plan to pick up a rental car once our London experience is at an end and continue on with our trip heading West towards Bath and the Cotswold area. Then head north. I'll be posting more of our detailed itinerary later.
So far I've found that it will be less expensive if we fly into London which is currently just over $1,000 for two people round trip. We can then get a rental car for about $300 to $500 depending on which type we choose. This covers about 16 days of rental car use. This would allow us to spend 3 days in London and return the car one day prior to our flight back home.
Now I've got to work out the details such as where to stay and what to see. We always make a priority list of must see places and then add others that seem of interest to us if we have the time to include them.
I've got to budget wisely including the cost of fuel, food, lodging, and entrance fees to the places we wish to see. Wish me luck! This will take a bit of time complete. I'll post the full details very soon so please check back in the next day or two.
Thank you so much for your interest.
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