An almost seamless connection of different modes of travel with our flight arriving ten minutes early! But at Gatwick airport our cab driver was prevented from leaving by a faulty ticket machine, a snafu that lasted for a quarter of an hour.
Looking at our garden this morning we can see that the cherry blossom has been battered by last week's hail and it's a sorry sight, but the Japanese Maple is unfurling delicately and looks untouched, its bright red trunk glowing in the grey light of the morning.
We're trying not to be dazed by so much to do before we embark on June 10th and I feel inspired to start some new paintings whilst the studio is still usable... I'm hoping the oil will be dry by the time our removals company arrives. A giant 40-foot container to be filled...
Nicholas
As we boarded the ferry from Iona early yesterday morning, a van filled with the belongings (well, some of the belongings) of the former owners of the Argyll Hotel, driven by Dan, the former owner, also boarded. It seemed a wondrous and spectacular full-circle moment in a way.
Actually, Dan and his wife Claire, purchased the Argyll from Fiona Menzies shortly after NIcholas and I overlapped for those incredible 3 days in 1998. When we returned to the island in 1999, it was Claire and Dan who provided us with the hospitality and care we have enjoyed on each subsequent visit, including the one we took with all four of our parents in 2002. Now, they are moving from Iona to an island in BC Canada with their 3 small children. Dan will finish his Doctorate and Claire is studying psychology and yoga. He was driving their belongings to a container that would be shipped from Oban in a few week's time.
It was wonderful to see him again and to hear their story unfold. I also saw Fiona, quite by chance. And, interestingly, her brother has been a patient of Nicholas' for the past 25 years! She remembered us and our unfolding romance even in those briefest of moments in her 21-year stewardship of the Argyll.
On board the ferry with us as well were the brilliant head chef of the Argyll, Pam, and her partner Rob, who manages the service and front of restaurant, with grace and an incredible ability to effortlessly keep it all flowing smoothly. I hadn't yet met Pam and, after thanking her for the incredibly delicious meals she had created for us, I began to introduce myself. She said, "Oh, I know who you are. The whole island knows you are the two that fell in love here, got married and are moving back to America!" It echoed the gifted artist, Mhairi Killin's words, "Your's is one of my favourite Iona love stories".
Each of these people, chef, restaurant manager, hotel owners, artist were drawn to Iona for different reasons. Some stay for life, like Fiona. Some are there for a season, like Dan and Claire, some return to their roots, like Mhairi, and others are there for a reason, like Pam and Rob and....in a way, like us.
After two 12-hour days of ferryboats, trains, planes, cabs and busses, I know that a journey to Iona is not a chance event, it is something planned for and orchestrated. What happens after you arrive...well, that is the essence of that which is greater than ourselves....that, is the unique gift of Iona to all who make the pilgrimage to her shores.
Our love blossomed in what seems an unlikely place at first glance....an island of mostly rock outcroppings and barren hills....perhaps we were simply taking our lead from the thrift...
If you look closely you will see it, that patch of green from which are emerging small pink flowers, each holding a number of tiny star-shaped petals...thriving, against, all odds, held by the ancient stones of Iona...
Judy
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