Yesterday we finished clearing and importing from the garage all we wanted to, or had to have in the house, in order to be able to put the car away at night. Just in time, for the expected frost came, down to at least -5C in Edinburgh, probably lower here. Just now, at 8 am, it is -4 outside, though there is little sign of frost on the ground. We have amazing days together in this wonderful part of the world, so close to the sea and able to observe it near at hand, whetted by the breakers and shipped by the wind. Then walking in the open fields, in the centre of the activities of a working farm. This is above all farming country, and the food we eat is the freshest possible, so long as we go to the farm shop rather than the supermarket.

We have been here very nearly four months, and it has been just a delight.

It's now almost three months since our arrival in Dunbar, on Pleasance Farm. We have survived floods and winds, problems in travelling and extremely hard work (Therese) and are still enjoying immensely the cottage and its surroundings, dominated by fields, long vistas extending to Fife and beyond, and above all the SEA. Well actually, the Firth of Forth and the North Sea (out of separate windows). The place is mostly quiet, the daily low-flying jets being a very rude interruption to it, and the steady rhythm of the farm being a wonderfully reassuring presence.

Therese's work in Midlothian schools is coming to an end this week, and it will be a relief for her not to have to be out all day four days a week, though of course our income will be less. We have been astonishingly well looked after in that regard, beginning now to build up a little extra for her pension and more difficult times. She loves her work in Loretto, and seems to be establishing herself there with her excellent practice and intuitive feel for people's issues.

Meanwhile I have just sung the baritone solo part in Faure's Requiem with the Hadley Court singers, not too well I'm afraid and with such horrendous nerves that I will think hard before offering to do such a thing again!
The choir is good, friendly and have been very supportive. I will enjoy singing with them but this was too much too soon.

Watching out of my study window this morning, I saw what I thought at first was a leaf slowly falling through the still morning air. Then I realised that it was the feather of a bird, discarded in mid flight. It became the symbol of the old, discarded as we pass on through life.

Today we move, from a place which holds such painful, destructive memories for us, to a beautiful cottage on the slopes of the Lammermuir hills, a place where we can hopefully gradually recuperate from five years of something like hell.

We arise today, on the day of the memory of the Transfiguration!