@NIUPEOPLESCHAMP God's country, as people say.

@Mauve_matelot Nice place to grow up, but you have to go to Chicago or Milwaukee for any corporate work.

@MisterE the UK Lake District is similar, landscape inspired great Poets, yet for most types of work you have to head beyond to Newcastle, Manchester or into Scotland for Glasgow or Edinburgh

@Mauve_matelot Yes. I have relatives just outside of both Glasgow and Edinburgh.

@MisterE i have spent a lot of time in Edinburgh, and had the joys of visiting the town of Campbeltown, while serving onboard HMS Campbeltown, while the ship was in dry dock.

I want to spend time in Glasgow and one day I am sure that I will.

@Mauve_matelot I think you would enjoy it. Architecture, nightlife, music scene. I hear it's all happening.

@Mauve_matelot How are you doing lately, Eleanor?

@MisterE This time of year is loaded with lots of emotions and things are a bit rougher than recent years, My Dads eldest sister died on 31 October (my dad is 4th child out of 6) the funeral is in 11 days.
Add in 16 years ago I attended my maternal grandmothers funeral and then flew straight out to a Navy Deployment. It feels tough, and yet there are many good things on the horizon

@Mauve_matelot Understood. I like that you are looking for "good" to happen for you.

@MisterE so how are things with you and the family?

@Mauve_matelot I'm doing well, thanks. I have an older sister and younger brother here in the Chicago and Southeastern Wisconsin area, as well as cousins in Canada and Edinburgh and Glasgow. Lots of friends here, so always something to stay occupied with.

@MisterE on Sunday I will be representing the British Red Cross at the Act of Remembrance on Plymouth Hoe.

Most people go to the main War Memorial, there is a separate Memorial for those who died in the Plymouth Blitz which is where the Mayor and civilian organisations place their Wreaths.

@Mauve_matelot That is an honor for sure.

@MisterE December is filling up with different activities, I am doing Wreath Making with my friend Francesca, attending a Christmas Concert with MIL, Work is having a Christmas Social with Bowling included. So many bright spots on the horizon

@Mauve_matelot Nice to have activities with friends.

@MisterE yes, especially with last year and the UK having a second Lockdown at this time. Many people felt fustration with the Government. Yet time moves on and here we are, we are waiting for our boosters

@Mauve_matelot Yes, boosters are good stuff. Already had my booster, and there weren't any side effects.

@MisterE @Mauve_matelot one of the guys at work got his booster and it’s triggered vertigo attacks for the past two weeks. Everyone else I know has been ok.