Day 30: Edinburgh circles with green beads

Today's earrings are part of the golden thread that attaches me to Scotland. Over the years, the density of this thread has created its own Scottish branch of my web. Our family consider it a second home - it is the place I most want to return to as soon as this treatment is over. Two people who are centrally located in this Scottish web are Fiona Mackay and Georgie Young.

Fiona, Professor of Politics at Edinburgh University, is a close colleague -  indeed she's among of the best I've ever had the pleasure of working with. She is so clever and has taught me so many things, including how to think in news ways about topics I'd never even considered before. Her own work on gender, politics and institutions has been inspirational, as her Professorial lecture demonstrates. She gives me moral support and encouragement when the chips are down or when I have to face a new work or life challenge, and will patiently listen to me endlessly prattle on when I get enthusiastic about a crazy new plan.

Fiona, Georgie and Me, Edinburgh 2015

But Fiona is much more than a colleague. I count her as one of my closest friends. She is compassionate and kind, and has generously opened her life to me and my family. Fiona has given us the opportunity to visit Edinburgh on many occasions, including most transformatively, in 2013 when she encouraged and supported my application for an Edinburgh University Fellowship, which allowed us to live there for 6 months - a period all of us count as one of the happiest in our family history so far. Being able to stop by Fiona and Georgie's wonderful flat - with a view of across the Meadows to the Castle -  for a chat and cup of tea or something stronger - on my walk home from the University was such a treat. Skype doesn't quite make up for it, but keeps us in regular contact.

Georgie and Gus 7th 'Irn Bru' party

Elvis strikes a pose with Georgie's art

Fiona's partner Georgie has also been incredibly important to us. One of Scotland's leading artists, Georgie paints the most stunning landscapes and still lifes, which she sells at the annual Pittenweem Arts Festival. Georgie and Fiona have a cottage with a studio in Pittenweem - a gorgeous Fife fishing village - which they have generously shared with us. Although having such a busy life herself, Georgie is the backbone of the household with Fiona's current position as Dean at Edinburgh burdening her with endless commitments. As a result, it has been Georgie who has prepared us gourmet meals and guided me, and especially Rob, around the traps of Edinburgh - including an introduction to Eddie the Fishmonger. Georgie is so thoughtful with the boys, including organising appropriate birthday presents such as Angus' Im Braw T-shirt which he still tries to squeeze into. Georgie's cat Elvis is an important member of the household and the master of the pose.

Blowing a gale in Pittenweem, New Years Day 2011

Fiona and Georgie are famous for their fabulous parties, including their Hogmanay celebrations where everyone takes a turn.

Fiona and Georgie perform, Hogmanay 2010

Without Georgie and Fiona's help, we would not have landed on our wonderful house in Edinburgh with its bramble garden and its nearby perfect school at Toll Cross. 

Boys and brambles, 2013

Dad & Georgie with Henry Moore, Edinburgh 2015

One of the joys our international travel has been the opportunity to link the thread to Fiona and Georgie with other parts of my golden web - to Deb, Lizzie, Trevor and Lye - and also to Dad. On Dad's and my first trip overseas after Mum died, Fiona and Georgie welcomed us for a few days in Edinburgh. It was an important healing time for us, aided greatly by their care and generosity.







My earrings are a pair of dainty circles, with dark and very light green beads, which I purchased at a jewellers called Rosie Brown on the high street in Bruntsfield, around the corner from Fiona and Georgie's flat. I bought them to mark the Chrystal Macmillan public lecture I gave while based at Edinburgh - a nerve wracking but wonderful experience that Fiona and Georgie made possible. Wearing them today without any hair to get in the way showed them off nicely!


Day 30 has been a good one. A nice morning walk after Angus' school interview, then home to work on the paper which I finally sent off - yipee!! It was then time an afternoon rest - I am feeling very tired today, not surprising given I'm reaching the lowest point in the cycle blood count wise. A gift from my Melbourne-based PhD student Sophie, to be displayed soon, touched me greatly. The tongue ulcers are, unbelievably, completely, gone - I'm a convert to coconut oil!

There was however one significant disaster concerning one Molly dog and one jigsaw puzzle. Frustrated that she hadn't been taken for her usual walk while we went to the interview, Molly decided to distract herself with the jigsaw, knocking off the bottom border which Deb has painstakingly helped me construct yesterday. Rob though my response was fairly sanguine, but let's wait until I find out whether she also ate a piece or two... !