My aromatherapy course is going very well. I'm even learning a few basic massage techniques on the face and the shoulders. I'm trying hard to restrict myself from buying too many essentials oils, because how will I carry them home on the plane??

I wish I could continue these "studies" somehow...

Books... Well, our chef has lent me a book about the "Brahan Seer", a man who lived either in the 17th or 18th centuries here in the Highlands, and had a special ability of foretelling future happenings. He is very widely known in this area, and Michael thought I might be interested to know more about him. I've just started the book.

I saw the beautiful movie called Whale Rider on tv. It is about choosing the future leader of a Maori tribe in New Zealand. Clashing of traditions of old and the fresh new insight of a girl.

And I watch every Sunday night a series, called Cranford. 19th century values, and a lot of single ladies of all ages. It's fun. And one of the characters is played by Judi Dench, a favourite actress of mine.

From 8 December we are free for two weeks, we have no coaches again, only for Christmas. A lot of rest, and then we are going with the Polish and the Taiwaneese girls for five days to Edinburgh! I can't wait... We will also have a "staff party" before Christmas at a local expensive hotel. Delicious dinner, drinks and heaven knows what else...

I'm back again to Scotland. My one week holiday at home was very nice, but I blinked once and it was over...

Yet, when I arrived to Strathpeffer Hotel, there was a very pleasant surprise waiting for me: in the meantime I've been moved to another room, which is only mine, no roommate! The story behind it is that when I left for home, the Italian girl moved to our room with Magda, because her room was needed for guests (full house at that weekend). And it seems that they really "fell in love" with each other so much that they wanted to stay together. So, the solution was to move me somewhere else (since no more real full house until New Year's Eve), which they did. And I don't mind it at all!:)

From today we are free for a week, no coach at the hotel. Good time for sleeping a lot, especially in this rainy weather...
Tomorrow I'm going to search for some new books in the library.

I've started a course on "Aromatherapy & Essential Oils" last week. I think it will be really interesting, perfect for my interest.

In two days I'm going home for a week holiday! I'm so impatient...

I have only once piece of news today, I finished Salley Vickers' third book: The Other Side of You. And I can't stop thinking about it. I've been simply engrossed in it and I've learned a lot of things. Perhaps the most about love. Not about cheap love which wants only "candyfloss and reassurance". But about love which is "demanding, a nuisance, and is bloody absent much of the bloody time". And is "painful, and forces change on us". And for which you are ready to fight and ready to die - meaning that you are ready to do things against yourself. And that love is "letting the other person be".

And all this in the story of a failed suicide: a woman patient and her psychoanalyst. Her story which sheds light on his past loss as well. And the paintings of Caravaggio. And some tales behind them.

On my day off on Thursday finally I've seen the town of Ullapool. It always fascinated me, because I really like this name: Ullapool. Try to say it aloud, it's nice.

I didn't know before but it is a small town, small enough to see the white houses and the harbour in two hours. It is on the west coast of Scotland, and from its harbour you can reach Stornoway by ferry.

I joined one of the coaches, it takes about an hour to reach Ullapool. On the way there I was completely amazed by the scenery. Never in my life had I seen something like that. The winding road led among softly shaped brownish hills, and all around grey stones were scattered as if a giant had been playing there long time ago. It really looked like being on another planet. Could've been Mars, I suppose (just because of the colour). It was beautiful, and I was wondering about the slow process with which Scotland, especially the Highland has "invaded" me. I have to admit - and it doesn't mean that I'm disloyal to my beloved Portugal - that in a sense, I've fallen in love with this country. Well, especially with the scenery and nature.

It does have something special about it. Something magical, which, once you have learned to admire it, doesn't let you go...

I finished in the meantime another book by Salley Vickers. Instances of the Number 3. The writer has become now one of my favourites. I mentioned her once already. Very subtle, psychological, gentle, and takes you to ponder about life's and death's questions. I took the third book yesterday from the library...

Golden Scotland. That's the best expression I think.

We are off all weekend because no coaches (no guests) for three days. Rest assured. I've been getting used too much to not working! But yesterday I went to a small fishertown called Nairn, which is very close to Inverness. And I saw the North Sea. The sea... makes me feel I'm a different person. Walking on the beach, listening to the seagulls' cries, watching the playful dogs enjoying the spacious sand, collecting some pebbles and shells. What else can I wish for? Perhaps for a wonderful plate of soup in a cafe called Basil with a view to the harbour. Hmm...

Today we (5 girls from 5 different countries) went for a walk, just nearby. Originally we set off to look for some "Highland cows", but then we entered the park of Castle Leod (even though we saw it's "private") and saw beautiful and huge chestnut trees. Then at the back of the castle we met an unusually friendly (and a little well-fed) cat, so we had some amusement, too. Then the owner of the "house" discovered us and didn't seem to be happy at all... So we left.

We had some sunshine, too, it is still quite strong...

I mentioned in my last post that we've got in touch with my second cousin who lives in Las Vegas. We started to correspond, to share about our lives. Now I discovered that she likes Portugal as well. I wonder is it something in our family that makes us to be attracted to this certain place in the world? Or "soul family"? Or why are we drawn to some places anyway? Questions.

It's been two days now that I have a very sore back. It's always like that when I'm worrying or thinking too much about something. This time I've been thinking about my work, our hotel, my future, the next year. Decisions to make. Soon.

Autumn colours are slowly invading the village. The scenery has started to get a brownish-yellowish tint, but everything is still very green. I have the feeling that everything is slowing down...

I'm thinking about time, once again. Weeks have been passing by at full speed.

As I suspected, my roommate has changed... Now I live with a Polish girl, her boyfriend finished working here because of his university studies at home, so we share our room until the end of the year. She is a "talking type", she's talking to me even when I'm reading...

By the way, reading. I have just finished a very special book by a Spanish writer, Carlos Ruiz Zafon: The Shadow of the Wind. Set in the 50's Barcelona, it unfolds the story of a writer, as a boy is trying to find out what had happened to him. And of course, much much more.

I've "met" my second cousin on the web yesterday. I have last seen her when we were children. She lives in America. I'm still thinking about this, I mean about our meeting.

I heard of a good friend, she and her boyfriend have just returned from Spain. They were walking for about a month the so called Camino, a special pilgrimage road of 800 kms leading to Santiago de Compostela. She wrote that to be at home again is like waking from a beautiful dream. I'll tell her that now she has to live that dream...

'Till next...

Hello my dear Friends,

I'm finally back...

All my apologies for this long break. I imagine you have been already very curious about my life, haven't you? :-)

Well, I'm not going to tell anyone how the story of Harry Potter has ended. Very interesting, though, I do recommend it for reading!

I'm still and already back to Scotland. As you may remember, I was very much looking forward to my holidays at home. It turned out to be very enjoyable, very exciting and - very short. I took it as a present that I could enjoy a week of real summer (that's all I had of it this year), and my whitened skin (a la Scotland) has got a little yellowish tan at least. You don't know what a nice feeling it was to walk in sandals!!!

I was very sorry not to be able to meet more of my Budapest-friends, but time and my "schedule" at home wouldn't let me this time.

And now, everything is back to usual. Our own little "Muppet Show" at the hotel still goes on (since "the show must go on" as Freddie Mercury once sang very wittyly). The season is still on with lots of guests, sometimes even from abroad. In the kitchen now we have a radio. Our pixie-cook has taken it in, and he (and it means, we as well) is listening to it louder day by day. It's the second month now that I'm sharing a room with - well, first with a Japanese, and now with a Taiwanese girl. I wonder who'll be the next?

One of my latest Scottish discoveries is a band called Runrig, actually they come from here, from the Highland. They draw from the local historical, political and national heritage. As my 60 year old mathemathician friend commented on it, it is a "bit like Led Zeppelin and a bit like Red Hot Chili Pepper".

So, any comments this time? They are very welcome!

I am reading the last book of Harry Potter - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. No time for anything else:-) Sorry...

Someone - whose opinion is important to me - pointed out that I always write about the weather. Okay, that is a correct observation, I have to admit.
I promise I'll do something about it.
Next time you'll see...

I find myself thinking about time. How relative it could seem.

June is almost gone.

The missing weeks on my blog do not mean that nothing has been happening to me. But these happenings are mostly taking place in my soul and - I'm ever so sorry - at this point I cannot share them with you. When the time comes - again, time - I'll write of it.

I miss the Summer. Here the weather is what I would rather call Spring, even when there is some generous sunshine. The breeze is always cool, mostly coming from the West or North. When my free time and the weather collide I go for walks, recently into the nearby wood. Such greenery, fragrance of the moist soil, the wise trees and the birds' songs fill me with peace. Everything is happening at the right time... Even if I sometimes feel a little isolated here. For real happenings in our lives do not care where we are.

Finally I managed to visit again my old tree-friend at the top of Knockfarrell hill. I'd been sitting at his roots, looking down at grazing sheep and winding country lanes. This time he (the tree) was rather quiet, I think he was dozing in the sunshine.

I'm often visiting the Library in Dingwall. Mostly they do not have the books which I'm looking for (for example Dr. Doolittle), so I try to choose at random. Just the other day I've borrowed a book called Miss Garnet's Angel. It's a contemporary novel, set in Venice. Oh, how I would like to see Venice again! Not the touristic Venice, but the shabby houses, squares with sneaking cats, churches with the Angels' paintings and the old Jewish quarter...

Next week my Polish colleagues are coming back from their holiday. Work will be a little more relaxed, but others go for their holidays, too. I still have to wait, 55 days more, for mine.

My dear Daniela, thank you for your comment! You know, when I close my eyes, I sometimes see the palm trees by the old road, the ruins of Amiera and even the small dogs, looking at me when passing by the Amiera train station...and of course, not only these, but much much more things!

Finally, it's June. I have to admit I've been a little homesick recently. But I can't do anything about it, I just have to let time pass, waiting for those ten days in August...

About work, I'm having plenty of it, yes. It's good that I have a few hours to relax in the afternoons.

The weather had been - most of the time - like usual, gloomy, cloudy, rainy, cool. For two days pouring without stopping. Yesterday we had a beautiful summer day though. I went for another walk, since I discovered another walking path nearby. I felt light and happy. Birds singing, flowers in full colours, wild ducks on the small loch (lake).

I've had some days off, but I couldn't really go anywhere. Always pouring on my day off, I wonder why...

Well, basically that's all...not too much, I know. Perhaps next time...

Here I am again... The last two weeks have been really very busy. Partly because I was preoccupied with deciding about dates for my holiday at home (!), and then booking my flight tickets for August. Well done. And then partly because two of my colleagues have gone home for six weeks, and it means work, work, work for me.

Actually nothing very interesting has happened to me lately. It has been raining, of course. Most of the time the rain stops in late afternoon or evening. So one day I used this "pause" for going for a walk after my dinner. Spring is at its full here - trees, bushes, flowers are in their full bloom. The air was filled with wonderful flowery fragrances and with moisture. I was reminded that it's the same bloom at home as well. And yet, I can't compare the two. At home the May-blossom is "heavy" and suffocating, and causing me allergy. Here it is light, the air is clean, almost transparent. No trace of allergy. The birds were singing at the top of their voice. I felt the magic and sensed the presence of fairies as I walked besides the edge of the pine wood, admiring the small green shoots on the branches. I'd been watched...:-)

I also spent a lot of money lately. I went to Inverness again, and since it was of course raining, I spent my time shopping... I acquired a mobile phone; bought a book (again) called Alentejo Blue (it tells the stories of people's lives in a small rural Portuguese village - of course I had to buy it); the soundtrack of the movie "Music and Lyrics" (Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore), because it just cheers me up; and a pair of summer trousers (even though I'm starting to doubt summer will ever come here).

Well well, the Scottish pipe band is coming every Saturday to play on the square. Last time I was standing there, watching, listening... Everything else seemed to drift away. Only the sound of the pipes...

This has been a busy week. Full hotel, a lot of work. And our boss is back from a family visit. Hm. I've not managed to come to like her, the same way as almost everyone among my colleagues. She's too much used to being a boss... Well, I hope I'll be able to stand her style until I'm here...

No day off this week, just a few hours rest a day. This means I did not visit any new places. But I did enjoy the wonderful sunshine under the Scottish sky. I walked around the village, had been sitting on benches just meditating or reading.

I realized I've got used to the seagulls' cries so much by now that I don't really notice them anymore. I went once to Dingwall to do my "Tesco shopping", and I've borrowed a new book from the library. It's by Isabel Allende and is called City of Beasts. Actually it is a teenager's book, but very nice, full of magic. Then I opened a bank account. I feel a very responsible person now (I haven't had a bank account since last August...)

Yesterday I visited the Scottish Archeology Fair here in the village. It's a quite detailed exhibition about archeological discoveries and facts. They even had a Viking combat display in costumes, of course.

The clouds are back, the gloom has returned. I feel it in my head, it's sore.

But I'm looking forward to the coming Saturday evenings: a Scottish bagpipe band will be playing on the square each week in the season!

Beautiful sunshine, strikingly blue sky, blossoming trees. My present Scottish scenery. There had been no rain for four days in a row. Oh, how I appreciate it! Each sunny day is a gift.
This last week housekeeping had been also added to my "worklist". I found it difficult only on a so-called strip day - which means those days when the groups of guests leave. It is always Friday and Monday. On these days all beds must be done anew and a thorough cleaning should be done in all rooms.
It is much less stressful however than serving breakfast for example. Especially because our chef is not a morning person (and that's the rather diplomatic way of saying it), being in a bad mood almost every morning. Swearing or kicking against the stove are his worst habits. At other times, during the day, he is nice, joking around with a naughty look in his eyes. He looks, laughs, and at these occassions, acts like a real pixie. No wonder, we are in Scotland...
I'm slowly starting to discover my surroundings. I had my Saturday off with a wonderful weather, so I chose one of the walking paths that leads to Knockfarrell, an ancient Pictish hillfort. The path leads most of the time uphill, it's a very good exercise... So I walked on green hills, among thorny bushes with yellow flowers (they seem to grow everywhere here). They charmed me with their aroma as sweet as honey.
I saw two brown rabbits on the way as well as grazing sheep. The grass I walked on was like a green velvet carpet. On top of the hill at Knocfarrell the wind blew very strong - and not the warm south wind, no. Strong and cool. I sheltered myself at the trunk of a huge pine tree, and tried to listen to his whispers about his relationship with the wind. Wind represents freedom, I heard him suggest, as I tried to hide myself within his covering. It clears away dust, too. And when you have your roots firmly grounded, it cannot harm you.
So I learned something, again. And decided to come back to "my" tree whenever I can...

My second week...

It has been much lighter. We had only 25 guests in the hotel which made things easier and quicker. Even for me! I'm doing my best to improve my "dining room skills". By now I know by heart the breakfast menu: full Scottish (which includes fried bread, egg, bacon, sausage, tomato, beans - wonder how people can eat all that?), scrambled, poached or boiled egg. Yet, I'm still tensed that I might confuse something. What, of course, had happened last week, but this week I've managed to follow the thread. :-)

I had two free days this week! I went to Inverness, which is the capital of the Highlands. It takes 50 minutes to get there by bus. The river Ness flows through the city, and Loch Ness is not so far away. There are organized tours on boat to see the Loch (and Nessie, naturally).

I'm intrigued by the fact that there is a statue of a unicorn on the main square!

I found welcoming Inverness' atmosphere. The inner city has a pedestrian zone with lots of different shops. I wandered into a bookstore, and could not resist temptation. They have a special offer - you get 3 books for the price of 2. A positive challenge it was to choose three different books. In English.

Finally I met two cats in Inverness. I've been so much expecting to see cats everywhere, but not even one I found until Friday. Both of them came to me as I stopped to greet them, as if they knew, but had not seen me for long time.

I went to look at the museum, too, which has an exhibition about Scotland's history and geography. This is how I came across a chart which listed the Gaelic (the old Celtic language of Scotland) alphabet. I never knew that each letter represents a tree! A few examples: A is Ailm in Gaelic (Elm in English), B is Beithe in Gaelic (Birch in English), C - Coll (Hazel), D - Dair (Oak), M - Muin (Vine), S - Suil (Willow)...

I tried today capuccino, made in Scotland. I hoped it would resemble more "real" coffee, but no, underneath the milk foam I found the same light, quite watery, brown liquid.

I finished reading a book which I borrowed from the Library nearby. It is a fascinating novel! Title: Labyrinth. Author: Kate Mosse. It is set in South France, and although the main characters live in two different times (13th and 21st centuries), they are still connected by ancestry. History (crusade, heretics, Cathars), Grail, ancient rituals, secrets, adventure, etc.

Try it out!

Strathpeffer, Ross-shire, Scottish Highlands.
I'm in a small Victorian village with a beautiful scenery and old fashioned houses. Our hotel - where I work - is truly one of them. An old wooden staircase leads up to the floors - which behaves quite strangely, you might even get lost behind one of the hidden corners... I'm not able to provide pictures, sorry, since the hotel doesn't even have a website.
However, the village is very well equipped. It has an internet cafe (I'm sitting right in the middle of it), a small shop (with a post office inside), a drugstore, a spa shop, a souvenier and antique shop, a medical center, a museum, and even cafes and public bars.
There are nice walking paths around, I'm planning to explore them soon.
The first five working days are behind me. Mostly I've been serving guests in the dining room, taking their orders, washing dishes. I have stiff back and arm muscles from carrying the plates...:-) The first two weeks I'll do basically only this, so that I can learn everything in this "area". The guests here are usually middle aged and elderly people from all over the country (with different accents!). They come by buses, no, coaches, that's what they say here.
The weather - so locals say - is quite good for the season. Sometimes it is raining, but the big clouds are running after one another very fast. We've got sunshine for two days now!
There are many seagulls in this area (very good, they are my favourite birds), their cries can almost always be heard.
The closest town where I can do bigger shoppings is called Dingwall. It has a high street with numerous shops. There is also a Tesco and a public library. I've registered myself yesterday, and have borrowed two books already to read. One of them is a Portuguese language book!!!
So far so good. I'm quite tired since everything and everyone is new to me. We'll see how the following days will turn out...

"Do you feel strong, full of life and enthusiasm? I hope you do, because this week nothing can stop you. The sky's the limit. You now have the assistance to set goals and achieve them with the certainty that you'll be able to achieve anything you set your mind to. A refreshing wind of enthusiasm and happiness is blowing into town. The next seven days are all about getting up and moving to a new and higher level of you..."
I've just read this message at my weekly "Kabbalah tune-up". It made my day. Tomorrow at this time I'll be already in Scotland, Strathpeffer. I think this is the right timing to start something new. In whatever I read, the message is leaving the old pattern and starting the new.
I feel a little depressed though to leave my beloved room at home, where I was weaving my dreams the last three months... But life is about moving on to the next stage, and that with curiosity and courage.

To those of you who are interested: I've managed to buy a new suitcase. I'll need it very soon, because in a week things have started to really hurry me up.
I'm leaving on 9 April for the Scottish Highlands. I can't imagine a better place for myself on the British Isles. The nature, the lakes, and all the magic I associate with Scotland - are waiting for me. I'd like to have my eyes, ears and heart open for the new adventures.
When I was having my job interviews, I thought: "I cannot tell you where I'd like to stay, it seems it's you who choose for me". But I tried to "ask" the country itself to choose. I believe that eventually the place had infuenced the agency...
I'm in the middle of preparations, selecting and packing things. Excitement is already upon me. The sun is shining, Spring has arrived to my small town. I think the first swallows are here as well, above our kitchen window.
A new stage is coming...

Time has come at last, even for me. I've joined those who go "public" with their journal, writings, thoughts on the web. I'm about to become a blogger myself.
I don't know if you are curious or not what I will be vriting here. I know however that I will write anyway. Writing is the way I work. It is a channel and a challenge. It gives me the rythm in life.
I'm still curious how I will actually manage it, since I decided to write in English, not in my own language, Hungarian. We'll see...
Let me start then...

I'm going to leave home again. When I returned from Portugal, I tried to find my "place", well, with not much success. As most of you know, Portugal holds a special place in my thoughts - it is "my country". I'm really sorry that you are not able ro read my "book" - it is in Hungarian, and sooner or later it's going to be published - what I wrote about those unforgettable four months. Some of you appear in the story, trust me, only in a good way. :-)
Well, my conclusion is that I wish to return to Portugal. But here comes a detour which leads me to - the UK. It looks like I'm trying to stick to my favourite poem of C.P. Cavafis: "As you set out for Ithaka hope your road is a long one..." Or another translation says: "...choose the longest road that leads to it."
It is fairly easy to find work on the British Isles, that's it. I'll start my "career" in a country-hotel; as soon as I know the exact place, I'll let you know. I will be leaving sometime after Easter.
I'm a little worried about the weather over there, but perhaps Spring and then Summer will be gracious to me. My heart is slightly heavy, because she wants to go the South (Portugal of course), but with no money it'd make no sense. So I tell her to listen to Cavafis' words. I may have to see important places, meet people who enrich my small world, again.
In the meantime, I have to buy a new suitcase...