While the weather in Scotland (according to Norman Haddow's previous warning emails) had been very wet and cold leading up to my trip, the day before yesterday was beautiful sunny and warm here in Crieff. We had come this morning to a lovely farm property to work on the last section of a new garden wall near Auchterarder that he was finishing up, one which he had been been building on his own for several weeks . When we arrived early Friday the sun had started to separate the morning mist into layers and the light was catching both sides of the wall giving it a strange realer-than-life look to it. I had the pleasure of working with Norman for the better part of that day at that site in ideal conditions. We put our hands to the task, comparing building methods, joking, discussing the plans for the rest of the two weeks I will be here in Scotland, and working for periods too in silence, just soaking in the pleasure of being alive. I had to pinch myself to make sure it wasnt a dream. It is at times like these you can't imagine there is anything better in life than simply building walls with stones. If there is, I can't put my finger on what it is.
