Apropos of something

I'm not big on plans, or perhaps more accurately, I am quite big on plans but even bigger on continuously re-assessing the situation with each new snippet of information, so that the initial plan morphs into something completely different. I am told that this is intensely annoying to any prospective plan-ee.

So, last weekend, I did have a plan, a fairly simple plan, but it was a secret as the planned thing was a surprise. However, I had done a bit of groundwork mid-week, suggesting an outing once the Monday to Friday grind was over and I was now on the point of enacting said plan to synchronise people, place, time and space.

Megan: "My friend S has just messaged, her and I are going to go for a walk on Saturday morning, just into town, over the brae, popping by the new cafe and then the deli. OK?"

Me: [Inwardly] Aarghh! [Out loud] "Yeah, no worries... maybe we could have our walk tomorrow morning?"

Also me: [Hastily checks weather forecast for Sunday]

And so it was that on Sunday morning, Megan and I finally found ourselves ambling along the coastal path in Orphir, enjoying the tall yellow stands of Perennial Sow-thistle at the top of the beach and gazing across Scapa Flow to the hills of Hoy. Although the day was bright with sunshine, there was quite a stiff breeze, which made life difficult for flying insects and didn't help us with finding caterpillars.

 

Caterpillar of the Garden Tiger Moth on a Ragwort seed head

Heading away from the shore, passing farmland on the way to Gyre Wood, a Brown Hare was hunkered down in its best "You can't see me" pose.

When we reached the bottom of the valley, we took the narrow path through the sheltered woodland, heading for Megan's favourite tree, a sprawling Sycamore with low boughs. On entering the wood, I had managed to pick a long blade of grass, and spent the next few minutes surreptitiously weaving it into a shape.

So this was the moment, 'neath the dappled shade of the Sycamore, I took a deep breath and then Megan's hand, knelt down and gazed into her eyes...

Me: "Fair maid, will you marry me?"

Also me: [Reveals hastily-made temporary ring]

Megan: "Yes!"

Now there's going to be some planning needed!