Border Break 1: Longnewton and St Boswells
It has taken me a long time to even look at these photos from June 2021 when we spent a week in a cottage in the Scottish Borders with Mum, our last major excursion before her final illness. The break had originally been planned for 2020, but with all the various lockdowns it was postponed three times, and by the fourth attempt Mum’s dementia was worsening. We were worried that taking her to an unfamiliar place might not be a good idea and I was prepared to Mum-sit the whole week while John went off walking or cycling, but in the end it was a reasonable success. We went out for a drive together each morning, stopping somewhere accessible for coffee or lunch, and in the afternoons Mum snoozed while John and I went off walking on our own, being careful not to be away too long.
Greenknowe Cottage is in a tiny hamlet called Longnewton. It’s all on one level, perfect for Mum, apart from the bedroom John and I used which is up a spiral staircase and has a good view of the surrounding farmland. We found it very comfortable, with a helpful owner, and I would recommend it.
The countryside around Longnewton is pretty, and includes an interesting old graveyard.
The nearest village is St Boswells which we visited a couple of times, including a lunch stop at the Main Street Trading Company. With a bookshop, a café, and a deli, what’s not to love? Cute van too.
We also liked the Village Hall with its Edward VII lamp:
And the Polwarth Fountain, commemorating the first piped water supply to the village:
So having set the Borders scene, next time I’ll take you to some of its picturesque small towns.
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
The lamp on the village hall is a beauty, I love it when little touches like that are preserved. It keeps the character of a place. The graveyard looks right up my street too, not sure if the face is meant to be a skull? It looks quite friendly!
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The lamp is lovely, as is the friendly face which I think is a crude attempt at a skull. Definitely not a scary one!
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Such a blessing you have these memories. I know they will give you great comfort as you look back at them. Sending love.
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They do. Thank you, Jenny.
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I hope, with the benefit of time, these photos bring you happy memories now.
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Yes, thanks – they do!
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it was soo good that you did finally manage to get this break away with her. Such great memories xx
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It was, I was so glad we were able to make it happen.
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🙂
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I’m so glad your mom was ok and not too anxious. I could never have done that with my mom. The place looks really pretty as well as the countryside. I love checking out graveyards and that one with the face and a bow tie looks interesting. It looks like you had a really nice time.
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We did have a nice time, and we’re glad, given what happened afterwards, that mum got a good wee holiday.
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I’m glad you got to enjoy a last trip with your mum! Looks like an interesting graveyard too!
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It is a very pretty little graveyard. I like the cute face on one of the stones.
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So do I!
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I’m so glad you got to have that trip with your mother. What a lovely place! I hope those memories are a comfort.
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Thanks, Ann, they are a good thing to look back on.
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Hi Anabel – oh I’m so pleased you were able to have that trip together – and the cottage and area sounds ideal for the three of you at that time. I love the photo of your Ma – happy memories. That Douglas Fir is happily spreading its arms out into the cemetery – what a beautiful area. Wonderful post – thank you – Hilary
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Yes, it was ideal for us and I’m glad it happened. If we’d had to postpone again we’d probably have cancelled instead as mum was becoming more confused. I love all the trees in this post, and the funny little face that the fir is trying to obscure in the graveyard.
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I’m glad you eventually did get to make the trip with your Mum. She looks so dear in that photo. Thistle doo sounds, um, interesting. I like the tree trying to devour the road, and the lamp sign.
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She does – that was a very happy evening. I’ve not seen a Thistle Doo before, but have seen houses called Thistle Dous or Thissel Dous. I expect they all think they are first to make the joke!
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Lovely rooms. I don’t know that area much at all.
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Definitely worth a bit more exploring.
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This is a wonderful tribute to your beautiful Mum!
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Thank you! I’m glad we got this last holiday to enjoy with her.
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A lovely trip to remember your Mum by and the cottage looks very homely and cute. The village is idyllic. X
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It all suited us down to the ground for our circumstances.
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It is great that you have this beautiful photo of your mum to remember her.
This little cottage looks nice as the little town. I am looking forward to read the next posts to see what you visited.
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It is great to have this photo, and yes – the cottage was delightful.
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A bookshop, a cafe and a deli – perfection! You had a great relationship with Mum, Anabel. Not everyone is so blessed but I know that does make the ending hard. Good to see her smiling.
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I did, though we had our moments! Latterly, her confusion came and went, but this particular night she seemed her old self.
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A good way to remember her.
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That looks like a wonderful village to wander around in… and they even have cute vans! I also love the sign commemorating the coronation. I’m so glad you were able to spend such quality time with your mum making memories.
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Thanks, Janis, yes it was a very pretty village. I’m glad we managed to get there because things went downhill quite fast after that.
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I like the stonework in the village hall. There are at least five different types of stone there, all complimentary in color.
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It’s nicely done, I agree.
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The cottage looks positively idyllic and I wouldn’t mind a few days there myself. Lovely to see your Mum smiling as well, obviously happy to be with you and John on that trip. My Mum and my husband died on the same date (not in the same year, of course) and in some ways that helps me cope on the anniversary as I can’t concentrate too long on either of them!
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Oh, Mari, that’s a sad coincidence. I love that smiling picture, Mum wasn’t as happy as that all week, but I treasure the memory of that evening when she was definitely having a good time.
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It’s good that you were finally able to have that last break with your mum and it worked out reasonably well. The cottage looks lovely and I like that the owner will provide doggy day care if needed. I love the Edward Vll lamp, it looks quite ornate 🙂
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The cottage was great, perfect for our needs. It did work reasonably well, and I love this picture of Mum in her pink cardi. That was taken on a very happy evening.
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It does take a while to visit photos of lost people. Either that or your trawl through them immediately, crying.
The cottage looks fab, and could fit me and the guinea pigs in on that nice floor. Shame a trip to the Borders would just be too long a drive these days – with the risk of hours of delays to factor in, too.
But…
Cheers. 🙂
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It would be a bit of a stretch unless part of a longer tour, which might not suit the guinea pigs!
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