August News

August News

It’s the 9th and I have had family and friends staying since I last wrote. Our bridesmaid all those years ago was school friend Dorothy and she brought another close friend Irene and Catriona north on the 24th. We had six days of marvellous weather and such good company. Most evenings saw us all at the pier, fishing – every one of us intent on catching something!!

Catriona stayed on and we greeted the rest of the family on the 31st - a lovely, lovely time, though the weather was more unsettled. Colin and Sam managed to coat the three garden benches with Sadolin – a good job done! Colin had two rounds of golf at Sconser on the Isle of Skye and the rest of us visited family and friends, went to the Highland Farm nearby and had a trip on Argus, with Skipper Calum. We fished off the pier for crabs and “gooble” fish AND went out in the new boat, with Sam at the helm. I think that three year old Sean, in particular, was delighted to be in the boat, finally named “PIGLET”.

On August 3rd two loaded cars headed back to Edinburgh – Colin had Sam and Daniel, who is very nearly at little boy stage, a very good one year old. Charlie the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel completed the first car load. Moira had Catriona and Sean and a car load of luggage. Sean loved being here and having a bit more freedom outside. Catriona and he went visiting neighbours one day - great fun. Sean arrived home with a little plaster – despite, or perhaps because of, clinging on to Catriona’s hand (“SEAN, hold Catriona’s hand ALL the time”) he tripped on a step. They had a good journey home and this house was far too quiet for days after!

However, Sam came back on the train, on Monday and he’ll stay till Friday. Unfortunately the weather so far has been stormy, so Piglet remains on shore. Two days ago the wind blew up quite dramatically in the late afternoon and several large yachts came into the bay for shelter. It was exciting to watch them dropping anchor and dragging back till it gripped - some had several attempts before they were secure The wind blew all yesterday too, so only the largest vessels went out,

Today, however, we had Piglet out three times as it was finally calm, though a bit damp. Sam’s rowing came on well. After tea we walked across to the Pink House to a house warming. Then Sam rowed Yarrow and me to the Green Shed launching area, where we put Piglet on her trolley and pulled her the 100 yards home. She’ll be cleaned and her cover fastened on now. Sam leaves for Edinburgh on the morning (7.38am) train.


It’s now the 13th and I am once again “back to auld clues and parridge”. The schools resume on 16th. So the next family visitor may well be Ian, who will drop in for very few days in October – I am not complaining about the “very few days”, as I am delighted that he can make it at all. I think he will be en route to Toowoomba from America when he drops in here. Ian thinks nothing about shooting here, there and everywhere with alarming regularity, while I find a trip to Inverness daunting!

We have had our usual wonderful mix of guests, with Italy heading the Continental and Australia the far away visitors. Sam benefited from Neville and Geraldine making the long journey – he now throws a boomerang with style and quite a bit of accuracy (no windows broken in the learning, I am pleased to report) Thank you too, Neville, for all the photos some of which I have posted on to Toowoomba. Our friend “Big John” brought flowers when he came on July 17th – they have been pruned a bit but are still lovely – thank you, John.

The garden took a back seat for a while and gallop along it did! Some serous pruning and chopping are now fairly essential – then I’ll find the weeds! My potato shaws just stopped growing and withered – maybe it was the drought and shallow poor soil combination? Anyway, the resultant many, many “marbles” taste good! The onions, lettuce and leeks are all doing well, but the star of the vege garden is the double row of kale – enough to feed the village! I wish seed companies sold packets of 50, not 500!!! I sow the lot and plant what comes up….

The animals are thriving, though they do miss the attention of the children! Sam took some good photos of them and one of Yarrow has resulted in him now having his own web page! Sponge of course takes a pretty dim view of this favouritism and is punishing the only human he can, by sleeping on her pillow, if he gets there first….. Cheque has taken the extreme step of running away from home a second time…..

So, life has not been dull since my last letter – and I do not anticipate it being so! The next five weeks promise to be very busy with guests - I look forward to meeting some old friends and making more new!

Best Wishes
Ann

PS Yarrow is quite willing to share his page a little, with Sponge and Cheque. But what he would like best is for any of you to email a picture, with perhaps a little comment. He’s been for hundreds of walks up the village – did you take him and did he abandon you half way through?!

My granddaughter Catriona, flowergirl

(Thanks to Neville Peterkin for this photo)

In my July letter I told you about the wedding at which my granddaughter Catriona was a flower girl. I've finally gotten around to showing you one of the many photos of the day. She's the sunny lass on the right, and her partner is Eilidh - a year and a quarter younger than Catriona and a serious wee soul throughout!