Hello!

December's here. Yesterday we woke up to a dusting of snow on hard ice and today it is pure and simply hard ice!! As I should get to Kyle today, the heater is on in the car, and the lovely fern shapes that hard frost creates are slowly melting….. I know Alison in Toowoomba will be envying me this very Scottish, seasonal weather – she knows too that I would really enjoy the temperatures in Queensland!

After the last visitors of 2008 left, on November 14th, Heron’s Flight had a very, very brief hibernation! Now I’m getting cards and presents into piles, ready for posting soon. About half of my cards are now sent email and this system works a treat – if I’ve got the addresses correct!!!

I’ve been out at the front, hanging up the first load of white pillowcases – there will be about three dozen in all. If they hang outside overnight, and it is really frosty – then they will be just that bit whiter. I remember the older ladies of the village (gosh, I’m one now!) draping their table covers, pillowcases, even sheets and handkerchiefs on the hedges overnight, “to get the frost”. And what was good enough for them…….though our jaggy red barberry hedge would probably create a “Broderie Anglais” effect!!

Last week we did have some very pleasant days and I got quite a lot of pruning done – the three bonfires in the making are quite substantial! My neighbour Ruari gave me a few spring cabbages, so they are wintering along side the leeks. The green house got its annual clean out, as the vine had shed all its leaves. I’ll prune the vine shortly too. I’ve still to tidy up are all the small perennials, but they can do with a cover of dead leaves over the worst weather. Oh, that little red leafed plant that graced the breakfast table this year is, according to “Donald Loch Duich”, the nurseryman, “Oxalis Iron Cross”.

Ruah was neutered, much to some people’s distress (“Oh, I’ll have a puppy”) three weeks ago. Much as though I love her, I would have been no use when a row of little angry faces glared at me – because the breed has a cross face, I think! Anyway, I probably could not have parted with one or all the protesters might have melted away……

Sponge and Ruah continue their slightly uneasy, got to get on with it, relationship. Most times it’s friendly and calm. Then Ruah oversteps a mark and, like lightening, Sponge swipes. If it is a great big deal, the swipe is accompanied by a growl! Ruah has the sense to stop and look very contrite and peace soon reigns again…Though I know Sponge misses us when we are away, he also revels in the luxury of complete peace!

We’ll be in Edinburgh for Christmas and home for New Year. Before that, Sam is sixteen on the 10th. He shares the day with little Emily Casey, who’ll be one. I hope Dad Paul and Mum Fay read this “Happy Birthday”!

Thank you for joining me! We’ll talk again next month.

I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a “Guid New Year”.
.
Ann

Winter's round the corner...

Late autumn, 2008.

Quite often I start with a resume of our weather, so here I go again. Today has been dry and fairly bright and, as the wind has swung round to the east, cold. But yesterday, after many days of gales and torrential rain, we awoke to snow!! I rushed outside and took some photos, as snow in Plockton is very unusual but snow in Plockton in October is almost unheard of!

The wild weather was very tiring, as one just could not walk anywhere easily and any outing ended abruptly in a downpour. Moira, Colin and the family came for a long weekend and we all stayed cheerfully dry indoors after one fishing expedition to the pontoon had Sean clutching the central hand hold while Daniel pirouetted along the edge, unbelievably unconscious of the big waves - his Mum and Lally were ready to “haul him in”! Catriona and Sean stayed on for some days and we did have fun, but fishing, cycling, walking and playing football with Ruah were out of the question. The days passed quickly, however, with us swimming, visiting, taking Ruah on short runs, painting, baking, reading and making paper briquettes then burning them on big coal fires.

We left Plockton last Friday, a day earlier then planned as Saturday's forecast was appalling. The journey south was uneventful and Ruah and I travelled back on Sunday, as again Monday promised to be wild.

Ruari next door and Jane across the road had kept an eye on Sponge, but still he gave us a huge welcome – cats do not like wild weather. I had been unable to leave Sponge's usual window open, as the wind would have ripped it off its hinges, so poor Sponge had a big leap into another room, in our absence. The three of us were happy to be back together!


When I popped in to Ruari and Marie later on Sunday, they told me that the “Argus”, Calum’s seal trip boat, had broken her mooring the day before and had crossed the loch, to be dashed to pieces on the Reraig rocks. The wild seas had drawn many villagers to the main pier, to watch the seas, so they all saw Argus going and nobody could risk putting to sea to board her. It must have been terrible to watch...

Our family has a special interest in Argus, for Calum is Dolan’s youngest first cousin. Our grand children's first question on arrival usually is “Where's Argus?” (her mooring can be seen from the east bedroom and the front garden). Catriona in particular just loves Calum and Argus, possibly not in that order!! She recently sent Calum a scratch-a-doodle picture of dolphins, as we had gone in the summer on Argus to see them. I am heart broken for Calum and Jane who were away with Fiona their younger daughter. She was runner up in the Kathleen Ferrier Awards at the weekend.... Well done Fiona!

Most of our guests enjoyed an hour of fun on Argus with Calum and his crew. By 2009 I know there will be a replacement trip boat and we’ll all get to love her too……

I'm hoping for at least a few days of good weather now, so that the garden can have a decent tidy up. It looks a bit like a battlefield at present, with broken branches, half dead flower heads, leaves everywhere and palm fronds strewn back and front. But there is a use for the palms – one should tie a few together and make kindlings – as this garden has hundreds, I'll have firelighters for months! What with these and the briquettes, I'll hardly need a £16.00 bag of coal!

This news page has been filled with some doom and gloom. It’s just that way sometimes in our small community as we all battle against the elements and suffer with anyone who has had appallingly bad luck. However, we are all resilient - read on next month……

Ann

The nights are drawing in........

September 18th, 2008.


It’s a good day to sit and write you – rain showers merging, quite a strong south west wind blowing, it feels as if the clouds will lift and the evening may well be fine… Guests at Heron’s Flight are today visiting Eilean Donan Castle and the Isle of Skye – I hope the Cuillin mountains are visible…….

Although present visitors are having quite rainy weather, our summer on the whole has been wonderful. Recently several rowing teams have been competing for Dolan’s Trophy. They must row a distance of approximately 2.3 miles and be timed. There are four rowers and a cox in the boat – Saranna C, built by Dolan and friend Johnny Nic. Timing begins as the boat crosses the starting line.

This year’s competition ends on Saturday, September 20th and it looks as if Kenneth MacRae and his very keen crew will win. Their time of 20mins. 39 secs. Is good, but can be beaten! About twenty five years ago two men’s crews rowed the distance in under 20 mins from a static start, with no cox….. That time is the real goal for present day teams, I imagine!

Recently I’ve had Di and Cid, Keay and Betty and Tom and Jean back to visit. Di and Cid again stuck at –and completed – this year’s jigsaw! That's Di and Cid in the photo. They deserved that tray of tea and cakes! Keay and Betty had not come north for several years so it was lovely to see them again. Tom and Jean never change and, like the others, do me much more good than I perhaps do them!!! Thank you all for coming back. Thank you also, new found friends who visited.

I’ve only the beetroot to lift now and then the vege garden can be dug over – Ruah will be in her element then….. She loves gardening! She also enjoys prancing along beside the very loud lawn mower, so I do not think that she’ll spook easily with fireworks, loud bangs, etc.

I’ve lent Teresa next door my camera and, when it comes home I’ll take a photo of the grapes in the greenhouse. The branches are laden! I have received some really lovely photos from guests. Jutta Mayer sent three 10” x 8” photos, taken from the front lawn, which was truly burned by the early season drought! I wonder if Alison could fit one on the site if I scanned it through – I’m sure she could – and would! Perhaps I should, next year, collect all the photos together – what a marvellous album or wall I would create!

After a wonderful summer with Sam, Sean, Catriona and Moira, Colin and Daniel, Heron’s Flight took a wee bit of getting used to again. I was so happy to have the company of all the super guests who have visited – and Ruah too was equally delighted to be taken for the odd walk, while Sponge blossomed too, with all the attention he got!

We have visitors coming till towards the end of October but, if would like to pop in to see us and stay, please get in touch. The three of us would enjoy your company!

Ann.
PS
How wrong I was about the weather clearing this evening! It is pouring and just a little bit breezy, even by Plockton standards………

Two more photos

Here are Alan and Hazel, leaving Heron's Flight on their Zoom Trike - what a marvellous machine! Thank you for the photo!




Ruah is now a crew member on Piglet, our 10' tender. She stands at the bow, loving it - though she took a little persuading about all crew having to be properly dressed!!

August 21, 2008

The last month has flown by!

Sam was here all the time and he crewed for Terry Kitchen in "Delight". They sailed in all the Regatta fortnight races, winning the RNLI pennant and THE trophy of the Regatta, sailed over four races, the Plockton Trophy. Sam also won the boy’s race. He and I also attended P.S.B.S.C’s 75th anniversary dinner, where the guest of honour was a founder member of the sailing club. At 101 years old, Tom McIvor’s presence and detailed memories of the beginnings of the club made the evening unforgettable.

Sean came on his own for a week. As he’s newly five, this was a huge adventure and perhaps a wee dream come true for, since about the age of two, Sean’s been ready, wee rucksack on his back, to leave Edinburgh each time I did, breaking my heart saying "come to Ploton"? So Sam, Sean and I went fishing at the pier – no crab was safe! We took Piglet out and Sean was at the tiller sometimes! His delight was obvious….. He whizzed round on his little two wheeler, while I watched with my heart in my mouth!! We played football on the front lawn – and I freely admit that Ruah gave Sean a much better game than I. We cheered Sam on from the starting line, ate from "Grumpy’s" sometimes, slept like logs and simply had a ball!

The rest of the family joined us for a week – wonderful weather, great fun and another highlight when Sam and I were left with Catriona, Sean and little Daniel, while Moira and Colin debunked for a couple of nights. Everyone survived and the Heron’s Flight crew had great fun!

When Moira, Colin and the two little boys headed home, Catriona stayed on and Sam went to Inverness to do a week’s work experience at Raigmore Hospital. He enjoyed that very much,

Catriona and I had a week together and we went on Calum's dolphin trip. It was great fun and Catriona got one very good close up photo, which I’ve put on the blog. She went to saddle club and on a trek at the Ratagan Stables too. Then Rowan and Murrin became new friends and there was much running between houses. Murrin and her Granny Meryl took Catriona swimming, complete with wetsuit. That day the wind was strong and the sea choppy - a completely new experience for Edinburgh based Catriona!

Catriona and Sam went home on Saturday, having stayed on Friday with Auntie Janet in Inverness. And now school has re-started - Fifth year in Secondary for Sam, Primary 4 for Catriona and first day at school for Sean. Daniel has still two years more in nursery.

I’m again enjoying having guests, all always so friendly and special. It is always a thrill to welcome friends back, as I did with Victorine and Didier last week. And Ian and Margaret left yesterday, having come again to Heron’s Flight, 35 years after their last visit!!! Please do not try to beat that record!

Best wishes,
Ann.

July News

It’s now July 18th and Sam and I are looking out at a “watery” scene, if those of you who know our exact location will appreciate is fairly unavoidable, BUT I’m talking today about the weather, you see! It is a grey outlook and, through the rain we can see the Duncraig shore – just. The Crags are not visible so it is a quite depressing scene…

Yesterday the weather improved hour by hour till we believed that mid summer had arrived. We were wrong! Some large yachts had anchored in the bay and they had probably paid attention to adverse forecasts. So, while I complain to you, I am extremely grateful that we are not cooped up on board, no matter how luxurious the conditions down below!

This week two friends have sailed across the Minch to the Isle of Lewis – the Hebridean music festival will be coming to a very watery end soon. Their sail out was in gale force winds, the time there has been mostly very damp and wild. Their trip home promises to be exciting, with present weather predictions and they’ll breeze in here having had a ball – yachts people are a breed quite apart, for they turn into very sane responsible pillars of society when their feet touch dry land!!

The garden has run riot recently and summer blossoms have been quite spectacular, especially the Kingsgate rose which now stretches some fifteen feet and is about nine feet high, as you’ll see from the photo. The early potatoes are good and the various lettuces are as prolific as they have been in previous years. Sam and I shall be planting the leeks when the weather allows.

Heron’s Flight has had many visitors. I’d like to thank all our guests for coming and congratulate those who timed their stay to coincide with the good days we’ve had! Thank you too for all the lovely messages you left and sent. Sally Shuster has kept me very amused, sending PC’s from America; the views have included Rhu, Plockton and Sally and me!!! Our friend John Townend stayed for a 6th visit and narrowly missed seeing Sam and Catriona. Dorothy and Irene, vintage friends, came for a few days too. It has been a lovely month….

Ruah and her labradoodle friend Malinky have now attended four training sessions - with their fraught owners! There are four more lessons for owners and pups alike and then I’ll report on overall progress – of us all!

The annual Plockton Small Boat Sailing Club regatta begins on the 28th. We are all hoping for fair winds and sunshine. Sam will be crewing and helping at the line. Now that Saranna C is in the water, I’m looking forward to crews of four plus cox rowing to compete for Dolan’s trophy. The rest of the family will be here for most of the regatta fortnight, so Heron’s Flight will be buzzing!

Should you think of coming to the North West corner of Scotland, do call in to Plockton and stay for a few days….
Ann

It's the end of June......

The longest day was five days ago – incredible..... The weather recently has been very mixed, with strong winds most days. We have not had clear enough skies to read our newspapers at 11.00pm, without artificial light but we may yet. But now the days begin to shorten, which to me is not a pleasant prospect….

However,it is still very much summer and the Scottish schools begin to holiday this weekend. So I’m looking forward to Catriona coming on July 7th. Very good friends are coming then, leaving from Edinburgh and staying the week – Catriona may stay longer, hopefully. Sam will be here soon too, but he will make his own way to Plockton.

Sailing has got under way with a race, sometimes two, weekly. Regatta fortnight begins in just over a month and then I hope Moira, Colin, Sean and Daniel will be here too for some days.

The garden has been taking up quite a bit of my time, with lawns and hedges growing just a bit too quickly! The veges are coming along nicely and I tried the potatoes when Jenny and Geoff Duce from Townsville visited. They were still very small but should be properly ready very soon. It was lovely to see the Duces again – Dolan, his sisters Janet and Alice and I ate crocodile, sixteen years ago at a BBQ with the Duce family! Being typical Scots, we all enjoyed the meat, till it was revealed that what we thought was chicken was not…..We are a fairly conservative nation I think. I hope Jenny and Geoff enjoyed the haggis and venison I served!

Ruah and I have started dog classes! Malinky and Teresa next door come too. Malinky has more excuses to offer than Ruah as he’s only 4 months old – though being a labradoodle, he’s already twice her size! Last night was the first class and Teresa and I were regretting signing the forms, as we crossed the Skye Bridge to Kyleakin village hall!

There were seven puppies, four of which were extremely vocal….. Malinky is quite nervous and happily peeped out at the mêlée from a safe corner for a while! Ruah was quite bamboozled by the noise which seemed to her to be being accepted by the humans and I was ready to yank her wee lead (or at least give her a real school teacher glare) if she attempted a howl, bark or squeak! In the end, Malinky did join in very graciously and I am pleased to report that he and Ruah did really well, amid the, at times, complete chaos!! Roll on next week, when we are expected to have our dogs walking to heel, sitting, lying down and coming immediately to our “excited” call – all on the lead, if necessary!

As usual, there have been such charming guests here and I’ve been very lucky to meet them. Ruah too thoroughly enjoys their company and benefits regularly by joining new friends on a walk! Thank you all for coming!

Ann

Summer in Heron's Flight

May's news

I began writing around May 13th when our good weather of April still dominated, with a couple of wet days thrown in to water the gardens! The flowering cherry at the top of the drive, in Ruari's garden, was magnificent and, for once, the blossoms were not blown across the loch! The potatoes were well through the ground and the onions thriving. Lettuce, planted in trays, was coming along. The very warm days could not last, everyone firmly believed…. And I refused to sit down and do the yearly accounts for the accountant till it was raining hard!!

I found a rather drastic solution to the moss on the front grass. Ruah was digging little holes here and there – very amusing to watch as the moss flew here, there and everywhere! But that had to stop, before someone landed in one..... So the holes are filled with compost and I hope this does not create a frenzy of digging and a little all-brown dog!

It’s now May 26 and the wonderful weather has just gone on and on! I was keeping my fingers crossed that some good days would still be on offer for Richard and Angela Hough’s fourth visit, as they are great walkers. Well there was hardly been a spot of rain in their eight days here – indeed it has been mainly wall to wall sunshine – with more than the odd rogue midge thrown in at times, I’m afraid…..

Alan and Jan Walker took Ruah for a walk and came back assuring me that she was well behaved – mark you, they are used to a Springer Spaniel!

Ruah has decided that gardening is her forte! So the lawn is having a rest and the vegetable patch now has her full attention. Sponge looks on with a resigned, tolerant air that indicates he thinks Ruah m-a-y grow up in a while!

The exterior painting, started quite a while ago, should be completed by this weekend. I am very relieved to have had it finally done. It looks good! I spoke too soon for on Friday there was a shower of rain and the house was abandoned again by the painters – they are coming back "soon" then surely will finish and remove the many ladders adorning the front lawn! Catriona, Sean and Daniel could construct a giant game of snakes and ladders out there!

Sam has been sitting his standard grade exams and he will finish in a week's time. He’s very conscientious and will do his best, we all know. I’m looking forward to his arrival, when he can be a good help and also get in some crewing in pre-regatta races. PSBSC (Plockton Small Boat Sailing Club) is 75 years old this year and happily has gone from strength to strength over the years. Dolan's trophy too will create interest and competition from the youths upwards. Hopefully younger children too may be asked to cox sometimes.

This week is fairly quiet and, as the next few days promise still to be sunny, I must help Ruah in the garden! The potatoes need more ground round them, the onions and lettuce finely weeded. I'll also dig over an area ready for leek plants and cut all the grass – again ... I am now watering day and night as even the heathers are dying. My attention is also on the shore close to the front wall – overgrown since the cows were not allowed to roam – as it is really quite impassable now. There's plenty to get on with and plenty of time too, to welcome guests to Heron's Flight.

Best wishes
Ann.

April 27, 2008

Catriona, Ruah and Meacha in front garden
It's Daniel's third birthday this weekend and the party's in Edinburgh! As I've already spent ten days away from home this month, I’ll not get there….

Sam and Catriona, Ruah and I motored south on Friday 4th, after Sam and Catriona had given me a lovely time in Plockton! We had a lot of fun and were out and about a great deal, in wonderful weather. Their schools resumed on April 7th.

I headed 18 miles west of Edinburgh to house sit in Bathgate, where Moira and Colin have bought a property. They plan to move to this more rural environment in two years, when Sam finishes High School. The three younger children will then go to school where Lally (me!) and great uncle Ian were educated! Our family, the Hunters, lived less than a mile from the recently bought house. Dad had a draper's shop, Mum was an infant teacher and Bathgate was home all their married life.

At the new house“Fairfield”, I welcomed plumbers, plasterers, roofers, painters and John who will do a little work too. Emptying the house and tidying up the garden took days and, when I had to travel north on the 13th, there was still a lot of work for the family to do. However, I know everything has gone well and an estate agent can now take over, so the house will be occupied for the next two years.

My time in Bathgate was not all work and no play! I met up with Dorothy Slater, who brought me up to date with all the goings - on in Bathgate. Dorothy and I went to school together and she has visited us yearly in Plockton. She was our bridesmaid and is John's Godmother. I also had Sam, Catriona and Sean for sleepovers at the weekends!

In all this, Ruah had a whale of a time – a rapidly emptying house to whizzzz through and a 'Cavalier King Charles proof' garden in which to romp and roam! The previous owner had two Cavaliers.

Since our return, the weather has been spectacular - till this weekend. Digging, fertilizing then planting the onions and potatoes in fairly dry soil was such a bonus! Ruah repeatedly tried to help in the garden – she was anything but successful!

We returned to a bed and breakfast warm - up week, with two days off. Last week was busier and the day off was much appreciated! This coming week heralds the start of a busy spell, when days off are rare! But that is how I like it, as meeting lots of guests is always a great pleasure. So, please come sometime and be a part of our household for even a little while!

Best wishes
Ann

How time flies!

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Sam has been in Plockton for a week and we shall be joined tomorrow by Catriona, who has been with Dolan's sister Janet in Inverness. Catriona has several little friends in Inverness (and an aunt and uncle who love having her there) so she thoroughly enjoys going north in that direction!

Sam and I have been doing a bit of travelling and we motored round the north and west of Skye last week. Yesterday, at 8.50am, we left the car at Armadale on Skye, got on a MacBrayne's ferry and travelled the short distance to Mallaig on the mainland. We then changed to a slightly smaller ferry and visited the islands of Eigg, Rhum and Canna. The ferry stopped briefly at all the islands then reversed the route and we were in Mallaig at 5.50 and back in Armadale at 6,30. So we were, at 7.15pm, back in Heron's Flight and enjoying a "Grumpy's" takeaway!.

The weather has been good all week but for our two big trips it excelled itself and was perfect. Weren't we lucky! We have sent Alison and Ian many photos and I know Alison, when she has several moments, will put some on the web site. Alison, you are a star and I do appreciate all your work on my behalf. I know too that you and Ian have sometimes had pretty poor weather when you have been tripping round Skye and further afield from here, so our good fortune might be hard for you and Ian to take. We live on the doorstep and you have 10, 000 miles to get here.... come back soon and try again....

I've got the lawns cut and dearie me, the front one is mostly moss now – any quick remedies known? Ruah loves dancing around on it however! The down garden is also dug over and I'm hoping to get onions planted this week. There are three different kinds of potatoes chitting – they'll be planted towards the end of the month. The ground has, till now, been very wet and cold.

This week is a very busy one as I have a lot to do before Friday, when we must head to Edinburgh. Sam and Catriona have school on Monday. This term is a big one for Sam, with exams looming. He is very conscientious and should do well in them all – but he and we will be glad when they are over and the long summer stretches in front of him.

Ruah and I shall stay south for about a week. We are going to house sit! I'll tell you all about it soon.

We'll be glad to get home and meet our April visitors. By then too, Ruah will be over six months and getting some more sense!

Best wishes
Ann

A Busy Time

February 21 -Spring’s round the corner!
We as a nation are pretty obsessed by the weather, I think. Today we’re told our wonderful long spell of sunny days and crisp nights is disappearing and we have a much more well known forecast, which includes the words rain, heavy showers, longer spells of rain, winds; no gales to date! But Ruah and I have had a couple of walks and there’s still no sign of precipitation, though I heard that there were huge hailstones at Dundonnel, near Gairloch!

When things do change, we'll all be regretting that we did not spend much more time in our gardens, pruning and tidying up. I did get a couple of hours done this week and can see the difference – but you might not! There is a lot of work still to do and Ruah has not proved to be a great help – yet!

During much of this marvelous weather I was not at home. On February 7th Ruah and I went to Edinburgh and had a lovely long weekend there with all the family. Catriona was recovering well from her tonsillectomy.

One evening Moira and Sam sat at the computer and booked a four day break for two in Paris. I booked two tickets for the Nut Cracker Ballet.

Sam and I caught the 6.00 am flight on Monday, 11th Feb. and were at our fairly central hotel around 11.00am Paris time. From then on we covered as much ground as possible, by metro, batobus and good old "walker’s bus". The city basked in glorious sunshine every day - not a cloud in the sky and unseasonally warm!

On February 13th, Le Sacre Coeur looked bleached with its background of blue. Many visitors sat on the steps to the Basilique and were entertained by a very good guitarist. At 9.00pm that night, La Tour Eiffel was equally breathtaking.....
Yes, we would go back!




We visited all the famous landmarks and buildings, ate French, Italian and Chinese and were fairly exhausted physically and mentally by Thursday 14th, when we landed at Edinburgh around 5.30pm. Moira and little Daniel had braved the rush hour traffic to be there and that was much appreciated! That evening Moira and Catriona enjoyed the Nut Cracker ballet at the Playhouse Theatre.

Ruah was, like the other children, pleased to see us again! She’s five months old today and no longer fits on her little mats with room to spare! She’s very fond of people and other dogs, respects cats that growl and loves chasing leaves… She’s just becoming accustomed to her 10’ outdoor tether, so she can help in the garden and be in a sunny spot, hopefully. I will get some fencing renewed, and then she’ll be totally safely contained. Till recently she’s shown no desire to wander and consequently raise her owner’s blood pressure!

We travelled north on Sunday. John's day usually starts before 8.00am – and that suited me. To get away from the city early and on Sunday was a bonus, for Edinburgh roads are being dug up left, right and centre. This is mainly for the new tram system, which most residents wonder about...... If it makes any difference to the chaotic travel in the city, then the present frustrations may be forgotten. Having just enjoyed stress free, reasonably priced travel on the Paris metro, which is similar if not better than in London, I can't help but wonder why Edinburgh “missed the bus” – not one of my better jokes!

My thoughts are now turning to the guests who will be arriving from early March. I look forward to meeting them. Of course I should like to meet you too?

Best wishes, Ann

PS – I’ll finish on weather! Today is appalling and Ruah thinks it crazy to go out – sensible!

Paris

Dear all, Sam and I had wonderful weather in Paris during our recent visit - not a cloud in the sky and unseasonally warm!

On February 13th, Le Sacre Coeur looked bleached with its background of blue. Many visitors sat on the steps to the Basilique and were entertained by a very good guitarist.

At 9.00pm that night, La Tour Eiffel was equally breathtaking.....

Yes, we would go back!

Look at my flowers!

I had a birthday recently and my family and friends gave me beautiful flowers.

Last September, Loes van Ruiter (I hope I have that correct) and her friend came from the Netherlands and stayed here. As they were leaving Loes presented me with some miniature Spring bulbs and a huge amaryllis bulb.

The amaryllis has seven wonderful crimson trumpets and another shoot is going to blossom too! The flowers light up the hall and everyone who visits remarks on their beauty.

What good timing, Loes!

I shall look forward to having these flowers for years to come....

Thank you

Ann

January 2008 News

January 18th, 2008

Already we are noticing the days lengthening. Till today, there’s been a lovely spell of crisp, sunny weather and January has sped past. I always find the first two months of the year dreary, but 2008 may be different – a lovely fortnight to start off and a trip to Edinburgh and perhaps further afield (Sam has a week’s holiday) at the beginning of February.

We all had a lovely time in Edinburgh at Christmas, then Sam, Catriona and I headed north for New Year. That was a special time.

Plockton was very busy with visitors over New Year! At the now traditional rocket- lit bonfire and fireworks, the car park was absolutely full of people and I believe the dance in the village hall was very well attended. The three of us took in New Year at Dolan’s family home “35”, with Janet, John and Sandra. Then we first footed Charlie and Kathleen at “36” and were home not too late, but long, long after Catriona’s bed time!

Sam and Catriona travelled home on the fourth, by bus (the trains were running many hours late). Snow in the east made driving potentially hazardous, so we went to Inverness and the Citylink service took 4++ safe hours from there to Edinburgh. We in the west had much milder conditions.
The house was so quiet without Sam and Catriona….

Ruah is now three and a half months old and growing like a mushroom! She’s very good on the whole and enjoys all the usual puppy pastimes – bounding around in the garden, eating, chewing (not allowed….), eating, sleeping, eating, going for walks, eating, meeting everyone and anything, eating….. and eating! You’ll gather she likes her carefully rationed monotonous portions of dried food! She’s quite happy to be left in her crate for short spells, though I take her in the car (again crated) whenever possible. We both have a lot of learning to do in the next long time……..

I’ve been doing a bit of necessary pre-Spring cleaning as John Townend, our friend “Big John”, has popped in for a couple of days. A trip round the Applecross Peninsula always rejuvenates him – and he did it in clear weather, with snow however lying on the Bealach na Ba (the Pass of the Cattle) John flies home to Welwyn tomorrow, changes cases and he and Sheila fly to Tenerife for a short holiday. Not content with breaking up winter like that, John’s travelling to Australia and New Zealand for a short break in February. Quite right too!

I’ll try to keep the momentum going and get more cleaning done and tackle the garden, all the while spending lots of time with Ruah and Sponge, who thinks the new arrival may be acceptable! When spring does arrive, I’ll ready for it!
Already we have guests booked into our home and I hope to welcome you too!

Best wishes, Ann