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………
