The days are stretching.....

7th June, 2010

Even though I’m having time off this year, friends have been keeping in touch by various methods – phone, email, www.heronsflight.org guestbook and visiting... I’m sorry I missed you, Margaret and Allan. Cid and Di holidayed in Ullapool last month and down they came to spend the day with us. That was marvellous! I hope your trapped nerve is very much on the mend Di. Several other old friends who have stayed in Plockton this year popped in to visit – thank you all… Breda and John are off to do the Mallaig Railway Trip – I know you’ll enjoy that! My most unusual set of visitors to date was a bus load of friends, a few with spouses, 49 in total, from school days – that was amazing and great fun! Soon I’ll be saying hello to John Townend, at the end of his trip to the Outer Isles and Timo and Rieke will visit in August. Patricia and Michael got in touch too – we met for the one and only time in 1994/5! They promise to come back – from Berlin, so it is not just a little step!

My treatment should be finished before the end of the month and then I shall dash to Edinburgh for Sam’s last ever day in school. I really have been very fortunate through all this, as I have felt very well all the time.

The house repairs, after the water damage last September, have been at a stand still for several weeks, as an assessor and insurance company agent agreed that the work done was just not up to standard. Two new local contractors have now submitted their estimates and I am sure the work will be completed as soon as the paperwork is finalised. It has been a long haul, living in quite a bit of chaos….

The flat is almost ready for Ruah and me to live in. There will be a good few choppings and changings when we are through that connecting door for good!! In preparation for the move I have switched the Rayburn off and my favourite kitchen has lost a good bit of its appeal!! I have been hanging pictures in the flat sitting room today when really I should have been trying to organise its kitchen!

John’s been here again and that was a treat. I’ve been to Edinburgh – another highlight! Sam and nine friends are off today for a fortnight in Crete – I hope they have a wonderful time. I’m sure all the parents have dinned in the dos and don’ts – were the boys listening? We’ll know when the texts come flooding through! When they return, they have to attend school one last time, for the prize giving and leaving ceremonies.

The garden is looking quite good as we have had dry weather and the weeds have not shot up – this afternoon the rain has started, but other places have had really bad weather recently. I got all the grass cut a couple of days ago – it is only lasting about a week between mowings- not good enough…..

Alison in Toowoomba has had a knee operation – last Friday. I’ve just heard that she is home – less than five days after her operation! Alison – do not jump around too much for a few days…. or longer. Make use of your very capable husband!

I am still missing having the company of visitors – more so now perhaps, as the village is very busy. Next year I plan to do some B&B and some letting – probably B&B at the beginning and end of the tourist year and letting in the middle - it’ll be interesting and fun I know!
I hope to meet you either way, in 2011!

Best wishes

Ann
PS:
Well done Richard in the 10K on Sunday!

Here is Ruah, her look saying more than words…..

Brief news from Plockton

7th June, 2010

Last Thursday the three of us got in the car, to keep a vet’s appointment in Kyle. Sponge had been going downhill rapidly and I knew it was his last journey.

Sponge was the boss in this house and he quite often told Ruah she had overstepped the mark! Now Ruah is bamboozled and I find her frequently during the day on my bed (not allowed)), just staring ahead…..

Ruah and I, family and friends will miss him more than we can say……

I shall write again in a few days.

Ann