June 9, 2014
The weather has been quite mixed since I wrote and only recently has there been warmth. That, with quite a lot of rain has made the grass and flowers “take off”… And of course the weeds! I am mowing the grass now twice in ten days and it could be more often.
Happily Sam has been here for some days. He tackled the hedges and made a mountain of clippings, mostly very prickly! We strimmed and mowed and then set to, enjoying ourselves. Sam’s going into 5th year at Edinburgh Uni. so needs to enjoy himself first! Having spent a lot of time here over the years – his first “solo” holiday here was at the age of eighteen months – Sam knows everyone and so he has done a lot of visiting, as well as a lot of keeping me company.
At the weekend there was a “Plockton” wedding – the bride a daughter of very good friends. The sun shone from dawn to dusk. The ceremony was in the village hall garden, so everyone could watch. We had South African friends of the family, Dad, Mum and twins Reuben and Carmen staying here. Dad was the “Official Photographer”. Everyone else had a camera too, and thousands of snaps must have been taken! Sam and I have a folder full…… The twins, age nine, enjoyed Ruah’s company a lot! A photo of Carmen and Ruah has even appeared on Facebook, on Mum’s page.
We went to a reception at the bride’s house on Saturday - a lovely afternoon with young and not so young mingling. Sam stayed on after me and caught up with many good friends – all competitive PSBSC sailors!
Yesterday we went to Skye, had lunch near Portree, paid a regular visit to the Weaver’s shop, to supplement Sam’s wardrobe of corduroy. We then visited Margaret MacKenzie, whose late husband built the original Plockton clinker sailing boats (Dolan spent some time with the Mackenzie’s about fifty years ago, learning the art of clinker boat building, so he was able many years later to build “Saranna C”).Margaret, now nearly ninety, was delighted to see us and catch up on family news. We all enjoyed the visit.
Today is Sam’s last day and I hope he’ll find a crew and go for a sail in Saranna C. He’ll not manage up again this summer, I fear, as hospital work before term time does take preference.
Tomorrow we shall drive to Inverness and Sam’ll get a train to Edinburgh. I’ll do a bit of shopping and head home, ready to meet more guests. I had hoped to go all the way to Edinburgh and spend a day or two with the family. But that little window has passed.
June is a busy month from now on and then it’ll be school holiday time, when the rest of the family come and go, learning more sailing skills particularly. My nephew Malcolm is the Commodore of PSBSC this year, but he’ll have some time to fit in lessons I know. The sailing club too does RYA instruction and both boys will be on their stage courses too, thus getting to know more local children.
If the front garden is all tidy, I’ll enjoy sitting watching all the activity on the water. Sailing from the shore is good fun, when one knows all the skippers!
It’ll be fun too meeting all the guests coming to Heron’s Flight in the next weeks. Do pop in!
Ann
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| A shinty stick arch for the bridal couple! |
