May 12, 2015
Photo taken last month when the big palm lost its largest branch - wind speed that night 71mph and gusting.....
At last I’ve
settled back into “Plockton mode”, having had a wonderful Christmas visit to
Toowoomba, enough time at home to do a bit of tidying up, then a lovely week
cruising round the Canary Islands and over to North Africa, with Moira, Catriona,
Sean and Daniel.
The cruise
surpassed my expectations…… We
travelled by night except on the way over to Africa. So we were able to visit the islands, take a
few tours, etc. The weather was
wonderful and the boys were thrilled with the little swimming pools and
Jacuzzis (is that what they are called?) on board – and Daniel enjoyed the
children’s activities too…… Moira slowed
down and thoroughly enjoyed everything, as did the rest of us!
The eating
places were excellent and the waiters made everyone’s day(s) when they sang – a
lovely male voice choir. Catriona was
fifteen that week and the choir sang to her, when they brought a lovely cake to
the table.
You’ll
gather that it was all very good!
I have been
home now for over three weeks – and my guests have been coming and going since
then. Angela and Richard Hough came
first – it was a great pleasure to have them at Heron’s Flight again! I learned from Angela to put a penny in the
water with tulips and they do not fall about!
And mine lasted a full fortnight!
Thanks you, Angela and Richard!
We have had
rather poor weather, to put it mildly!
Today is very windy but at least drier than the last few! Ruari Campbell, who lives at the top of my
lane, has a marvellous flowering cherry tree and each year we wait for it to
get battered – as it is being today. We
have had a week to enjoy the beautiful blooms, though.
A friend
Brian and companion Graeme arrived to paint the exterior of the house – well,
the bad weather just got worse, so we agreed that it was useless for them to
hang around. Back they trailed to
Lincoln!!! Thank you for the effort and lovely
flowers, Brian.
Exterior
painting in this area is difficult, but I have two more local chaps coming to
give estimates and so it will be done this summer. That will be a relief!
At present
Matt and Jenny Ralston, from Glen Isla in Perthshire, are here again for a few
days – I do enjoy their company, hearing about their farm and family. And very
soon Moira and Brian Lillington are coming to stay – their first visit back to
Plockton since a move to western central Scotland. I always hope for good weather for my
guests - knowing how much Moira and
Brian love the not so easy hikes around, my fingers are crossed for that visit!
The family
in Edinburgh is well. Moira now has
almost weekly work in London – NO, she is not an MSP!! – so is on the move
regularly. Colin holds the fort
admirably. Sam is working for finals,
Catriona is nearly at the end of year S3, while Sean moves to High School in August,
leaving Daniel the only one in Primary school…..
Ian, Alison
and a friend from Canada fly home tomorrow, in very different directions, from
Tasmania, where they have enjoyed a touring two weeks. We, Valerie, David and I, have had brief
reports. Wifi was not always easy.
We, this
week, got an internet connection in the holiday home, 35, Harbour Street,
Plockton. Down here, we have a good
signal, usually.
I hope all
is well with you and that you may visit Heron’s Flight, or 35, one day…. It would be lovely to meet you.
Ann
