Season's Greetings

I have tonight been sending out a Christmas message and a few email addresses have not been accepted.   If you do normally have a message at this time of the year from me and now have not received one - PLEASE email me and I shall rectify the situation.  I do not want to lose touch with any of my friends.  Thank you
Ann

Hello

Time has galloped past November!!! There is an air of mild panic here and with my family and friends – because Christmas is coming at an alarming rate!!! I am galvanised at times, to drop everything and concentrate on Christmas letter, presents for the village friends, presents for abroad and all the presents collected for the Edinburgh family – this state of panic does not last long, when I realise that, for a while at least, I have enough time!

I'm going to Edinburgh for a few days on the 1st of December. My excuse, so near Christmas, is that I want to deliver their advent calendars in person! I also can do a little visiting maybe, in between bursts of shopping!

I'll also go down for Christmas, weather permitting.

Today we have icy snow lying – just a covering on the ground, but really dangerous! Those of you who know Heron's Flight's position, off the road by quite a bit, will be able to imagine how slippy the drive is – and pitch dark! So the dogs and I have no intention of going visiting, as I quite often do, in the dark.

It has been a very busy year, with guests coming and going from March till the end of October – but how I enjoy their company! Two couples, friends over the years, were married in Plockton, in May and August. Robert and Alison chose to have the ceremony on the front lawn – happily the sun shone! Dave and Denise invited the dogs and me on board Sula Mhor, to witness their marriage, along with Calum the seal boat captain. Alison, Toowoomba, had just arrived here then; she had met the happy couple last year, her being here in August a complete surprise to them! Alison read a lovely poem, on board. The dogs were very well behaved – phew!

The village is now very quiet, until New Year and then again around Easter. All of this area was exceeding busy in 2017 and perhaps we hope that it is not quite so next year, as facilities struggled to cope …...

The family in Edinburgh is well.

Sam's loving his work, at the Royal, in Edinburgh. Catriona is in 6^th year at the Royal High – no firm idea of what to study..... Sean's in 3^rd year while Daniel, in first year, passed me in the height stakes, much to his delight!!

I hope you and your family have a lovely Christmas and the Happiest New Year!

As we in Plockton gather near the car park to bring in 2018, watch the bonfire and firework display, and wander home, first footing friends en route, I shall be thinking of all my family and friends far away and wishing them “Happy New Year”

Best wishes

Ann

As I post this I'm thinking about Alison, Toowoomba.  She's in hospital at present, but happily well on the way to recovery and being home again....

My crucifix orchid has flowered!

 A crucifix orchid, in the porch in Plockton, first ever flower from the bit of a plant given to me by Mal and Ros, Ian and Alisons' neighbours - January 2015.  I am so pleased to see it!

October 16, 2017

I have a  few days of holiday, so the dogs and I travelled to Edinburgh yesterday – a slow journey, as the schools have autumn holidays at present, there are so many camper vans and caravans on the move and there is a speed limit on the A9, the road from Inverness to Edinburgh. Lorries are down to 50mph.

I go cross country from Plockton to Dalwhinnie and join the A9, as it is the shortest route for me - 200miles.

It is lovely to be here! I have not seen the family for many weeks and everyone is in !good form! - that includes all the animals!

Ruah had her 10^th birthday recently and did ask to be off her diet for a day!

Summer as usual flew by. Alison and Robert were married on the front lawn, in May. Happily the weather was kind and they and their guests enjoyed their time in Plockton. Alison has recently had a birthday and I was delighted to have them here again for a few days.

Dave and Denise, very faithful visitors too for a long time, were married here as well, in August, choosing to tie the knot on Sula Mhor, Calum's Seal trip boat! Alison arrived from Queensland in time for that – hugely taking by surprise the happy couple! (they had met here last year) We were invited on board to take part in the ceremony – yes, even the dogs, who happily behaved impeccably) And Dave and Denise were back last week, for another few days – thank you all for coming....

Alison got back to Australia to start packing for a house move to a lovely house slightly smaller than 5, Blue Hills Road, where she and Ian lived since their move south from Townsville– still in Toowoomba, but the house she wants and will be very happy in; so her last few weeks have been hectically busy and the move actually takes place on Thursday.

I should have loved to be there to help – but actually I'd have been no use, being a hoarder; each day would have ended with little progress and me being advised perhaps to take a plane home!!!

My last guests arrive in a week's time. Then I shall have some indoor painting done and settle down for the winter. There is always something to do here during these months and I certainly shall not be bored!

Please do put a comment on my web page, letting me know you are are well and if I'll see you next year...... I hope I do!

Till next month,

Ann

Duncan on sentry duty on the rock in the garden.....

Calum's "new" yacht - bought for £1.00!!!!!  finally arrives in Plockton.

August 23, 2017

It is bowling along towards the end of August – the days since I last wrote have simply shot by!

The new carpet in the flat kitchen is down and I am very pleased with the look of it – fawn interspersed with green. It will be good for a room which the dogs use a lot, especially as they come in there, often with wet feet.

Having said that, I cannot say we have had many very wet days. Recently it has been rather warm with occasional windy spells and yes, a bit of rain! Noticeably absent, to date, are the midges- wonderful!!!

The builders have come and gone, so the front porch roof is now new, with the old solar panels gone. There is a slight pitch on the new grey corrugated roof and it looks good to me. Importantly, it will not leak! The solar panels had been fastened through the old roof, so in time water seeped in and did some damage..... All's well now.

I still have to have the painter to do quite a bit of indoor work and then the house will be completely overhauled, if that is the correct word. It has been a busy twelve months with outdoor painters, plumbers, electricians, joiners, carpet layers and masons working here – and now a young friend cuts the lawns beautifully, when needed. I am quite spoiled, you note!

Regatta this year was at the end of July, beginning of August. Moira, Catriona, Sean and Daniel were all up and the boys had some good crewing in local boat races. Daniel was lucky enough to skipper the Seolta, owner and helm Ian Hay, in the boys race – and he won the cup! Ian, you made one boy very very happy, thank you!

After the family went home I have had plenty to keep me busy, with guests from many different places – I just love meeting everyone! This week I have two very keen gentlemen walkers staying for some nights, then a little lull before a very busy time....

And!!

Alison is here, all the way from Toowoomba, Australia. She is staying for about three weeks and her visit was timed to coincide with the wedding of friends Dave and Denise who have come here often over the past years. We kept Alison's arrival a secret from them (they met each other last year here) and so Dave and Denise were delighted last week to arrive and meet her again!

The wedding was on Calum's Seal Trip boat – just the happy couple, Alison and I, Calum and his wife Jane, the crew member and the Celebrant. Oh, and the dogs, who behaved impeccably, thank goodness – they were there at Dave and Denise's request.

That same day, friends of Alison's arrived in the village and they visited us twice.

After Alison leaves here, she;'l have a few days in Edinburgh with Moira and then travel south to meet other friends, whom she met on her last year's trip to Iceland. From there she will get to Heathrow and the long journey home. I shall, as usual, miss her a lot.......

But we have plenty of days still to do some touring around, cross stitching – the finished article will be subtly spectacular – Alison's doing, not mine! - and talking about the new house Alison will move to, shortly after her arrival home – I wish I were near enough to help her flit......

I hope you are well and that you may be heading to the north west of Scotland one time soon? Come to visit Plockton, please!

Best wishes

Ann

July 12th, 2017
My guests from Belgium, two lovely couples on two equally lovely Harley Davidson's.
Happily they had wonderful weather for their tours of the Isle of Skye and Applecross and beyond

July 11th 2017
Sunshine till dusk tonight - the photo taken at 9.00pm at almost high tide....

July 4^th, 2017

It is early in the morning and the second day of Wimbledon, forecast good for down there and not at all bad for up here. I say early – well a couple from New Hampshire, USA say they want breakfast even before 6.00am if that is possible! It is and I am here, all ready, at 5.30am...... Time to catch up.......

The couple did come early for breakfast and so now, at 8.00am, are heading to Yorkshire (a big drive), while I have done the laundry and it is blowing on the two lines outside.

I have had the local carpet fitter here, to measure the kitchen in the flat – a seeping leak in a back pipe to the washing machine was discovered by Moira, who goes about in bare feet. We stripped out all the wet carpet tiles and the floor underneath, solid wood, dried in a few days. I am so glad Moira was up for a couple of days!!!

The new tiles, fawn and a few green interspersed, will hopefully be down soon and the new colours will “hide” any dog paw prints, as the doors there are much used by Ruah and Duncan.

Outside too there is a pile of builders' materials. Ruairi Matheson and his helper Jason will come soon, to renew the front porch roof, gutters and anything else which needs it! In so doing, the solar panels, there since 1976?, will be removed. Perhaps I will renew the whole solar system, if there is a way to put solar panels elsewhere than on Dolan's beautiful Welsh slate roof!

Later on this summer/autumn, I shall have quite a lot of interior varnishing and painting done. The exterior was done less than a year ago – and I'm hoping Moira, Colin and the gang will blitz parts of the garden!!!! That will bring Heron's Flight, in and out, up to scratch, I sincerely hope!!

I have a couple of days free soon and I plan to go to Inverness to get some essential supplies, see sister in law Janet (who will keep the dogs, who love it there as the walks are different!) and also visit friends who are in hospital.

Ruah and Duncan are sleeping at my feet, as I type. They are faithful little dogs......

I hope you have had time to look at the new website. It is such a relief to have www.heronsflight.org back up, but with a really new look! You can now leave a comment at the foot of the first page.....

Wherever you are, keep well and enjoy your summer weather (winter in Australia and New Zealand, I know!) It is now July 9^th and I will post this today!!

Ann

EXCITING NEWS!!!

It is Thursday, June 1^st, 2017. A few days ago the new web site for Heron's Flight was launched by Alison Hunter, its creator – and my sister-in-law.

As many of you will know, Alison and my late brother Ian lived in Townsville, then Toowoomba in Queensland, Australia. Alison created the first site and determined to update it a while ago. Well, an opportunity presented itself when the site was hacked and proved very, very difficult to salvage.

Alison, I am very pleased with the new layout and know that regular viewers and new visitors will find it as delightful as I do!

I shall be very happy if any reader does take time to write any comments at the foot of page one!

The Google page still has the old site on – this will move off..... To access the new site therefore, at present or always, simply type www.heronsflight.org in the address bar of the Google page, top left. This works with my Firefox. You may have a different Google entry?

If you do have any special photo from around Plockton and the wider locality, please do send to me, so we build a bank of photos to put on the new website.

Thank you,

Ann.

May, 2017

May 18^th, 2017

It seems ages since I went out to the back garden and washed my face in the May dew! That day I said to myself I'd do my blog soon......

Well, as you know, time does fly and there is no exception here! May has been, to date, a continuation of the very good weather of late April. This week we have had a little light rainshower or two – so badly needed everywhere in the North West of Scotland!

Temperatures have been high for the time of year too.....

Last Thursday we had the first ever wedding ceremony at Heron's Flight! Robert and Alison, who have been friends for years, thanks to a B&B meeting, brought friends, who stayed for the week in the village. The ceremony, on the front lawn, was lovely. Robert and Alison live in Cumbria and too soon they, and their guests, were heading south again. Thank you for my present and for the lovely flowers you left me! It was a time to remember.......

This weekend the relatively new Beer/Gin Festival, at Plockton Hotel, takes over and the village, busy already, will be doubly so then! I do hope the good weather holds for that!

And next weekend sees the second of two local weddings this summer. In the first, Dolan's cousin's son, Gordon and Rebecca were married and, in traditional style, walked through the village to their reception, led by a piper.

The second wedding is next weekend when Aonghais and Louise will marry. They work in Dubai, so I am hoping Plockton will hold on to its rather uncustomary very good, midge-free weather, so the guests from afar can enjoy the village and its surroundings!

As I've lived in the village for fifty five years (came to teach PE for a year and never went home!), I know all the young Plocktonians who are choosing to be at home when they marry.......

My recent guests, as always, have been so kind and appreciative of the area, the village and here. Angela and Richard – did you ever have a week of such wonderful walking weather? Jeanne and Mike travelled by our public transport and still had big smiles! Georgie and Melissa – like a breath of Spring to me! - you have promised to come back and sign the visitor's book! Kim and Carol, two more teachers, it was lovely meeting and talking with you.

Now Ian and Jan Cuthbert have returned and their marvellous motor bike is gracing the space next to my Jazz – as you see, it's real competition! A beautiful machine.......

I'll add a couple of photos to this and get it up, before any more time rushes by!

I hope to see you sometime this summer.

Ann

 May full moon from Heron's Flight....

 Robert and Alison's wedding, in the front garden.

Hard to choose between the two!!

April 4th, 2017

                                                My Mother's Day Card with the sitter

                                                           Evening light last week

April 4^th, 2017

In March I had guests who were arranging their weddings! One will be in May and the other in August. I am delighted that they have chosen to have their special, happy day in Plockton! And there are two local weddings as well, fairly soon. So we shall all be hoping that the weather is very kind on all their special days!

The workmen at Heron's Flight finished off too – or so I thought....... But we have found that the roof of the porch, that with the solar panels (to be removed anyway), is needing attention, so that will be done as soon as the builder can fit me in – poor Ruairi is hectically busy, so I must wait in a queue. As long as this last repair is done before the weather gets bad towards the end of the year, I'll be happy!

I am Edinburgh again, for a few days, before settling down for the summer at home.

I shall drive back to Plockton at the weekend and get ready to begin Bed and Breakfast, 2017. I am looking forwward to that!

Next weekend New Zealand relatives of Dolan's Family are coming for several days too. Elizabeth, Peter and their young son Michell will stay in 35 and “do their own thing” - their choice. It'll be lovely to meet them!

Happily none of the huge gales and torrential rains of recent days badly affected any of the family and friends in Queensland, Australia. I saw many photos of the damage, which was really so disastrous. And yet, in some parts of the State which are too dry, the cyclone missed them.....

I hope you have a Happy Easter time and that you may wander up our way later in the year?

Best wishes

Ann

Tomorrow is the first day of our meteorological Spring!

26 Feb. , 2017

February has been a very busy month. My new heating system is is very nearly finished – John Kirk, the heating engineer, with Rianna his daughter, apprentice, have been run off their feet keeping a good few clients happy and they have just one control to fix here and that is Heron's Flight “upgraded”! I am delighted with all the work done – no more worries of tanks and elderly pipes leaking, worse still bursting! Over the years, there have been several “watery events”, with some major mop-ups and redecoration necessary – gone are those worries!!.

I had windows replaced in the chalet, as well as - finally - the three gable windows facing the south west gales! And to complete the glazing spree, both kitchens have new windows - what a difference they make.....

Just last week Alistair and Mike, joiners, spared me some time to shelve two cupboards, now without water tanks, also doing some varnishing and touching up. I now have the cupboards to fill – easy!

So this is all done in time – my first guests come on March 1st! More friends arrive on the 3rd for a few days. I am not busy then for some weeks, so I'll go to Edinburgh later in the month, while Moira attends a course.

As I write this, I'm in Edinburgh, but I'll not post it till I am home. I travelled on Wednesday – a good journey as the gales of Tuesday had subsided. The forecast for tomorrow is snow in the central belt – we shall see!

Ruah and Duncan are being clipped tomorrow – I have brought their coats, as they may well feel decided cold tomorrow evening! Both have rather long hair at present - not for much longer!!!

I'll do some necessary shopping and head home perhaps on Sunday. It is lovely to be with the family for a few days.........

First visitors of 2017!  Welcome, Dave and Denise!

 Two little clipped dogs, huddling together in front of the warm Rayburn - well, the temperature today is 3C....

Well into 2017 already......

February 4, 2017

I came home for New Year 2016 with Moira and Daniel. We had a lovely few days then! The village was very busy, with Plocktonians home for the celebrations and visitors staying in the holiday homes. Everyone enjoyed the bonfire and fireworks at midnight, on the island in the bay.

We wandered home after visiting family and friends in “35” and many close friends in Charlie and Kathleen's very hospitable house next door on Harbour Street. The next day we had quite a few callers – lovely! And then we too went out and called on friends not seen on Hogmanay.

Moira and Daniel had to leave on the 3^rd January and they had a very good train journey south.

And my Plockton fell asleep for another week or two......

Then my days were busy as my new heating system was completed, the outside boiler and Rayburn were serviced, the chalet was spring cleaned and my list of joinery items needing done lengthened!! I am now hoping the joiner will be here next week. The carpet layer will come too, to renew the carpet in the bedroom with the antique furniture. I'll be pleased to have that done. Usually Willie Fraser works alone but for this job he needs to get a larger van and a helper to shift around the old mahogany furniture.... It'll be lovely to have that done.

As the weather has been remarkably good – mild and sunny, we were all outside starting to do some tidying up and thinking it would not be too long till the grass needed cut! But one stormy, stormy day put paid to my complacency! The telephone cable outside threatened to come down, but got tangled in a tree instead, my phones ceased as did the internet connection. So an engineer spent six hours a few days ago doing his level best to renew cables, outside and in and finally had the phone back. Several days ago I had my computer mentor here, trying to fathom why the speed is so poor – no luck, so British Telecom sent an engineer to mend a fault found at the local exchange. Only yesterday did I notice a distinct improvement, so all is well again, I think....

I have plenty to do before the house is back to ready for the Spring and Summer! My first guests are coming at the beginning of March. Before that I have a day or two in Edinburgh, to catch up with the family and friends there.....

I shall write again in a few weeks. Till then, I hope you are well and that I may meet you sometime later in the year..... Do think about it!!

Best wishes

Ann