It is July 15th and a calm, rather dull morning - quite a contrast from the earlier gales and then wonderful HOT SUNNY weather - the latter did us all such a lot of good - but the gardens will be suffering for a long time!
The lawns are burned and no amount of spraying has done much good so far....
The vine, in the greenhouse, was burned and, while the lower leaves are unaffected, the uppers, shielding the new bunches of grapes are no longer there - so I think there will be few grapes later this year.
The hedges, in contrast to the grass, with their deeper roots, have grown twice as quickly - not good!
However, we all blossomed!!
Duncan and I have enjoyed the visits from old and new friends, the most recent John Townend, who fitted Heron's Flight in to a tour of the outer Hebrides and all the golf matches in the south and east of Scotland!
The new village play park, just one hundred yards from here, is being very well used and it is lovely to hear the happy children's excited cries - the first play park Plockton has had and a great contrast to the one "swing" when John and Moira were growing up! Well done to the little band of determined Dads!
The yacht race took place yesterday - a trial outside Regatta fortnight, to entice more yachts to enter - its normal date is a fortnight on, when the small boats sail too and the bay can be very "cluttered", with many visiting yachts at anchor too - making yacht racing a challenge. We shall see if the Commodore and Committee think it worked.... It was exciting to see the start and finish from the front garden.
Moira and the children will be coming in two weeks, for the second week of regatta, when many people who work elsewhere, come home and meet up, enjoy the sailing and ensuing gatherings. I hope that Daniel or/and Sean may come and sail before then too. Catriona is again looking forward to meeting a childhood friend, Heather, who holidays here at regatta time, from the far east.
Duncan is having a lovely life with his little legs getting shorter?? certainly more muscled!! as he is being walked daily by the Sharp family and sometimes other friends. Each evening he listens if can hear the gate being opened and I am aware someone is coming long before they get to the door!
Our friends the Sweenie family are also here on holiday - they have the Craft house, newly renovated and gorgeous, close to here, and Duncan often goes walks with them and their four month Collie puppy, Cooper.
When Moira arrives, she will have her two dogs as well. It is always a lovely time for me!
I hope your summer is a good and happy as here! Are you travelling around? If you are in the north west of Scotland, please look for the signpost to Plockton and come down into the village!
Best wishes
Ann
