May News

I’ve had a lovely time since we spoke; firstly with Sam, Catriona and Sean in Plockton for a week, then seeing everyone in Edinburgh – a flying overnight visit there last week. And in the last month Catriona, John and Daniel have had birthdays – ages ranging from 4 to 42!

Continuing with the lovely time theme – we’ve had lots of visitors and great fun too. Ruah now has a note in the bedroom folders inviting guests to come for a walk. Thank you Chris and Lindsay, for being her first customers!

Ruah is waiting daily for the postie to deliver a thick fleece for her cage – I’ll photo her with it. She’s always had cast offs to date, so excitement will be at fever pitch when the big box arrives!!

David and Sandra are here again this week and they’ll meet up with John and Sally today. It is so good that they are here at the same time again. Perhaps the very indifferent weather will show a marked improvement!

In the good weather we all got the vegetable gardens dug and planted. I have four drills of two kinds of potatoes, onions, two lettuce varieties, beetroot (for Moira) and leeks growing on, to be planted soon. A solitary courgette will hopefully rampage over the little cold frame at the side of the house! The potatoes are through the ground and I shall put more soil to them as they shoot up. Weekly hoeing of the plot keeps weeds at bay – if there is weather to hoe. If not, the usual summer battle will commence!

Sam’s Higher exams are in a fortnight then he’ll be free for the summer. I expect he’ll come and go and be here for as much sailing as possible. The family come for Regatta – this year the fortnight begins on Monday July 27.

The Plockton Small Boat Sailing Club’s local fleet of clinker built boats will be in the water in a few weeks and Saranna C, Dolan’s boat, will be on the mooring, ready for the annual rowing challenge round the Perch mark and home. Last year’s winning crew, with Kenneth MacRae in charge, had a time of 20m 39s – a challenge for this year’s crews.

Alison has set us up with Google Analytics Dashboard – I hope I’ve got that title correct….. Anyway, it tells, for example, where viewers of our web site live. In the last month we’ve had visits from Britain, United States, France, Australia, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Canada, Ireland, Spain, Japan, Romania and Norway – I think that is wonderful!

Thank you all for visiting www.heronsflight.org. If even some of you come in person, I’ll be delighted!

Best wishes
Ann

Look at this!

Tim and Joyce Keeler are coming to stay in late August.
I should love to see Tim's truck negotiating Harbour Street, en route to Heron's Flight!

Tim and Joyce - I'm really looking forward to our meeting..

Early April, 2009

It is 8.30pm and only now beginning to get dark. What a difference the clock change and good weather make! This week has been sunny and warm, while last week, when Joyce and Moira "stuck it out" (and almost completed the 1000 piece jigsaw) was just terrible…..
Ruah and Sponge miss you Joyce, and Moira and I salute you!

The new Jazz is, needless to say, very similar to the last one, except it is sapphire blue. It has only a 1200 engine but I do not notice any difference. I got petrol for the first time today and was not certain how the cap opened – much to the amusement of my friend at the pumps in Kyle! I really must bring in the manual and have a good read.

Our computer Word assessments had us quivering. I think we all passed…. After all the years, sitting "exams" was quite a strange feeling, not enjoyed by any of us!

Swimming, often for four of us, is going well, though the early morning sessions are now not possible, as they of course would clash with breakfast preparations. However, there are two or three other options during the week.

Calum’s new "seal trip" boat is looking so very trim and is nearly ready to go. Sula Mhor, the big Gannet, will be leaving the pontoon regularly from Easter time.

Tomorrow, I’m going to Spean Bridge, north of Fort William, where I'll meet my son-in-law Colin, with Catriona and Sean. The children and I will be in Plockton in time for tea. We'll have a lovely time for several days. Sam is joining us on Monday. Catriona will have a day of pony trekking up near the Five Sister mountains while Sean and I'll do some serious crab catching! Another day we'll go by train to Inverness and visit Auntie Janet. A train journey is a big treat for Catriona and Sean – and Ruah!

All round the house has been getting a good bit of attention and the down garden is ready for planting. Dan came down a couple of evenings ago and did all my bonfires. We have no other way of getting rid of big garden rubbish. Recently however, we moved a step forward with very blue dustbins for paper, cardboard and squashed plastic rubbish.

The lawn mower started first time – it is an amazing machine! But the hedge trimmer gave up the ghost just as I began to deadhead all the heathers and the strimmer is sounding its age!!

So Colin is bringing replacements and I'm taking him the "Mantis", which is a little petrol plough among other things. Dolan made good use of it, but it is far too heavy for me to drag along…..

The children and I will have a lovely time till their return to Edinburgh. Catriona will be nine just after school re-starts and Daniel will be four soon after.

From Easter weekend onwards, Heron’s Flight will have many visitors, I’m pleased to say! I look forward to meeting you all. Some hard work is going in to the training of Ruah and Sponge in preparation!! It was so wet last week that Joyce and Moira did not enjoy a walk, though there were some high jinks on the front lawn, with little Meacha from next door joining in. Ruah did not get a chance to remember her village tour route! She’ll be ready to take you, however…

Best wishes

Ann

PS:
You probably know here is a serious virus warning going round and I have decided that to open some emails, which might be about a booking, cannot be done, as their "Subject" gives no clues! If you contact me, please put dates (e.g. September 7, 8, 9.) in the "Subject" then I shall know to open it. This will be very helpful, thank you.

Eagle's view of Plockton

 

The morning after "the news"!

4/4/09
The country is quite badly affected by snow today.
We have a mere dusting on the Crags...
Ann

We're glad to be back home!

March 3rd, 2009.

Last night Ruah, Sponge and I were wakened by hailstones battering the windows! So when we got up this morning and saw the grass was still green, I at least was delighted! Other places not too far away were not so lucky – the main road through Cluanie from Inverness to Skye was blocked till afternoon, I hear.

Ruah and I came home last Monday, after 10 days away – very glad to see Sponge (well cared for by Ruari next door) again. Sam and I had a week in Dundee, while he had a placement at Ninewells Hospital, in the ENT department. He was very well looked after and enjoyed every minute of it. We stayed in a small, dog friendly hotel, which had been a jute baron’s home. It dates from the mid 1800’s, when Dundee was a very prosperous town, thanks to jute.

Ruah and I toured around a lot – went over the Tay road bridge three times – twice by accident!! We looked in vain for Desperate Dan’s statue. My generation was brought up on the Dandy" and Desperate Dan’s adventures – he’s been in Dundee since 1937 and I could not find him! However, the Discovery, the Castle and Dundee Law were impossible to miss, I’m glad to say, though 70 acres of snowdrops at an estate near St Andrews eluded me too!

When we got back to Edinburgh, we were glad to have a simple home-made meal! It was lovely to see the rest of the family too…

Before coming home, I persuaded Moira to come and help me buy the new Honda Jazz. We chose a sapphire blue model – there is not an ordinary red, same as my present car, available at present in Britain, we were told... However, as long as it keeps going “Brumm brumm” I’ll be delighted! It’ll be ready for collection after next weekend, so I’ll see the family again!

The first guests arrive on March 22nd and I’m looking forward to that. It’ll become busier at Easter and I’m pleased to say that Heron’s Flight will be like that from then on. Sponge, Ruah and I do enjoy company!

Twice this winter I have had a fright with my bonsai of many years. Ian and Alison gave me it on one of their visits. Well, it recovered the first time and actually was quite un-naturally healthy looking.. But, a few weeks ago the leaves again went black in no time at all and I resorted to the drastic pruning that worked the first time. Alas, there is no sign of life, yet. I am not hopeful. The “Serissa” gave me many frights over the years – too moist, too dry, and too top heavy, too many roots and too much pruning needed. In all the years it produced just a handful of dainty little white flowers, probably due to my overzealous pruning! I always vowed never to contemplate a replacement, but - we’ll see!

I’ll let you know next time how the computer class went and how the swimming is going – I hope we can keep up the latter as the year gets busier…..

I hope too that you are well and that you may pop in to see us soon.

Best wishes
Ann

Horizontal or vertical - we don't know!

The animals do get on well, but at night there is a definite pecking order. They are trying out all sorts of compromises at present. Sponge is totally relaxed about it all. Ruah is totally apprehensive!

February 1st, 2009

Since we talked last, the red Jazz, Ruah and I have been to Edinburgh twice. We finally got home on January 12, which put a few friends off their strides, as they had organised a birthday treat for me for that day! But they altered plans and I was treated to a lovely, long, lazy lunch on January 14th. Thank you Jane and Kathleen for thinking of it! Thank you all for the birdbath which is photographed in situ beside the rock in the front garden.

The big gale of the month was the weekend before I came home. It was a corker! The next weekend was little better! However, as February approaches, it is very mild and spring like. There are several clumps of spring flowers blooming - lovely!

Sam and I have our annual trip away in the school holiday in February. Two years ago it was London, last year Paris, so watch this space for “The Trip 2009”. Before then I’m doing some spring cleaning. The carpet cleaner will be coming on February 5, so I want to be ahead of him for once. I started with great enthusiasm……
The west room furniture dates from around 1800 and does not get our modern polishes or sprays. It gets a layer of fairly thick wax rubbed in with the grain, polished off when it is dry, then a film of wax which is again polished. . This treatment does last a year or two – thank goodness! The round elephant-leg table has had its coat of raw linseed oil too.

The three bathrooms are also done, along with all the lamp shades in the house. Instead of finishing off the two guest bedrooms I’ve suddenly shot off at a tangent and decided that my kitchen should be de-cluttered! This happens yearly, so when the first guests arrive the kitchen is quite clinical. By the end of October there will be postcards and photos from all over, drawings that the children have done and many, many notes to myself! And, for the winter, it will again feel very homely and comfortable!

I’ve time still to do more, to give the carpet cleaner a “clean” sweep – but not long…. So, I have now got myself back on track and the brass stair rods will be next on the list– the first several are quite fun to do!

Ruah and Sponge continue to thrive and each really enjoys having the other around, in the evenings especially. They give me such good company and pleasure…..

My diary is filling up nicely and I look forward to the first guests, on the 22nd of March.

I hope you may stop by as well, before too long?

Ann

January 1st, 2009

1/1/2009



Happy New Year to you!

“Lang may your lum reek”, as ours has been and is doing today! There is thick ground frost here and the temperature will struggle to reach 0C. The sky today is a beautiful, cloudless blue and it could be a day in summer - till one steps outside!!

Sam, Catriona and I brought in the New Year in “35”, the MacKenzie family home in Harbour Street. The now traditional rocket lit bonfire was spectacular, partly because of its size and mainly because it had not been soaked by incessant rain! The fireworks too seemed special and were much appreciated by a large crowd – villagers and visitors alike.

We first footed in a couple of houses and got home about 2.30 – quite late enough for the three of us! We’ll do some more visiting today and friends will call here too.

Tomorrow will be a lazy day, as we head to Edinburgh on Saturday. Sam and Catriona start the Easter term at school on Monday.

Ruah and I will finally get home on January 9th, I think. By then the days will be beginning to stretch and I’ll start to look forward to meeting guests. This year promises already to be very special, as Ian and Alison from Toowoomba will be here in September!

I hope you may come too?

Best wishes for 2009

Ann

Hello!

December's here. Yesterday we woke up to a dusting of snow on hard ice and today it is pure and simply hard ice!! As I should get to Kyle today, the heater is on in the car, and the lovely fern shapes that hard frost creates are slowly melting….. I know Alison in Toowoomba will be envying me this very Scottish, seasonal weather – she knows too that I would really enjoy the temperatures in Queensland!

After the last visitors of 2008 left, on November 14th, Heron’s Flight had a very, very brief hibernation! Now I’m getting cards and presents into piles, ready for posting soon. About half of my cards are now sent email and this system works a treat – if I’ve got the addresses correct!!!

I’ve been out at the front, hanging up the first load of white pillowcases – there will be about three dozen in all. If they hang outside overnight, and it is really frosty – then they will be just that bit whiter. I remember the older ladies of the village (gosh, I’m one now!) draping their table covers, pillowcases, even sheets and handkerchiefs on the hedges overnight, “to get the frost”. And what was good enough for them…….though our jaggy red barberry hedge would probably create a “Broderie Anglais” effect!!

Last week we did have some very pleasant days and I got quite a lot of pruning done – the three bonfires in the making are quite substantial! My neighbour Ruari gave me a few spring cabbages, so they are wintering along side the leeks. The green house got its annual clean out, as the vine had shed all its leaves. I’ll prune the vine shortly too. I’ve still to tidy up are all the small perennials, but they can do with a cover of dead leaves over the worst weather. Oh, that little red leafed plant that graced the breakfast table this year is, according to “Donald Loch Duich”, the nurseryman, “Oxalis Iron Cross”.

Ruah was neutered, much to some people’s distress (“Oh, I’ll have a puppy”) three weeks ago. Much as though I love her, I would have been no use when a row of little angry faces glared at me – because the breed has a cross face, I think! Anyway, I probably could not have parted with one or all the protesters might have melted away……

Sponge and Ruah continue their slightly uneasy, got to get on with it, relationship. Most times it’s friendly and calm. Then Ruah oversteps a mark and, like lightening, Sponge swipes. If it is a great big deal, the swipe is accompanied by a growl! Ruah has the sense to stop and look very contrite and peace soon reigns again…Though I know Sponge misses us when we are away, he also revels in the luxury of complete peace!

We’ll be in Edinburgh for Christmas and home for New Year. Before that, Sam is sixteen on the 10th. He shares the day with little Emily Casey, who’ll be one. I hope Dad Paul and Mum Fay read this “Happy Birthday”!

Thank you for joining me! We’ll talk again next month.

I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a “Guid New Year”.
.
Ann

Winter's round the corner...

Late autumn, 2008.

Quite often I start with a resume of our weather, so here I go again. Today has been dry and fairly bright and, as the wind has swung round to the east, cold. But yesterday, after many days of gales and torrential rain, we awoke to snow!! I rushed outside and took some photos, as snow in Plockton is very unusual but snow in Plockton in October is almost unheard of!

The wild weather was very tiring, as one just could not walk anywhere easily and any outing ended abruptly in a downpour. Moira, Colin and the family came for a long weekend and we all stayed cheerfully dry indoors after one fishing expedition to the pontoon had Sean clutching the central hand hold while Daniel pirouetted along the edge, unbelievably unconscious of the big waves - his Mum and Lally were ready to “haul him in”! Catriona and Sean stayed on for some days and we did have fun, but fishing, cycling, walking and playing football with Ruah were out of the question. The days passed quickly, however, with us swimming, visiting, taking Ruah on short runs, painting, baking, reading and making paper briquettes then burning them on big coal fires.

We left Plockton last Friday, a day earlier then planned as Saturday's forecast was appalling. The journey south was uneventful and Ruah and I travelled back on Sunday, as again Monday promised to be wild.

Ruari next door and Jane across the road had kept an eye on Sponge, but still he gave us a huge welcome – cats do not like wild weather. I had been unable to leave Sponge's usual window open, as the wind would have ripped it off its hinges, so poor Sponge had a big leap into another room, in our absence. The three of us were happy to be back together!


When I popped in to Ruari and Marie later on Sunday, they told me that the “Argus”, Calum’s seal trip boat, had broken her mooring the day before and had crossed the loch, to be dashed to pieces on the Reraig rocks. The wild seas had drawn many villagers to the main pier, to watch the seas, so they all saw Argus going and nobody could risk putting to sea to board her. It must have been terrible to watch...

Our family has a special interest in Argus, for Calum is Dolan’s youngest first cousin. Our grand children's first question on arrival usually is “Where's Argus?” (her mooring can be seen from the east bedroom and the front garden). Catriona in particular just loves Calum and Argus, possibly not in that order!! She recently sent Calum a scratch-a-doodle picture of dolphins, as we had gone in the summer on Argus to see them. I am heart broken for Calum and Jane who were away with Fiona their younger daughter. She was runner up in the Kathleen Ferrier Awards at the weekend.... Well done Fiona!

Most of our guests enjoyed an hour of fun on Argus with Calum and his crew. By 2009 I know there will be a replacement trip boat and we’ll all get to love her too……

I'm hoping for at least a few days of good weather now, so that the garden can have a decent tidy up. It looks a bit like a battlefield at present, with broken branches, half dead flower heads, leaves everywhere and palm fronds strewn back and front. But there is a use for the palms – one should tie a few together and make kindlings – as this garden has hundreds, I'll have firelighters for months! What with these and the briquettes, I'll hardly need a £16.00 bag of coal!

This news page has been filled with some doom and gloom. It’s just that way sometimes in our small community as we all battle against the elements and suffer with anyone who has had appallingly bad luck. However, we are all resilient - read on next month……

Ann

The nights are drawing in........

September 18th, 2008.


It’s a good day to sit and write you – rain showers merging, quite a strong south west wind blowing, it feels as if the clouds will lift and the evening may well be fine… Guests at Heron’s Flight are today visiting Eilean Donan Castle and the Isle of Skye – I hope the Cuillin mountains are visible…….

Although present visitors are having quite rainy weather, our summer on the whole has been wonderful. Recently several rowing teams have been competing for Dolan’s Trophy. They must row a distance of approximately 2.3 miles and be timed. There are four rowers and a cox in the boat – Saranna C, built by Dolan and friend Johnny Nic. Timing begins as the boat crosses the starting line.

This year’s competition ends on Saturday, September 20th and it looks as if Kenneth MacRae and his very keen crew will win. Their time of 20mins. 39 secs. Is good, but can be beaten! About twenty five years ago two men’s crews rowed the distance in under 20 mins from a static start, with no cox….. That time is the real goal for present day teams, I imagine!

Recently I’ve had Di and Cid, Keay and Betty and Tom and Jean back to visit. Di and Cid again stuck at –and completed – this year’s jigsaw! That's Di and Cid in the photo. They deserved that tray of tea and cakes! Keay and Betty had not come north for several years so it was lovely to see them again. Tom and Jean never change and, like the others, do me much more good than I perhaps do them!!! Thank you all for coming back. Thank you also, new found friends who visited.

I’ve only the beetroot to lift now and then the vege garden can be dug over – Ruah will be in her element then….. She loves gardening! She also enjoys prancing along beside the very loud lawn mower, so I do not think that she’ll spook easily with fireworks, loud bangs, etc.

I’ve lent Teresa next door my camera and, when it comes home I’ll take a photo of the grapes in the greenhouse. The branches are laden! I have received some really lovely photos from guests. Jutta Mayer sent three 10” x 8” photos, taken from the front lawn, which was truly burned by the early season drought! I wonder if Alison could fit one on the site if I scanned it through – I’m sure she could – and would! Perhaps I should, next year, collect all the photos together – what a marvellous album or wall I would create!

After a wonderful summer with Sam, Sean, Catriona and Moira, Colin and Daniel, Heron’s Flight took a wee bit of getting used to again. I was so happy to have the company of all the super guests who have visited – and Ruah too was equally delighted to be taken for the odd walk, while Sponge blossomed too, with all the attention he got!

We have visitors coming till towards the end of October but, if would like to pop in to see us and stay, please get in touch. The three of us would enjoy your company!

Ann.
PS
How wrong I was about the weather clearing this evening! It is pouring and just a little bit breezy, even by Plockton standards………

Two more photos

Here are Alan and Hazel, leaving Heron's Flight on their Zoom Trike - what a marvellous machine! Thank you for the photo!




Ruah is now a crew member on Piglet, our 10' tender. She stands at the bow, loving it - though she took a little persuading about all crew having to be properly dressed!!

August 21, 2008

The last month has flown by!

Sam was here all the time and he crewed for Terry Kitchen in "Delight". They sailed in all the Regatta fortnight races, winning the RNLI pennant and THE trophy of the Regatta, sailed over four races, the Plockton Trophy. Sam also won the boy’s race. He and I also attended P.S.B.S.C’s 75th anniversary dinner, where the guest of honour was a founder member of the sailing club. At 101 years old, Tom McIvor’s presence and detailed memories of the beginnings of the club made the evening unforgettable.

Sean came on his own for a week. As he’s newly five, this was a huge adventure and perhaps a wee dream come true for, since about the age of two, Sean’s been ready, wee rucksack on his back, to leave Edinburgh each time I did, breaking my heart saying "come to Ploton"? So Sam, Sean and I went fishing at the pier – no crab was safe! We took Piglet out and Sean was at the tiller sometimes! His delight was obvious….. He whizzed round on his little two wheeler, while I watched with my heart in my mouth!! We played football on the front lawn – and I freely admit that Ruah gave Sean a much better game than I. We cheered Sam on from the starting line, ate from "Grumpy’s" sometimes, slept like logs and simply had a ball!

The rest of the family joined us for a week – wonderful weather, great fun and another highlight when Sam and I were left with Catriona, Sean and little Daniel, while Moira and Colin debunked for a couple of nights. Everyone survived and the Heron’s Flight crew had great fun!

When Moira, Colin and the two little boys headed home, Catriona stayed on and Sam went to Inverness to do a week’s work experience at Raigmore Hospital. He enjoyed that very much,

Catriona and I had a week together and we went on Calum's dolphin trip. It was great fun and Catriona got one very good close up photo, which I’ve put on the blog. She went to saddle club and on a trek at the Ratagan Stables too. Then Rowan and Murrin became new friends and there was much running between houses. Murrin and her Granny Meryl took Catriona swimming, complete with wetsuit. That day the wind was strong and the sea choppy - a completely new experience for Edinburgh based Catriona!

Catriona and Sam went home on Saturday, having stayed on Friday with Auntie Janet in Inverness. And now school has re-started - Fifth year in Secondary for Sam, Primary 4 for Catriona and first day at school for Sean. Daniel has still two years more in nursery.

I’m again enjoying having guests, all always so friendly and special. It is always a thrill to welcome friends back, as I did with Victorine and Didier last week. And Ian and Margaret left yesterday, having come again to Heron’s Flight, 35 years after their last visit!!! Please do not try to beat that record!

Best wishes,
Ann.

July News

It’s now July 18th and Sam and I are looking out at a “watery” scene, if those of you who know our exact location will appreciate is fairly unavoidable, BUT I’m talking today about the weather, you see! It is a grey outlook and, through the rain we can see the Duncraig shore – just. The Crags are not visible so it is a quite depressing scene…

Yesterday the weather improved hour by hour till we believed that mid summer had arrived. We were wrong! Some large yachts had anchored in the bay and they had probably paid attention to adverse forecasts. So, while I complain to you, I am extremely grateful that we are not cooped up on board, no matter how luxurious the conditions down below!

This week two friends have sailed across the Minch to the Isle of Lewis – the Hebridean music festival will be coming to a very watery end soon. Their sail out was in gale force winds, the time there has been mostly very damp and wild. Their trip home promises to be exciting, with present weather predictions and they’ll breeze in here having had a ball – yachts people are a breed quite apart, for they turn into very sane responsible pillars of society when their feet touch dry land!!

The garden has run riot recently and summer blossoms have been quite spectacular, especially the Kingsgate rose which now stretches some fifteen feet and is about nine feet high, as you’ll see from the photo. The early potatoes are good and the various lettuces are as prolific as they have been in previous years. Sam and I shall be planting the leeks when the weather allows.

Heron’s Flight has had many visitors. I’d like to thank all our guests for coming and congratulate those who timed their stay to coincide with the good days we’ve had! Thank you too for all the lovely messages you left and sent. Sally Shuster has kept me very amused, sending PC’s from America; the views have included Rhu, Plockton and Sally and me!!! Our friend John Townend stayed for a 6th visit and narrowly missed seeing Sam and Catriona. Dorothy and Irene, vintage friends, came for a few days too. It has been a lovely month….

Ruah and her labradoodle friend Malinky have now attended four training sessions - with their fraught owners! There are four more lessons for owners and pups alike and then I’ll report on overall progress – of us all!

The annual Plockton Small Boat Sailing Club regatta begins on the 28th. We are all hoping for fair winds and sunshine. Sam will be crewing and helping at the line. Now that Saranna C is in the water, I’m looking forward to crews of four plus cox rowing to compete for Dolan’s trophy. The rest of the family will be here for most of the regatta fortnight, so Heron’s Flight will be buzzing!

Should you think of coming to the North West corner of Scotland, do call in to Plockton and stay for a few days….
Ann

It's the end of June......

The longest day was five days ago – incredible..... The weather recently has been very mixed, with strong winds most days. We have not had clear enough skies to read our newspapers at 11.00pm, without artificial light but we may yet. But now the days begin to shorten, which to me is not a pleasant prospect….

However,it is still very much summer and the Scottish schools begin to holiday this weekend. So I’m looking forward to Catriona coming on July 7th. Very good friends are coming then, leaving from Edinburgh and staying the week – Catriona may stay longer, hopefully. Sam will be here soon too, but he will make his own way to Plockton.

Sailing has got under way with a race, sometimes two, weekly. Regatta fortnight begins in just over a month and then I hope Moira, Colin, Sean and Daniel will be here too for some days.

The garden has been taking up quite a bit of my time, with lawns and hedges growing just a bit too quickly! The veges are coming along nicely and I tried the potatoes when Jenny and Geoff Duce from Townsville visited. They were still very small but should be properly ready very soon. It was lovely to see the Duces again – Dolan, his sisters Janet and Alice and I ate crocodile, sixteen years ago at a BBQ with the Duce family! Being typical Scots, we all enjoyed the meat, till it was revealed that what we thought was chicken was not…..We are a fairly conservative nation I think. I hope Jenny and Geoff enjoyed the haggis and venison I served!

Ruah and I have started dog classes! Malinky and Teresa next door come too. Malinky has more excuses to offer than Ruah as he’s only 4 months old – though being a labradoodle, he’s already twice her size! Last night was the first class and Teresa and I were regretting signing the forms, as we crossed the Skye Bridge to Kyleakin village hall!

There were seven puppies, four of which were extremely vocal….. Malinky is quite nervous and happily peeped out at the mêlée from a safe corner for a while! Ruah was quite bamboozled by the noise which seemed to her to be being accepted by the humans and I was ready to yank her wee lead (or at least give her a real school teacher glare) if she attempted a howl, bark or squeak! In the end, Malinky did join in very graciously and I am pleased to report that he and Ruah did really well, amid the, at times, complete chaos!! Roll on next week, when we are expected to have our dogs walking to heel, sitting, lying down and coming immediately to our “excited” call – all on the lead, if necessary!

As usual, there have been such charming guests here and I’ve been very lucky to meet them. Ruah too thoroughly enjoys their company and benefits regularly by joining new friends on a walk! Thank you all for coming!

Ann

Summer in Heron's Flight

May's news

I began writing around May 13th when our good weather of April still dominated, with a couple of wet days thrown in to water the gardens! The flowering cherry at the top of the drive, in Ruari's garden, was magnificent and, for once, the blossoms were not blown across the loch! The potatoes were well through the ground and the onions thriving. Lettuce, planted in trays, was coming along. The very warm days could not last, everyone firmly believed…. And I refused to sit down and do the yearly accounts for the accountant till it was raining hard!!

I found a rather drastic solution to the moss on the front grass. Ruah was digging little holes here and there – very amusing to watch as the moss flew here, there and everywhere! But that had to stop, before someone landed in one..... So the holes are filled with compost and I hope this does not create a frenzy of digging and a little all-brown dog!

It’s now May 26 and the wonderful weather has just gone on and on! I was keeping my fingers crossed that some good days would still be on offer for Richard and Angela Hough’s fourth visit, as they are great walkers. Well there was hardly been a spot of rain in their eight days here – indeed it has been mainly wall to wall sunshine – with more than the odd rogue midge thrown in at times, I’m afraid…..

Alan and Jan Walker took Ruah for a walk and came back assuring me that she was well behaved – mark you, they are used to a Springer Spaniel!

Ruah has decided that gardening is her forte! So the lawn is having a rest and the vegetable patch now has her full attention. Sponge looks on with a resigned, tolerant air that indicates he thinks Ruah m-a-y grow up in a while!

The exterior painting, started quite a while ago, should be completed by this weekend. I am very relieved to have had it finally done. It looks good! I spoke too soon for on Friday there was a shower of rain and the house was abandoned again by the painters – they are coming back "soon" then surely will finish and remove the many ladders adorning the front lawn! Catriona, Sean and Daniel could construct a giant game of snakes and ladders out there!

Sam has been sitting his standard grade exams and he will finish in a week's time. He’s very conscientious and will do his best, we all know. I’m looking forward to his arrival, when he can be a good help and also get in some crewing in pre-regatta races. PSBSC (Plockton Small Boat Sailing Club) is 75 years old this year and happily has gone from strength to strength over the years. Dolan's trophy too will create interest and competition from the youths upwards. Hopefully younger children too may be asked to cox sometimes.

This week is fairly quiet and, as the next few days promise still to be sunny, I must help Ruah in the garden! The potatoes need more ground round them, the onions and lettuce finely weeded. I'll also dig over an area ready for leek plants and cut all the grass – again ... I am now watering day and night as even the heathers are dying. My attention is also on the shore close to the front wall – overgrown since the cows were not allowed to roam – as it is really quite impassable now. There's plenty to get on with and plenty of time too, to welcome guests to Heron's Flight.

Best wishes
Ann.

April 27, 2008

Catriona, Ruah and Meacha in front garden
It's Daniel's third birthday this weekend and the party's in Edinburgh! As I've already spent ten days away from home this month, I’ll not get there….

Sam and Catriona, Ruah and I motored south on Friday 4th, after Sam and Catriona had given me a lovely time in Plockton! We had a lot of fun and were out and about a great deal, in wonderful weather. Their schools resumed on April 7th.

I headed 18 miles west of Edinburgh to house sit in Bathgate, where Moira and Colin have bought a property. They plan to move to this more rural environment in two years, when Sam finishes High School. The three younger children will then go to school where Lally (me!) and great uncle Ian were educated! Our family, the Hunters, lived less than a mile from the recently bought house. Dad had a draper's shop, Mum was an infant teacher and Bathgate was home all their married life.

At the new house“Fairfield”, I welcomed plumbers, plasterers, roofers, painters and John who will do a little work too. Emptying the house and tidying up the garden took days and, when I had to travel north on the 13th, there was still a lot of work for the family to do. However, I know everything has gone well and an estate agent can now take over, so the house will be occupied for the next two years.

My time in Bathgate was not all work and no play! I met up with Dorothy Slater, who brought me up to date with all the goings - on in Bathgate. Dorothy and I went to school together and she has visited us yearly in Plockton. She was our bridesmaid and is John's Godmother. I also had Sam, Catriona and Sean for sleepovers at the weekends!

In all this, Ruah had a whale of a time – a rapidly emptying house to whizzzz through and a 'Cavalier King Charles proof' garden in which to romp and roam! The previous owner had two Cavaliers.

Since our return, the weather has been spectacular - till this weekend. Digging, fertilizing then planting the onions and potatoes in fairly dry soil was such a bonus! Ruah repeatedly tried to help in the garden – she was anything but successful!

We returned to a bed and breakfast warm - up week, with two days off. Last week was busier and the day off was much appreciated! This coming week heralds the start of a busy spell, when days off are rare! But that is how I like it, as meeting lots of guests is always a great pleasure. So, please come sometime and be a part of our household for even a little while!

Best wishes
Ann

How time flies!

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Sam has been in Plockton for a week and we shall be joined tomorrow by Catriona, who has been with Dolan's sister Janet in Inverness. Catriona has several little friends in Inverness (and an aunt and uncle who love having her there) so she thoroughly enjoys going north in that direction!

Sam and I have been doing a bit of travelling and we motored round the north and west of Skye last week. Yesterday, at 8.50am, we left the car at Armadale on Skye, got on a MacBrayne's ferry and travelled the short distance to Mallaig on the mainland. We then changed to a slightly smaller ferry and visited the islands of Eigg, Rhum and Canna. The ferry stopped briefly at all the islands then reversed the route and we were in Mallaig at 5.50 and back in Armadale at 6,30. So we were, at 7.15pm, back in Heron's Flight and enjoying a "Grumpy's" takeaway!.

The weather has been good all week but for our two big trips it excelled itself and was perfect. Weren't we lucky! We have sent Alison and Ian many photos and I know Alison, when she has several moments, will put some on the web site. Alison, you are a star and I do appreciate all your work on my behalf. I know too that you and Ian have sometimes had pretty poor weather when you have been tripping round Skye and further afield from here, so our good fortune might be hard for you and Ian to take. We live on the doorstep and you have 10, 000 miles to get here.... come back soon and try again....

I've got the lawns cut and dearie me, the front one is mostly moss now – any quick remedies known? Ruah loves dancing around on it however! The down garden is also dug over and I'm hoping to get onions planted this week. There are three different kinds of potatoes chitting – they'll be planted towards the end of the month. The ground has, till now, been very wet and cold.

This week is a very busy one as I have a lot to do before Friday, when we must head to Edinburgh. Sam and Catriona have school on Monday. This term is a big one for Sam, with exams looming. He is very conscientious and should do well in them all – but he and we will be glad when they are over and the long summer stretches in front of him.

Ruah and I shall stay south for about a week. We are going to house sit! I'll tell you all about it soon.

We'll be glad to get home and meet our April visitors. By then too, Ruah will be over six months and getting some more sense!

Best wishes
Ann

A Busy Time

February 21 -Spring’s round the corner!
We as a nation are pretty obsessed by the weather, I think. Today we’re told our wonderful long spell of sunny days and crisp nights is disappearing and we have a much more well known forecast, which includes the words rain, heavy showers, longer spells of rain, winds; no gales to date! But Ruah and I have had a couple of walks and there’s still no sign of precipitation, though I heard that there were huge hailstones at Dundonnel, near Gairloch!

When things do change, we'll all be regretting that we did not spend much more time in our gardens, pruning and tidying up. I did get a couple of hours done this week and can see the difference – but you might not! There is a lot of work still to do and Ruah has not proved to be a great help – yet!

During much of this marvelous weather I was not at home. On February 7th Ruah and I went to Edinburgh and had a lovely long weekend there with all the family. Catriona was recovering well from her tonsillectomy.

One evening Moira and Sam sat at the computer and booked a four day break for two in Paris. I booked two tickets for the Nut Cracker Ballet.

Sam and I caught the 6.00 am flight on Monday, 11th Feb. and were at our fairly central hotel around 11.00am Paris time. From then on we covered as much ground as possible, by metro, batobus and good old "walker’s bus". The city basked in glorious sunshine every day - not a cloud in the sky and unseasonally warm!

On February 13th, Le Sacre Coeur looked bleached with its background of blue. Many visitors sat on the steps to the Basilique and were entertained by a very good guitarist. At 9.00pm that night, La Tour Eiffel was equally breathtaking.....
Yes, we would go back!




We visited all the famous landmarks and buildings, ate French, Italian and Chinese and were fairly exhausted physically and mentally by Thursday 14th, when we landed at Edinburgh around 5.30pm. Moira and little Daniel had braved the rush hour traffic to be there and that was much appreciated! That evening Moira and Catriona enjoyed the Nut Cracker ballet at the Playhouse Theatre.

Ruah was, like the other children, pleased to see us again! She’s five months old today and no longer fits on her little mats with room to spare! She’s very fond of people and other dogs, respects cats that growl and loves chasing leaves… She’s just becoming accustomed to her 10’ outdoor tether, so she can help in the garden and be in a sunny spot, hopefully. I will get some fencing renewed, and then she’ll be totally safely contained. Till recently she’s shown no desire to wander and consequently raise her owner’s blood pressure!

We travelled north on Sunday. John's day usually starts before 8.00am – and that suited me. To get away from the city early and on Sunday was a bonus, for Edinburgh roads are being dug up left, right and centre. This is mainly for the new tram system, which most residents wonder about...... If it makes any difference to the chaotic travel in the city, then the present frustrations may be forgotten. Having just enjoyed stress free, reasonably priced travel on the Paris metro, which is similar if not better than in London, I can't help but wonder why Edinburgh “missed the bus” – not one of my better jokes!

My thoughts are now turning to the guests who will be arriving from early March. I look forward to meeting them. Of course I should like to meet you too?

Best wishes, Ann

PS – I’ll finish on weather! Today is appalling and Ruah thinks it crazy to go out – sensible!

Paris

Dear all, Sam and I had wonderful weather in Paris during our recent visit - not a cloud in the sky and unseasonally warm!

On February 13th, Le Sacre Coeur looked bleached with its background of blue. Many visitors sat on the steps to the Basilique and were entertained by a very good guitarist.

At 9.00pm that night, La Tour Eiffel was equally breathtaking.....

Yes, we would go back!

Look at my flowers!

I had a birthday recently and my family and friends gave me beautiful flowers.

Last September, Loes van Ruiter (I hope I have that correct) and her friend came from the Netherlands and stayed here. As they were leaving Loes presented me with some miniature Spring bulbs and a huge amaryllis bulb.

The amaryllis has seven wonderful crimson trumpets and another shoot is going to blossom too! The flowers light up the hall and everyone who visits remarks on their beauty.

What good timing, Loes!

I shall look forward to having these flowers for years to come....

Thank you

Ann

January 2008 News

January 18th, 2008

Already we are noticing the days lengthening. Till today, there’s been a lovely spell of crisp, sunny weather and January has sped past. I always find the first two months of the year dreary, but 2008 may be different – a lovely fortnight to start off and a trip to Edinburgh and perhaps further afield (Sam has a week’s holiday) at the beginning of February.

We all had a lovely time in Edinburgh at Christmas, then Sam, Catriona and I headed north for New Year. That was a special time.

Plockton was very busy with visitors over New Year! At the now traditional rocket- lit bonfire and fireworks, the car park was absolutely full of people and I believe the dance in the village hall was very well attended. The three of us took in New Year at Dolan’s family home “35”, with Janet, John and Sandra. Then we first footed Charlie and Kathleen at “36” and were home not too late, but long, long after Catriona’s bed time!

Sam and Catriona travelled home on the fourth, by bus (the trains were running many hours late). Snow in the east made driving potentially hazardous, so we went to Inverness and the Citylink service took 4++ safe hours from there to Edinburgh. We in the west had much milder conditions.
The house was so quiet without Sam and Catriona….

Ruah is now three and a half months old and growing like a mushroom! She’s very good on the whole and enjoys all the usual puppy pastimes – bounding around in the garden, eating, chewing (not allowed….), eating, sleeping, eating, going for walks, eating, meeting everyone and anything, eating….. and eating! You’ll gather she likes her carefully rationed monotonous portions of dried food! She’s quite happy to be left in her crate for short spells, though I take her in the car (again crated) whenever possible. We both have a lot of learning to do in the next long time……..

I’ve been doing a bit of necessary pre-Spring cleaning as John Townend, our friend “Big John”, has popped in for a couple of days. A trip round the Applecross Peninsula always rejuvenates him – and he did it in clear weather, with snow however lying on the Bealach na Ba (the Pass of the Cattle) John flies home to Welwyn tomorrow, changes cases and he and Sheila fly to Tenerife for a short holiday. Not content with breaking up winter like that, John’s travelling to Australia and New Zealand for a short break in February. Quite right too!

I’ll try to keep the momentum going and get more cleaning done and tackle the garden, all the while spending lots of time with Ruah and Sponge, who thinks the new arrival may be acceptable! When spring does arrive, I’ll ready for it!
Already we have guests booked into our home and I hope to welcome you too!

Best wishes, Ann

December News

On December 9th, a Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy, born on 10/10/07 and I travelled 200 miles from Fife to here. I've called her Ruah.

Rua(d)h in Gaelic is a reddish colour and a point or headland. Ruah is white and tan and our official postal address is Heron's Flight, Point, Plockton,
Ruah is also Hebrew for “spirit of the wind”. Well, she actually has a look of Dumbo, but I'll live in hope that she'll soon be flying along the length of our downstairs corridor and then tackle the front lawn!

Yarrow had a special name too – a wild flower or weed..... Yarrow came from Edinburgh Cat and Dog Home and we did not know if he'd be really good or not so good. He was the wild flower and very special, as he was Dolan’s too.

Ruah and I will do our best to keep the Heron's Flight tradition of special dogs going. It'll be a very different regime, with such a little dog and one that cannot roam the village at will. But Ruah will be hoping, as Yarrow always did, that our visitors will need a guide round the village, morning, noon or evening!

Ann

Who is this?

November News

12/11/07

Sam came to Plockton for his October holiday. As the weather was very good we took off in the car most mornings, visiting Dingwall and Inverness, Glenelg and across to Skye on the small community owned ferry, Elgol and of course Applecross. All the routes were new to Sam. He took a lot of photos, a few of which Alison has put on the website. Thank you, Alison.

A few days after Sam’s departure, I motored south and had a day or two with the family, including a magical half day just with Sean (4). Afterwards we collected Catriona (7) and a friend from school and all had fun till the rest of the family came home around teatime.

Ian had arrived from Seattle and was visiting the relatives. Then we met up and drove to Plockton. The weather worsened and Ian saw very little of the majestic land and sea scenery in the week ….. However, it was wonderful to have him here and I think he benefited from the peace and quiet - but not from helping straighten out computer problems, I fear!!

We returned to Edinburgh last Monday and Ian flew to France on Tuesday at the crack of dawn. He had two days visiting his grand daughter Amelia, when his French must have been stretched to its limit, by an excited 7 year old! Now Ian’s safely home in Toowoomba and it is hard to believe that, a week ago, he, John, Sam and I were having a meal in the Cramond Brig Inn in Edinburgh …..

I had hurried home as the painters had started the exterior walls here. .All week I hoped that the atrocious weather would improve enough to let them finish the work. However, that did not happen and I now hope that they may finish the bits still to be completed as soon as possible. The woodwork will be painted in the spring, as the days are now too cool and short.

Dolan’s cousin Kay and her husband Rick were here for the weekend. Their lovely young collie “Cuileag” is very well mannered and I have picked up tips on puppy training! It is time for me to be thinking about another dog, as this house was never without one and it and I just need a dog. So, watch this space and I’ll let you know any developments – I think the only similarity to our lovely Yarrow may be in his/her nature. I have also decided not to go to Australia this winter – at the rate time whizzes past, I’ll be planning that for 2008/9 before I know it!

Finally, can anyone explain why one cannot send abroad, surface mail, a parcel heavier than 2.5KG (unless it is printed papers, when the limit is 5KG)? I really would be grateful for a logical, sensible explanation as the Post Office cannot give one….. Please do not tell me to make 2 parcels – it cannot be broken into bits – unless in transit….!!.

Best wishes
Ann

October News

Have you looked at Heron’s Flight’s Visitors Photograph Gallery recently? The photos are really wonderful and I thank all the contributors. Jacques Robert sent his Plockton visit folio just a week or two ago – it’s marvellous and well worth a look..

The nights are drawing in now and it is quite dark at 6.00pm. Suddenly winter is just around the corner, though we have had some lovely autumn days – bright, sunny, gentle winds and trees turning glorious colours. It’s quite blustery today, yet few leaves are being blown off the horse chestnuts, birch and other deciduous trees. So autumn is hanging in there!

Our schools have been on holiday for a week already, but the Edinburgh ones start their break today. Here it is traditionally a fortnight’s holiday, while further south the schools normally have a week at this time. Sam is travelling north by bus tomorrow and I’ll meet him in Kyle at 7.30pm. I am so pleased that he is coming!

We decided that Sam should have the break on his own and Catriona is booked in to Heron’s Flight for the New Year week! She’ll probably let Sam join us, if he wishes!
So, Sam and I can do some sight seeing, which might well be a bit tedious for Catriona. Weather permitting, we’ll motor to Applecross, over the highest road in Britain, Bealach na Ba. (the Pass of the Cattle) We may drive on to Shieldaig and Torridon before turning for home. It’s a drive of around 115 miles, so the day has to be good and our start early!
Sam has not been in Gairloch and beyond and it would be good to drive as far as we can on that road too. We may also have a day in Dingwall and Inverness.

Ian will fly into Edinburgh 2 weeks tomorrow and will have a couple of days visiting family and friends. I’ll drive south and Ian and I will come north for a few days. Then we’ll reverse the procedure! I’ll probably stay on in Edinburgh for a short time.

So I’m up to November with my plans; then Heron’s Flight will be in
hibernation for a little while (the house, NOT the owner)! I’ll talk to you soon again.

Best wishes.
Ann

September news

Thursday, September 13th, 2007.

The weather over the last week or two has been very mixed with no two days the same. The grass is (again!) beginning to fold over and desperately needs cut. Days have been very mild and growing took off again! I had hoped to “last cut” the lawns before now….

However, the winter veg. is planted – broccoli, cabbages and kale, while rows of leeks at various stages occupy a good bit of space. The rest of that garden will have a rest over the winter and then be dug over with seaweed. The black grapes are almost ready and just need a day or two more of sunshine…

There has been of late a wonderful “world wide mix” of guests at Heron’s Flight! It has been great fun! There are still several weeks to go before bookings tail off. By then Sam (and hopefully Catriona) will be here for their October school break and I’ll be looking forward to Ian’s brief visit to Scotland and in particular Plockton!

A few days ago four stalwart lads and a cox rowed round the perch mark in Loch Carron and home in a time of 23. This was a very respectable time as the wind blew up on their homeward journey. That time may be good enough to win Dolan’s Rowing Trophy for this year. I am hoping that, when Sam and his cousins are a bit older and stronger, they will row round the perch too!

I’m looking forward to a visit from a clock repairer tomorrow. Robert Livingstone refurbished the Vienna clock in the dining room. That clock does not like being wound up and it takes me sometimes 2 days to hit the balance spot to make the pendulum happy! Worse than that, however, is the sudden stopping of the grandfather clock in the hall – it never stops…..Robert will save the day, I know!

I wish friend “Big John” a speedy recovery from this pending op. John, get back in the air, on the road and all your golf courses soon!

Finally, I’ve put another photo up and, believe it or not, all you who knew Yarrow, this is a dog called Ellie, 12 years old and living happily with her owners Judy and Desmond Williams in Western Australia. Yarrow was such a mixture – wrong ears we thought, Alsatian tail, speed and build when younger like a whippet, a”one off” we firmly believed….And here is a New Zealand Hunterway X Red Cloud Kelpie + ? I showed the photo to family and friends and asked and asked if they noticed anything strange in it – the only comments were the “new, very clean carpet”!!! The likeness of Ellie to Yarrow is breathtaking…..

Sponge continues to ask for everyone’s attention and I send best wishes

Ann

August News

It’s just six weeks since 2007’s 1000 piece jigsaw was started and it is completed! I must thank Di and Cid, Jan, Russell (fanatical!) and Mary and Al (equally fanatical!) What progress was made with only a little lost sleep by some!! The nearly finished Highland Cows were well hidden during Regatta fortnight, when Moira and Colin, Sam, Catriona, Sean and Daniel were here. But yesterday Jim popped the remaining pieces in place. I’ll get it framed and show it to you.


The time has just flown and the family is now back in Edinburgh; we had a wonderful fortnight, with so much to do in fairly summery weather! Sam did some crewing and was in the winning boat when Calum, who skippers the Argus seal trip boat, won the Ex Commodore’s race! Catriona went horse riding and got the taste for it – not surprising in the least, as Moira had horses from the age of four Sean was everywhere around the garden and enjoyed some freedom, visiting neighbours with Catriona, while Daniel joined in as many ploys as a two year old can! Piglet was frequently used, with engine and oars, while most of us could be found in the evenings fishing from the pontoon!

Moira and Colin did steel themselves and “left home“overnight – and they did not phone too often! All went remarkably smoothly here, with Sam patting my head from aloft and assuring me we were doing a good job! I’d do it again, for longer and I think that the parents would now venture further and for more than 24 hours!

Catriona stayed on for another week and had a packed schedule – dancing in the street on the last day of the Regatta, horse riding, rowing Piglet, swimming, going walks and visiting. Then I took her to Inverness to spend a few days, with Auntie Janet, Uncle Stewart, Uncle Don and Cousin Hamish – I know she had fun there! She’ll be back home today and school restarts on Wednesday.

The weather has deteriorated in the last day or two and today is cold, wet and windy. I have plenty to do in the garden – but not today! My visitors from New Zealand are remaining very philosophical and I hope French arrivals tomorrow can do the same.
I am very lucky to have such interesting guests choosing to stay at Heron’s Flight! Perhaps I shall meet you sometime?

Best wishes
Ann

Busy, Busy Busy!....

Dear all,
This is Alison, your friendly website editor. Don't get the chance to talk to you often - though I'm sure that Ann wouldn't mind if I did. However, I've been meaning for ages to put a fabulous new photo by Sandra Holmes onto the site - and have done so tonight, on the home page. Here's another peek, if you haven't seen it yet! There's a new photo of Sponge too, on Ann's page.
I know that Ann is very busy at the moment, while the famous Plockton Regatta is on. Family visitors, visiting friends, long days, happy days. I'm sure she'll be back here soon to tell you what she's been doing herself.
If you like this website, why not drop me a line in the Guest Book to tell me, or to suggest improvements?
All the best, all the way from Australia! Alison Hunter

June News

It’s been a month of welcoming back old friends and they all enjoyed good weather. Angela and Richard walked, climbed and scrambled over hill and dale, looking healthier by the day! Malcolm painted and presented me with two lovely pictures, which I’ll put on the website. Denise relaxed in the sun. They also sailed out to dinner looking very glamorous! Graham and Jean too had not changed one bit. That’s Graham in the photo – can you guess what he’s doing? Send me your answers! Cid and Dianne brought 2 motor bikes in their Ford Transit – from the south coast of England! They are here for a fortnight and are actually in Harris for a few days at present. They get Brownie points for starting this year’s 1000 piece jigsaw, entitled “Highlanders” The Wanless foursome amazed me with their talents – sketching, organ playing, singing, photographing – and, yes, Noel, eating!!
John Townend and perhaps Sheila will be here again next month – congratulations to them on the recent birth of a second grand child, Lily.
Last weekend Sam came from Edinburgh, for a couple of nights. Plockton Small Boat Sailing Club has accepted a rowing trophy, in memory of Dolan. It was unveiled at a Club get together, after a sponsored row, when thousands of pounds were raised for cancer charities. I’ll post a photo of Sam with “The Plockton Rowing Trophy”

Sam’s actually coming north again next Friday, when school finishes for the year. I am planning a lightning visit to Edinburgh, to attend Sam’s school (the Royal High)’s prize giving ceremony. I’ll be in town just overnight on Thursday and Sam and I will be in Plockton by 6.00pm on Friday. Hopefully Sam will get a bit of rowing in – maybe even crewing in a PSBSC race. If the wind is strong, skippers are always on the look out for a third crew member.

Regatta Fortnight begins on July 23rd. I hope to have some or all of the family here at various points. The next few weeks will be busy, with guests from home and abroad. The flower garden takes several hours a week to keep in a state of “quiet chaos”, while the veges need a little attention too. The spring cabbages have been very good – all ready at the same time, of course! Lettuce will be this week’s giveaway! The peas should still be going strong when the children come, as well as the potatoes, rasps, gooseberries and maybe the onions – I plant with high hopes and am delighted when most of the produce is edible!!

The computer and I are not gelling just at present….yesterday I lost my 2007 B@B bookings folder – it has NOT reappeared – yet.
Sponge and I are at loggerheads too. I have cream to rub around and on his ears, morning and evening. He hates it and shoots out the kitchen window, sits glaring up at me and licks off as much as possible. You’ll be wondering why this performance? Well, in his old age, Sponge has become allergic to ……MIDGES…

I’ll write again after Regatta,

Ann

Late May

24th May, 2007

Recently I’ve been sent or given new photographs of Plockton and the area. To fit them into the website, with owner’s permission, Alison has added a Visitor’s Photo Gallery. I am sure you’ll enjoy looking at some rather special photos! We should welcome any from you and are particularly keen to see Glenelg, The Isle of Skye and Applecross.


I have been busy for the past few weeks and have met people from all over the place! B&B is such an interesting life! Last week Sponge had his first comment in the visitor’s book – favourable, I hasten to add! He also had his portrait painted!!! We had Mr and Mrs Kim Redpath for a week and Kim (a nephew of Ann Redpath) painted every day. Sponge was a model sitter and dozed for the hour or two he was in the spotlight! Sponge actually belongs to Sam in Edinburgh, though he’s got a Plockton meow now – so Sam and I shall share the painting! I’ll post it with this news and you’ll see Sponge in an unusually dark and solemn mood, I think. The picture is not tiny, measuring 42x30cm!

After the completely unexpected simply marvellous April weather we have been subjected to a less than mediocre May…. There has been a lot of rain, usually accompanied by high winds. I soon got very tired of assuring guests that my veges. needed lots of rain and now I could put the hose away! Judy and Keith from Australia, and Frederic and Aurielle from France trailed round the Isle of Skye today, seeing very little indeed….. I do not remember having huge coal fires on from early afternoon before.

However, the vegetables are doing well and only the leeks have to go in the ground, alongside the potatoes, onions, lettuce, beetroot, carrots and dwarf peas. I have not grown beetroot or carrot before and the thinning process seems a bit daunting…If there is much more heavy rain the seedlings may float apart?

Dolan’s eldest sister Katie died at the beginning of May. She stayed in the family home on the main street. It is strange not to stop there every time I pass. However, our niece Sandra is moving into “35” and will stay till she builds a house on her croft on the Brae, behind the village. Midge, her Border collie, is well used to the village, as Sandra already spends a lot of her free time on the croft.

Little Daniel, two last month, is just too young to say hello on the phone. Sean, four in July, talks freely and gives me his news then finishes either with “I see you tomorrow” or “I love you”. Catriona’s now seven and got a gold cup in her ballet “exam” last week, while Sam at 14 is amazing this innumerate side of the family with his maths results! And yes, they are all my pride and joy…

June will be busy and I am looking forward to meeting friends from previous visits. With no Cheque or Yarrow, Heron’s Flight is a bit different this year. However, Sponge and I will certainly be waiting to welcome you.

Best wishes
Ann

April's almost gone!

Moira, aided by Sean and Sam, brought Catriona to Dalwhinnie on April 3rd and we had lunch before travelling in opposite directions. Catriona and I met Sam two days later, in Kyle. Sam had a football team to support, before his holiday began!

The weather was very good for the ten days we were together and we launched Piglet. Catriona’s just too small to row single handed, but she and Sam took an oar each. Sam did some single handed rowing and swimming lessons were arranged for Catriona. She made excellent progress.
Beach combing was high on our list and our quest for a stone for the base of Dolan’s Rowing Trophy was successful. We brought back so many “possibles” that I now have a new stone border where the black bamboo is!

We had a few guests as well and both Sam and Catriona were good helps. Sam took charge of the fire making and we roasted nightly! Catriona learned some SCD steps and performed in her Uncle John’s first kilt!

We did a bit of sight seeing on the Isle of Skye and visited quite a few friends locally. Then we motored to Edinburgh on the 14th, for two important reasons – Catriona’s 7th birthday on the 15th and yet another football match to attend – Hibernian FC is supported by all the family except me – my lone shout is for Hearts!

Catriona had a lovely day and there is still a party with school chums to come. I left Edinburgh very early the next day and was home by 11.30am. What a quiet house it was, though Sponge really did his best to show his pleasure at my return…….

I’ve been getting another patch of the down garden ready for more planting. Sam, Catriona and I did the onions and potatoes.
The yachts, over wintered in the car park, were launched on Wednesday and Thursday at the high tides. So the bay is beginning to fill up again. The Hebridean Princess cruise ship is again calling in, as is Ocean Spirit, the Gordonstoun School yacht.

I am hoping to receive a few lovely photos of Eilean Donan Castle at night, taken by a guest last week. Alison in Toowoomba should by now realise that my photographic powers are very limited…but I’m being reminded that web photos need updating…..please come and help me and stay a few days at Heron’s Flight too!!

Best wishes,
Ann

Late March, 2007

We have had a week of beautiful, sunny weather! So the lawns are cut and the edgings are tidied. Everything that does not move has been pressure hosed! A lot of shrubs have been cut back and now the daffodils will be loosely tied up in bunches till the foliage withers. The vege garden is dug over and the potatoes are “chitting”. I’ll plant the onions and potatoes soon, with help from Sam and Catriona.
There are several heathers in bloom and three forsythia bushes are shouting that spring is really here! The latter may not have listened to the weather forecast – snow showers tomorrow….

School holidays start next week and Moira and I will drive towards each other on Tuesday. Sam and Catriona will change vehicles and homes, for ten days! We shall have great fun. We are all looking forward to launching “Piglet” again. She’s only 10 feet long and I’m hoping Catriona will now be tall enough to start rowing her. Sam became quite proficient last summer; he takes charge of the outboard too. So, fingers crossed for calm weather!

April will be busier with visitors than this month and then there will be only a few days off till September. It will be a strangely sad summer too, without Yarrow’s help……
Thank you, Alison, for altering parts of the website – you are there when I threaten to fall apart….

There is a good bit of activity in the car park now, as yachtsmen are sprucing up their crafts, prior to launching at the next high tides, in a week or two. Then the bay will begin to fill up with year round boats – plenty of space for visitors too! 60 yachts moored in the bay in front of Heron’s Flight is not uncommon in the summer months.

Sam, Catriona and I are going to go to two beaches – favourites with our family. We’ll be looking for one special stone. It’ll be used as the base for a trophy which will be in memory of Dolan. PSBSC (Plockton Small Boat Sailing Club) decided to honour Dolan by having a silver replica of one of the old markers in the bay made. These markers were lit up to guide big ships past rocks many years ago. When the trophy is finished, I’ll show it to you. It’ll be presented yearly and will involve rowing, rather than sailing. Dolan was a marvellous skipper, but he always said it was no use being a very good sailor if you could not row out to your boat!

Do you know Plockton Bay? If not, do come and see it, from Heron’s Flight! - Ann

March 2007 News

March 3, 2007
Dear all,
On January 31, I had a cataract successfully removed in Raigmore Hospital, 75 miles from Plockton. As I could not drive home, a friend picked Yarrow and me up and when we reached home it was dark.

My friend reversed with my help and was slowly heading off when Yarrow was run over. He must have been blinded by a combination of car and security lights and just stepped in front of the car...

Yarrow was operated on two days later. And he nearly made it….

We had Yarrow for 10 years –'Edinburgh Cat and Dog Home’s very best', Dolan and I readily agreed. In the last two years, Yarrow and I were very seldom apart, as you’ll all know. I miss him dreadfully – he gave me unconditional love and devotion – and it was reciprocated…..

My daughter Moira phoned in early February and gave me 2 options, for Sam’s school holiday week. (She’s good at long distance therapy)
Take Sam to Paris or take Sam to London. I opted to get lost in English, for our first trip at least….

Sam and I had three full days in the Capital and saw such a lot. We enjoyed open air bus travel, went down into the bowels of the city and zipped from station to station and walked, walked and walked! We agreed that another trip would be good!

It’s less than a fortnight till my first visitors arrive. John Townend (Big John) will be first through the door in 2007. Happily, the carpet layers were here yesterday, curtains are being hemmed and the newly covered dining room chairs will all be home today. When the weather improves, the outside of the house is going to be white-washed and painted. It is good for me to keep busy and have plans…

"Sponge" the cat is lost too without his friend Yarrow. He’s decided to try to fill a bit of the gap and at present is here and hereabout all the time….. He seems to be "comfort eating" too, something he has no need to do; as you all know he is a heavyweight already!

Thank you everyone for writing, emailing, phoning and sending flowers for Yarrow…….

I’ll write soon again,
Ann

Bad news about Yarrow

Dear Readers,
I am sorry to tell you that Yarrow didn't come out of an operation he had last week. He was the very best of mates, and as you will appreciate, it is a very upsetting time.
I may not be able to respond as quickly as usual to your emails for the next week or so.
Ann

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, IAN!

JANUARY 27, 2007


Dear Ian

Have a wonderful time in Sydney with Alison and the Family. As ever, we are sorry to be here, with all of you there…..

Four appropriate quotes are enough to be going on with, for the next 10 years!!

“Few women admit their age. Few men act their age”

“Inflation is when you pay $15 for the $10 haircut you used to get for $5, when you had hair”

“Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest”

“Men are like wine; some turn to vinegar – but the best improve with age”

Love
Ann and the Family.

Growing Pains at Heron's Flight!

Phew......

I know as one reaches more mature years, it does take longer to grasp any new process. From today I s-h-o-u-l-d be able to change spelling errors and even send you a photo regularly - we'll see!

If I write it all down in words of maximum two syllables, remember another few words of computer language, read the email notes I've received from Australia and try the processes more than a couple of times in the year, then we've cracked it, Alison (in Toowoomba!)

I'll put the theory into practice now and rub out my mistakes and find an "upright" photo to replace the sailing boat "Curlew", which at present lies on it's side!!

Catriona, last summer, had her first helming lesson in "Curlew", an old clinker boat which sails in Plockton Regatta. Malcolm and David were her instructors - Malcolm is Catriona's BIG cousin! He's also a fully qualified sailing instructor, or he might not have been trusted with such a precious six year old skipper!!

The days are slowly stretching and there is a noticeable difference in the evenings - when there is a clear sky, which has not been very often..... We did miss the horrendous storms which battered the south recently. There has been no snow in the west either. We've not had good weather - but it could have been a whole lot worse.
I hope you have the promise of Spring?

Ann

January 2007 News

I wish you all a very Happy New Year!

As ever, the weather is a very important topic here. Today has been one to remember – bright and sunny with a tiny breeze. The forecast is for yet more stormy weather - we are all very tired of it! I’m waiting for a few calm days to plant the “palm bunches” which I sawed off the big branch which broke off one of the cordylines a week or two ago. Do you know if they will grow or am I wasting my time? I shall saw the branch into several logs and hope that some may sprout – I’ve seen that happen.

Sam (14) was with me for a week at New Year. We did enjoy the time together! On Hogmanay we went up to “35” and saw the New Year in with Dolan’s sisters and brother. The bonfire on the island, lit by rocket from the shore, was spectacular and so were the fireworks. It was a very blustery night, but the Plockton celebrations carried on regardless, while Edinburgh, Glasgow and other cities had to cancel. We came home a while later, leaving many people partying the night away.
Over the next few days we visited many friends and were visited too. One of Sam’s achievements this time was teaching me to text on my phone! I am assured I’ll soon wonder how I lived without that particular skill till now!!

When we do finally have a window of better weather I shall begin the winter pruning. At present everything looks so bedraggled that I wonder if a chain saw swept horizontally would not do a good job of tidying up? There is a lot to do…. Today I did get the vine in the greenhouse pruned. It did very well last year – by far the best crop for the least work!

The animals…… “Cheque” was taken to Alyth in Perthshire for hibernation. After much thought I have decided to leave him there. I often felt he was lonely – he did arrive here with his brother “Book” who died suddenly after their first hibernation. He was always trying to hide away in shade, indeed darkness, most often under the broad, jaggy berberis hedge. He was “lost” many times there, causing everyone grief. Now he will be surrounded by little friends in Alyth and so well cared for. I shall see Bob and Gwen, his breeders, occasionally and have first hand reports of wee Cheque.

Sponge is looking very content, shiny and BIG! He has mellowed with age and needs our company now. When Yarrow and I have been out or away in the car he invariably meets us and escorts us into the house! He often shares Yarrow’s beanbag or sleeps on one of the kitchen chairs. Tonight we are all in the kitchen where it is pleasantly warm. Hibernian are beating Aberdeen 1-0 in the Scottish Cup and I’ll be pleased if it stays like that – I’ve mentioned before that most of my Edinburgh gang support Hibs!

Our trip to Edinburgh for Christmas was nearly cancelled because Yarrow had a stroke a month ago. After just 24 hours the improvement was dramatic, which I learned from the vet is quite normal. He had a course of 20 daily tablets and now I have to monitor his every move and action for a while. Hopefully he’ll be able to do without tablets for life.

You’ll be able to imagine how anxious I was and still am……. But the future is beginning to look good and if you come and mention the word “walk”, Yarrow’s reaction will be the same as always – ecstatic!!

I hope you will come and meet us all, in 2007.

Best wishes
Ann
PS Hibs have drawn 2-2 with Aberdeen, so we await the drama of a replay…!