And then there were three ...

1/11/2009
Last Monday Catriona and Sean (who had been here for mid-term) and I said cheerio to Richard and Angela Hough, now old friends who have walked this whole area. You can imagine my trepidation before their arrival, as long daily walks really need quite good weather – and that had been in very short supply since around the end of June!

Believe it or not, the week was good, despite a more than mediocre forecast! Angela and Richard walked their socks off, while Catriona and Sean spent a lot of time out of doors – hours of it on their "ships” (the rock in the front garden which, after all, is only some 20 feet from the high tide! We went on Sula Mhor with Calum but seals were scarce! However, Catriona met Rachel on board and a new friendship was cemented the next day, when the three children played for hours outside. In the dim and distant past we used to exchange addresses and telephone numbers – a one line email address is now all that is needed!

Since Catriona and Sean went home (there was a change over with Colin at Spean Bridge), I have closed for the year and Calum has moored Sula Mhor at the pier for the last time in 2009. I spent the week tidying in the garden and it is not nearly finished yet! One reminder of the very wet weather this summer is the amount of moss everywhere, especially on the drive and pathway towards the workshop and beyond the gates near the Post Office. I have a huge spray container at the ready – but will the 24 hours of dry conditions ever happen now, to ensure the good working of the very expensive treatment?

During the two weeks Alison and Ian were here, Ian spent some time making scale drawings of the flat and paper models of some of the furniture therein. As Moira is flitting to a larger house, I can now offer a bedroom suite and various other pieces which all came from Bathgate, when “Bruar”, where we were brought up, was sold nearly 30 years ago and Granny came to live at Heron’s Flight, in the flat created for her.

I plan to “swop” rooms round in the flat and have the existing front bedroom as a sitting room. When I go south I’ll choose a few essential pieces of furniture, which I know will fit, thanks to the scale drawings and tiny models – Ian and Alison, what invaluable help! I’ll send photos and hope you visit to see for yourselves. The kitchen/dining room needs a revamp and that will be done in phase two. Only then I’ll ask the animals if they like it!!

This upheaval in the making will go on probably at the same time as my present kitchen/sitting room are torn apart, de-humidified and restored. That work may begin on November 16. ( Have you any idea of the paraphernalia one stores and “has to have” in kitchen cupboards and drawers? Having emptied mine, I tell you my kitchen “essentials” do not fit comfortably in the dining room here – on table tops, chairs, floor surface, window ledges…) But it is a necessary operation, so that the kitchen cupboards, tiles, work surfaces and plaster can be taken away.

Ruah and I plan a short trip to Edinburgh soon. Ruari and Marie will keep Sponge company – he has opted for this, by the way, rather than put up with three children, one dog, one cat, several hamsters that he is not allowed to eat, one house rabbit bigger than himself and one hen. Sponge is no fool!

Sam will come north with me, for a PSBSC meeting. If the workings here have not begun, I may run him home, as I love his company.

The village bonfire on the island is always a grand affair and we all congregate to see it lit, by rocket. The fireworks are beautiful and may this year be reflected in the incoming tide, if the night is still and dry…..

Alison has “tweeked” the website which I think is very special! Thanks, Alison. Do read through it and send any comments…….

Ann

More than a touch of Autumn...

Wednesday September 30, 2009

Today is the best day in a while and Ian and Alison have gone to Inverness to see Dolan’s sister Janet and have lunch. It should be a lovely run there and back. In the last seventy + days we have only had twelve without rain, so today is a real bonus! I have been catching up on piles of washing and doing a general tidy up.

I have been very vexed for all the visitors who have come and been unable to see much of the beauty around. Walking has become a rare activity and umbrellas (very necessary) rarely seen, as the high winds would turn them inside out in a second…..

Our visitors have seemingly remained very good humoured and tolerant! Off they went into the grey mists, determined to make the most of each day... Jigsaws were finished with alarming speed and evenings round the fire were convivial. I was very pleased to welcome back Jutta and Harald, who arrived last year with their hire car more like a swimming pool – inside!

Ruah does not like being wet so, on goes the life jacket and off she gaily trots! Sponge has taken to talking a lot and commands attention!

The vege garden was dug over after the beetroot was lifted. Only the leeks remain. In the greenhouse many bunches of black grapes may yet fully ripen – if only we get a few days of sunshine……

Sam’s been up for a weekend and now John has been for a week too. Ian and Alison are here – it is marvellous to have them around! John was very helpful, doing little jobs around the house and garden. So my “to do” list has shrunk to nothing! He headed back to Edinburgh on Monday. Alison and Ian arrived last Wednesday and will stay till Tuesday – not long enough but just wonderful all the same. They are in the 6th week of their big tour and will be home in Toowoomba, Queensland in about three weeks I think.

I always seem to be talking about water/wet/damp etc! Well I can now add the wall between the kitchen and sitting room, bringing all the “wet” descriptions inside for the first time ever! A pipe running from the cold to hot tanks leaked – probably had been doing so for a long time and was not discovered till one morning recently a kitchen drawer was full of water. To cut a very long story short, the kitchen and sitting room walls (back to back) have to be dried out, now the leak has been traced and mended, plaster, tiles worktops, cupboards stripped off and renewed – and I am not looking forward to that….. It will happen in early November, when the last of this year’s visitors have departed.

Yesterday the three of us left here at 7.45am and motored to Armadale in south Skye. We caught the ferry to Mallaig, had a wait of about fifty minutes, and then boarded the “Loch Nevis”, which, on Tuesdays, goes to the little island of Muck. We had two hours on the island before doing the reverse trip and arriving home at 6.00pm.

“The” road on Muck is only a mile and a half in length. There are thirty five inhabitants, including six children and the main work is with sheep, cows and now tourists. There are two charming little shops, one of which is completely un-manned. It sells little souvenirs made by the children, cards, calendars, paintings and island produce.

A busy café is half of the other shop and all the food on offer seemed to be home-made. It was just a treat!

A monstrous cattle float has made the trip to the island on the ferry and it returned with a cargo of bulls and cows. They were to be transported to Dingwall, when they finally landed at Armadale – a long, long trip…..

Though the weather yesterday was not spectacular, we all enjoyed our outing to Muck immensely.

The days are speeding past and Ian and Alison’s time in Plockton is diminishing…..

I hope you are all well and have been enjoying good weather – I happen to know from a very recent email from Cid and Di Warden that the last month in Selsey has been just wonderful – well, it’s been so wet here there had to be very little rain left over for everywhere else!

Ann

Burning the midnight oil!

Laure and Frederic, from Paris and Marseille, had a week of very mediocre weather. They remained cheerful throughout - thank you!
One can settle down to a jigsaw, morning, noon and night when the top of the Crags is shrouded in mist and rain - again.. Since you left it has continued to rain and Ruah's ears seem to be always wet!
Thank you for "sticking it out" and for your generous present to me.
Ann
PS: Sorry you are a bit blurred, Frederic - I'm not the best photographer!

"Jigsawers extraordinaires"!

Terry and Daphne McNeill from Northern Ireland, in less than one day, almost completed one of my 1000 piece jigsaws!

In their five days at Heron's Flight, Terry and Daphne did not have wonderful weather - yesterday, their last day, was quite unforgiving and unforgivable..... I wonder if their ferry crossing tonight actually will go - here we have another big gale.....

The photo is taken in the sitting room, where we had a coal fire blazing. Unfortunately it is slightly out of focus - the "merry puzzlers" were grabbing jigsaw pieces and popping them in place like machines - quite impossible to slow down - and I need all the help I can get when taking a photo.....

Christian , Kirstin, Frederick and Laure now have instructions to finish the puzzle ASAP!

Best wishes, Ann

Calms and Storms in Plockton

Catriona was at the helm in the girl's race of this year's Plockton Regatta. Big brother Sam was her crew along with the "ship's master", Terry.

August 11th

July and August are always busy here. Ruah, Sponge and I welcome visitors and this year we have made friends with people from many different countries, while welcoming back guests from previous years – that is one big bonus of this life! Another is that we stay at home to enjoy ourselves and have all the photos you send! Thank you.

The garden has been a lot of work, as everything has grown and grown and grown…… My success in the vege patch is definitely the onion bed. They are very good this year. The leeks will be good too, but the potatoes have not done very well. The grapes, very prolific, will be good later – Sean (6) in particular was not impressed by them (“No, you just cannot eat these ones green”).

Both animals have a good few weeks. Sponge has taken to wandering outside when he hears new voices! Ruah has had quite a few outings and I notice the difference in her walking on the lead. She is still a wee quiet soul in the house, though some people have the knack of “stirring her up”! I’m still working on “Stay”, while I go upstairs with guests. She’ll wait till we are virtually out of sight then gallop up to join us. It will come, won’t it?? Tips welcome!

I’ve had two marvellous weeks! It has been our annual regatta fortnight and Catriona, Sean and Daniel have stayed along with Sam, while Mum and Dad came and went.

On Sunday Moira left with Catriona and Sean (Daniel went earlier with Colin). Sam is travelling south, by bus, today. Tonight I have company from France and Ireland.

The weather has been strange. It has been warm and dry, but the winds have been very unpredictable. Many of the sailing races had to be postponed or cancelled – miraculously, the Regatta did finish on time!

You may have read in the national papers last week of the freak storm which blew up during one of our races. Of the 18 boats sailing, only 4 remained upright and thirty sailors landed in the water. Our two rescue boats were backed up by lifeboats from Kyle and Portree and two helicopters. Next to Heron’s Flight, at the pontoon car park, two ambulances and various rescue vehicles waited. After what seemed like forever, as we stood battered by the rain and wind, we heard that everyone was accounted for and OK. It was two hours ++ till everyone was back in the village, most having been pulled out of the water by the lifeboats then transferred to one of the many large craft that had immediately sailed to the area to help.

Sam and Catriona (she at 9 was the youngest crew person in the local boat race) were with Terry Kitchen and he dropped the sails, got turned and came in on the jib – one of the four that stayed upright.

It was one of the worst evenings of my life……. Ann

PS After I wrote this I “flicked through” the letters in the Dreambook – then I read them all again and am so touched that you had taken time to write – thank you. It means a great deal to me!

July 5th, 2009

We have been enjoying the best weather, in my opinion, for a long, long time. Some would disagree as it has been very hot – several late afternoon shade temperatures were around 31C.

So the hoses have been out, doors and windows open 24/7, weeds have stopped trying to smother the veges and the midges have even gone into hiding most of the time! One of the New Zealand flax plants has a very tall flower spike – I passed it once or twice before I realised there was one – at five feet nearly two inches all I saw was the usual spread of leaves!

I had a flying visit to Edinburgh – one day. It was Sam’s prize giving and he is Dux of 5th year. Now he’s on to 6th year after the summer. It is incredible how the time has flown…..

After the ceremony, John joined Moira, Sam and me for lunch and that was lovely. Then I beetled back to Moira’s, picked up Ruah and headed north. So I had just short of 24 hours in Edinburgh! The three younger children were, as they say “in good form” and, as I left, I was saying to myself, “a day is better than no day with the family”…..

The journey home was uneventful till south of the turn off west, at Dalwhinnie. The temperature hovered around 28C. Then the heavens opened and I have never driven in weather like that. I wanted to get to Dalwhinnie, to rescue Ruah from her metal crate, in case lightning struck. This daft thought would not go to the back of my mind…. These few miles took quite a time, as conditions were really poor. One plus point was that the temperature dropped 10C in a mile or two! I found out afterwards that Ruah would have been completely safe in her cage – but very frightened…

After Dalwhinnie, the second 100 miles were much less traumatic and we got home around 7.30pm. It had been pretty wet here too and the garden looks good, especially the courgette and its several bright yellow flowers! My four guests had survived quite happily without me! Their breakfast at Plockton Inn was, I’m sure, a welcome break from a week of me! However, I’m glad to be back to keep order, as the gentlemen yesterday climbed “The Saddle” and were “drooked” (completely drenched!) and late, late home. It had been a very arduous climb and their wives and I were very glad when the car finally came down the drive. Today is calm, sunny and still pretty warm…..

I’m off soon to pick Sam up in Kyle. His bus journey takes six hours. He’ll be doing a couple of week’s work experience while he’s here – and sailing!
Sponge and Ruah will be beside themselves with joy when Sam appears!!

I hope all is well with you and that you’ll pop in sometime to Heron’s Flight.

Ann.

Monarch of all he surveys.....

7’6’09

Ruah often steals the limelight here.

But Sponge can and does enhance the views from Heron’s Flight.

Today has been glorious and we have had a visit from the Huntingdon Family, who have “Alkira” at anchor in the bay for the summer. Yana (3) and Alex (17 months) and Halley the cocker spaniel are as at home on the yacht as they are on land. Halley has been known to chase a cat……

Sponge can always put himself out of reach, on one of the front gate pillars!

Near the longest day......

June 6th, 2009.

After days and days of wonderful sunshine and real heat, we have been plunged into temperatures in the low teens. But it is some consolation to realise that our little part of Britain is not going to be deluged this time!

In the last weeks Noel and Pat, John and Brida, Cid and Di, Ann and Patrick, and Mark (not Paul, as I would call you!) and Barbara have re-visited. It was such a pleasure for me to have you staying again… A week ago Ann McGregor and Sheila jumped off a special train and spent two hours here – it was very good to catch up with news and events from the McGregor side of our family.

Some of you were not so lucky with the weather and I realised how desperate Cid was when the sun shone one evening and he persuaded Di to hop on the big bike at 6.00pm – and off they went to Applecross! Most people breakfast quite early and set off promptly on an Applecross outing!!!

Cid and Di, thanks for starting and finishing a 1000 piece jigsaw. We had fun sticking it together and backing it with paper! I now have found sticky backed hangings and the jigsaw is complete. There is yet another to begin if/when the weather deteriorates again….

The garden has taken off – trees, shrubs, flowers and weeds! The big lawnmower is being mended and the grass is defeating me at present. The May blossom was exceptional all over the village and now the growth is amazing. The potatoes, onions, spring cabbage, lettuce and beetroot are all growing well and there are still leeks to plant.

The older cabbage palms have several flower heads each this year and the eucalyptus is only a foot or two shorter than the tall pine in back garden of Tigh an Fhaing, next door. I suppose it is still a poor specimen compared to Queensland eucalyptus, Alison – but it is my pride and joy.

Ruah and I took Sponge, my cat, to the vet last Friday, as the midges were really making his life miserable. He got a couple of injections and was immediately more at ease. This is very effective in combating his midge allergy. Maybe we all who live and visit here should have the same treatment!!

Ruah is loving meeting all our guests. Excitement is at fever pitch when she hears footsteps on the stairs each morning!

When I next speak to you, I’ll have been on a flying visit to Edinburgh and Sam will probably be in Plockton for a spell. He has now finished his 5th year Higher exams and will have the results in late July. I’m looking forward to Sam coming north for a good part of the summer. The family will be here at Regatta time – that’s from July 27, for a fortnight. I hope John will come after the very busy summer time. He prefers his Plockton quiet!

If you are in our part of the world, please do come in and say hello.

Ann

More May Happenings!

Last May Alan and Jan Walker took a very young Ruah for a little walk – I suspect it was the other way round!

This May Alan and Jan came back to visit and after the walk I was assured that Ruah behaved impeccably.

Alan and Jan – we hope you had a good flight south this afternoon and we hope to see you in the not too distant future.

Angela and Richard Hough, here again and at the same time as the Walkers, have again been lucky with the weather. Despite factor 25 in abundance, they came home this evening, having “marched up and down the mountains” around Sligaghan looking extremely healthy and very pink!

Ruah’s new fleece arrived yesterday and it is a huge success! It is under the hall table, by the kitchen door and I’m determined that she’ll sit/lie there while breakfasts are in progress at least. Already she knows “mat” and goes there with me. Yes, yes, she gets a small treat!!

After the unbelievably bad weather last week, everyone is thoroughly enjoying the best sunshine in the country – and we have more to come!

Ann.

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