Summer holiday photos

Taken at 9.30pm, when the sun was still high in the sky.  The bay had a lot of yachts in that night.

The boats drifting past the starting line in the long distance race - Sam's in "Delight", with the yellow sail.

A delighted Daniel showing off his crab catch - he is covered from head to toe to stop sunburn!

At the rock in my front garden is my grand-daughter Catriona and her little gang of friends - only one is a Plocktonian - the rest all come each summer - one from Singapore!

Summer's flying by!

August 21st

I feel a bit like a lost property shop this month, for I have found spectacles in a  dark grey case in the front porch (were you doing a jigsaw?), a waterproof jacket (in the “old furniture” bedroom wardrobe) – its label says US Basic ***, M size.  Lastly I have acquired a very pretty pair of ear rings in the same bedroom the other day – I am certain they belong to the young girl from Brescia, Italy – no more address than that…..

Please get in touch and I’ll post with pleasure!

Quentin and Berengere from Paris arrived on the 18^th, with a lovely mug, little chocolates and an Eiffel Tower keyring – how could they guess that I love my collection of keyrings?  I have my morning coffee in their mug now.  Thank you both! 

After various permutations of family being here over six weeks, Sam left on Thursday, having returned from a six day cruise to the north, with his regatta skipper, who has a small yacht.  The good weather had kept up and the winds were very favourable, so the cruise was a great adventure.

The weather has become much more unsettled and cool but I am still busy with visitors and have a good few bookings till around the end of September.  After that I’ll think about a big tidy up and a few days in Edinburgh, perhaps. 

The garden has been easy this year as a friend’s daughter has grown veges in that part of the garden, while Colin and Moira did a great job on the front lawn and wild trellis, which are looking much better.  Sam and I kept the front and side hedges in trim and a friend mowed when necessary.  It is quite a big area and I am glad of any help, for the moment anyway!

I have decided to have self catering weeks available, at Heron’s Flight, at Christmas and New Year.  If you would like to come then, please get in touch directly to annheronsflight@btinternet.com   A ll the facilities and accommodation are on www.heronsflight.org and on the Plockton Web.

It would be fun to have you here during the festive spell!

In the meantime, please pop in if you are in this part of the country….

Ann

Coral Beach, Plockton: Catriona and Ann, Ruah on the rocks and Sean on the coral sand

July News

18/7/11

This has been the month of the flowers!  Thank you all for bringing and sending lovely summer flowers to me – Anne and Michael, Hieke, Arndt and your parents, Geert and Anna and the family, “Big John” Townend -  I do love flowers

Last Saturday I motored to Inverness and had lunch with Moira, Catriona and Sean.  The children came home with me, much to the delight of Ruah and Amber!

We had a wonderful week.  The best day of summer to date was on Wednesday and we went to the Coral beach, along with several other Plockton families and several visitors too.  It’s quite a big double beach with coral sand – not too pleasant for little people’s bare feet!  There are little lumps of white and pink coral all over the place – Catriona found a lump of about three inches across – a treasure to take home.

We spent a lot of time fishing at the pontoon.  Catriona caught two fish and Sean a huge crab!  The rock in the front garden again became a play area, with the children’s imaginations running riot!  Ruah had a lot of games of football, while Amber, a sore leg attended to by the vet and now better, watched the proceedings from various vantage points in the garden.

My niece Sandra has eight quite un-tamed Hebridean sheep and Catriona and Sean fed them for two days – a big responsibility and thrill.  The children have two dogs, a cat, a rabbit, two hens, two chicks and three hamsters, a big and a small brother, so un-tamed sheep held no fears for them!

We met Moira on Saturday and Ruah and I travelled home alone and arrived at the very quiet flat in time for tea.  The big end of the house was occupied by a Belgian family for the week.  Geert and Anna stayed here five years ago and it was so good to welcome them again.  They brought two of their three children, a friend and her daughter – when they left yesterday (how tidy the house was – thank you!), Anna said she and Geert would be back in another five years!

Tonight there are two couples sharing the house with me – from Sweden and Germany. B&B life is certainly varied and very interesting.

 On Thursday I hope Sam will arrive, probably on the evening train.  He’ll be here till after the Regatta, which ends on August 6^th. 

Moira, Colin, Catriona and a friend, Sean and Daniel will arrive on July 30^th I hope.

Till then Ruah, Amber and I will welcome guests from all over and we look forward to meeting you, perhaps?

Ann 

18/7/11

Soon be the shortest day!

June 16, 2011

Hello

I have had a lovely time, with many visitors calling in, staying for a day or two and old friends being here too.

Yet again, Angela and Richard Hough had good weather during their week’s stay!  Cid and Di Warden were not so lucky…. Heike and Arndt, here four years ago, brought Heike’s parents all the way from Belgium last week. Thank you all for the lovely flowers!  A friend came in to the be-decked house the other day and said “It’s not your birthday – is it?”  They are all going strong – Arndt, pop over from Belgium, reach up and water the hanging basket, please!  I shall get the steps out and not balance and fall off a chair….

This week Malcolm and Denise Bain (Malcolm painted Yarrow, Sponge and Ruah before) have returned and they have been joined by Henry and Laura from Florida.  As the weather is really unpredictable, a “Plockton” jigsaw is rapidly taking shape.  The photo of Henry and Laura was taken at 10.40pm, when the yachts in the background show just how light it is at that time here, in June.

In the last six weeks we have welcomed guests from eleven countries and a first from Cyprus!  Thank you for coming, one and all!

Though we cannot guarantee the weather in the North West of Scotland, I can guarantee a very warm welcome at Heron’s Flight!

Ann

Visitors again, a new Heron's Flight pet and Ruah's summer hair cut

Hello,
Here is a photo of guests who stayed with me for the last three nights. It was lovely to see Alan and Lyn Hughes again. They brought Margaret and Tony from West Australia. It was such a pleasure to have you all staying at Heron's Flight - open for business again after some little time.....

I have a cat again!
Amber has come from Moira in Edinburgh, for a holiday or perhaps for ever, if she settles well.

In Edinburgh Amber very seldom wanted to go out - we'll see what she prefers in Plockton.
I hope she will go round about the garden soon - she would not do it today as we have a huge gale accompanied by heavy rain.

Ruah is very pleased! Amber is a BIG cat so Ruah and she look each other in the eye as they stand!  I have not weighed Amber yet, but I imagine she may tip the scales above Ruah.

Ryan, Moira's one year old black labrador dog, will be missing the sport of poking juvenile fun at Amber...

Lastly little Ruah has been severely clipped in readiness for the summer (which we all hope will come soon!) In this first photo, she is certainly NOT best pleased - but is much happier in the second photo!

Time's flying -it's well into May....

May 8th, 2011

It has been quite an eventful time since my last news.

On April 5th I was again in Raigmore Hospital, for the closure of an ileostomy. The hoped for three or four night stay stretched to twelve. Restrictions of no lifting, no pushing, no pulling, no gardening etc. are easing and I’ve been driving for a couple of weeks – what a relief!

I fully intend that visit to Raigmore to be my last – ever!

Ian and Alison arrive home in Toowoomba tomorrow morning. They have been round the world, visiting Europe where they had a fantastic Rhine cruise and I missed a holiday in Paris with them…… They visited friends in the United States of America and flew home via Auckland. Alison succumbed finally to the cold Ian had been doing his best not to spread over the globe – she is arriving home with pneumonia. I bet your own bed feels just so luxurious, Alison and Ian.

The Edinburgh family is flourishing. Sam phones and sounds on top of the world, Catriona emails, with little funny faces at the end of each letter, while Sean and Daniel perfect their football and trampoline skills. I am hoping that they will all spend a good length of time here in the summer holidays, as I missed them at Easter.
.
My B&B/self catering life begins again on Saturday. I am really looking forward to that! My diary is quite full and I look forward to meeting again some very good friends.

If you have not yet visited Plockton, perhaps you will soon. Ruah and I would like to meet you.

I’ll write again soon.

Ann

Photo from Edinburgh

Having just published a post with Ruah and Charlie in the limelight, I really should add a photo of the children - the best I could do with four to focus on the camera!
Ann

Late March,11

The clocks change this weekend.
25/3/11

I’m in Edinburgh for a few days, staying with Moira, Colin and the family. It is a busy household! Today Moira was working in Perth but Colin had time off and did the school runs. I went to Gullane to visit our first cousins, “the twins” Ann and Margaret, having deviated on the way south yesterday to visit Celia in Blackburn and Dorothy in Bathgate.

The schools have a half day on Fridays so Nicola, Catriona’s friend, was here, after Colin had taken them all to the park for some pretty vigorous exercise, I know! Sean was not finished at that – he still had football practice, after tea. The girls and Daniel had decorated a double sponge cake for pudding – lovely!

Tomorrow Catriona has dancing – she has been at classes since she was a little girl and she loves ballet, jazz and tap. By the way, she is no longer little – eye to eye with me this visit!! She’ll be eleven on April 15th.

Sam comes home tomorrow for the Easter holidays. We are all looking forward to seeing him. I was hoping that he might come north for a while, however I know now I’ll be in Raigmore Hospital from April 5, for a few days – and taking it easy for a week or two after that. Sam can come for a longer time in the summertime, when there is much more activity and plenty of sailing. The other children will come then as well and Moira and Colin will be around at Regatta time - a lot to look forward to!

It is now the 28th and I’m still\in Edinburgh – going north tomorrow, I think! Ruah has been happy to be with her cousin, Charlie. Ryan, the one year old Black Labrador, still tends to beat Ruah up – his idea of playing. Ruah is not amused….

It has been good to be of a little use – taking the younger children to school, doing some laundry, helping in the garden and taking Sam out to lunch!

I am looking forward to getting B&B and self catering under way from May 14th. Not having had guests at all last year makes this beginning all the more exciting!

I hope I’ll see you during the summer.

Ann

Late February news

The full moon has passed; the sky was such a deep colour, with many, many stars twinkling. That day was beautiful too – no clouds in the sky and not a ripple on the loch.

Into this peace some of us dared to crash – engines roared as the fishing boats left the harbour and garden shed doors creaked open, lawn mowers were oiled and cajoled into life. At Heron’s Flight the hedge trimmer savagely chopped off the dead heads from the heathers. It was fun!

At the end of the afternoon we believed that spring had arrived early. Tomorrow we might be proved wrong. In the north west of Scotland there are very few consecutively good days, at this time of the year, anyway………..

I started writing this a few days ago and since then there has not been a dry day! The wind has reached gale force on several occasions and the sun has not put in an appearance.

I was in Inverness today to pick up Sam, who is here for the weekend. The Edinburgh – Inverness morning train broke down before the journey began. After a while another train arrived but there was no hope of Sam catching the Inverness - Plockton connection. Ruah and I drove to Inverness to meet him. The sun shone all the time we were on the east coast and, guess what? Yes, it was blowing and raining on our return to the west.

 Our weather keeps us all guessing, but we are very seldom worried by it – unlike Queensland earlier on and Christchurch so recently. We in this country are so relieved that family and friends in both places have escaped relatively unscathed.

Moira, Colin and the family are all well. Sean and Daniel have started Tai Kwan Do classes and are getting rid of some of their boundless energy with that and of course their football training. Catriona is still dancing – ballet, jazz, tap. Moira and Colin manage to fit in work, as well as acting as chauffeurs to various venues in the city…..

Sam’s enjoying student life. He works hard. About once a fortnight he pops up at home, much to Mum’s delight especially! He has a good meal, while his laundry is done!

Ruah was put on a new eating programme recently. After 4 days of guzzling things changed!! So little Madam is now on a restricted diet, to lose the weight she piled on! She’s having at least one long walk daily and treats are out. We are still friends!

Very regretfully I have phoned Ian and Alison and said I would not be able to meet them in Paris at the end of April. My consultant surgeon says there is no chance of me running off on holiday so soon after surgery. I now know the op. will be sooner rather than later. If nothing else, this episode has taught me that one has to quickly realise that the wheels of the NHS grind slowly!!

 I’ll be here all summer and look forward to meeting many of you.

Ann

Heron's Flight Website back on air

I am delighted, and not a little relieved, to report that Ann's website, Heron's Flight, is now back on the air, after several days of being AWOL. Neither Ann nor I are heavily 'techie' and the frustration factor of 3-way dealing with each other and the hosting service has been enough to drive me at least a little way to drink! But all fine now, I hope (with fingers crossed behind our backs).

The next post will be by Ann I'm sure, who has had her own ups and downs of late!

Thanks to many of Ann's newsletter and website readers for your nice comments about the newsletter and the website - it's a real labour of love! This is a photo of me, with a visiting dog next door.

Alison Hunter, Ann's webmaster.

January news

Christmas in Edinburgh, with Moira, Colin, Sam (home from Uni.), Catriona, Sean and Daniel was fun. Our Christmas dinner, at a Chinese Restaurant, was a success, with the little boys clearing their plates. None of us wanted to eat that meal at home, without John.

On January 10^th Ian and Alison, who as you know live in Toowoomba, were fortunate to live in a high part of the city. When the floods we round the world witnessed poured down into the area, they were not swamped, but the incessant torrential rain did flood their basement - garage, one bedroom and, maybe worst of all Ian possibly thought – the wine cellar! Some of the lower part of Toowoomba was a disaster area with scenes a little like an inland tsunami. As we all saw on TV, night after night, the floods caused a lot of damage and inundation throughout many parts of Queensland, including Brisbane, and the loss of over 20 lives many of whom were in the Lockyer Valley between Toowoomba and Brisbane ……

Ruah and I came home the Wednesday after Christmas and on New Year’s Eve I watched the bonfire and fireworks from the house. On the first and second of January friends popped in to say “Happy New Year” I was totally speechless when Moira and Catriona bowled in, especially as Catriona had phoned seconds before, saying a visit to Tesco was on the cards! The call was made from my gates – checking I was in!

We had a lovely two days, visiting round the village……

Since then I have at last moved into the Granny flat. It is amply big enough. I do miss my Rayburn cooker and coal fire, though!

Friends, who are having their house (in the village) completely renovated, are staying in the other end of this house, so I suppose I’m gently dipping my toe into my latest venture – self catering.

My chemotherapy has finished and I have one small op to have, before finally saying goodbye to doctors and hospitals. I have been very lucky to have sailed through all my treatment, which began last March, without trouble.

I am looking forward now to seeing Ian and Alison in Paris at the end of April – that will be so exciting!

Then it is back to work! I shall be ready to welcome guests, whether self catering or B&B. Do visit my web sites www.heronsflight.org and Heron’s Flight self catering accommodation on the Plockton Web.

It is a little late to wish you all a Happy New Year – but I do it anyway. 2011 can only be better for our family than 2010, when we had so much sadness.

I hope your year is a happy and successful one.

Ann

December News

You have probably seen or heard of the quite appalling winter weather that has descended on Britain recently. In Scotland the east has been worst hit. Moira lives in Edinburgh, so I’ve had “on the scene” reports! The children missed school for over a week. That sounds silly when the school is very near its whole population – but not so silly when the snow is lying more than half a meter on pavements…..

The children are hankering to be “back to work” now!

In the North West we have been quite lucky. One small fall of snow melted a little and then froze over. So drives and pavements were pretty lethal, but the roads were salted and not a problem. Then another fall made getting around here quite tricky! It was very picturesque, however!

Sam and Catriona too, spent quite a lot of time here in the summer – that was wonderful. The rest of the family came for Regatta and John was up and down in his new car too.

Sam had decided that medicine at Edinburgh University was for him and he went into Halls in September. He calls in at home regularly – when his laundry needs done I suspect! He’s enjoying life. Sam was 18 yesterday – I wish I had been at the birthday tea – Indian requested. He has exams next week, so he went off to do some more revision – after the birthday cake was demolished! His Granny is very proud of him!

I’ve been having treatment for bowel cancer all year and I’ll finish completely by April. I am well and have been assured that the treatment will have removed every vestige of the cancerous cells – wonderful. I am looking forward to ending my last chemo block of tablets in just over two weeks – Yippee! The cancer (very treatable) treatment has lasted nine months to date and will finish, with me hale and hearty (my consultant assures me) around March. I have felt very well throughout – I‘m lucky!

I know some of you have known for a while that John, at 43, died suddenly on September 13 while at work as a joiner in Edinburgh. He had never had a day of illness in his life. I am still in shock, as is Moira, who was very close to John and saw a lot of him in town.

He was here a couple of weeks before for three days when we toured around in his marvellous car, talked a lot and enjoyed the lovely summer sunshine and for that I shall be eternally grateful. John was a thoughtful, wonderful son and Moira and I miss him daily…

From May next year I’ll be welcoming self catering or B&B guests, four days to a week being the preferred booking. Do get in touch. Heron’s Flight, Ruah and I need company! All my details are on www.heronsflight.org and “the Plockton Web” self catering section of Accommodation.

Ian and Alison (Toowoomba) are going on a quite short round the world holiday and they have invited me to join them in Paris for some days. I do not see them much, naturally, so Paris will be a special time for us, at the end of April.

I hope 2010 has been a good year for you and that 2011 will be the same.

Ruah and I will spend Christmas with Moira and the family (weather permitting). I expect we’ll be home before New Year. I know you will understand that Christmas card writing is just too difficult and from now my electronic greetings will take over.

Ruah would join me, if she could write! in wishing you Seasons Greetings and the best of good fortune for 2011.

Best wishes

Ann

Ruah and I are home from Edinburgh

It’s October 24 and a beautiful late autumn evening. The trees are just beginning to lose their red and yellow leaves and the first frost was last night. I’ll have to rescue all the little year old cabbage palms at the back door – there are about twenty five in pots. Next year I hope some will be large enough to plant out in the garden.

The bay is virtually empty now and the car park is full of local yachts, till next spring. Some yachts are wintering farther away, so that the owners can get some work done on them – engine refurbishing. painting and varnishing. Our little Saranna C is back in the barn on the Brae. She will need painted outside and tar x linseed oil inside next year.

I am still working out what form my next year will take! I think it will be a combination of B&B and letting. I’m also deciding between continental breakfasts or fully cooked – have you any comments?

Moira, Colin and the children were here last week. Sam was missing - he is now in Halls at Edinburgh University, studying medicine. We held a simple service for village friends, to say goodbye to John, from Heron’s Flight. It was followed by a lunch in Plockton Inn.. Sometime when the weather is better, the family will climb the hill Cnoc an Aingeal (The hill of the angels) and scatter John’s ashes beside those of Dolan.

I have been very touched by all the support given, from home and away. Thank you all.

Ann

September already ....

I began the letter below a little time ago,but events have intervened.
Moira phoned on Monday to tell me that John had died at 3.30. He had been at work and just not felt very well; went outside and collapsed. He never regained consciousness.He was only forty three.

I shall always be grateful that John was home for a few days just over two weeks ago.

I will write you later
Ann
o-o-o-o-o-o-o

I’ve taken quite some time to settle down on my own, with little Ruah for company of course, after being surrounded by people in hospital and then cosseted by all the family for several weeks. The house seemed too big, the garden even bigger!

However, things have shrunk to proper proportions now and everything is much more comfortable – even the midges have backed off!

My specialist has decided that my final treatment should be at home, with courses of tablets. I do not have to attend hospital and three week checks can be done at Broadford Hospital, on the Isle of Skye. This will go on for a while, but it will not stop me doing anything and I may jump in the car sometimes and go visiting!

Little Daniel has started school. So Sam has just left High School, Catriona is in P6, Sean P3 and Daniel P1. Sam begins his University course on September 13 …. Peculiarly Sam is in the same Hall of Residence that John was, twenty five years ago!

It has been too long - sorry.......

Hello

In my June letter, I hoped to have finished my treatment by the end of the month and I planned to go to Edinburgh for Sam’s leaving school ceremony.

Well “the best laid plans, gang aft….” and mine certainly did just that! I was in hospital for three weeks and finally got home on July 14 (pretty shell shocked and wobbly! John collected Ruah (holidaying in luxury with Janet, Dolan’s sister!) and me and stayed a few days in Plockton. Then Sam and Catriona arrived and that weekend Moira and little Daniel came overnight and departed with Catriona. Sam and I continued to make a good team here.

The PSBSC annual Regatta fortnight has just finished and Sam’s been out in most races, taking his turn at the Rescue Boat Shed and as a line official. We do meet quite frequently - meals, some evenings, and breakfasts! The most exciting race for us to date was the “Johnnie Ruari” tray – for sailors aged 16 – 27. Sam, in “Delight” won it!

The “Moira Gang” – Mum, Dad, Catriona Sean, Daniel and two dogs – came for the second week of our Regatta fortnight, Colin had to leave in the middle of the week and took two dogs, so things were somewhat less frenetic after that!

Catriona, Sean and Daniel, with two little friends, competed in the final race of the fortnight. In the Ragamuffin Race the sail has to be painted by the crew and they must sail the boat, though a big person can be in the boat to row when necessary. (Malcolm MacKenzie, in full kilt outfit, graced our boat The” Nancy “, did well to come fourth - out of five! However none of the crew had ever been in such a race where one has to pull ropes and steer and run before the wind, so they were delighted. They won a prize for the most humorous sail too, so a great morning was had by all!

Sam and Catriona, who stayed on after Moira, Sean and Daniel went home on Sunday, go home for good tomorrow as school starts soon and Sam will need some time at home before going to University..

I shall keep you up to date with further happenings in our neck of the woods and be a much better correspondent than of late.

It has been very pleasant meeting old friends who happened to call at Heron’s Flight, so if you are in this part, do ring the bell - Ann

The days are stretching.....

7th June, 2010

Even though I’m having time off this year, friends have been keeping in touch by various methods – phone, email, www.heronsflight.org guestbook and visiting... I’m sorry I missed you, Margaret and Allan. Cid and Di holidayed in Ullapool last month and down they came to spend the day with us. That was marvellous! I hope your trapped nerve is very much on the mend Di. Several other old friends who have stayed in Plockton this year popped in to visit – thank you all… Breda and John are off to do the Mallaig Railway Trip – I know you’ll enjoy that! My most unusual set of visitors to date was a bus load of friends, a few with spouses, 49 in total, from school days – that was amazing and great fun! Soon I’ll be saying hello to John Townend, at the end of his trip to the Outer Isles and Timo and Rieke will visit in August. Patricia and Michael got in touch too – we met for the one and only time in 1994/5! They promise to come back – from Berlin, so it is not just a little step!

My treatment should be finished before the end of the month and then I shall dash to Edinburgh for Sam’s last ever day in school. I really have been very fortunate through all this, as I have felt very well all the time.

The house repairs, after the water damage last September, have been at a stand still for several weeks, as an assessor and insurance company agent agreed that the work done was just not up to standard. Two new local contractors have now submitted their estimates and I am sure the work will be completed as soon as the paperwork is finalised. It has been a long haul, living in quite a bit of chaos….

The flat is almost ready for Ruah and me to live in. There will be a good few choppings and changings when we are through that connecting door for good!! In preparation for the move I have switched the Rayburn off and my favourite kitchen has lost a good bit of its appeal!! I have been hanging pictures in the flat sitting room today when really I should have been trying to organise its kitchen!

John’s been here again and that was a treat. I’ve been to Edinburgh – another highlight! Sam and nine friends are off today for a fortnight in Crete – I hope they have a wonderful time. I’m sure all the parents have dinned in the dos and don’ts – were the boys listening? We’ll know when the texts come flooding through! When they return, they have to attend school one last time, for the prize giving and leaving ceremonies.

The garden is looking quite good as we have had dry weather and the weeds have not shot up – this afternoon the rain has started, but other places have had really bad weather recently. I got all the grass cut a couple of days ago – it is only lasting about a week between mowings- not good enough…..

Alison in Toowoomba has had a knee operation – last Friday. I’ve just heard that she is home – less than five days after her operation! Alison – do not jump around too much for a few days…. or longer. Make use of your very capable husband!

I am still missing having the company of visitors – more so now perhaps, as the village is very busy. Next year I plan to do some B&B and some letting – probably B&B at the beginning and end of the tourist year and letting in the middle - it’ll be interesting and fun I know!
I hope to meet you either way, in 2011!

Best wishes

Ann
PS:
Well done Richard in the 10K on Sunday!

Here is Ruah, her look saying more than words…..

Brief news from Plockton

7th June, 2010

Last Thursday the three of us got in the car, to keep a vet’s appointment in Kyle. Sponge had been going downhill rapidly and I knew it was his last journey.

Sponge was the boss in this house and he quite often told Ruah she had overstepped the mark! Now Ruah is bamboozled and I find her frequently during the day on my bed (not allowed)), just staring ahead…..

Ruah and I, family and friends will miss him more than we can say……

I shall write again in a few days.

Ann

May 12th, 2010

Hello from sunny Plockton.

The weather has been pushed under the carpet for a while, as we all grappled with the various permutations on offer in the General Election. However, that’s past and, though I doubt if anyone is understanding of the deals dealt to secure this coalition (politicians included) our future we’ll be told is secure (???); so the weather is back in top spot!

Snow had been forecast for this week and indeed it was very grey at a point yesterday, near Broadford on Skye and the Cuillins are snow capped again. But we are having a wonderful spell, albeit a trifle too near the zero mark at night! Altnahara in the Central Highlands was -6C last night…..

The month of May without guests in the house is very strange. But I’ve had loads of visits and messages in the Dream Book – thank you all very much.

The flat is taking shape and will be ready soon – before the work is finally finished and the house cleaned after the water leak last September. A local contractor has now taken over the work after a site visit from an Assessor and Insurance Company representative – John came north again for this meeting and I am very grateful for his expertise.

I’ve enjoyed a few hectic days at Moira’s. John and I met up too and friends came to call at times, when the children were at nursery/school. I was delighted to get home in time to catch up with Angela and Richard Hough, this year staying at Lynn Bruce’s “Shed”. We had a couple of lovely evenings. Yesterday morning Grant and Marian Bomberger called in and it was a marvellous visit too…. Times like those are really very good for the morale!

Sam is going to study medicine at Edinburgh Uni. He’s actually finished school, as study leave and 6th year exams in maths, chemistry and biology take to the end of term. As he’ll have similar courses in first year at Uni, Sam’s taking these exams very seriously. I’m hoping to get, as usual, to Edinburgh for the end of term ceremony at the Royal High.

My treatment will, hopefully, soon be finished. Then I’ll enjoy the summer to the full and hope that visitors carry on dropping in to see us. Today a distant cousin and her husband arrived off the 1.13 train from Inverness and caught the 5.15 back. That was so good of Tricia and Ronnie.

If you are in our area and have time to visit Plockton – do!

I’ll talk to you soon again.

Ann

Spring News

Ruah and I have been dotting back and fore to Inverness for the last five weeks. However we are going nowhere for a long time now!

The radiotherapy treatment went much more quickly than I’d anticipated and there have been very few reactions – a slight loss of appetite is not a bad thing at all!

The garden is not looking too untidy, though soon it’ll be time to get the lawns cut, edges done and of course the weeds yanked out. The really severe winter weather has no doubt killed off a few plants – why do the weeds seem to be completely unaffected?

John paid a surprise visit at the weekend, in his new car. We went for a run on to Skye and, apart from that, talked our heads off! John left yesterday.

Sam is coming by train tomorrow, depositing Catriona at Auntie Janet’s en route. The Gang Show is on in Inverness and Catriona will enjoy that. Cousin Hamish is also at Janet’s, so there will be a lively house there!

Perhaps you remember that I had some water damage last September? The repair work was due to start on November 16 and I cleared the kitchen and sitting rooms of all small items for that. Well, the work is still not nearly finished and an assessor is coming on Thursday, to see what state the house is in. John was so disappointed with the work done to date that he is coming north for Thursday to meet the assessor. In all this time Sponge, Ruah and I have lived in the kitchen, as the Rayburn is on. It has been a cosy winter!

There are a lot of visitors in the village just now. I am really missing the company of all of you…. But the house and I will be ready for action some time in the not too distant future.

I’m looking forward to friends calling in, when they are in the village. See you soon? Ruah and Sponge will be delighted too.

Ann
PS:

David and Pam – thank you for leaving a message in the Guest Book – it is really lovely to know that friends made quite a few years ago still keep in touch with the news at Heron’s Flight.
I’ve just had another look in the book and see two more messages - thank you very much – I remember such good times with you all…….. The castle is bought – again…..more on this another time!

And finally! Alison, thank you for the super quotes and “Big John” for the Heron’s Flight kitchen calendar!

Quick news re Ann

Just a quick word to let Ann's friends know that her treatment has gone well, and she is in good cheer.
Alison Hunter (Ann's sister-in-law and website manager)

From sunny, sunny Plockton!

Late February, 2010

Maybe when you catch up with this news, I’ll have started radiotherapy treatment for a quite recently discovered tumour.

I shall be going back and fore to Raigmore Hospital, Inverness to have this treatment and so will see a lot of Janet and her husband Stewart – Janet is Dolan’s sister.
Ruah will travel with me and probably have her little legs walked off, as Janet often has her daughter’s collie Midge staying and is used to rather more energetic exercise than is my little Ruah!

When Ruah is on the move, Sponge will be in charge of Heron’s Flight (as he usually thinks he is anyway!) – and its newly mended kitchen and sitting room. Yes, the water damage will shortly and finally be a thing of the past, after months and months of waiting.

After the radiotherapy there will be a gap of several weeks, before I have an op. to remove the tumour. And I hope that will be the end of treatment, as two specialists have assured me that the prognosis is excellent. Isn’t that good news!

Since learning all this, I’ve decided that I won’t be taking any guests in 2010. That makes me very sad, but I am unsure as to how I’ll be feeling with hospital visits and lots of travelling. Many of you know how I really do not like trekking to Inverness normally – so the next while will be a test of my patience, if nothing else!!

I can’t be making firm plans and do not want to disappoint any potential guests – however I will look forward immensely to meeting you in the future.

I’ll talk to you soon again…….

Best wishes

Ann

It has been a little while......

It is January 23 and I’m getting used to writing 2010!

It is balmy here today - all of 5C!

After the longest spell of wintry weather in many years, to be able to drive on roads free from snow and ice is such a pleasure. Not to have to watch every step, in case there is bone breaking ice at the next, is such a relief!

Plockton and the far west coast was not badly affected, compared to most other places, where there was a lot of snow, often deposited on layers of ice. My journeys to and from Edinburgh for Christmas – I finally got there on Christmas day and returned three days later, thanks to bad forecasts – were quite nasty, as windscreen washers did not work in the sub 0C temperatures and the motorways were filthy. I was not alone in stopping, cleaning and starting all the way south and north! The trains ran intermittently and just could not be relied upon to get from A to B.

I can imagine that, if you live in Canada, Scandinavia, Russia, etc, you’ll be having a good laugh at all this – child’s play to you!

I was home as usual for New Year, happy to sit in the house when the "bells pealed". At about 9.00pm I heard someone calling hello – did not rise as I knew whoever is was would find me in the sitting room. Well, the calling continued, though it was nearer, so I opened the door and found myself face to face with Catriona and Moira! I had no idea they were coming!
My first thought was that I had 2 frozen meals and one baked potato to eat!! However, I did have plenty shortly after, as Sandra, my niece arrived with provisions and my own deep freeze in the cellar was not empty.

We all went up to "35", the family home, and brought in the New Year, whilst watching the bonfire on the island and wonderful fireworks – there was a big crowd of people, many unknown faces too…… At around 1.30am Catriona and others were wilting, so home we went.

Moira and Catriona had meant to stay only two nights but a third was necessary, as trains were not running on January 2, thanks to the snow in parts.

I had a lovely Christmas and an especially good New Year! I hope you had too….. Ann

Christmas Greetings

[This photo taken by me on 20 December, 10am from my doorway!]
annheronsflight@btinternet.com
www.heronsflight.org

2009 has been a busy year for the Family.

Spring, summer and autumn found me, as usual, having fun with guests. Many are old friends now and others on the way to being just that too. It was a very busy time, with more visitors than in past years coming to the village.

It was certainly NOT the prolonged good weather which drew people towards the north west of Scotland! Yes, the early part of the year was excellent, but in summer, autumn and now at the beginning of winter we have endured rain, rain and more rain, with the occasional gale thrown in for variety!

The fruit trees had amazing crops of fruit and we all tried every apple and bramble recipe ever devised. Most of the apples landed on the ground with the frequent strong winds, so picking was dead easy!

For the first year ever, the black Hamburg grapes in the greenhouse mostly rotted on the vine and the veges. were, in general, very poor. The ground was waterlogged. Moss has grown on the drive and paths and I am loosening it with a stable brush now. In spring all the surfaces will be doused in moss killer, as, though it may be a pretty colour, it grips tight and is very slippery.

The family in Edinburgh is all well. John was up for a week in September – lovely! Moira, Colin, Sam, Catriona, Sean and Daniel were here for Regatta fortnight. Sam came and went several times and Catriona and Sean came on their own in October. I have been lucky to see so much so them all in Plockton. I went to Edinburgh two or three times too. Indeed I’m going for a few days at the beginning of December, as well as for Christmas.

Sam’s in his final year at school. He was dux of 5th year at the Royal High, so we are all quite proud of him. He is going through interviews at present, for the Scottish universities – we’ll see what happens as he is young and may have to tread water for a year….

A real highlight this year was Ian and Alison’s visit in September. It was a wonderful time for me! I do not see nearly enough of them – partly my fault, I know. Toowoomba is only a day away……

The animals are such good company and are always around me. As I sit in the kitchen writing this Ruah is on one bean bag and Sponge the other. They are good friends with old Sponge definitely in charge!

I hope that you and your family have had a good year, with good health and happiness all round.

Have a lovely Christmas and the very best of New Years!

Love,
Ann

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