February, 2012

Hello,
In last month’s blog I said I’d soon add some photos from the marvellous holiday Catriona and I had in Australia and Singapore. And you will get them, when I’ve worked out how to get around the photo library in my new computer! Watch this space…..

I am fast returning to the 'Scottish peely- wally' complexion! The month of February has been cold and often wild, though there was some sunshine.

Catriona and Sean were here for their mid-term week. Daniel had a football camp. We had a lot of fun. Sean went each morning to buy the paper at Edmund’s, got messages in Plockton Stores and finishing his run around the village by coming home via the causeway – a big adventure as, at eight years old, he can’t have such freedom in Edinburgh. Catriona and Sean went swimming in the Kyle pool, visited the toy shop and bought a model to construct and artist’s pencils and sketch pads and fished off the nearby pontoon. They caught the biggest starfish I ever saw – well over a foot from tip to tip! I’ll find the proof and get it to you!

In about five weeks my guests will start arriving. With that thought in mind, I’m choosing some new carpeting – it is not easy! I am also having some double glazing renewed and painting done. There is plenty to be getting on with outside too.

It would be lovely to meet you sometime soon! Please read my site and, if you are in the village, come in and say hello. Ann

Home from our travels.

Hello,

I last spoke to you just before Christmas, from Toowoomba, Queensland. Catriona, my granddaughter, and I had been there for two weeks.  We were visiting my brother Ian and his wife Alison and my niece Valerie, her husband Mark Chesterton, Laura (13) and William (10) joined us from Sydney for Christmas week.  Catriona, Laura and William had great fun piling more presents around the tree, playing boule and getting to know each other.  Both Laura and Catriona are keen dancers and had plenty to talk about.

We all went to Queen’s Park, where the illuminations were simply unbelievable – what a show……  On Christmas Eve we and other residents in Blue Hills Drive made lanterns to glow up and down the roadsides.  They were made with brown paper bags weighted with sand and a tea light, bedded in the sand, flickered away for hours.  That was very special……  I do not think such a decoration would last a minute in Plockton – I might try!  Do you know that tea lights with little on/off switches, can now be bought – they are wonderfully colourful and probably thought up for windy wet corners!

Christmas Day was marvellous with everyone round the lovely white-lighted tree, a beautiful Christmas dinner – yes, outside in the shade, in shorts and T-shirts! –turkey roast, a big ham which lasted a week, veges and roast potatoes, followed by Alison’s pavlova (made under supervision by Catriona).  Catriona and I had cooked a Xmas pudding, but it waited till we were next hungry!  Later we phoned Moira and the family in Edinburgh – having a lovely Christmas morning, but in appalling weather which lasted most of the near six weeks Catriona and I were abroad.

Alison and Ian had bought a table tennis table and so everyone played a lot – outside on the new patio, where the BBQ and outside dining table were.  That was such a thoughtful thing to do.  We had some lovely meals outside, where the noise of the cicadas at dusk was quite amazing.  Ian’s new gas BBQ was a big success!

In the week that the Chestertons were with us, Catriona enjoyed some family outings, the most memorable being to a “Wild  Water “ theme park.  At Dalby inland lake she also learned about catching “Yabbies” – in a container like a prawn creel with bait of prawns and soap -  and did a little kayaking.  I am not quite sure what a Yabbie is – I know it is black…..Alison , Ian and I went to Brisbane to visit Alison’s Mum one of the days – lovely to see Marg. again.

On New Year’s day the Sydney family set off on their two day journey home.  It had been very good to bring in the New Year with them and our hosts, Alison and Ian.  I had not been away from Plockton at New Year for more than forty years.

We had a great day in the Bunya Mountains, in which the Bunya tree exclusively grows – an impressive very tall straight tree with almost candle/fern like symmetrical foliage.  Catriona’s day was made when she got close to two wallabies, each with a baby in her pouch!  The ice cream coolers were very good too, Ian!  While on the food subject, you would really go for Alison’s pizzas – very special!

There is so much that I could recount!  One amazing thing is that the Toowoomba buses take you to your door, if asked!  They will collect you too, if phoned.  What this means is that buses meander through many streets, popping off happy passengers, when asked – what a service!

On January 7, having done our best daily to water the new lawn (there was only one heavy shower in our whole time in Australia), having done not enough gardening – sorry – having enjoyed every day of our stay in Australia, Catriona and I were deposited at the International departure area in Brisbane by Ian and Alison – a sad farewell……

We flew to Singapore and had three nights there, while we saw the sights, visited Raffles Hotel, China Town, went on a night safari and visited Alix Burrell and her daughter Heather, who is a Plockton friend of Catriona’s each summer!  That was fun for the girls!   By the time we boarded the plane for London Catriona had mastered chopsticks and had bought each of the family a pair!

Some seventeen hours later we were on the final lap, to Edinburgh, where Moira was waiting.  We were early to bed that night, as Catriona had school next day.  I left for home the day after that and am feeling a bit lost still!  It was wonderful having Catriona’s company for so long and being with Ian and Alison and their family too. 

Catriona and I thank all the relatives and friends who made certain that we enjoyed the holiday of a lifetime…… we have the many photos to prove it!  I’ll add some shortly.

Ann

At last - Australia!

December 22, 2011

Catriona and I left Edinburgh on December 6^th.  We flew via Heathrow and Singapore to Melbourne, where we were met by my nephew David Hunter, his wife Caroline and their three children, Matilda and Louie, 4, and Archie, 2.

We stayed in Melbourne for three days and had a lovely time.  Though I know David and Caroline well, from their days in Edinburgh,  I had not seen them for several years , before the twins and Archie were born.  Catriona met her first set of Australian Cousins!

From Melbourne we flew to Brisbane, where Ian and Alison were waiting.  It was absolutely wonderful to see them again and to know that we were not flying elsewhere for a time! 

5, Blue Hills Drive has had a few alterations since I last visited in 1999.  The latest is newly finished – a lovely sun room and outdoor BBQ area, at the rear of the house.  Tonight the Christmas tree lights are sparkling there and a heap of presents lies under the tree.  It is strange to be sitting in shorts and T shirt in the evenings!  The days have not been too warm, though when we visited Townsville earlier this week it was over 30C there.  We visited friends in Townsville and went out to the Great Barrier Reef, where we snorkelled – amazing!

Tomorrow my niece Valerie, Mark and the children Laura and William arrive from Sydney.  Catriona has not met cousins Laura and William, 13 and 10.  It’ll be lovely for her to have some younger company!  I am very much looking forward to the next few days too.

After New Year we head to Singapore and we’ll visit friends there too, before heading home on January 10^th.  I’ll be back in touch after that.

I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a Good New Year.

Ann

Catriona     22/12/12:

To my surprise I really enjoyed the long flights with Singapore airlines! I loved Melbourne with Louie, Matilda and Archie. Archie is very cute and Louie and Matilda were great fun! We went to the Eureka tower and (surprisingly!) I wasn’t scared of the height!  From there we flew to Brisbane , where Ian and Alison met us.

We have been to the Darling downs zoo and I LOVED seeing the Wallabies and Kangaroo’s! 

Ian and Alison have had turf laid in the garden and we have been watering that daily, but no matter what I do I ALWAYS end up wet! 

Tomorrow Valerie, Mark, Laura and William arrive and I’m looking forward to that! 

We are heading into winter

 Here's Ruah beside a very confused early summer flowering poppy.

 Thursday, 17 November 2011

Hello

We have had a very good spell of weather, with sun most days from dawn till dusk, while the east was often shrouded in thick mist.  The forecast tonight is threatening us with some wet weather – well, most of us have tidied up and pruned in the garden, even weeded, so we cannot grumble.

Last month I was thinking that I’d get a good bit of cleaning done, with the last guests gone.  Well, the linen is all washed, bleached, folded carefully and wrapped up, the duvets and pillows are all tucked away – and that’s it……  Not a huge achievement in nearly a month, but I have been busy!

I’ve been laying out the essentials for the forthcoming trip to Australia and, much more time consuming, getting all the Christmas presents into bundles – Plockton, Inverness, Edinburgh, New Zealand and of course Australia.  There are little and large heaps everywhere!

Today I posted lots of little parcels and so have one bit of carpet showing again!  Today too I’m going to marzipan three small Christmas cakes and decorate them – I shall not ice them – I do not think they will travel well that way.   They are for Moira and friends down there.

Later on I may give myself either a very good feeling or the very opposite, when I try everything in the case and rucksack!  I think Ian is beginning to wonder what on earth I’m planning to bring – so am I, just at this point!

Catrona and I leave Edinburgh on Dec. 6 and go first to Melbourne, where David, my nephew, and his wife and three little children live.  That’ll be great fun!  We know David and Caroline but have never met Matilda and Louie their four year old twins, or Archie, their younger brother.

On December 11 we head for Brisbane, where Ian will meet us.  It is an hour and a half drive inland to Toowoomba, where Alison will be home from the Uni. – what excitement!!   Alison of course keeps the web site running smoothly.  Just today she straightened me out – again.  Thanks Alison.

I’ll write from Toowoomba and let you know what we have been doing – and our future plans.  Till then, I hope you are all well.

Ann

The nights are creeping in........

 Sunday, October 16, 2011

The photos were taken today - two in glorious sunshine and a little disgruntled Ruah, bathed and clipped!

Bob and Cathy Shields, from Mildura, Victoria, Australia, will be dropping in this weekend and staying a couple of days.  These are my last booked guests of 2011 and so next week, weather permitting, I’ll begin the annual house clean – good to get that out of the way long before Christmas.

Long before Christmas this year anyway, Catriona and I will not be here!  We leave Edinburgh on December 6 and return on January 10, having visited relatives in Australia and stopped over in Singapore on the way home.  I’ll tell you about it all in a later letter.  We are vexed not to have enough time to visit the New Zealand relatives.  Next time, I hope……

If you ask anyone what sort of weather we have had this summer, you’ll likely be told “shocking”.  But I disagree as, when the family was here, off and on for weeks during July and the beginning of August, we did not have a jumper or raincoat on and the little boys wore long sleeved shirts, long trousers and hats – after being covered in suntan cream!  They often went swimming – yes, in wetsuits! – in the evenings, just very near the house, though the coral beach was warm enough for the children to discard the wetsuits.

Before and after the summer months there was and has been really bad weather……  My double red hawthorn tree, nearly nineteen years old, was flattened in May.  Stalwarts Ruari, Calum and Don winched it up and into a deep trench and, so far, it looks good – still erect, thanks to pulleys, ropes and stakes!  Time will tell.

It is our October holiday for the schools.  They have two weeks.  A lot of the local people with children have taken the chance to get away for a few days. 

Moira, Colin and the three younger children (Sam’s back at Uni.) are off to Alton Towers for a couple of days.  As the Edinburgh schools have another week of holiday, perhaps the children may come here too.  I hope so!

It’s very windy but sunny too.  I hope the photos show that. That's Calum leaving the pontoon, on a seal trip.

Till next month

Ann

Autumn 2011

As you see, Ruah and Amber are the best of friends.

My lost property cupboard now includes two pairs of trousers, navy and cream and a M&S top.  Do they belong to you?  And if you have arrived home with an extra electrical lead and you stayed in the East bedroom, then it comes from the radio beside the bed!  Many guests use the bedside table on which the radio is to charge phones or plug in computers - so to unplug a wrong lead is the easiest thing in the world to do.

I’ll not order a new lead yet, as I’m sure mine will come home!

The weather since I wrote has been really poor and it has been a struggle to get much done in the garden.  The late summer flowers have taken a bad battering, while the lawns and hedges have galloped onwards and upwards!  The forecast for the next week or more is better, thank goodness.

It’s been a busy few weeks at home and in the village.  As well as having guests most evenings, I had double glazed panes replaced in the front porch.  The men have to come back with another big pane, for the east bedroom.  A bird flew straight into the corner and cracked it.  A sea bird, species unknown, was found two or three hundred yards away, with a broken neck – the culprit, we presume.

There has been a 25^th wedding celebration, with quite a lot of the Irish nation invading us!  And last Saturday Calum (the Seal Trip)'s very popular son Malcolm had his 30^th party in the hall.  Both of these celebrations were open to all of us and were very much enjoyed by everyone – thank you!

 The schools have ten days of holiday next month and I hope some of the children will be here from Edinburgh.  It’ll be before the clocks go back an hour and so still bright in the early evening.  At present it is getting dark by 8.00pm.

In a week it’ll be Alison’s birthday – Happy Birthday!

It is a year now since John died suddenly, while at work in Edinburgh.  I have been grateful to be very busy, keeping the house going and meeting friends old and new.  I’m pleased to have been given an excellent health report after a last check up and aren’t I fortunate to have a lovely family in Edinburgh and my soul mates at Heron’s Flight, Ruah and Amber?

Ann

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…..