Hello
Having, this morning at the crack of dawn, written all about May to you, I thought I blogged it dubiously, emailed Australia and a phone call from Alison and Ian confirmed this. I confidently clicked on the saved document on desktop to see “c Ann”!!!
So I obviously do not write again at a very early hour - and here goes again.......
May has been a mixed month weatherwise. It’s been generally cold and with quite a lot of rain. We had another real gale last week and it was of great concern all round as there are now a lot of yachts at anchor in the bay. Only one yacht went walkabout and three brave young local chaps boarded her with difficulty, started the engine and got her out of danger. Today is wonderful - warm and sunny and I have spent three hours in the garden. The lawns are cut (I had help with the front one) and all the vege garden is weeded. Now there are potatoes (with flowers about to open), rows of different lettuce, broccoli and onions. The leeks should be ready to plant next week perhaps....
My son John came up after I got back from Edinburgh, where baby Daniel arrived safely on April 27th. We are all delighted with him and Sam, Catriona and Sean are greatly taken with their little brother. John stayed 8 days and was not idle! My long list of “to do, have tried, but can’t) very quickly disappeared. The trellis looks terrific and half of it is planted with climbers and a Goldcrest Cypress. The other half I plan to do when Ian and Alison come in September and they can have a wee bit of garden named after them!
The month has been busy with guests from all over and I have really enjoyed their company. New Zealand cousins of Dolan also stayed a few days. Don was over for a 60th Anniversary War Reunion and Lynley accompanied him - they visited family in England, Inverness and here and did such a lot of travelling to say hello to all the family.
This month I had a “Baking phase”. It ground to a halt the other day after a visiting village dog ate two sultana cakes at the back door to cool, the tops of two fruit loaves burned to a cinder and fancy icing I tried refused to set - even in the freezer! So I am knitting in the evenings - anything rather than spend necessary time getting the annual accounts, etc. in order for the accountant!
The animals are well and Yarrow (dog) and Sponge (cat) really love it when guests appear. Yarrow has had so many walks up the village and Sponge appears from nowhere to check if new arrivals admire him! Wee Cheque (my tortoise) is safely out of hibernation and will be coming home a week on Friday. She’s not very big but is more work than the other two! I will soon be spending quite a lot of time hunting the garden for the pink shampoo bottle, attached to her by a short length of strong string, or I’d lose her under the hedge or elsewhere. I do bring her in nightly in case the “cake eating” dog decides she is worth trying........
I’ll be in touch soon again - now I’m going to save this letter! Ann.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Saturday, April 30, 2005
The-End-of-April News
Hello
I thought I should keep you up to date with April so far because I’ll be in Edinburgh for about a week sometime soon. Grandchild number 4 was actually due yesterday, Catriona’s 5th birthday. Yarrow and I shall drive down when summoned. I’ll spend the time seeing that meals arrive on the table for Sam, Catriona and Sean and trekking to and from nursery with Catriona - Sean in tow probably. I’ll have fun with Sam, who is now a quite grown up 12.
I’ll also spend time in the evenings with John, who will come north soon after I return. His list at Heron’s Flight is long, but there are a lot of little things I need him to just show me how to do.
There have been quite a few visitors braving the “frozen north” so far and I have enjoyed company several times. From next month my diary is pleasantly filled up. By then surely warmer weather will be here........
The poor eucalyptus tree which suffered so badly in the January gale is showing no signs of recovery. So I have bought 2 small trees and I’ll grow them on this year in their pots and probably plant one near the large tree next Spring. A plants man has told me that the tree can be cut down to the ground and should regenerate - I’ll plant another incase, as the eucalyptus is certainly one of my favourites - then I’ll have to stay around patiently till it reaches maturity............
It is so cold!! The wind’s from the east and is biting. But it’s dry and today I’ll get all the lawn edges strimmed and perhaps the grass cut too.
The potatoes are planted and luckily I covered them well with soil drills - 2 days later we had snow and a touch of frost!
Leek plants will go in later and that leaves room for salad crops. There will be early lettuce and radish hopefully, from a wee sheltered cold frame at the front of the house.
The greenhouse is purely vine this year. There were lots of sweet bunches last year and they get encouragement and nothing else. Dolan and I spent hours trailing water and feeding to tomatoes every year and the yield, though very tasty, would not have filled one supermarket plastic bag!
I’ll stop now and continue when the Edinburgh mission is successfully completed!
Thursday saw us home after Daniel's safe arrival on Wednesday night. Moira got home the next day at lunchtime and I checked that Daniel (10 days late and 8lb 10oz) had all his fingers and toes, got in the car and had a pretty bad journey home - strong winds, torrential rain and a deal of spray from oncoming lorries. As usual I stopped briefly at Dalwhinnie and Yarrow flatly refused to get out of the car! So on we plodded, both eventually very glad to be home.....
It’s a lovely day and practically windless so I’m going to weedkill various bits in the garden - mainly two areas where I cut down brambles recently. As the weeds have not yet felt it warm enough to envelope the garden, I’m feeling rather smug as there is not a lot to do - that feeling will evaporate quickly.....
From now on Heron’s Flight will be quite busy with guests. My next “time out” is at Regatta time - the end of July. That’s when I hope family and friends come, so it’s not a holiday but wonderful to have everyone around. My nephew David and his wife Caroline are actually coming for a few days next week. As the house is already busy, they know to “stay out of my hair” while breakfasts are on!
Next month Dolan’s cousin Don and his wife Lynley are also dropping in for a little time - their home is Dunedin. The New Zealand cousins have all visited two or three times so we know them well. My plans for a “big trip” are on hold till perhaps Sam is out of Secondary School - we’ll see.....
Email enquiries for accommodation this year have been many and varied and I look forward to meeting guests who have decided to stay at Heron’s Flight. Quite a few requests have been for a “twin” room and unfortunately I do not have any. As the suites of bedroom furniture came from our Great Aunt’s and Parents’ homes, I will be their custodian and pass them on intact. One suite is dated around 1800, the other practically new by comparison - 1936. I am the hoarder of the family and luckily Dolan too loved elderly furniture, tools and people!
Perhaps I’ll see you soon.......
Ann.
P.S. Yarrow, Sponge and Cheque have not had their customary write-up. I’ll bring you up to date with them next month.
I thought I should keep you up to date with April so far because I’ll be in Edinburgh for about a week sometime soon. Grandchild number 4 was actually due yesterday, Catriona’s 5th birthday. Yarrow and I shall drive down when summoned. I’ll spend the time seeing that meals arrive on the table for Sam, Catriona and Sean and trekking to and from nursery with Catriona - Sean in tow probably. I’ll have fun with Sam, who is now a quite grown up 12.
I’ll also spend time in the evenings with John, who will come north soon after I return. His list at Heron’s Flight is long, but there are a lot of little things I need him to just show me how to do.
There have been quite a few visitors braving the “frozen north” so far and I have enjoyed company several times. From next month my diary is pleasantly filled up. By then surely warmer weather will be here........
The poor eucalyptus tree which suffered so badly in the January gale is showing no signs of recovery. So I have bought 2 small trees and I’ll grow them on this year in their pots and probably plant one near the large tree next Spring. A plants man has told me that the tree can be cut down to the ground and should regenerate - I’ll plant another incase, as the eucalyptus is certainly one of my favourites - then I’ll have to stay around patiently till it reaches maturity............
It is so cold!! The wind’s from the east and is biting. But it’s dry and today I’ll get all the lawn edges strimmed and perhaps the grass cut too.
The potatoes are planted and luckily I covered them well with soil drills - 2 days later we had snow and a touch of frost!
Leek plants will go in later and that leaves room for salad crops. There will be early lettuce and radish hopefully, from a wee sheltered cold frame at the front of the house.
The greenhouse is purely vine this year. There were lots of sweet bunches last year and they get encouragement and nothing else. Dolan and I spent hours trailing water and feeding to tomatoes every year and the yield, though very tasty, would not have filled one supermarket plastic bag!
I’ll stop now and continue when the Edinburgh mission is successfully completed!
Thursday saw us home after Daniel's safe arrival on Wednesday night. Moira got home the next day at lunchtime and I checked that Daniel (10 days late and 8lb 10oz) had all his fingers and toes, got in the car and had a pretty bad journey home - strong winds, torrential rain and a deal of spray from oncoming lorries. As usual I stopped briefly at Dalwhinnie and Yarrow flatly refused to get out of the car! So on we plodded, both eventually very glad to be home.....
It’s a lovely day and practically windless so I’m going to weedkill various bits in the garden - mainly two areas where I cut down brambles recently. As the weeds have not yet felt it warm enough to envelope the garden, I’m feeling rather smug as there is not a lot to do - that feeling will evaporate quickly.....
From now on Heron’s Flight will be quite busy with guests. My next “time out” is at Regatta time - the end of July. That’s when I hope family and friends come, so it’s not a holiday but wonderful to have everyone around. My nephew David and his wife Caroline are actually coming for a few days next week. As the house is already busy, they know to “stay out of my hair” while breakfasts are on!
Next month Dolan’s cousin Don and his wife Lynley are also dropping in for a little time - their home is Dunedin. The New Zealand cousins have all visited two or three times so we know them well. My plans for a “big trip” are on hold till perhaps Sam is out of Secondary School - we’ll see.....
Email enquiries for accommodation this year have been many and varied and I look forward to meeting guests who have decided to stay at Heron’s Flight. Quite a few requests have been for a “twin” room and unfortunately I do not have any. As the suites of bedroom furniture came from our Great Aunt’s and Parents’ homes, I will be their custodian and pass them on intact. One suite is dated around 1800, the other practically new by comparison - 1936. I am the hoarder of the family and luckily Dolan too loved elderly furniture, tools and people!
Perhaps I’ll see you soon.......
Ann.
P.S. Yarrow, Sponge and Cheque have not had their customary write-up. I’ll bring you up to date with them next month.
Monday, March 28, 2005
March News
March News.
Hello
We have just had two days of incredible weather! The sun shone from morning till evening, the wind was very light and it was very warm. Our first visitors made the most of it, walking for a large part of the day then lazing in the front garden and on the rocks by the shore.
None of them was lucky enough to see the otter that has been playing in front of the house for some days, though one was spotted on the opposite shore on Saturday.
Yarrow had a weekend to remember too as he was taken on very many walks. He soon realised that, if he lay close to the back door, he had to be circumnavigated and in all likelihood would be included in the next sortie! Poor Sponge has again been in the wars. Last month a “cat unfriendly” dog came into the house, chased Sponge upstairs and trapped him in a bathroom. The ensuing chaos took a while to sort out and all the blood belonged to the dog....... Well, the other day Sponge sported war wounds and is still a bit sorry for himself. He’s a big, big cat but not a fighter, so he gets all my sympathy.... Wee Cheque is still hibernating - I hope!!!
It’s a week later now - Easter weekend and very early this year. I am busy, with guests from France and Germany, then two couples from England. Dolan and I always enjoyed meeting visitors from many countries......... We liked to hear about their countries, homes and lives. If you are travelling remember to slip a few photos of your homeland and family in the luggage to show us all!
My “Edinburgh family” - well, some of them - may be here soon. Sam and Catriona have holidays from school/nursery. Their new baby is due on April 15 - Catriona’s 5th birthday! John is coming to clear my “to do and really can’t do on my own” list too. So his few days at home will be busy, but I know my list will vanish pretty quickly!
I have a lot to look forward to in the coming months - guests, family from New Zealand in May and Ian and Alison in September. In the meantime we still enjoy good weather and have a little sympathy for the east and middle of the country where it has not been nearly so sunny and dry. As the forecast for our little part of the country is good till next weekend I hope to have a lot done in both gardens -then it can rain occasionally and gently, at nights, if it likes!!
Next week I meet guests from the United States of America, Ireland and Scotland. I hope I may see you too, if you come near Plockton.....
Best wishes, Ann.
Hello
We have just had two days of incredible weather! The sun shone from morning till evening, the wind was very light and it was very warm. Our first visitors made the most of it, walking for a large part of the day then lazing in the front garden and on the rocks by the shore.
None of them was lucky enough to see the otter that has been playing in front of the house for some days, though one was spotted on the opposite shore on Saturday.
Yarrow had a weekend to remember too as he was taken on very many walks. He soon realised that, if he lay close to the back door, he had to be circumnavigated and in all likelihood would be included in the next sortie! Poor Sponge has again been in the wars. Last month a “cat unfriendly” dog came into the house, chased Sponge upstairs and trapped him in a bathroom. The ensuing chaos took a while to sort out and all the blood belonged to the dog....... Well, the other day Sponge sported war wounds and is still a bit sorry for himself. He’s a big, big cat but not a fighter, so he gets all my sympathy.... Wee Cheque is still hibernating - I hope!!!
It’s a week later now - Easter weekend and very early this year. I am busy, with guests from France and Germany, then two couples from England. Dolan and I always enjoyed meeting visitors from many countries......... We liked to hear about their countries, homes and lives. If you are travelling remember to slip a few photos of your homeland and family in the luggage to show us all!
My “Edinburgh family” - well, some of them - may be here soon. Sam and Catriona have holidays from school/nursery. Their new baby is due on April 15 - Catriona’s 5th birthday! John is coming to clear my “to do and really can’t do on my own” list too. So his few days at home will be busy, but I know my list will vanish pretty quickly!
I have a lot to look forward to in the coming months - guests, family from New Zealand in May and Ian and Alison in September. In the meantime we still enjoy good weather and have a little sympathy for the east and middle of the country where it has not been nearly so sunny and dry. As the forecast for our little part of the country is good till next weekend I hope to have a lot done in both gardens -then it can rain occasionally and gently, at nights, if it likes!!
Next week I meet guests from the United States of America, Ireland and Scotland. I hope I may see you too, if you come near Plockton.....
Best wishes, Ann.
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
February news
Hello
In the last few days the temperature has fallen and the winds are now from the east, with a good touch of north. So many places have had snow and yesterday we even had a covering. By mid-day it was gone, much to the disappointment of the children in the village - the schools had a day off as the roads were icy and there was quite a lot of snow in the glens.
I have been in Edinburgh twice in the last ten days. A whim took me there! It was good to visit the relatives and see the puppy in Moira’s household. He’s a Cavalier King Charles and quite adorable. “Charlie” exhausted himself trying to get Yarrow’s attention and then frequently fell asleep beside, near or even on his new friend!
Catriona came north with me and I took her home at the weekend. I did not dally as workmen were coming yesterday to fill the cavity walls of the house. This was an external job, unlike the new radiators, which did leave some holes in walls and paintwork needing touched up. I did the necessary and know that I did not reach Dolan’s standards of workmanship....... If all the heating “improvements” of the last few months are as effective as promised, I’ll be delighted. However, nothing beats the Rayburn in the kitchen and a roaring coal fire in the sitting room!
There is a small yoga group in the village. I have started going along and I’m pleasantly surprised by the gradual loosening up of taut muscle groups at least. I am not sure that yoga is meant to be such fun, but that’s what it is! Soon I must get going in the garden and that certainly is not going to be a gentle activity - perhaps the one will balance the other?
After last month’s huge storm one of our palm trees - a youngster 7 years old - was left at a crazy angle and resting on a wall. Ruari next door helped straighten and stake it and I think it’ll be OK. Quite a few shrubs look more dead than alive too. I have ordered a conifer (“Goldcrest”), an escallonia and a black bamboo (I’ve wanted this especially for ages) for the border in front of the car parking area. I’ve quite a bit of work to do before they are planted.
I am looking forward to our first guests of 2005, on March 18th - a week earlier than I had planned to “get going”. Ian, Elaine, Allan and Helen have stayed before and I shall be testing “going solo” on them - they know this, though maybe I should have stressed it more than I did!!! I am delighted that quite a few bookings are from old friends. 2005 will be a first and I hope it will be, as ever, a really good time for you and me, here at “Heron’s Flight”. I look forward to you coming...........
Ann.
P.S. - if you do email about possible accommodation please can you indicate this in the subject, so that I know before opening the mail? I now receive such a lot of “strange, unwanted and perhaps infected” mail that I have been advised not to open any dubious ones - and I should hate to appear rude to you by not replying.........Thank you.
Monday, January 24, 2005
January News
I wish you all a Happy New Year - belatedly.
Over two hours ago I wrote a long letter and proceeded to try to send it to the website - new territory for me!!
Well, it has all disappeared and now I’ll give you a synopsis, before I turn into an ice block in this cold room.........
I did have a very pleasant time in Edinburgh over Christmas and enjoyed staying with John. We had Christmas and Boxing days at Moira’s, where the excitement was tangible. Catriona left her roller skates from Santa when we headed to Plockton soon after. She did enjoy her first taste of New Year Celebrations in the Highlands!
On the 12th January we had the worst weather in living memory - winds of! 30MPH here. A whole family of five was swept to sea on one of the islands - an unbelievable tragedy. Damage to houses, gardens and boats paled into incognizance.
Only this weekend has the rain and wind gone and the welcome winter sun, daylight stretching noticeably and cheerful early spring flowers make me determined to start thinking of welcoming guests at Easter. This week I am going to Inverness to pick up a new car - a Honda Jazz, in red, which Yarrow will like too!
So perhaps we’ll see you at Heron’s Flight - which would be lovely.
Over two hours ago I wrote a long letter and proceeded to try to send it to the website - new territory for me!!
Well, it has all disappeared and now I’ll give you a synopsis, before I turn into an ice block in this cold room.........
I did have a very pleasant time in Edinburgh over Christmas and enjoyed staying with John. We had Christmas and Boxing days at Moira’s, where the excitement was tangible. Catriona left her roller skates from Santa when we headed to Plockton soon after. She did enjoy her first taste of New Year Celebrations in the Highlands!
On the 12th January we had the worst weather in living memory - winds of! 30MPH here. A whole family of five was swept to sea on one of the islands - an unbelievable tragedy. Damage to houses, gardens and boats paled into incognizance.
Only this weekend has the rain and wind gone and the welcome winter sun, daylight stretching noticeably and cheerful early spring flowers make me determined to start thinking of welcoming guests at Easter. This week I am going to Inverness to pick up a new car - a Honda Jazz, in red, which Yarrow will like too!
So perhaps we’ll see you at Heron’s Flight - which would be lovely.
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