July 2016

July is probably my favourite month of the year
because it's the month of the
Aultbea Raft Race and Fun Day !!



The start of the Raft Race by the pier
at the harbour.

This is my team ! from the left

is Jock Jeanette,

me (just in case you don't recognise the hair),

Nordic Fiona and the Pink Peril Lorna.

Would you trust this lot with a raft ?

We called our team
"Wig and a Prayer" but

the safety crew thought it was more like a magic carpet
but it was light and got us all the way across the harbour 
to the hotel.
We came 4th (from last) out of 13 rafts,
good on the gals !!

And here's Malcolm's team
with Adrian on the left, brave young Callum and Max
and Malcolm with more hair than usual.

Such a balanced team on tyre inner tubes !

and they kept paddling ...

and finished after us girlies ! yeh!

Rafts came in all shapes and sizes to join in the fun ...

there aren't many rules
but a team must have a minimum of 4 people
and the raft must be made or recycled materials,
other than that anything goes !

lots of oil drums get a second use, old wornout cars ...

and this next raft was amazing !!

They drove it to the harbour....

(see what I mean about old cars and oil drums)

 

they  paddled it across the harbour, lights flashing

they drove it out of the water and up onto the beach

and drove it home !!!!
how amazing is that ?!!!!




At the finishing line at the Aultbea Hotel
there is always a welcoming crowd
cheering everyone on







always nice to see lovely, young Joshua with Mum and Dad

and of course there's beer and burgers 
just to keep everyone warm.












At the Fun Day
the Loch Ewe Community Skiff Group
officially named and launched the beautiful skiff
after many hours of building and painting and varnishing.

So here we have the "Kay Matheson"



and she was proudly piped along the street
 down to the pier for her official launching.

I'm looking forward to being part of the rowing teams.

The Fun Day weather was not overly kind to us

but it didn't stop us all from enjoying ourselves

even though some of the stalls and events 

had to move inside the Aultbea Viallage Hall.

Our Pipe Band always play on regardless of the weather,

well done

After the rain, a quick dry of the Bouncey Castle 
and the youngsters are back in there.

vintage bikes and cars..






The face-painting lady was kept very busy 

Malcolm (oldest one on the pitch by about 30 years)
had a wonderful afternoon !

 Try keeping him away from a football

Everyone loves a water-pistol,
Stan was going to get wet anyway with the rain.
Well done Stan !

Queuing up for the assault course

After the rain the Fundayers came back out to play.




Here we have Dan, the Flying Minister of Aultbea !!

Dan won the quickest time for the Sack Race course
in 6 seconds !!

(did he have angel wings to help him?)






As I was timing the sack-race participants 
I managed to capture lots of jumping, smiley faces


















a very competitive lot !








Ally won for the youngsters
in an incredible 5.45 seconds !!

Well done Ally !

Some needed a little extra help from Dad

need some longer sacks next year

 

A proud winner of the biggest water-pistol 
I have ever seen








Malcolm's Mum helping out on a stall inside the hall










Some photographs on and around the croft ....

Our first peaches in the greenhouse 
from the tree planted only last year,
delicious.

Need some warmth for the tomatoes to come on

The "Jack-be-little" pumpkins are coming on a treat,
they are about the size of a fist when ready to eat,
usually end up with about 10 per plant,
cut into segments like an orange
and bake in a little oil with cumin or whatever you like
and enjoy.

Lavender and curry plant








Poppies

Rain drops on Alchemille Mollis

Our 4 geese checking out my raft for seaworthiness

Cotton grass has been growing abundantly 
in boggy areas round and about









it's super soft and looks great blowing in the breeze









Need to check this one out, I'm sure he's a good guy

Just looking out to sea

Raindrops on fennel

Double rainbow over Loch Ewe








Pot of gold must be under the water

Colours along the seashore....

Moonlight on Loch Ewe

Every now and then on our Sunday morning swims
we find an unsuspecting holiday maker
and drag them into the cold waters of Loch Ewe,
even more fun when they don't have a wet suit.

Well done Charles,
something to put in your visitors' book.

Dillon, Stan and Lorna's labrador puppy,
has quickly learnt that every Sunday morning
there's a great doggie beach party.











~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Quote of the month



"And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet
and the winds long to play with your hair"


Kahlil Gibran    1883 - 1931
author of " The Prophet"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Book of the month

"Excuse Me , Your Life Is Waiting"

by Lynn Grabhorn

ISBN 1-800-766-8009

In an upbeat, humorous style Lynn introduces us to the amazing 

Law of Attraction,

a new and rapidly unfolding realm of feelings

that physicians, scientists, physicists and theologians 

are coming to believe is very, very real.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To Charlotte, Caroline and James,
we're looking forward to seeing you in a few days

(Charlotte, don't forget to bring

your lovely new camera with you)

and 

to Penny and Chris

we're looking forward to seeing you too in August.

To all of you looking at this blog have a fabulous August

xxxxxxx