October 2017

The terns had finished nesting and moved on,
the tide was high, so time to jump !!

Jenny enjoyed playing in the waves

 with the rest of the gang

and is loving her first ever wetsuit

Around the croft

October has been a bountiful month for blackberries
and all for free.

This year we are growing a different variety of carrot
(unfortunately can't remember the name at the moment)
as they are meant to be round,
so don't have to fight their way through
our very stoney ground.

The garden is still looking colourful, just,
with Michaelmas Daisies,

and a bedraggled peacock butterfly
resting on the geraniums

Zara found sitting around in the sunshine..

rather tiring

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The mobile cinema was back in Gairloch again,
with another selection of 4 films,
this time we saw the Judi Dench film, Victoria & Abdul;
a smashing evening and you get to see loads of friends, too

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Just back from a lovely week away on the Island of Barra

in the Outer Hebrides,
the most westerly island of the UK

Our holiday cottage, number 8, Ardmhor,
sat right on the edge of a beautiful bay

The bay in front of the cottage is Barra Airfield !

The times of arrival and departure of the two daily planes
are obviously governed by the tides

and this must be the smallest baggage reclaim ever,
except maybe for Tiree airport

From the cottage you can see the airport terminal
in the distance

The airport café, open 7 days a week and Friday evenings,
serves the best fish ever !
caught in the Atlantic just on the shores of Barra.









Seals came by the cottage, this is Ron
(Ronseal)

The beaches were staggering

even if it was difficult to stand up at times in the wind

The colours are fabulous

and I just loved the circular patterns in the sand 
made by the sand dune grass blown by the wind

and loved the patterns of the seaweed
once the tide has gone out

Wilma as usual enjoyed herself

taking in the sea breezes

and enjoying the walks

This is one of the local museums
that we were looking forward to seeing,
high up in the hills

alas, it obviously wasn't very popular,

a great pity, the earlier tourist guides
showed it to be really interesting

Kisimul Castle, Castlebay  on a grey day

and the fifty shades of grey of Castlebay

If ever you get to Castlebay go to the Post Office with it's delightful adjoining café;

it is dog-friendly and you will be greeted by Spud,

the jack russel-cross-poodle,

(so named because he came from the local potato farm)

and they serve the biggest and best scones ever !

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Family update

Malcolm's Mum fell and broke her hip earlier this month

and has had fabulous care from both

Raigmore Hospital in Inverness and Dingwall Hospital;

she will shortly be transferred to Isle View Nursing Home,

a short distance from us for recovery and physio.

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Book of the Month

I bought this book in the wonderful community run shop in Castlebay on Barra;

the book and the shop are both inspirational and fun.

The author does say that the kilt is optional !

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Malcolm's sister has been over to see us this month
from Madeira
and on her return home sent me this postcard, 
I am still giggling !

Thanks Barb xx

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Quote of the Month



"Work is not always required.
There is such a thing as sacred idleness,
the cultivation of which is fearfully neglected"



George MacDonald (1824 - 1905)







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If there are any magicians in the area
that have lost their white rabbits,
they are making their home under one of our sheds,
please collect.

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So, with the help of some of the locals,

we wish you a frighteningly good November,

June and Malcolm

xxxxxx