Writing it all out yesterday was definitely theraputic for me. I did have a little cry and then went and chatted to Vikki. She’s been off on island on holiday for 10 days and had come back on Monday. We’d met her from the ferry and brought her stuff back for her and gone in for a cup of tea and stayed awhile. Unfortunately rather than welcoming her back properly or hearing about her time off we’d rather swamped her with our woe and the full on catch up of Rum during the last ten days which had included a relationship break up, someone leaving, our static adventures and tales of one new member of castle staff who didn’t even last the week and another who probably won’t. Once we got home we realised just how rubbish a welcome home that had been and had been feeling bad about it. So I went and had another cup of tea and shared cheery positive stuff instead which left me feeling much better about life generally.
By the time I got back to the static we just had time to cook and eat dinner and then we dashed back out again to make a talk at the hall by geologist Jim Blair who has written about Rum and the other small isles unique geology. It was pitched more at a geologist than an interested layperson and certainly way above the kids heads but we sat through it and then had a drink at the shop with Mike who had returned home. Good to see him back :).
We left and were home about 11pm, the incredibly light evenings really mess with your head regarding bedtime and I thought I was turning in for an early night only to look at the clock and realise it was 1230am! It is light again by 4am and I slept badly not getting up until the alarm at 830am.
Today was the second craft fayre of 2012 – the first was on April 25th, the day our static arrived so we were not around for that one. This time I had full intentions of sitting behind a groaning table of home made stuff but circumstances have again contrived against that so I had just three scarves (two crocheted, one knitted) and several plates of baking – cheese scones, cranberry and chocolate blondies and some ginger cupcakes (ginger sponge is my new signature cake, I like how it goes with my hair ;)). The kids came down too and had made some bits which sold (mostly to islanders ;)) and then got pound signs in their eyes and were away gathering shells and other beach treasures and putting together bags of precious found things for 25p a time. They did pretty well and are very motivated to make stuff for the next one. I reckon we’ll be trying for weekly fayres through the summer season.
I spent the time chatting to Fliss – I still have not bonded with her properly, we mostly talk business ideas and crafts, nothing really personal although I keep trying and will continue to do so. My closest friends here so far are Vikki, Kate and Rachel but I think Fliss and I could be really good mates if we can get past the fact I am so new and she is so guarded. Ady and Sandy are getting on really well and Ady feels very at ease with him now which is a real silver lining to the whole static moving debacle.
I sold a fair bit of my baking, I bartered some more with Fliss for some lip balm (she makes soaps and other beauty lotions and potions) and sold some more to Claire for teashop tomorrow, so made over a tenner, have some nice baked stuff for us for the next couple of days and some lipbalm too 🙂 One of the students here at the moment came over to say he’s been reading my blog and is from Lewes which was nice. I am all enthused and inspired anew with making and selling stuff again :). I also got some amazon deliveries today and now have some lovely books on permaculture, self sufficiency (including cool projects like earth ovens, solar dryers (for fruit and veg), compost loos and so on) and earth shelter houses. Ahh books and glossy pictures of other people living the dream…
A meeting has been set up for Monday night to get cracking on arranging midgefest, Rachel is coming up for tea tomorrow afternoon and it is Sheerwater day – yesterday Mike saw pods of dolphins and 8 minke whales so I am hoping for a good trip on that.
The wheels didn’t arrive today but having chased them up we are hopeful they’ll be in Mallaig tomorrow so will come on Friday’s boat and all will still go according to plan. Sandy and Ady have been talking about revenue streams from camping up on the croft too so he is feeling more positive today aswell.
Right, my washing should be done (I’ve been sneaking some online time while it’s at the castle laundry) so I need to get back for dinner. Not a full return to normal Nic service and I am still very much in sick feeling in the pit of my tummy limbo over what will happen next but I am certainly back to a brave face and ‘it’ll be fine’ again.
So glad to hear you’ve had a better day though I know you can’t really relax till the static is safely sited. Will have my fingers crossed. And see those light nights – they are karmic payback for Scottish winters 😉 xx
Comment by Joyce — 20 June 2012 @ 7:17 pm
Here’s hoping for Friday then. And good to read the positive spin 🙂
Comment by Barbara — 20 June 2012 @ 8:31 pm