well I’m sorry Joyce. I have been writing a blog post but it’s one of those pesky end of the year ones so I’ve been spending lots of time reading old blog posts and searching out photos.
I know, it’s not good enough. Sorry.
Where was I? Erm Thursday I think. So Friday… the weather was forecast to be dreadful and Sandy rang in the morning to say he had an idea for the static so why didn’t we all go down to theirs and then he and Ady could come up and do it. It seemed like a good idea so we all donned waterproofs and headed down there only to get huge hugs from him when we arrived and be knocked back by the smell of drink from him and the grim looks from Fliss behind him.
So Ady and Sandy did go up to the static and secured the roof with some straps. Fliss and I stayed behind and chatted, the kids watched TV and sat in the warm. We were invited to stay the night but due to the drinking and atmosphere there and that we’d still rather be at home even if it is at risk of blowing away we came home. It was indeed terribly windy. The straps may well have stopped the roof blowing away but they vibrate and make whalesong noises which also keep you awake all night. It was a dreadful night with barely any sleep, loads of noise from wind, rain and straps and the whole caravan shaking and flexing.
Saturday was pretty much just more of the same really. There was a break in the wind so Ady and I nipped down to check on the yurts for Steve and Claire who are both off island and bumped into Fliss and Sandy down there. They were on good form ( ie sober) so we went back to theirs for a cup of tea. Sandy was all for us fetching Davies and Scarlett down (who were busy watching the box set of Home Alone dvds that had arrived) but we declined and came home for a planned early night which didn’t really happen due to more wind blowing up again. The boat was cancelled for the first time since we arrived here.
Sunday was a planned woodcutting with Sandy day. It didn’t happen, instead we had a nice roast dinner at a very respectable time and would have again had an early night but for the wind howling around us. It almost feels too quiet and still now it has all finally blown away.
Monday – new years eve or now we are in Scotland – Hogmanay. Due to the cancelled boats Calmac laid on an altered schedule taking in all four islands – loads of deliveries and post came off. We met the boat and took two loads of washing down to the castle to start processing through the washing machine and tumble drier. I went down to the hall early to make a start on the roast which were my contribution to the shared meal in the hall. It was a lovely meal with two soups, various home made bread and rolls for starters, Thai salad, venison stew, chilli, quiche and the roast potatoes for main course and bannofee pie or Christmas pudding for dessert. James had brought along some eco friendly sky lanterns and pens to write messages on them to set off which some of us did and it was all very lovely.
Ady went round to see Sandy at his request and the evening started to fizzle out a little – those with children had gone home, those without were settling in for some hard drinking so I left with Fliss to go to hers and collect Ady with an agreement we may or may not stay for the bells depending on the mood round there. It was fragile but okay so we stayed til about 130am, saw in the London fireworks on TV, the mainland fireworks from across the water and the Rum fireworks from the window being let off in the village. Fliss and Sandy are sometimes quite tiring company to keep but we are incredibly fond of them and currently they are friends in need. We can’t fix or even make much difference to their current issues but we can be there as friends to support them whilst ensuring we don’t give too much of ourselves and leave not enough over for us. We toasted friendship and 2013 and hope to be playing host to them in our house to see in 2014.
We got home around 2am, the kids went to bed and Ady and I sat up with a drink to talk. The wind had dropped but sleep eluded us still….
Today has been lovely. A slow start, several foiled attempts to speak to my parents – it is their anniversary today too, collecting the last of the laundry, calling in to see Paul and Carole who we rather abandoned last night but they were not home. We watched Brave – I promised Scarlett to never bethroth her to a prince, she promised never to turn me into a bear but said she thought I would make a good bear because I am soft and cuddly and good at being fierce. Not at all sure that is complimentary although she did mean it as such! 😆
We took down the tree and moved Bonnie’s crated back, I cleared out the coats, put washing away and sorted out the storage under the sofas ready for bringing back more food supplies next week. Yesterday I sorted out the bookcase in the lounge too so it is all feeling far less cluttered and claustrophobic.
We had dinner and watched Miranda and finally the wind has gone, bed is calling – we have written up a 3 month job list / work plan / action plan and want to do a couple of things on the croft before we go off next week so hoping for good weather tomorrow to be outside in.
:). I do miss your blogging. 🙂 xx
Comment by Joyce — 02 January 2013 @ 10:24 am
How are the house plans coming along? Or have I missed a blog post somewhere?
Comment by Kirsty — 02 January 2013 @ 12:26 pm
sb and i loved watching brave together 🙂 glad house planning moving on [that might be the blog above!] and x x x hoping 2013 realises the dreams you hope
Comment by hharicot — 03 January 2013 @ 12:19 am