Tired and cold so need to go to bed but trying hard not to lapse with the daily blogging.
Not a lot day today really – this morning I looked at some stuff with Davies online on maps of the Small isles. He’s been commissioned to do some postcards of Eigg by someone so has been coming up with ideas for that and thought a map of the four isles might be good as his map of Rum postcard has been a good seller. He did some designs for that, still to finish off before getting them ordered.
We had lunch and then the kids headed off down to Art Club – they’ll break for a few weeks for the summer as Coryla is around and about and off and on island during the summer holidays. I’m not entirely sure what they actually all achieve down there but all three of them seem to really enjoy themselves together.
I watered the polytunnel and pottered in there for a bit. I need to collect some sticks to stake the tomato plants, I was most amused to see a big parcel in there addressed to Gav and Laura which they had had bamboo canes delivered in. To Rum – where we have woodland all around the crofts! I’ve collected all my sticks for peas and beans from the woods. Maybe a job for tomorrow that. I made some bread dough for later, although I’ve not managed that tonight so it’ll prove overnight instead. I also made some home made amaretto from a recipe I’d seen. Cheap vodka, a sugar syrup of one part water, one part white sugar, half part brown sugar heated to dissolve the sugar and a mix of vanilla and almond essence. Vokda in first, then the essence, then the sugar syrup. It’s actually really nice and tastes exactly the same as amaretto. I’ll get two bottles out of my cheap vodka so it’s definitely cheaper too. Hurrah!
Then it was time to head down to collect the kids. We called in to see Fliss and Sandy as the kid wanted to collect their cash from stuff they’ve sold at the craft shop so far this season as Davies wants to reinvest. He’s sold 18 postcards at £1.50 each so made £27 which is pretty good. That is only half profit and he owes me the £30 start up loan but I’ve agreed he can reinvest all of his first takings and repay me at the end of the tourist season. Scarlett has sold 3 pieces of her seaglass jewellry and made £15. My agreement with her was £1 per item to cover the cost of the jewellery findings I had supplied from my stash. They were both really pleased with what they’ve sold so far – I’m really pleased they’ve both done well and are very motivated to continue. I reckon they’ll do really well at the Market Days selling direct to tourists from this Wednesday for the next few weeks too.
I’ve already sold the first midge pendant, they are definitely going to be winners, and more of my scarves. I’m saving all my sales up for a big load of pay at the end of the summer otherwise it would just dwindle away and I shouldn’t need to buy any more materials this year I don’t think.
Home to feed the animals and get changed and then we all went down for Rachel’s leaving party. It was a catered party so we all ate there and the food was good, the usual Rum bring and share deal. We took salad. There was some delicious fish from Marcel caught this morning – pollock and a crab rissotto which was so good. Plus venison burgers and stuff like coleslaw and savoury rice.
The party seemed to be struggling to get going so we played musical chairs which was a real winner. It got folk up dancing too and when we left at 10 it was going well. I imagine it will be a late one.
I’m looking forward to a night off tomorrrow – I’ve been out every night this week at a meeting or training or something and on Monday we have two meetings in the evening but at least I’ve got my mornings back again.