A Little Oasis

Recovery day yesterday although there was plenty to do. We have a break down at the Filling Station where we cannot dispense petrol, not even over ride it manually. Quite rightly the notices have gone out letting people know but we will have to remember to put them out when it is sorted. By the time you do a bit in the garden, take the dogs for a walk, flag irises are on show,

and keep Eilidh and Sky apart it was time for another shift at the Inn. Sky actually was no hassle and stood up for herself despite Eilidh’s attentions, and was very affectionate. Another wee job successfully done was sprinkling the hive with some castor sugar. Seems that when the bees groom the sugar off themselves they knock any mites, if they have any, off at the same time. All looked well and they are filling the first super up. They have a lot of work to do as they have to draw out the wax on my new frames.

Slowish start for me although the Prep room was spinning. Slowly wound up until at 8.30pm there was a 6, a 5 and a 13 all eating at the same time, along with all the other 2s 3s and 4s. With the Boss out wining and dining at the Walled Garden the pressure is on to make sure the residents are looked after and the week’s regulars as well. Weather was simply stunning and the baseball cap back on. Star group of the evening were the Kyleakin Connections who came over as a group and they had linked up with the VT for some activities. www.slad-skye.org.uk/ They are a pretty amazing group of guys and the banter all evening was top dollar, and no quarter given by the carers.

Living in Applecross I do not meet many of the folk I was in school with very often and when they come along to the Inn you just pick up conversations so easily. Every one seemed to enjoy it as much as I did, in fact serving them made you feel as though you did something important and worthwhile…even more so than usual. The Knox family on the Big Table and then Tom and Hilde came in with their Irish connection to play on Table 8. The Norwegians playing at the Inn tells you what time of year it is.

The Italian couple back in for more seafood and she was delighted to have met Sara and Aron the previous night and sorbet and ice creams were consumed. They knew that they could not eat as much as the night before to be able to have the lemon sorbet.

After service, the Bay was just a little more special than normal as the sun sank behind Rubha na Guailne and with this as a back drop, a scallop shell of garlic squats, I wager there are not many better situations in the world. And I almost forgot the music filtering out from the bar. No wonder so many people seek out this wee paradise.

Today was a strange mix of hard work, “best laid plans” going amiss and rushing around to get to my massage on time….failed but let Sarah know. The day up till 2pm was filled with hauling 350 pots. With the petrol down and some guests stuck I arranged to get some picked up in Lochcarron but that fell through and a back up as well so I had to drive far too quickly over the Hill to pick some up before heading to Shieldaig. I may have contributed to some tourist views on “local driving”. Arrived a little late and bit out of sorts but quickly settled into a peaceful and sometimes sore hour and a half of great massage. Feeling the benefits of my visits to Sarah as I realise I am no longer carrying any fishing aches and pains now. sarahalmond9@gmail.com Head is in better shape, although, as with climate change , a cold winter does not mean it is not happening. Fish pie for tea, Raasay Sound ling and squats supplemented by some smoked haddock from an unknown origin. My out of sorts feeling was based on my time out massage not going to plan and has made me realise how important they have become…a little oasis in a crazy, fast world, yes even here.