Wild & Woolly…

There are several wild cats on Barra – they don’t belong to anyone and, I guess, live on their wits, although I suspect some people may feed them.  Peter had chucked out some stale bread thinking that the resident Herring Gull that sometimes comes and sits on the post watching us might be grateful.  Instead of that, however, this strange looking multi-coloured cat appeared and enjoyed the feast.  That is until his ginger friend turned up and there was a challenge.

We tried out Mary’s new shower and it certainly beats ours for comfort!  A bit of a trek around the back of the barn but worth it.  It was also washing clothes day and Mary was concerned that her new washing machine from John Lewis (apparently they deliver free to the Highlands and Islands) may not be working properly.  Well, after many trips by Peter to see if the 30 degree wash had finished, 3 hours later it had and, armed with our ‘storm’ pegs bought on an earlier holiday in South Uist he proceeded to hang it on the line.  As it later turned out, these pegs were a very good idea…

Because of the weather – windy is an understatement – we decided to stay put for most of the day and we didn’t leave the campsite until just after 3pm.  The airport café closes at 4pm and there was a blog to publish.  As we drove out we passed a hiker.

Down at the café there was a mixture of customers as usual – an elderly couple, a group of young people, a lone girl with a nice camera.  The owner, a chap from Birmingham who, with his wife, had taken it over a couple of years ago and obviously making a go of it, was happy to cook goujons and chips even though it was soon closing time.  Not for us, I hasten to add (although they did look good).  The connection to the wi-fi wasn’t good and it took ages to get the blog published.  We’re quite good at making a brownie and coffee (or tea for Peter) last!

Knowing there may be a paucity of photos today, Peter took these primroses – they’re all over the island – and these tiny pink ones which I think are Lady’s Smock or Cuckooflower.  Any other suggestions?

Back at the campsite, we found that the hitchhiker had pitched his tent next to our washing line.  Being quite tall, he must have filled the tent from front to back, leaving little room for his rucksack or anything else!

Mary told us that he was walking the islands and was off again in the morning.

I had another go at a painting – this time a watercolour of my favourite path down to the beach at the jetty.

Meanwhile, the wind was getting even more fierce and the radio told us that the Hebrides would be experiencing a force nine gale overnight.  Well, I can confirm to you that it was true.  We decided to start our 1000 piece jigsaw of Ambridge (Archers fans will know what I’m talking about).  We have a giant puzzle board which folds up and allows you to put it away still unfinished.  Peter was sceptical when I suggested it because it is actually bigger than our table even when folded and where was it going to live?  The answer was upright behind the driver’s seat and it fits beautifully.

So, increasingly buffeted from side to side with rain hammering down on the roof, we tried to concentrate on the puzzle, although my head was starting to hurt – presumably from the barometric pressure.  I have never experienced this before and I found it very difficult.  I hope the hitchhiker’s pegs are well hammered in!

Amazingly we slept pretty well – literally rocked to sleep!