After we got back from Jo and John’s wedding we got stuck into the garden. A final strim from me. Dolly the Solitary Sheep seems to be doing her best to help out but unfortunately, she finds it hard to differentiate between grass and our recent garden planting. Suse has been weeding, harvesting and making glutney in between chasing Dolly. Meanwhile, the strimmer decided to throw a wobbly and much time was spent looking for bits that had spun off from the line spool into the long grass.
Eventually, I gave up looking for the missing bits and made something from odds and sods just to get the garden strimmed. Immediately afterwards, the starter cord broke on the big chainsaw. It too mended o.k. but I wasn’t surprised when Suse’s new pc had to be returned to base. Maybe we’ll be clear for a while now.
Not brilliant timing but we decided to take the van in for its service in Glasgow. The horn and hazard warning lights weren’t working and we weren’t too happy about this. So another trip down the road only to be told that we would have to bring it back to get the repairs done! This wasn’t what we wanted to hear but you know, it all worked out in the end.
We heard from Emily that they had started work on their kitchen refurbishment and, given that Suse was going to Holy Isle for a Tai Chi course (see below), I suggested that I could help at Hope Lodge.
For the next 10 days it was just like old times! A bit more demolition than I was used to at first but we ended up with the room insulated and lined and the first fix electrics done. The three way switching in the hall was done several times but I think all is good now. Another big job still to be done on the floor which is to be insulated and underfloor heating laid, but Steve and Sharon will help with that and they should be finished before the baby is due which was the plan.
The Qi Gong course was cut short by the weather forecast, which suited Suse because on the Sunday, Calmac moved onto the winter timetable and no Claonaig-Lochranza ferries. Suse now has her teacher’s qualifications so if anyone in the Tarbert area is looking for a tai chi class…..
On the way back, I picked up Kathleen in Glasgow and we had a few days together at Larick House. Most enjoyable even if the weather was a bit mixed. We introduced Kathleen to Sylvain Chomet’s “The Illusionist” and like most people she was stunned. An amazing experience especially if you have any connections with Edinburgh. I also went to see “Skyfall” at the Braehead Imax and enjoyed it but wasn’t impressed with my first Imax experience especially at £13.70. By the way thanks, Richard. Just to complete the picture(s), Suse went to see Anna Karenina at the The Screen Machine (half the price!). She says it’s her all time favourite book and has persuaded the Book Group to put it on the list this winter.
On our way down to have the van repaired, we called into Dunoon to experience our first Gaelic Mod. We were lucky to time things so that we could see the “Rural” Choirs performing and blow me, didn’t the Tarbert Choir just perform at their best and win their first ever competition! Quite an experience, especially when the choirs waiting for the adjudications and who were sitting all around us, burst into impromptu song. Not really our cup of tea but well done Tarbert particularly after quite a few near misses in the past. This isn’t Tarbert but it gives an idea of the venue/format.
We haven’t managed the Kyles of Bute trip yet but we squeezed in a few hours in The Kilbrannan Sound with some pretty views of Arran.