I feel like I live in ancient neolithic times and I’m beginning to worry that the sun went on his mid winter journey and has forgotten the way back. My perception is that we have endured this grey miserable weather unremittingly for about eight weeks now. I know short term weather memory is notoriously unreliable but it seems I have been checking the weather forecast and Calmac Service status on an hourly basis for a very long time. It has made it a very stressful holiday season as regards the comings and goings of our family in the last two weeks. Fortunately everyone managed to be where they wanted to be at approximately the right time – no strandings on the wrong side of the water or miserable nights in lonely hotel rooms (all that remained in Plan B).
On Boxing Day we had a very bouncy crossing and the Calmac captain managed to berth at Wemyss Bay amidst crashing waves and rolling seas – all other sailings went to Gourock. This meant we were able to attend a very joyful family party at Lenzie – although at least one guest was a bit dubious.
Is she really related to us?
A delightful day – lots of toys to play with, too much food and great fun and laughter. The youngest member of the family had the right idea – if it all gets too much just go to sleep on the spot.
Our immediate family were all returning to Rothesay with us and all day we read the text messages from Calmac about the deteriorating weather. I am glad to say that the two car loads of us caught the last boat at 7 o’clock from Gourock.
In my last post I mentioned the swimmer we saw on Christmas Day – well he was in the water again on Tuesday so this time we stopped for a chat with his supporters.
27th December 2011
The gentleman, who lives in England, has relatives here and is in training to swim the English Channel next August to raise funds for Calum’s Cabin. I take my hat off to him.
In Rothesay Bay
The above photograph is not the best quality but I wanted to show the swimmer was really at Rothesay. The boats were severely disrupted again on Wednesday and Keith and Nicky had to go off on the wee ferry at the Rhubodach – Colintraive crossing and drive the long way around to Glasgow. Fortunately they did not encounter any fallen trees or landslips on the way. By the afternoon, at high tide, the waves were crashing on the shore in front of our house and the wind was whipping the spray right across the road. This is the most dramatic I have seen it in our three and half years here. The following photograph had to be taken from inside the porch as it was impossible to stand up outside.
A Very Salty Day
The red plastic fencing is supposedly to protect pedestrians from tripping over the temporary sewage pipes laid along the pavement. The workmen started before Christmas on some planned work but the weather and holidays have caused an interruption. They could not get the fence to stand up for longer than about ten minutes at a time before bits began to blow over so eventually the panels were placed on top of the pipes and anchored with sandbags.
Family at Scalpsie Bay, December 2011
Haha yes I share your feelings! Amber alert on the ferries seems to be the norm just now,we need to cultivate some friends in Largs for a stop over in emergencies!