Sunday 25th June 2023
I'm still basking in the glow of all the virtual love. They may just be dots on a screen but they can make me smile, cry, laugh, sigh and get all the warm feels. Birthday wishes take time...
Firstly- to remember
Secondly- to figure out what to say
Thirdly- to press send... (calls to me are futile, lol)
So my birthday wishes all made my heart expand even more. And right now I'm listening to Elton John sing his song to George Michael who would've turned 60 today so I'm feeling chuffed that my cosmic DJ is even using Glastonbury to send me a message.
I had the accordion and pipes under my window earlier too, having a par-tay but I excused myself after a hard day's exploring. I didn't stall the car once and I'm pleased to say I didn't have to do a 17 point u-turn either.
I waited for the weather to settle before I set out today. I'd woken up bright but too early at 4am. The long light is quite tiring sometimes. So I closed over the curtains and when I opened them around 7am, the weather was Scottish (wet and dreich).
I loosely planned on going to the Ringing Stone which I'd seen on the touristy map so I parked up where the more specific Googly directions told me, and set off. However it had rained rather constantly so my non-waterproof running shoes didn't do the boggy mud very well so I made the decision to turn back and drive somewhere else instead.
I went to the remaining unseen bits and admired all the beaches.
I stopped off at the sister hotel and spotted a cemetery but it was fiercely guarded by some rather large cows, so I stuck to the graves only and admired the church ruins from a distance. The restaurant was also closed at that hotel. So I headed towards the ferry pier and argued with some sheep to let me pass on the narrow road.
The coffee shop was busy but I ended up chatting to a lovely lady and her son who have lived in Tiree for 8 years. I find it fascinating when people choose to live in such a small community and she'd lived in Greece, Indonesia and Thailand but was originally from Yorkshire. After losing everything in the Tsunami in 2004, she had to pay off her debt before she could leave Thailand and there was lots of other drama so I can understand her need for a simple life now.
The weather was glorious so I parked up my car at the hotel and walked around the nearby beaches as the tide was out. It's all so amazing and unusual. The sheep lie in dens in the shelter from the wind, which they didn't need today but in winter it must be a different story. I kept my jacket on because the wind in one direction was still rather chilly.
I go back to Glasgow tomorrow late afternoon but I got the news that the sailing trip is on tomorrow at 11am and I'm hoping to see some puffins on a remote island. Another childhood dream comes true, so I'm holding thumbs for weather conditions to hold.
Now it's time to put the birthday girl to bed with a very happy heart.
Comments