Winter storms, green shoots
Greetings from a very stormy Skye…
We’ve had gale force winds, sleet, snow and lots of rain blowing in sideways. Just when there are a few days of respite and things start to quieten down, the weather comes back with a bigger bite than before. The wind is just so very loud too, sending things cartwheeling across the garden and forcing its way in down the chimney.
Last night I was talking to Laura, who comes along to our magazine/island information exchange (insert laughing emoji here) group, and she said she walks three miles every day to keep fit. She doesn’t own a car, and dresses for the weather, and I was impressed and ever so slightly sheepish about this. Yes, I’d just signed up for the pilates class next week, but I really need to get moving more. I’ve got that winter sluggishness thing going on.
Apparently, according to Google maps, the castle is 1.4 miles from our house. That’s 2.8 miles there and back, on flat terrain (pavement). Yes, there are some bits which are pretty exposed, what with the village running alongside the sea, but it’s doable. So that’s the plan. But I’m just looking out at the trees blowing about and the rain lashing down and… Anyway, moving swiftly on.
We braved the weather last weekend and went to the RSPB Garden Birdwatch event. I try and take Joe to SkyeLarks when they’re up this end of the island. They run nature-themed activities for kids, right up Joe’s street, and we took one of his friends along with us. It was at the Skeabost Hotel, who provided hot chocolate (with whipped cream and marshmallows) and home made cookies for the children once we’d come back indoors. My hands actually turned blue during our nature hunt. But admittedly, it felt good to blow all the cobwebs away.
I’ve been repotting houseplants, taking care of cuttings, and keeping an eye on what’s growing outdoors. Snowdrops and the odd hellebore so far. Indoors, the spider plants and numerous Ceropegia (‘string of hearts’) are happy. The Monstera, not so much. And I gave my dying Alocasia amazonica (‘elephant’s ear’) away because it just wasn’t working out between us…
I went to see ‘Little Women’ last weekend with a few local ladies. It was great - I’ve never read the book (sometimes a good thing) but it was beautifully filmed. Clothes, interiors… just so nice, all of it.
Plus, sweet and salty popcorn. And dark chocolate with bitter orange. And a cup of hot tea.
Also: someone nearby was actually snoring.
I chanced the slithery roads on Tuesday to drive into Portree, and went to the Skye Bakery for a solitary lunch by the wood burning stove. On the way home the sleet started, then the rain, so I only managed to get a few photos out at Kensaleyre (quick detour). But I like being alone in the car, warm and dry, with the radio for company. I was also feeling quite content after a pile of cheese on toast and a piece of lemon polenta cake.
I really do need that daily walk to the castle and back.
