May 11 2009
Another day another beach
What a weekend……here’s a quick run down for you
Saturday, the weather was showery. Now, in England, showery means that it is grey and cloudy all day, and sometimes it rains. Up here showery means that the weather changes from glorious sunshine, with blue skies, to a torrential downpour in about 15 mins…..so much more exciting! That was what it was like on Saturday - and in between showers, it was a beautiful day
N had a swimming lesson, but he wasn’t feeling 100%, so we skipped it. Drove across the Pentland Road to Breasclete to buy some handwash from The Soaplady. Introduced myself and had a yarn about the fun of blogging, and the mystery of Nat. The Soap Factory is well worth a visit if you haven’t been and the soap is to die for. N has his favourite “flavour” too, so not just for the girlies
On the way I decided to take some photos of N, so I can get some prints for family “down souf” who need to get some idea of just how big the afro hair has grown in all this rain. He wasn’t feeling like having his photo taken, until I told him he could say a rude word, just to get him to laugh - won’t tell you which one he used, but it did the trick
Later on we helped D next door who was castrating lambs. Well, N helped a bit, I just stood around petting the little lambs and feeling sorry for them. Anyway, all part of N’s growing knowledge of crofting life (he didn’t believe me for a second when I asked D if he was clipping the lambs’ nails!) Some when they had the elastic band treatment didn’t seem to notice….others looked very worried and spent the next while sitting down, wiggling their bottoms and looking quite upset. At least Eric was spared the indignity!
Yesterday was a prince among days. We spent the afternoon on Gress Beach with friends…..and an ocean canoe. What a serious amount of fun. The sun was out most of the afternoon, although it was still a little chilly when it went behind a cloud. Dams were built, a paddling pool constructed and some of us had a wee trip in the canoe, trying to surf the waves back to the shore. Weekends don’t get much better
I have never been in a conoe before….there a clue in there about how funny it was. I had to wedge my big bum into the seat and try get balanced, given that the sea was moving, although slightly. Just about felt OK, and then in jumped Archie (one of the 2 mad springers) - yes, you guessed it, the boat tipped up, I ended up sitting in the sea, the canoe turned right over and Archie got on the top and wagged his tail. Hilarious! if only S had managed to work out how to switch the camera on there would have been some funny photos of me in the water…….but probably for the best. As it is there are just a few very attractive ones of me squeezed into a life jacket, fully clothed, soaking wet, and as I am in charge of what goes on the blog, you aren’t seeing them!
17 responses so far
Bizarre to find small boys and baby lambs and beaches and castration all in one place…..google delight. N must be all boy as the swear factor is always cool. Fabulous fun on beach but then we get to bottoms being squeezed into canoe and the whole lot tipping over in mid-ocean……needed pics but already laughing at the thought (sorry!!) Thanks for sharing….far too much fun being had over there (but no elastic bands near me please!!!)….RJG
Ooops! While you can laugh now about the upset I would imagine at that very moment in time it was not quite so funny.
When the rubber bands are put on for castration, are the tails done as well? Our neighbour has recently rubber banded both areas, and now the lambs are minus their tails.
Sounds as though you all had a great weekend. I used to go canoei ng in forfar loch(1967-1968) and then over here years later on the river which is called”the gardon” then early this year in nz learnt to canoe on the pacific–completly different from being on the quiet waters of forfar loch,nothing like the gardon this was big waves really scary at first but oh so good.Like you i was more often is the ocean than in the canoe,but thats the fun off it; Wee lads afro hair looks great!
Excellent sounding weekend! N’s hair is “Off the Wall”! Please, please, please post photos of you in wetsuit, please!
Oh how I hate hearing tales of people enjoying themselves on Lewisian beaches in the sunshine, especially if N features and the building of sandcastles is depicted!
Gress beach in particular should be left in pristine virginal state, not spoilt by the presence of unfeeling people messing up the perfect sand.
Please don’t publish any more stories like this as they make me GREEN WITH ENVY !!!
Seriously though, it sounds like you had a divine day, starting off with meeting Soaplady and ending up on one of the best (and I think probably underrated) beaches on the island. And thanks for sharing the lovely photographs too (was it really necessary for two kids to be wearing wetsuits???)
Sarah how could you not put one of my pics of you on here!
I clicked on the blog saw an update and got very excited at the prospect of seeing one of my delightful pics of you.
It was a fabulous day wasn’t it?
Gravirlife…..photos….no way, sorry! I have some pride
Plaid - yes, tails and danglies both done
Taddoe - thanks re hair, he loves it and is flatly refusing to even have it trimmed! Have been looking at the cost of ocean canoes on t’internet…..much fun
Jo - I didn’t have a wet suit on, just wet clothes. need to get a wet suit, but fear I will be mistaken for a beached walrus
X333XXX - get over it and get yourself back up here then! Having been in the water myself on that day I can vouch for the need for wetsuits….it was FREEZING!
well–i wish you luck re getting a wet suit!! I bought one in nz—bought one two sizes bigger then my clothes size(12)but bloody hell,it was a nightmare to get into and getting out—sheer hell!
was glad to see you yesterday - don’t need much excuse for a bit of a natter …!
re lambs … ‘ouch’ …! Thx for not sharing the whole process …!
That’s what I like to read ‘a day in the life’ nothing fancy, nothing profound, just something that anyone can write who lives on a beautiful island (does anyone live on one that’s not?).
I bet you a pound to a penny that such simple tales are what the vast majority of our overseas visitors and mainland UK visitors come here for. To our visitors IB is all about living vicariously and everyone can get a sense of island life through a simple ‘What I did today’.
Well said,uncle les
Les is exactly right. I live in Oklahoma, USA and I’m completely enthralled by your everyday tales of island living.
N’s hair is starting to look quite like my own!!! sounds brilliant day, and the summer isn’t even started yet!!!
I think we’re having it now landlady, so best follow N&Friends’ example and carpe diem.
Sounds like a really busy weekend. Love the pics
Swear words always seem to work wi boys (and some lasses too!) lol
We want to see your entry for the Miss Wet T-shirt and slight Touch of Hyperthermia Competitian!
Spoilsport!
Poor little lambs!!
So much enjoying following your adventures. Lewis sounds wonderful. What a marvellous experience for a small boy. Thank you for sharing this with us. Can’t wait for your next entry.