In Simon & Garfunkel style, The Boxer Bridge Over Troubled Water Mrs Robinson Homeward Bound.

Booked on the midday crossing, we pootled about, packing, stripping beds, hoovering, making packed lunch, and then join the ferry queue. We thought we were early but still #19 in line. So we threw stones into the sea whilst we waited, then boarded, bacon rolls and met a guy from my P4 class in the village school who'd I'd last seen in a field of Christmas trees in 1998...! Long chat, and then straight onto the A9 and away; first stop was Tain for fuel and then again briefly at Perth.

Dipped headlight bulbs went (I knew the driver's side one had gone earlier in the week), so we sneaked home with side lights then full beam lowered as far as we could....

And in for a lazy fish fingers and beans dinner before everyone collapsed into deep sleep...