Swannery, no swans

This is a back blip for the Friday of Storm Arwen, and we know how that turned out, so here are some trivial experiences from running errands.

On the way out, high winds already. Low tide, the usual 23 swans (eleven pairs, one permanent loner, all flat to the surface, necks outstretched,  sucking up lugworms and other wrigglies.

On the way into Dingwall, a heron flying low and sideways across the car bonnet, crash landing in total disarray in the field to our right. Then standing up, shaking feathers into shape,  saying "yes, I meant to do that" and walking sedately off. A strikingly tall bird, but way off course..

After the recycling centre, and the usual cheery conversation with the guys, and a trip to the bank, question: "fish & chips in Beauly? What the hell, why not?" Discovery: the Beauly chippy's shut. Staff self-isolating again. OK, when in a hole keep digging, and we are most of the way to Inverness, so let's carry on now that fish & chips are in the brain.

Usual lunch place. "Oh hello, you again ?" Gluten free fry up for Mrs Oons, Grilled sea bass for me. Then "sorry, whoever was meant to get the sea bass out of the freezer forgot, so can we grill you some haddock?" Eventually, having left for our picnic, we found ourselves with GF fish, chips for three, enough mushy peas to feed a regiment, grilled haddock AND mashed potato and peas from the restaurant menu. AND free tartare sauce. All for the price of the original order. (By the way, why would you put sliced chorizo in mashed potato?) They are all so nice in there.

On the way back the tide's in now. Swannery as pictured. No sign of any swans, who are probably cowering inland behind a bank of whin (gorse). A dense black curtain of rain coming from the north. Get home fast!

And that is an oil rig, not a swan in fancy dress for the office party.