Morning has broken

Last year when we were here, Tooli and I got up for sunrise and waited for the otters.

So far we hadn’t done this, but I promised her if I woke I would come and get her .

I woke at 350 and checked my phone. Sunrise was 0435. I promised myself if I woke do get up

A few second later I opened my eyes and it was 0436. I got up pulled my trousers on changed the lens in my camera and woke Tooli

As we stepped out onto the deck I took a deep breath… standing in the garden right below my bedroom window - three deer

And they didn’t move. Not even as we moved out onto the deck. They just wandered slowly towards the forrest. No rush Watching us out the corner of their eye and turn eventually into the leaves in the forrest
Tooli went back to bed at Five and I stayed out til 535…. And watched a meeting of seagurls and the arrival of the Bay Seal. He lazily swam back and forth in front of me. On his back. On his belly - and the. Diving under to come up in the middle of the seagurls

I went back to bed happy but soo cold. Thank gawd Si sleeps like a log and failed to notice me warming my cold bits against him

We woke at ten and it was drizzling again. But the weather forecast said it would stop at 1250 and it did - and we set off on a milk run


We sail to Arduenne point. I get out. I drive the car to Craobh haven. Si and Tooli sail. I pick them up Or went not to badly. Disembarking is not my favourite thing

Neither is driving on single track roads and I managed to get us on to one for about five miles. My anxiety levels were thru the roof.

Once we found the shop we wanted and paid exorbitant prices we headed for Lochgilphead. A place we frequently drive thru but never stopped

We stopped and had a wander through their lovely wee shops. Many craft shops, gift shops sweet ahops. You bought myself some candles and some pastels for drawing

We got ice cream and we sat on the front and people watched and the prepared ourselves for the return journey

This is more treacherous. I leave them at the haven, drive back to the park. Leave the car. Then I have to hope the boat has started. They have managed to get on board and are on route

I stuck my life jacket on and wandered down to thr dangeroua stairs

I dread this bit. The tide was quite far out so I had to Be down to the lowest part of the dangerous stairs. Si was brilliant and drove the boat right onto the stair landing

After one slip I managed to get in and sat quite content

Then came the journey past middle island and off to shuna. For the parking

Si was a bloody star. Straight in. No messing. No banging. No crashing. No aborts

The relief was etched on Toolis face. She cannot deal when si or I are stressed. She almost went non verbal after my parking of the other day

We sat outside and read our books and had dinner til we got too cold and the midgies were eating us

We had the it ritual game of scrabble and Tooli for once slaughtered us instead of Si

One day I will win