Do Not Disturb . . .

Bobby, the marmalade cat! This is another of the strays who just turned up at the house. He was about six months old at the time, and that was 12 years ago. He's a very placid cat, who spends incredible amounts of time sleeping, but is also a very good rabbit hunter. He's got a very loud raspy purr and will start purring if you even just speak to him.

Had to be at work by 8am this morning, and didn't get home till nearly 6pm so this evening, in the dark, Ollie and I went for a moonlit walk! I turned the torch off and after a while my eyes got used to what little light there was. The sky was thick with stars, and there were house lights reflected in the sea on the neighbouring island. I could see car lights following lines of the roads and the beam from the lighthouse sweeping across the sea.

You seem to hear more in the dark, and the huge flocks of geese that winter on the fields round here, were being particularly noisy as they settled down for the night. Overhead there was the sound of an engine as an ambulance flight came in towards the airport. The airport shuts about 7pm and only emergencies come in after that. In cases of emergency, patients are flown down to Inverness, usually by helicopter.

Works Christmas do tomorrow afternoon - take your own nibbles, but drinks will be provided! As nearly everyone has to drive to work, they know we will all be on soft drinks, so they are on to a winner there! Do not worry - the NHS is not squandering your money!