A bonus blue sky moment

So Gail was doing a good job managing expectations as she drove me across to the Torridon cottage on Friday morning.

"Now Bertie, I'm afraid we might not achieve any but the shortest of walks this weekend. I checked the weather forecast and it's promising non-stop heavy rain and strong winds for the next few days."

The ground and everything else was sodden when we arrived, and Gail's attempts to keep me out of the mud were, of course, unsuccessful.

But by Saturday lunchtime the rain had subsided and I even thought I could detect 'glimpses of brightness' (a phrase much favoured by optimistic outdoor enthusiasts in Scotland) between the clouds.

I waited patiently outside the Torridon Stores while Gail enjoyed a coffee and a chinwag about former colleagues with the owner Jo.

(Gail's always telling me how a quarter of a century ago she and Jo both used to work for the same company, located on Trafalgar Square, between Northumberland Avenue and Charing Cross, but frankly I find that hard to believe.)

The weather gods smiled on my patience and, with Gail duly re-caffeinated, we enjoyed a bonus blue sky moment, all the sweeter for being unanticipated, as we traversed the gentle 1.5 mile circuit around the head of the loch.

"Mister Fuzzy Face"

Why does she call me that?

It's been a wet weekend in Torridon

And the "no such thing as bad weather just bad clothes" theory was once again tested to destruction...

A day for staying in (with Rory)?

Wet Sunday and an archaeological excavation ...

What happens in your household on a Sunday when it is so miserable and wet that you only get a short walk to the park and the paper shop?

When the weather is so horrid not even Gail wants to venture out on her new(ish) bicycle?

Well, in my dreams, Gail might just spend the day giving me belly rubs and feeding me treats. But of course the reality was otherwise.

She decided to have a tidy up, and this included her overfilled sewing box.

Gosh. Digging into this prehistoric and rarely opened item was like conducting an archaeological excavation into Gail's family history. See what was found:

Exhibit #1: The darning mushroom.

Chewed end, what chewed end? Hamish's work, surely?

Exhibit #2: The button tin

Not sure if this originally belonged to Human Grandad or Human Great Grandad (we think the latter).

Exhibit #3: The press-stud tin

This one definitely came from Gail's Granny, whose family owned a liquorice factory in Pontefract, Yorkshire. And yes, they did make 'Pomfret Cakes' too.

Exhibit #4: The needle case

Gail's first ever attempt at needlework, a school project from when she was five or six years old.  A shame the sewing skills did not progress much thereafter. It turned out she was more interested in science…

Exhibit #5: Duffel coat toggle

From one of the many duffel coats Gail owned between 1975 and 1990.

Exhibit #6: Tartan ribbons

You know where this is heading...

Hope your Sunday was more exciting!

Towel rhymes with Growl...

No, no, no, not the towel again! Let me in... Grrrrrr...

It's nae affa bonnie the day *...

The true picture of a typical walk in the Highlands of Scotland. At any time of the year (in Summer add midges). As seldom seen in the holiday brochures.

You know what? I might be prepared to relax the clothing ban and ask Santa for a raincoat this Christmas!

PS Thanks to Margaret for risking a waterlogged camera to take a photo of this soggy scene. There is a good reason why she only took the one ...

*Translation of title from NE Scots to English: It's not very nice weather today.