A Wonderful Week on the Isle of Arran - Part III

Part 1 HERE

Part II HERE

Time to go home... 

View from my room at 6 am when we got up, in order to catch the 8.20 ferry.

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A sad farewell to Barb and Dusk

I am not a dog person at all, but I loved Dusk!!

So lucky to have such a glorious morning on which to travel :)

Until next time...

A Wonderful Week on the Isle of Arran

...early morning walks on the beach, every view a joy to behold, the company of dear friends, the perfect hostess, an enchanting house, a dog we all fell in love with (and I'm not even a dog person), ruthless hunter cats, peaceful writing time, morning writer 'workshops' - and the sort of food that makes you glad anything eaten on holiday has no calories.  And sweeties.  Post-jelly bean cold turkey is no joke.

The journey there - somewhat blowy!

First morning walk...

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My Shame

Returning from the beach, I decided to sit in a side part of Barb's garden, separated from the rest by a hedge.  Took photos of myself and hydrangeas (examples below), then decided, as the sun was so glorious and the grass dry, to do my daily lower back exercises in the open air.  The exercises are yoga based and involve many curious poses.

When I got in and told Barb how much I'd enjoyed my pleasant half hour, she revealed to me that this particular hydrangea-filled sun trap does not actually belong to her, but to her neighbours.

I pictured them looking out of the window and saying, "Darling, there's a mad woman taking photos of herself and trying to do yoga in our garden.  Should we go down and tell her to bugger off, or hope she leaves quietly?"

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Lunch in garden with sea view (this garden actually owned by Barb) - what more could you want?

My fab new trousers.  Very glamorous with my slippers. 😏

One of our writer workshop sessions, attended by some of a local writers' group, too.  Barb, Darlene, Georgia and I would take turns to present the subject du jour; mine was on POV and pace, which I will convert into a blog post at some point in the near future :)

It's not a real holiday until you've had your feet in the sea :)

If I deleted every photo in which the horizon is wonky, I wouldn't have any left.  However hard I try to get it right!!!

Part II HERE

Part III HERE

The Isle of Arran, this morning :)

 ⛅💧⛅🌞⛅💧⛅

The crossing was somewhat less calm

The Isle of Arran #3

Part 1 HERE

Part 2 HERE

Last post of photos from a wonderful week on the Isle of Arran, courtesy of dear Barb Taub :)

Earliest walk I managed - about seven in the morning on the Thursday.  Threw hoodie and leggings over sleeping clothes, and out I went to catch the views.

Yes, swans in the sea!

One night, in the kitchen, Georgia, Judith and I were discussing how we could manage to just stay there.  Being people who work out plots, we invented various domestic emergencies that might prolong our stay, then I suggested we sabotage the ferry so return to the mainland was impossible, at least for a while.

We planned to dress all in black with ski masks in the middle of the night when we creep out there to cut wires and blow up stuff (we weren't quite sure what).  Then it occurred to me that, if seen, a canny sleuth might give us away, thus:

 'I heard someone asking, in a distinct Yorkshire accent, if she was cutting the right wire.'

'I think they were ladies of a certain age; I heard a few mumbles of 'ooh, me knees'.'

'One of them kept saying she'd lost her glasses.'

'The black catsuits they wore did look a little 'snug' on them.'

We are still working out the finer details....

Had to go out in the afternoon, too - you can see why I didn't get much writing done!

Seven in the morning, just before we left (sob)

It was a truly perfect week - many, many thanks to Barb for making it all possible, to Georgia for patiently driving us everywhere, and to all of you for the excellent company, great food, and the joy of spending a week with four lovely friends with whom I can discuss the ins and outs of this writing thing without their eyes glazing over!!  

Also reiterating how fab it was to meet Judith and Darlene for the first time.  I hope so much that we can all meet again - and next time I'll prepare something a bit less slapdash for my writer discussion thingy!!   I won't let my Imposter Syndrome get the better of me!!  Might even perfect my vegan chilli in the meantime - and Barb, please order 6 x as much gin & lemon ice cream ;)