Where Have You Been...?

... people have been asking... I know, I know... It's been AGES since I last wrote anything on here. It's all the 'winter jobs' that didn't quite get done in the winter, and now the visitor season is almost upon us, and I still haven't done most of them - though we have completed an electrical upgrade and new shower at Rowan Cottage, and there's new flooring for the hall and bathroom on order. The allotment is OK, and seeds are ordered, I've bought a new lawnmower, and I'll be getting some external decorating done when the weather looks set to be dry for a few days!

The other big job that is taking much time, is the planning of the redevelopment of of The Barn. We are closing the Barn Bed and Breakfast at the end of this season, and converting the two flats here into one house for us to live in. We have drawn and discarded so many plans... but now, with the help of an architect, a final design is coming together, so now we have to get warrants and permissions applied for, and a builder lined up. Obviously, I'll be writing loads more on this in the near future.

In spite of all this, Sue, Cupar and I did manage to have a short break away from home - we stayed at Rowan Cottage, and enjoyed a couple of days of being tourists. There are so many places to visit on Skye and the nearby mainland that we have never been to... here are a few pictures of places in South Skye and on the mainland  just 'across the bridge' from Skye.

Cupar loves sandy beaches - this is Ord, in Sleat. It was a bit windy though, hence Sue's 'cover up' attire!

Dunsgaith Castle, Sleat

Eilean Ruairaidh, with the Cuillin across Loch Eishort

Duncraig Castle from Plockton

Duirinish village

Creag a' Chumhaing from Ardarroch

Loch Kishorn from Ardarroch

I also made time to have another of my regular trips to the south of England, where I spent a couple of nights with friends Sara and Rod near Southampton, and then a pleasant week or so with Val in Torquay. I also managed a visit to Hole Farm to see sister Sue. Just for the record - here's Paignton Beach... how VERY different to Skye!

Paignton Beach, Devon, England!