Saturday 17/06/06

Awake to lashing rain and strong winds. Headcold losens up overnight, but am gradually reduced to coughing and spluttering. Two boxes of tissues later .... Rain interrupted at 11.30. A yacht sails into port with full sails, but the rain returns. Abandon the idea of going to a carboot sale in the Council carpark, up the road, because of the weather. This summer I am actively not following the WC football and Big Brother 7. The latter seems to be inhabited by a bunch of loonies this year. The ferry blows her horn before leaving at 1.45, something she doesn't normally do. Rain continues on and off (more on than off). The rhodondendrons in the Castle Grounds glow mutely purple. The rain is never far away as the afternoon draws to a close. Four guests arrive; two come on the mid afternoon bus out of Tarbert, Harris; the other two on the 8pm ferry. The latter carry on by taxi to Tarbert tomorrow (£40), as there is no public transport here on Sundays. Tomorrow's forecast has Alberto written all over it, wind and rain. Dinner is microwaveable chicken tikka massala (very good). Some blue sky appears to the south at sunset, 10.30pm.