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Published: October 20th 2010
Blas Fest
An amazing 11 yr old piperWhile we´ve been staying in the Muir of Ord area we´ve been lucky enough to do some house and animal sitting. The first was for two weeks at Keith´s cousin Katrina and Roddy´s beautiful house in the country. With its picture windows, rolling lawns, lovely art and views across to the Moray Firth, its a great place to spread out for a couple of weeks. They even let us use their car while they are away. Major bonus.
On the first night three roe deer visit us, browsing on the front lawn, and in total relax mode we watch our first DVD for months. Katrina and Roddy´s sons Ewen and David live just up the hill with their families and we manage to fit in a great BBQ party which goes long into the night/morning.
Keith sets to practising some crofting skills and attacks the lawns with gusto on the ride-on. Tessa watches with her borrowed designer wellies, supposedly supervising. Its great to have our own space again and the house provides an ideal platform for further exploration of the country.
The Blas Festival is on, involving traditional music performed in all sorts of venues through the Highlands,
Housesitting
At home with their wellies and lawn mower and we go with friends Euan and Donald to an exhibition of world class bagpiping including an amazing 11 year old girl. Pretty impressive.
The second house we look after is friends Wendy and Hugh´s place in the hills just above Muir of Ord. We have animals to care for in the form of Logie, a lovable black lab, a black cat and two guinea pigs. We take Logie for long walks up to Loch nam Bonnach, a 2.5 hour round trip. He loves the wet, mud and carrot pieces which serve as treats when he behaves well.
After one walk Tessa discovers a grey lump on my arm. Its my first tick! We can see the tiny legs at one end of the swollen body. She picks it off carefully. We have to check Logie regularly too, especially if he starts scratching and complaining. One day we find a big tick, fat with blood, on Logie´s ear. Its well attached and takes effort to remove. Apparently there are lots in the heather so we are careful to check ourselves after each walk. Some ticks carry Lyme Disease which is pretty nasty. Tessa discovers a tick on her
toe. She´s got it early and it looks like a wee lawn prickle with legs!. Yuck.
An evening cuddle with the guinea pigs is a cute moment until one provides great entertainment by peeing on Tessa. Even the cat seems amused. Tessa not so.
Its now the time of the deer roar or rut as they call it in Scotland and on our walks to the loch we hear stags calling eerily in the forest. One day we manage to sneak up on two large herds and get close-up views of the antlered stags strutting about and the more delicate does nibbling the short stems. Throwing sticks for Logie and skimming stones on the Loch in the sun paints a pretty picture. Keith is tempted to swim but is aware that the local distillery uses the water to make its whisky - not sure the whisky is strong enough to cover that taste.
We see a lot of deer throughout the Highlands which although wild, often seem tame.They allow a very close approach and settle easily if you are quiet. One night we go to Donald´s farm near Loch Ness where he reckons up to 60 deer
are moving in each night to eat his turnips. Driving up the hill in his 4x4 we spot them in the headlights as they calmly walk up the slope disappear back into the woodlands. Never in New Zealand.
Well its been an eventful couple of months in the Highlands and great to catch up with family and friends after so long. We´ve seen and experienced a wealth of things while we´ve been here. Even with only my thimble full of Scottish frog blood I can´t help but be moved by the beauty of the empty hills, castles and wild bays. The skirl of the bagpipes still gets your neck hairs up and quickens the pulse. And the taste of a peaty dram by the fire with friends is enough to keep you warm until you return.
Well, the seasons are changing, there´s an autumn tint to the trees and the path of our journey leads on, so next we´re on a train to England. We´re leaving Scotland and family and friends heavy-hearted, but with a spark of excitement and anticipation for the next stage of our trip.
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