Jackies end of May Post

Its nearly the end of May now. We have had 2 weeks of grey low cloud, rain and wind so not able to sail to the Faroes in these conditions sadly. Its frustrating and I have had days of low energy which I am not used to. I have been so used to the London fast pace of life........Im not missing it , but I am taking time to adapt. Its fascinating and so different, living with one person in one place with no demands being made of me, no expectations......one finds oneself left with a lot of introspection and thought processes. I longed for this so much and now I have it I find I am sometimes worried I am not 'making the most of it' or using this gift of 'free time' to advantage. I am learning the value of being engaged in activity....whether it be just the half an hour drive in to Tarbert for provisions, an exchange with locals in the shops, a walk up the hill, a few hours practice on Op 132....but whereas before I was squeezing everything in and there was never enough time now there is lots and lots of time....a day is very long!  I feel I am slowly unravelling and this brings new perceptions, a new feeling in my head. The gift of time is so precious. I have been learning three new Beethoven Quartets for the next concert. Op18 nos 4 and 5 and Op 132. I have been listening to a very beautiful, heartfelt, loving rendition from the Bush Quartet of 132. So unforced and generous, a complete contrast to a ghastly interpretation from the Hungarians of Op 18 no 4 which I downloaded last week. There doesnt seem to be any space for feeling in their playing. Just empty. I was surprised and disappointed. Maybe Beethoven isnt their thing. Learning 132 is a huge journey. I get a tingle, a kind of ache of anticipation and excitement knowing that there is that space in time in a few weeks where I will be playing it to people here on the edge of the Atlantic and it will start from the first bar quietly and end with the last and all the people in the room will have shared something, and received different things, and then we will drink wine and remember and laugh or cry and carry on with the next day. Im rambling a bit. Its cosy here in the Arts Centre in Stornoway. The rain is horizontal outside with the fierce wind. I have lots more photos to share with you but am completely baffled by how to get them on to this blog. I know Claire in the office is trying. I hope they will appear soon.
Ive just glanced outside and the sky is now completely blue and clear. On the drive back to Amhuinnsuidhe the hills will be dark maroon and the sea unbelievably light green under the grey clouds. When it rains so much new rivers stream down the sides of the mountains like wounds in a flank....gashes pouring,then sometimes the wind will catch the stream and send it up into the sky like a geyser or water spout. So exciting to see...it looks like the mountain is on fire as the water spray looks like smoke rising. What a place this is.
The lambs are growing and starting to leave their mothers sides like teenagers and there are little gangs of them having a laugh together.
Our boat Kyle is waiting patiently in the bay seemingly eager to take us to faraway places. Soon I hope .
Love to you all.

Jackies mid May Hebridean post

Well its mid May and we are waiting for a fair wind and a wee bit of sun to set sail for the Faroes. We had an incredible week exploring the inner Hebrides in seven days of hot hot sun with the occasional breeze. We left Finsbay after a good supper with Piers Hellawell and arrived at Canna on a beautiful evening.....there is a very good restaurant there ...wild garlic scallops, saffron risotto...that sort of deliciousness run by a smiley couple.....the island is magical.....green, green, green, after the rocky coast of Harris......next we visited Coll which we know well ......clear translucent water and white beaches...I went for a long walk and stumbled over a gooses nest....seals everywhere...... I forgot to mention listening to the Royal Wedding mid Minch on a millpond of silvery blue sea toasting them with chilled fizz ...I will never forget the power of the music and just floating around in our bubble of beauty.  Then on to Tobermory on Mull for diesel and water.........Ardtoe, singing sands, and the majestic Loch Nevis, where, at the head of the loch I collected rocks for my collection,  mica studded quartz, utterly and staggeringly beautiful. The next night on Skye near the Talisker distllery and back to Harris eventually on Sunday.
Strange to be back on land and living within the confines of our little house at Amhuinnsuidhe after the water....sounds strange doesnt it?  as being on a boat is in some ways much more restricted, but in another way so much more free....the far horizon, the change in rhythm of the waves, the ever changing light.
Now we are back on the still land, plaintive lapwings calling and the sheep and young lambs wandering the gentle hillsides. Its forty minutes walk to a secret lagoon over the hill in front of the house where the sea pours in and out of a sandy bowl and leaves cowries amongst piles of sea shells. I love rummaging and gently stroking away the layers to find the cowries....always two together pink and precious, hiding it seems...I always feel a childlike rush of excitement when I  find them.
We bought squid from the fisherman's co operative in Stornoway and cleaned them and cut them up and made delicious calamares. I love Stornoway. I will take photos of all the pub fronts and work out how to publish them here. So far its thanks to Claire at Britten Sinfonia....she has been posting the photos that I send her. I will write more soon.
Love to all,
Jackie

Some more pictures from the Isle of Harris and surronding area

A heart hiding in a rock formation

Bad hair day!

Cold and misty at Loch Resort

Gav and a bottle of Whisky!

Kyle in the Shiants

Out for a walk

Seaweed floating past the boat