Hebridean Life

Having taken refuge in the nest all day yesterday as the rain poured down, our swallow babes were up and away again by nine this glorious morning. They are still quite downy on their bellies, and need plenty of little rests. Their parents continue to feed them and chase away intruders which range... Sign in to see full entry.

We thought once they’d fledged they’d never return to the nest. But they have! It’s been a miserable wet day here, and they obviously decided enough was enough. They’re back cuddling up together in the nest, while the parents come in and out to feed them. Sign in to see full entry.

A rainy day, but plenty of insects about. One babe left without us noticing, leaving the other cheaping plaintively. At about 10 am Mr Mac shouted to me that there was only one left in the nest. Then we spotted Babe One, with the speckled breast, always a bit bigger than his twin, swooping and... Sign in to see full entry.

She was in La Serena, Chile, almost a week ago, and that’s the last we’ve heard. Her facebook is unusually silent. So needless to say I’m beginning to have sleepless nights. I shouldn’t, she’s a 23 year old in love after all, and when you’re in love time passes in an electric blur, but she knows... Sign in to see full entry.

Twenty artists from Scotland and other parts of the world like Greenland, Ghana and Japan have been in residence here since the beginning of the month. They stayed in a wonderful old house, a former hotel, rambling and comfortable. The idea was that they were to create art for the duration. ( I... Sign in to see full entry.

They still haven’t fledged, despite being almost as big as their parents, and a beautiful Indian summer day yesterday, perfect flying conditions I would have thought! Thankfully nature is much cleverer than me, and I’m sure they know what they’re doing. The babes sweet to watch, always cuddled up... Sign in to see full entry.

We're getting worried- we have a late hatching of twin swallows in our eaves, and they haven't fledged yet,even though all the others are lining up ready to go south...they're perching on the edge of the nest and flexing their wings. Surely they will go today- but then you can hardly fledge one day... Sign in to see full entry.

The dentist said: ‘Have you had water and vibration before?’ I said: ‘Oooo. No. Sounds fun. Am I going to enjoy it?’ She said: ‘No.’ She was right. On the other hand my teeth did feel squeaky clean afterwards. We are lucky enough to have fantastic dentists here on Uist. They are caring, gentle,... Sign in to see full entry.

It has taken several decades, but Mr Macaulay has finally had his Proustian moment. He was toasting a girdle scone from the local bakery on our flat bed toaster. (From Spain. I don’t suppose British people would be entrusted to have an almost naked element lying in their kitchens for a child to fall... Sign in to see full entry.