A busy day

First priority this morning was an emergency call to an Oban vet. Jess had developed a limp which was not getting any better, so we needed to have it checked. Luckily, we were able to get an appointment for 10.20.

At the same time, Mrs jml needed to call an emergency dentist - she had lost the crown of a tooth. Visions of the second appointment being at 5.30, meaning the whole day being taken in waiting - but we were lucky again - 11.20. I was left to look up the separate postcodes and get them into SatNav. After all, I had to make sure that I delivered the correct bitch to the correct practice!

By 12.00, all the news was good, and we had the rest of the day to get on with our holiday. We decided to go to Luing, an island about 15 miles South of Oban. We'd had no time to make up a picnic this morning, but that should not have mattered. Feorlean (a Blipper of this parish), had reported a couple of months ago on the first day of a new 'Island Cafe'. We looked forward to lunch there - but we never found it!

No matter, Luing is beautiful and the weather was much improved on yesterday - so we enjoyed our visit.

The Blip was taken in Kilchattan cemetary on the island. It is totally walled-in so we felt safe in allowing Jess & Molly to roam. Elsewhere, cattle and sheep are almost everywhere and we could not let the dogs run free.

The stone in the background commemorates a shipwreck over 70 years ago. On 26 October, 1936 the Latvian ship Helena Faulbaums ran aground with the loss of 15 lives. Their bodies are buried here. For many years, it was impossible for Latvian friends and family to come to this spot, but more recently there have been a number of visits from officials and descendants.

Jess and Molly found a flower vase beside the grave. No flowers in it today,but it was full of water, so they had to have a drink. I hope that nobody is offended or horrified by this. I plan to be buried (the plot is already paid for). I would be delighted to think that many years after I am gone, my grave would provide comfort for some visiting pets.

Back now at our base. At least not having had lunch, we are hungry for our dinners. Off to the Loch Melfort Hotel - hope it is good.