Wednesday 11 August 2010

Postcard

Greetings from The Isle of Lewis.


Its a helluva long way from home.
It took two days to get here, made a little more bearable by the thought of a lovely break halfway in Fort William.
Then made traumatic by the Hotel we booked not having written down our booking and being full.

But that blow was softened by them  finding us an equally lovely room in a hunting lodge in the grounds of a much posher hotel, at a lower price.
(we felt like Hansel and Gretel as we made our way down a wooded drive to find the little house in the woods with a key)  and then standing us a free dinner and breakfast. I was very gracious and didn't order the most expensive thing on the menu but I can't tell you just how much I wanted that lobster!

The next morning we were having a stroll through Fort William (300 miles from home) when I heard someone say 'Hello'.
It was  two of my son's friends from our village.

Now we are comfortably settled in to our friend's lovely house. Only once before have I been on holiday in a house so well equipped.
I recommend it.
Now all we need is a bit of sun!

(Oh and I've spotted one or two tweed patterns I haven't got!)


****Don't forget the giveaway in the previous post-just leave a comment*****

30 comments:

Mermaid's Purse said...

Love the postcard and those little hiccups and surprises make life all the more interesting ........ well certainly interesting for us to read - continue having a great time!!

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I like stories with a happy ending like this one. So good that you ended up with a better place after all the angst.

Mail Art Dramas said...

You should have had the lobster, then left a good tip. Glad it all worked out.
Jill

lilylovekin said...

Sounds like a wonderful adventure!

ju-north said...

You'll have to remind us where this wonderful house is and how to contact the owner!

Marigold Jam said...

Love that photo and glad you are set to have a great holiday in spite of the hiccups en route!

Jane

menopausalmusing said...

Massage???? Massage? Is there anything you'd like to tell us, Jackie??? :O))))))))))))))


Glad you got there and are having a wonderful time. Aren't chance encounters of people you know wonderful? A minute or two either way and you probably would have missed your son's friends. Good to know you are finding tweeds!

Celia Hart said...

Oh what a great adventure! And it is a helluva way isn't it! But so wonderful to be out on the very edge of the isles.

Hope you see some lovely things...

I remember going to The Blue Pig, Jane Harlington's gallery/studio - well worth a visit and it's fairly near Gearrannan Black House Village and also Calanais Standing Stones (you won't want to miss them!)

I'm remembering so many places I enjoyed visiting when we were there... I have holiday envy now!

Happy tweed hunting in Stornaway!
Celia

PS look out for sea otters in the harbour ;-)

WinnibriggsHouse said...

Oh you lucky things (not the hotel bloomer of course) but being on Lewis. Not been that far myself but watched the TV series about the Harris tweed and it looks stunning. Have a great holiday.
Jenny

Locket Pocket said...

The second hotel sounds rather fabulous! Sometimes mistakes work out for the best! lucy x

The Coffee Lady said...

A house in the woods! I want one.

Kitty said...

Gorgeous picture Jackie. It's amazing how often one sees people from 'home' when one is away. Hope you have a really lovely time :) x

Dan said...

Mmm, Lewis is a place I would love to go! Isn't it amazing who you bump into on travels!?
I hope the sun comes out for you!
Dan
-x-

Elizabeth Armstrong said...

How lovely and unexpected to stay in a little cottage in the woods!
It sounds as if are already in holdiay mode!
Looking forward to seeing lots of photos. Have much fun!
Elizabeth

Twiglet said...

Have a fab time and do stock up on your lovely tweeds - we want to see what you make with them!!

Heather said...

Super postcard and what a lucky mistake! Hope the weather will be kind to you and happy tweed hunting.

Julie said...

Glad you got there safely and survived the lack of a room. Amazing how small the world is! Bring on the sunshine!

vintagerockchick said...

Ooh how lovely Jackie - I've never been quite that far north. Hope you are as lucky with the weather as you were with your alternative accomodation! x

(I see you have another 'spam commenter' - he's begging you not to cancel his massage!)

Rachel in Odd Sock House said...

Hi, totally inspirational postcard - I'm sure we will be seeing that image transformed into your work! Have alovely time, hope the weather there is kinder than it is being here in Yorkshire! Rachel x

Jill said...

Sounds like the start of a great holiday - looking forward to more pictures.

JP said...

gla d you are having a great time - I'm sure the sun will come

A time to dance said...

Hi Jackie...cant wait to hear what you bought in Harris...hope the sun is shining on you...love H

Karen said...

ooooooooooo you lady of leisure come world traveller!! Hope the natives are friendly.....when are you coming home!!!!???? (not that we miss you or anything) (or even that we are jealous or anything)

Aileen Clarke Crafts said...

Hope your hebridean hideaway is all you want it to be Jackie. I went in the sea off Lewis a few years back. I was a bit of a woos though and wore a wet suit but only because the boys from the surf shop brought me one. It was at a beach called Dial Beag. or it might have been Dial Mor. I pitched my tent there too but only for one night. There is just something so wonderful about waking up on a beach, in the wild, with nothing but the surf and a few sheep for company. We hope to go back to the hebrides next summer. I also think the discomforts of wild camping really help one appreciate the little things in life....like hot tea, hot showers and not having to worry about being blown away in the night! Makes me really feel for those less fortunate that HAVE to live in tents.
Anyway, hope you are really enjoying yourself. Love, Aileen xxx

Victoria said...

Beautiful photo.
Sounds like a wonderful time, and well deserved! As for seeing friends of your sons so far from home... years ago I went across the pond to France with my family, and while shopping in a small market in a little village, we ran into a person from my high school all the way back in America!

Anonymous said...

Glad you are enjoying Lewis. How are the midges over there? Isn't it a small world. Look forward to seeing the tweeds you buy and what you make with them. Happy holidays!
Penny

Iz said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Iz said...

We camped wild on Harris and Lewis 20 years ago, fabulous if a little bleak! My second favourite place was the beach at the end of the road to Bosta; my most favourite place was the hot shower for 20p in the public loos in Stornoway!

sharon young said...

You should definitely have had the lobster, forgetting your booking indeed! But the Hansel an Gretal house sounds amazing.
Have a great holiday.

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

Adore that seaweed photo :o)



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