We did a similar tour back in 1972. It was amazing and beautiful. We tried to get to the Isle of Lewis during that tour, but (did you guess it?) the ferry had broken down and we just had to look out over the loch from Ullapool and dream. Bit we did make it a couple of years later, coming directly as part of my husband's job (recruiting sailors for Denholm Shipping Co) and that's when we decided to make the move here.
Not sure what I ate yesterday - the whole day was a blur of getting myself organised for visitors in the afternoon. I think it started with a small bowl of cereal and milk but it ended quite badly with nibbling at some of the bits and pieces I prepared for my guests.
Em came in from school just after 3 pm and saw the state I was in (doing too much left me in a huge amount of pain, but it had to be done) and insisted that I should sit down while she made me a cup of tea. She also made me a plate of food designed to give me energy - and orange cut into quarters, a pile of cashew nuts and a dairylea triangle. She helped me get everything ready from then on and, although her mum had said she should go home when my guests arrived, she opted to stay. They were completely charmed by her. She joined in the conversation on a very adult level and made it clear that she believes that everyone is created equal - no matter what their ethnic origins, crede, colour, nationality - and everyone deserves to be treated fairly. One of those there commented that her opinions are not held by everyone in the world, to which she replied that these were her opinions and she didn't care if she was different - proud of it in fact. This was much applauded by my guests. When they left, she acted the charming hostess and wished them all well, saying how delighted she had been to meet them. Even knowing her, as I do, I was quite impressed.