A grand day out

Good friends planned a secret birthday treat for me today and prayed for good weather. The goddess must have heard and accepted whatever sacrifices they made because the day dawned clear and sunny, with hardly a breath of wind.

Perfect weather to be out in their boat.

The destination became clear after about twenty minutes on the water. There is a tiny island off the coast of Skye called coral island. It’s uninhabited and deserted, and at low tide the seas retreat to reveal a beautiful beach of white coral, or Maerl.

I’d seen it from the coast before but never imagined that I’d ever see it close up, not owning a boat. But here we were, wading through the shallows with picnic bags and a blanket with the whole island to ourselves.

The feast was unpacked. Scottish cheeses from the Highlands and Islands, sourdough biscuits, good olives, sliced venison salami and a bottle of chilled wine. There were cheese scones and home baked pizza slices. There was a blueberry cake with a sparkler and little French macarons.

It was perfect.

We toasted gently in the highland sun watching the seabirds and the boat bobbing on the ebbing tide. Good company, good conversation, good food and the most perfect location.

It was soon time to pack up and leave for the boat trip home. Time and tide wait for no man.

Thank you Andy and Jude for such a special treat and a very memorable birthday. You’ve made a mad old cat lady very happy.