The remaining four stages of the journey to Holy Isle were very much more relaxing and scream-free, and I arrived on the Holy Isle ferry - a tiny little boat with an outboard motor - at around 11.15 yesterday morning, to be greeted by a small but perfectly formed welcoming party - Marian and the serene (not that Marian wasn't also) Buddhist nun who runs the community here on the island. I did feel somewhat jet-lagged, mainly from the not-to-be-mentioned-further National Express leg of the journey and it took me a little while to get what this wonderful place is about, but a few naps during the day and a good sleep last night have put me right. I would have felt like I'd come without a limb if I hadn't brought a guitar with me, so I've brought my dear little requinto guitar that my friend David made as a prototype for the proper one he's now made for himself and that would have by now been firewood or consigned to his attic had I not rescued it from such a sad end. It's tuned a fifth higher, which means I have to make adjustments like learning to sing a bit higher than normal, but that may not be such a bad thing, and I've been bonding with it for the past few days after writing and recording a new song on it, to the point where I now love the dear little thing. Marian and I were sitting round chatting with a group of volunteers here in the evening and I was persuaded (didn't take much!) to get her out (the little guitar, that is) and play a few songs, so now there's no stopping me and this morning we went to a spot along the shore where we'd been yesterday, a platform of red rock with little fascinating rock pools and rocks stacked very deliberately in a way that seems to be a characteristic of the community here, where I felt I'd like to just sit and play. So that's what we I did. The sun was out and it felt wonderful to play whilst looking out to the stretch of sea between here and Arran. I'm looking forward to more such opportunities, that come so rarely in the hubbub of 'normal' life, during my week here.
This afternoon we're going 'over the top' - hiking up the mountain/big hill that comprises the main geographic feature of this lovely island. But right now it's lunchtime and I'm feeling healthily starving. So bi for now! ;) xxx
This afternoon we're going 'over the top' - hiking up the mountain/big hill that comprises the main geographic feature of this lovely island. But right now it's lunchtime and I'm feeling healthily starving. So bi for now! ;) xxx
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