#caravan – Middle Age Musings

Where to start? Plenty happening at The Old Manse since last writing, let me start with an update on the caravan. All looks good with our new purchase and we have started modifying to suit our own needs. The small bedroom that contained three bunks have been ripped out with the intention of this being used to store clothes etc. which currently sit in an overcrowded cottage. Rather than seating at the bay window, we will have a permanent bed essentially turning the caravan into a large en-suite bedroom with a small cooker punctuating the area between bed, bathroom and the new (walk in) wardrobe.

Modifying the caravan – a work in progress

Some progress too with the shepherds hut. The door, which had swollen and was refusing to shut has now been resolved and working as intended. The said door and windows have all had their first coat of varnish with and if a break in the weather comes as forecast this weekend the paint job on the ‘hut will continue.

More importantly we first braved the high winds of Gigha to complete the job of felting the roof. At this point I must apologise to locals within earshot who enjoyed some choice language from myself when just as I thought the first run was affixed a gust caught and ripped the felt. You live and learn.

First roll of felt secured, brave lady in that high wind

Second roll on – learning from mistakes of the first

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is img_7269.jpg — First varnish on door and all the windows

We continue to walk. In fact we took a lovely walk the morning of Karen’s birthday, walking from the cottage to Achamore Gardens, then via Cuddyport Beach back over the hill and the standing stone to descenct behind the Gigha Hotel. The opportunity for a pint and a burger was not lost on us and helped make good the birthday celebration. Walk highlands has this, and more excellent walks that can be taken on Gigha: https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/argyll/achamore-gardens.shtml It should also be mentioned that there is a huge project to improve the path network on the Island and we walked to one of our favourite spots at the twin beaches to find a vastly upgraded route to the one we were used to – a much safer and encouraging affair for anyone visiting that beauty spot. Photos of both below.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is img_7206.jpg — Birthday girl after climbing the hill

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is img_7212.jpg — The keen eyed will be able to spot the Old Manse – stone gables with white chimneys

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is img_7244.jpg — Later in the week a much less soggy walk to the Twin Beaches – the new path is excellent

But the big story of the last week has to be that we have windows back in the Old Manse and couldn’t be more pleased with the result. One of the biggest reasons for buying the property was the views it affords so to be without them for the summer was strange. From previous stories you will know that it was always difficult to tell the time of day when inside the building due to the lack of natural light.

All of this has now been restored and credit has to go to our joiner, Lewis who has done a great job in the restoration of the frames and reglazing (we have opted for double rather than single glazing in the reno). I put the first of the pictures below on Instagram and it perfectly illustrates the upgrade. The left hand window is the last to be upgraded and will be replaced but at the start of the project it was the newest and arguably the best of the windows. In comparison, the right hand window is one of twelve renovated windows that arrived from Helensburgh this week. I cannot do them justice with words so a few photos follow.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is f596c323-79df-4dcf-8d23-a8b019f6fe3e.jpg — Old versus new – what a difference!

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is img_7260.jpg — Allgood above the first floor, ground still needing a window and completion of pointing

Typically for us, with the Island of Gigha our new home, there is business we need to attend to on the mainland. It did however allow the opportunity to finish the removal of all possessions from Cardross and I am very grateful to Paul who played removal man for the day. A tiring week that hasn’t allowed us to fully concentrate our effort on the Manse but there are some things to tell you about and pictures to share – life is never quiet, unlike the Island.

Firstly, murder island the tv show. Completely hooked after 4 episodes, as much in identifying people and places of the Island as I am to identifying the killer. The show has inspired both a Facebook group and an excellent post show podcast by @presentsjam (I think I have that the right way round but it may well be @jampresents). I’ve swapped the odd photo with them that I was allowed to take before the set in the Old Manse was disassembled (but sworn to secrecy before the release of the programme). Still as much in the dark to the killer as everyone else but I do have access to the odd fingerprint that neither STV or I have yet wiped clean.

So needing a rest on our return to the Island before starting any form of work we sought out somewhere new to walk. Whilst we have enjoyed the boathouse many times we hadn’t ventured out onto the floating harbour that is the first of the pictures below and only a stone throw from the cottage.

And then to a beach on the South Western shore (Leim) that had bee recommended by friends. A little more difficult to find if you don’t know where to look, but after navigating a field of cows we found ourselves to be the only occupants. The peace and tranquility with only the sound of the waves coupled with excellent views were much appreciated and a route we will walk again soon. One of the reasons we choose to live on the West coast of Scotland is the stunning scenery when the weather is clear. The probability of finding such good weather is likely why there aren’t crowded beaches too.

Then to the first business of the week, the receipt of the caravan I spoke of in the last post. Happy to say that again the delivery happened without incident and the capable driving skills of Donald navigated the entrance to the drive with much more diligence than the scaffolding lorry of the previous week. All of us had envisaged several de and re-couplings between Hilux and motor mover but in the end none of it necessary. The caravan was slotted, for the time being, alongside the Old Manse for us to use as a place of sanctity when the cottage is too crowded. We need to make the space more appropriate to our own use, which immediately means removal of bunk beds to exchange for storage space so some more work there before we have our new bed.

I’ve saved the last topic until the end although chronologically the main event happened on Saturday night prior to the caravan’s arrival. I’m delighted that my passion for astronomy and star-gazing is shared by others on Gigha. There is a group already in existence promoting the dark skies we enjoy on the Island and I am delighted to be welcomed to their committee at next sitting.

To explain a little further as my learned friend Keith did for me earlier. There is a recording taken against the Bortle scale – a nine-level numeric scale that measures the night sky’s brightness of a particular location. At the higher end, (unsurprisingly) with high light pollution, is the inner city sky – almost impossible to star gaze from. Whilst not quite achieving the highest ranking Gigha sits at a measurement of 2 – a typical truly dark site. All this gleaned whilst searching for a different phenomena on Saturday night.

Aurora hunters had been promised a display that may ‘reach as far South as Wales’ by the many apps that track solar flares. More so in Scotland and, just as important, it looked as though the sky would remain cloud free at the time of maximum exposure. Sadly the great show didn’t quite happen as predicted, only being visible to the naked eye much further north. However, that didn’t stop Keith and I exploring the north of the island (where the dark skies theatre will eventually be) and attempting to photograph the horizon. Whilst there were no ‘dancing ladies’ we were encouraged to see both greens and reds in the images captured below. To accompany the shots of the Northern lights are a couple I took earlier of the night sky above the Old Manse to practice focus and one of the milky way. The latter I find mesmerising and now need to find a better framing against one of the many points of interest that are to be found here. Watch this space.