Couldn't have asked for more...

Sometimes when you make a commitment for a long time ahead you don't think about the possible downsides and in Argyll & Bute the principal downside is usually the weather, which sometimes just doesn't permit a visit to take place. 

My Parliamentary colleague Marie Gougeon (who is Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment in the Scottish Government )  had agreed ages ago to spend some time with my constituents David & Jean Ainsley who run Sealife Adventures , based on Seil, to talk about the  marine environment,  look at the issue of Acoustic Deterrent Devices which are in use on  lots of fish farms (and shouldn't be, in many people's opinion) and sail through the Corryvreckan.

After several changes of date, today was finally selected and how fortunate that was - it was a perfect early autumn day and even the Corryvreckan felt tamed.   It could have been very different indeed !

Anyway the collage shows Marie , the Corryvreckan, David & Jean's boat, an ADD (switched off apparently) , just a few of the thousands of birds we saw, and a seal .  We also glimpsed goats (on Scarba), eagles and - by others but not me  - an otter. 

The sun shone and the sea sparkled.   We couldn't have asked for more so thank you David, Jean - and Marie for coming.