Hogh Bay, Coll

Today's beach destination by bike was Hogh Bay. This must be one of the most beautiful beaches we have ever seen. This really is saying something given our worldwide beach credentials that include Australia, Thailand, and several Caribbean and Hawaiian islands. As can be seen from the blip, the sun was out again. We have been so lucky with this glorious weather.

This evening we had an early dinner at the Coll Hotel so that we could attend a concert by young musicians supported by the Tunnell Trust. The langoustine bisque as first course was divine. We also enjoyed our beautifully presented main courses of cod (Mr hazelh) and roast halloumi salad (me).

I have blipped the concert programme as an extra. We both enjoyed the Mendelssohn most, then the Haydn. I'm afraid that I didn't like the work of Thea Musgrave at all. It sounded like the woodwind equivalent of free form jazz. After the performance I had a chat with the members of the Ferrante Quartet. They were delighted to discover that I have known their coach Ursula Smith since she was a little girl. Ursula and I went to the same school, and her middle sister - who was in my year - is one of my best friends. It was through conversation with Richard Deakin of the Trust, who is staying in our bed and breakfast, that we discovered this connection.

Another interesting connection was identified at breakfast when a fellow guest revealed that he was from Malvern. We told him all about Lorna Lloyd, and he told us about his thrice-married Malvern vicar's daughter mother, who was a contemporary of Lorna's. We suspect that the two families may well have known each other through Lorna's Uncle Percy Moss Weston, who was also a vicar in Malvern. While this is just an assumed connection, we made one firm one: our new friend studied at Malvern College, and here John 'Pom Pom' Hart - my friend Emma's father-in-law - taught him classics.

The toothache endures, but continues to be endured.

Exercise today: cycling (12.5 miles); walking (10,555 steps).