Ralph

The eaglets have landed. Their train from Leeds which had originated in Bristol arrived bang on time in Waverley and so praise where praise is due to the Cross Country train service.

Before their arrival I had time to collect a reserved book - Finding Hildasay by Christian Lewis - from Morningside Library. The writer, a former soldier, has been walking round the coastline of Britain for five and a half years to cure himself of depression but also in aid of SSAFA.
I met him in Stromness in 2019 when we were both on the boat to Hoy. He was a very kenspeckle character in a kilt with a dog on a string and I have to admit to being very wary of him. How wrong was that instant judgement. He and Jet the dog spent three and a half months of Covid lockdown on Hildasay, an uninhabited island in Shetland and along the way has raised thousands of pounds for the charity. His book covers the part of his trip from the beginning in Swansea to being back on the Scottish mainland after Lockdown finished.

I hope he finds time to write the next part of his adventure, from Thurso back to his starting point in Swansea, which is even more interesting. I follow him on Facebook.

The sun is shining. We have all been on a walk and now Rosie and the boys are off to look round the Grassmarket before we meet up for a meal at Nando’s.

Grandma is ‘ boy sitting’ this evening as Rosie goes for a drink with David and Luca.