A life on the ocean wave(rley)

It's been a beautifully sunny day today - we went down town to  watch the Waverley, the world's last ocean-going paddle steamer, leaving for Ardnamurchan, Inverie and Armadale - an eleven and a quarter hour return trip. The boat was packed - here she is backing away from Oban's North Pier. On the paddle box - see extra - is a tiny portrait of the man after whom the ship was named; Edward Waverley, the hero of Sir Walter Scott's first novel, 'Waverley', published in 1814. Another extra is of the ship paddling past the island of Kerrera on her way to the open sea.

Once the ship disappeared Mrs M and I went for a special showing at the cinema of 'Local Hero', arranged by the local singing group of which Mrs M's a member. Her favourite film and certainly one of mine. It was only spoilt by the picture disappearing three-quarters of the way through, but they got it going and we watched it to the end. It was odd emerging into brilliant sunshine - somehow I expected it to be dark!

Spent a couple of hours painting the new garden stairs - not the ideal job for sore knees - but somebody has to do it!