A Recovery and Lazy Day in Portree 20th Dec 2019

I was awake at 4.30am but Vince slept in until around 9.30. We had our simple continental breakfast and went for a walk around town. We went to the Visitor Centre but it was closed due to Staff Illness. We spotted Carole’s Florist, and I dropped in to introduce myself and check things were all good for our Wedding Flowers. As she is closed on New Years Day we will pick them up before she closes on New Years Eve.

We walked around town and dropped into the Ivas Chocolate Shop where I purchased some packs of handmade chocolates to give as bonbonnière. We did think of getting some of the Talisker chocolates yesterday but decided to keep looking around. I was originally going to get some from the Highland Chocolatier (Ian Burnett - who supplies the queen) but with the ice roads and snow on the way up the detour to Grandtully, Perthshire was too dangerous. In any case it’s sorted now.

Vince took the chocolates back to our room at the Pink Guest House so they wouldn’t get damaged and joined me at the Cafe Arriba for a bacon and egg roll and a drink.

Our quiet day led us to the Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre where we met Anne and Catherine McPhee who were as helpful as can be showing us the resources, maps, books and giving advice on what type of records may help me get past the road blocks in my family tree on the McLeod line. Vince was kept busy with several books of interest about the Trotternish Peninsula, Duntulum and the surrounding stories and myths.

We arrived around 10.30am and they shut for lunch from 12-1pm but they invited us back in the afternoon where we spent a further two hours - still finding nothing directly related but looking a lots of interesting things. For instance we discovered that the Fairy Pools is just a tourist name and Coire Na Creiche is actually where a big battle was undertaken - no faeries what so ever! We donated 15 pounds to the charity. We have been warmly invited back anytime - especially if the weather is bad and we need a good read. It looks like I might have a bit more luck at the Armadale Castle - Library and Museum of Skye as that is the Clan McDonald Centre who owned the land my relatives farmed and were born on - so rent books may hold some answers! But it closed in November for the Winter and doesn’t open again until 2nd March 2020 - so that will have to wait for another day.

During the lunch break we went to the Bakery and got some lunch and stopped into the Portree Butcher (which comes from Lochalsh) and ordered a turkey and leg ham on the bone for our Christmas dinner - which we will collect on Sunday on our way up to Willie McLeods - can’t wait!

On the way home Vince checked out the local Estate Agent's window - he loves it here so much he has begun fantasising about owning a B&B - he thinks he found the perfect one that can tempt me - I'm sure the Grandies would love to come and visit!

We got home and did a couple of chores, then stopped in to the Chip Shop just at the end of the Quay for a burger and chips for me, as Vince had my left over Indian from last night (which he was prepared to eat cold!)

Vince is now asleep and I’m still awake typing at 9.40pm (those steroids for my chest infection and asthma are keeping me and Morag up!).

We had an email from our friends Aad and Mike (the father and son team we met on the road on our 2015 Round the World Motorbike Honeymoon) and they claimed to be almost here "as the Isle of White" - I just about had a heart attack with the wedding only 12 days away - but thankfully they were only joking and should be here any day now! Phew disaster averted!