Wednesday 14 March 2007

on the train back from Mallaig
Contentedly drowsy, coming back from an excellent visit to Skye with Bill Drummond, where we enjoyed the wonderful hospitality and company of John and Bar Purser. Much excellent food was eaten, much excellent conversation was shared, and although the weather was too wet to skim peats, we did move some marble rocks from the garden to earn our keep. To my shame this morning I didn't get out of bed in time to feed the highland cattle. 

The Purser beasts atop the cliff

I don't have to play any technically demanding music for at least 6 weeks now, so I look forward to having a less frantic life for a while by not practising.

later
Crossing Rannoch Moor in the dark is a wonderful sensation. Floating over the invisible landscape, you catch intermittent glimpses of a building and a blue light in the distance, and then suddenly you realise it's Rannoch station. There were only 5 people on the train from Mallaig to Fort William, and it doesn't feel like there are many more on this one, the sleeper to London. Great iconic journeys both, and hardly any customers for them. Well, not at this time of year anyway. But now, to the lounge car and a bottle of wine with Bill.