Finally home!

We were finally able to get a flight back out of Cyprus on the 2nd August 2020 when the government there unbanned flights in from the UK. Sadly there were still no direct flights back to Scotland for the forseeable future so we had rather a convoluted route home: Paphos -> Gatwick, overnight there in a hotel, Gatwick -> Glasgow, overnight there in a hotel then Glasgow -> Benbecula the next day.

After three days travelling, three flights and two hotel stays we though we should quarantine ourselves for 14 days on returning home as the last thing we wanted to do was spread this thing around our island when they’ve fought so valiantly to keep it out (thankfully, as there are NO intensive care facilities here!).

So today, 18th August we are finally free to go out and about and do our own shopping! Our neighbours Bill and Norma have been fantastic – with both looking after our house while we were away and getting shopping and supplies for us while we were in quarantine. We always looked forward to our weekly Zoom chat with them while we were away 🙂

The weather has been incredible since our return – warm and mostly calm – quite a lot of mist.
I’m not sure whether the cattle were cooling down or whether the midges were less by the water than out on the machair.

Covid-19

The world has officially gone crazy…

I’m currently stranded in Cyprus, for how long, I really don’t know! Hopefully my lovely neighbour Bill Neill will be able to sort out any online orders for me, if I can remember where i’ve put all my stock…

The Uist Craft Producers committee (i’m secretary again this year) decided very early on to keep the shop closed. Just after mid-March Calmac ferries were advising that ferries would only be for essential journeys for island residents and for essential supplies to the island and Loganair have suspended all but essential flights. So, no tourists anyway… Happily there have been very very few cases on the island which is just as well as we don’t actually have any intensive care facilities. The museum and cafe will also be closed. This will all be for the forseeable future.

Meanwhile MisterT and myself are well and enjoying the birds and the sunshine in Cyprus. It’s a little difficult being away from all the family – worrying about mum and dad, Sara and wee Sidney and also with Kat getting so close to having our new wee grandson. We’ll most certainly all be having a massive party together when all this is done with!

Hebridean Imaging art and photography outer hebrides sheep cyprus
Lots of sheep, not too different from Uist…
Hebridean Imaging art and photography outer hebrides cyprus laughing doves
Laughing Doves
Hebridean Imaging art and photography outer hebrides flowers poppies
Roadside poppies
Hebridean Imaging art and photography outer hebrides flowers geraniums
Geraniums
Hebridean Imaging art and photography outer hebrides Bluethroat
Stunning Bluethroat