Day 6: Rain stopped walks. Phew!
Day 7: Again you cover your feet with plasters and leave at 8:00 for a guided walk, meeting at Lochinver. Not much time for breakfast. You take the post bus to the start of the walk along with three others – all women.
Two of the women are accomplished walkers; the other one also walks well. You manage to keep up – just. Twice, you have to take your boots off to cross streams. The little stones dig into your feet. You wonder how the others cross so easily.
Again you take some pleasure in being better at something. Two of the women, despite living in the area, come from the south of England. You can pronounce “loch” better than they can.
In the evening, you drag your other half down the road without supper. The wrong way, it appears, when you examine the map pinned to the post office.
“We didn’t find it last time,” he complains. But this time you’re more persistent. You try every possible direction and eventually you discover it: The Coigach Community Hall [with apologies for linking to a site with a spelling mistake/typo in its first line]. Fortunately the concert hasn’t started yet, because when it does start it’s really good. North Sea Gas.
A wonderful evening that nevertheless keeps you wondering what the difference between Scottish and Irish music is.
***
Can anyone tell me?
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the lyrics or a video of my favourite song which goes (roughly):
I’m looking for a job with a sky high pay
A four-day week and a two-hour day
Maybe it’s because I’m inclined that way
But I never was one to be idle
complete with actions. But I did find this:
Miriam Drori, Author 