Chris and I finally made time to take a very well earned break. We went back to the most beautiful place I know on earth - the Outer Hebrides - Isle of Barra, Eriskay and then on the way home, the Isle of Bute. 

We were blessed with the sunshine for the first week on Barra. We had a lovely cottage right by the sea at Breibhig where there was a colony of seals just a few yards up from us and sea otters. I half wondered whether the island would be as I remembered it after two years away. It didn’t disappoint.

The water was still turquoise and crystal clear, the beach sands still white, the colours of the landscape still mesmerising, the variety of wild flowers on the machair was just stunning. Bird life was much quieter than expected, certainly in the bay that our cottage overlooked.

The water, though very tempting looking, was cold. That said, I did take a dip (albeit a very cold one) in the Atlantic Ocean. I can see the appeal of of wild water swimming. I felt fabulous when I emerged from the water.

We went in search of the island’s pre-historic history - there are quite a few standing stones at different locations across the island and clear signs of unexplored settlements. The Brevig Standing Stones were a short hike up the mountain behind and above Breibhig settlement. We could just see it from the terrace at our cottage.

One morning we set off early to take a closer look. It was a third or half way up Heabhal. The family set off to reach the top of the mountain and I had a peaceful hour by myself exploring the area around the stones where there were clearly, to my eyes anyway, stones set in an intentional way suggesting that if archaeologists were to explore further, more would be found, possibly a burial chamber, kerb stones and so on. The view was spectacular.

I spent another hour back at the cottage by myself playing with new acrylic inks on the patio table back at the cottage in the warm sun.

We were only on the the island for a week but from the moment I stepped off the ferry I felt completely relaxed. The break really gave me a chance to recharge my batteries. They were critically low and it gave me a chance to soak up the inspiration! 

By contrast our last day was a grey one and the following days on the Isle of Bute the skies were overcast but it was still dry.

We’re home now but with renewed energy to fill the backlog of orders for various retail outlets that had gathered (again) while we were away.