Christmas in Kilchoan

From Pippa Brown

Christmas in Kilchoan in our warm bungalow (this is the view from the front) seemed like an amazingly good idea at the time, when the sun shone and we were in shirtsleeves. We'd be far from the rigours of a grandchildren-orientated celebration - they were all otherwise engaged this year, as we had done the honours last year including my elder daughter’s American friend and three children. However, when we arrived to find the tank frozen despite everyone’s efforts to keep the heat on, it didn’t seem so clever.

With the fire lit and supper cooking and the tank thawing, life looked rosy. We'd had a wonderful journey up from Suffolk, with grateful thanks to all those lovely gritters for clearing roads, at least as far as Ormsaigbeg. Christmas Day brought a few flakes of snow, which I declared to be a White Christmas to the grandchildren - well, you have to keep up a few pretences, it is that time of year. Boxing Day was relaxing, and then-------whoops, it all went pear-shaped again. Sudden lack of hot water; was it our house? No, we met a neighbour with bucket in hand climbing gingerly over the fence to access the burn and found out the horrid truth: trouble in the hills. Full marks to Scottish Water who turned up at 10 pm with water in bottles and kept us informed. Two days later we turned on the tap and - Eureka! - water gushed forth.

View at the back of the house

From then on all was sweetness and light including an excellent New Year’s Day feast with kind neighbours. We have since dined out on our tales of woe, but actually the locals at Kilchoan and everyone concerned in what can only be described as the experience of a lifetime, made it all so delightful that the family are begging to come up and stay with us at Easter - plus one hairy Jack Russell, two children and two guineapigs called Basil and Manuel!

We’ll see you all then, we hope, and thank you for your cheerfulness and friendship.