Happiness is a Drop of Sunshine

We've had 12mm of pure, unfiltered, warm Kilchoan sunshine in the past 24 hours, that's half an inch in the old currency, and it's still coming. The ground needs it. Although the weather hasn't been hot over the last few weeks, it has been fairly dry, so this has replenished the burns and will help to bring the grass on for the sheep. We're grateful, but it would be nice if it would now stop and allow us some of the ordinary variety of sunshine.

There are some advantages with this sort of weather. Certain people at this time of year need an excuse to spend hours indoors in front of the TV watching people bash a small white ball around a London lawn. It's a general rule that, if it's wet in western Scotland, then it's sunny in the southeast of England, so the tennis hasn't had any delays and they can stay indoors with a clear conscience.

For some people, the ones who have come up here to have a holiday under canvas, there probably isn't the option of the box, and this sort of weather can be a bit of a misery. But most know what to expect coming up here, have packed some good rainwear, and go off into the hills whatever the weather.

For others, this weather is luxury. The small toad which is resident in our back garden has a great selection of slugs to keep him happy.

Top picture shows St Congan's Church with the summit of Glas Bheinn smothered in cloud. The stream on the hill's flanks only runs after prolonged and heavy rainfall.