Toad Weather

We've had over 22mm of 18-carat Kilchoan Sunshine poured onto us in the hours since yesterday evening, a fitting punishment for the Diary employing words like 'sun' and 'fine weather' in yesterday's post.  In many ways it's like water off Tom Bryson's ducks' backs, because as fast as it comes down the land shrugs it off.  Just how much we've had and how quickly is measured by two sets of burns - those which drain the hill called Glas Bheinn which runs along the back of the village, and these two waterfalls on the north coast of Mull which only appear after heavy rain. 

In fact we had so much sunshine so quickly that this toad knocked on the back door this morning and asked to be let in.  He was a friendly little man, sitting very still and not minding in the slightest while he had his portrait taken.

In such dismal weather the humans squelch around in their wet-weather gear, moaning to each other
about the failure of global warming to improve their lives.  Poor Bobby the Boar hasn't been provided with wet-weather gear so, other than popping out to eat his daily ration, he spends his whole day lying in his house - a converted steel oil tank which roasts him in summer and is bitterly cold in winter.   To add to his miseries, he's recently been told that Betsy and the children aren't coming back to Ormsaigbeg for the time being.  Were he a human being he would be diagnosed as clinically depressed and put on strong pills.

Picture shows owner Hughie MacLachlan with Bobby a couple of days ago. The Diary, seeing the electric fence being rolled up, rushed out in joy to celebrate Bobby's departure.  He wasn't going far: Hughie was moving the electric fence so Bobby can start clearing another bit of the field.

Not to worry - the weather forecast for tomorrow is for 24-carat sunshine.

Tom Bryson's Craigard Blog is here.